What’s important to you when choosing where to purchase a new home? Is it easy access to hiking and biking trails, or mountain views? Do you prefer urban living, where you can walk to restaurants, shops and nightlife? Or do you prefer a more rural, agricultural setting?

If you’re moving to Albuquerque, you’ll want to choose the perfect neighborhood and community to fit your lifestyle. When you work with me to find your home, I’ll help guide you in the process.  Below this map is a snapshot of the main areas of Albuquerque.

The Foothills

With access to hiking and biking trails and beautiful views of the Sandia Mountains and Rio Grande Valley, the foothills are one of the most popular areas to live in Albuquerque. The Foothills are east of Tramway Blvd. and run all the way from the neighborhoods near the Sandia Tramway on the north end, to the Four Hills neighborhood on the south end. Other neighborhoods in the Foothills include High Desert, Glenwood Hills, Casa Grande, Summit Hills and Supper Rock.

The Northeast Heights

The Northeast Heights is the most popular area of Albuquerque, and offers its residents a variety of housing options, from more affordable starter homes to larger, more expensive executive homes, and everything in between. The Northeast Heights features proximity to shopping, dining and recreational opportunities.

Homes in the Northeast Heights are in the greatest demand, and home inventory is lower in this part of town, primarily due to lack of space for growth. Because of this, homes are typically older, and the price per square foot is higher. The NE Heights is bordered by the Sandia Mountains on the east, the Sandia Pueblo Reservation on the north, Interstate 25 on the west, and Kirtland Air Force Base on the south.

The Northwest

If you are looking for a larger, possibly newer, home at a more affordable price point, Northwest Albuquerque is a great option. This area began to expand significantly starting in the mid-1990s, due primarily to an abundance of affordable, available land in the area, and there are plenty of new construction home options available in this area. Shopping and dining options have expanded greatly in the area over the last decade, as well.

The Northwest area is on the west side of the Rio Grande River, from Interstate 40 on the south end, to Cottonwood Mall areas on the north end. Some of the largest neighborhoods in the Northwest area of town include Ladera, Taylor Ranch, Paradise Hills, Ventana Ranch and Seven Bar, but there are many, many more to choose from.

The North Valley

Albuquerque's beautiful North Valley runs along the eastern edge of the Rio Grande River, bordered on the east by Interstate 25, and on the south by Interstate 40. It offers convenient access to most areas of town, and the area offers a wide range of housing, from affordable starter homes, to some of the city’s most magnificent estates. This area of town also offers many properties with horse facilities and agricultural zoning.

The North Valley includes several smaller communities including the Village of Los Ranchos and features many unique neighborhoods including El Caballero, Matthew Meadows, and Rio Grande Estates, to name a few.

University/ Nob Hill/Downtown Area

If you want easy, walkable access to a variety of restaurants, night spots, shopping and cultural events, the areas near the University of New Mexico, Nob Hill and Downtown Albuquerque might be right for you.

You can find a variety of housing options in these areas, including single family homes of all sizes, townhomes, and urban-style lofts.

Public transportation is also readily available in this area, with the new Albuquerque Rapid Transit system beginning service along the Central Avenue corridor.

The South Valley and Southwest Heights

The South Valley and Southwest Heights feature the most affordable homes in Albuquerque, with the South Valley featuring older, more agricultural type properties in a more rural setting, as well as some horse properties. The Southwest Heights offers many more affordable newer construction options, with most of the homes being built in 2000 or later.

The area is bordered on the north by Downtown Albuquerque, on the east by Interstate 25 and on the South by the Isleta Pueblo Reservation.

Rio Rancho

To the west of this map lies Rio Rancho, which is the 3rd largest city in New Mexico.  It's the largest city and economic hub of Sandoval County, with a population of almost 100,000.  Originally developed as a northwestern suburb of Albuquerque, Rio Rancho is the fastest growing community in the state, and is known for excellent public schools.  Shopping and dining options, as well as recreational opportunities, continue to grow in the area as more new homes are built there, many featuring views of the Rio Grande River valley and the Sandia Mountains.

East Mountains

And to the east of this map is the area that is generally referred to as Albuquerque's East Mountains includes the towns of Tijeras, Sandia Park, Cedar Crest, Edgewood, and Moriarty.  For those that prefer a more rural lifestyle with more acreage, away from the hustle and bustle of the city, but still want a short commute into ABQ, this area is an excellent option.  Tijeras, Sandia Park and Cedar Crest offer mountain living, with more wooded lots.  Edgewood and Moriarty are typically less wooded and tend to have more affordable options for acreage.  In some cases, community water and sewer are available, but many homes in these areas are on wells and septic tanks.