Relocating to or from Albuquerque

Vaughan Company Relocation Department
Education
Surrounding Communities
Points of Interest
Arts & Entertainment

The Vaughan Company Realtors Relocation Department

The Relocation Department at The Vaughan Company Realtors is ready to market your home or find you an associate to help you find a home in the Albuquerque area or around the country.

Why New Mexico?
Albuquerque was ranked first by Forbes for Business and Careers. Albuquerque also made the top 10 in Moviemaker Magazine’s ranking of Top Cities for Moviemaking and in the top 5 Cities for Dogs by Men’s Health Magazine.
What does this mean for you? New Mexico is a major relocation destination, and with prices soaring in other popular Southwest cities such as Phoenix and Las Vegas, it’s soon to become a popular destination for baby boomers in retirement.
 
Internet Marketing with Leading Real Estate Companies of the World
The internet is the most popular way potential buyers shop for homes. In order to capture the attention of this valuable audience and assist in relocation, The Vaughan Company Realtors is proud to be affiliated for over 20 years with Leading Real Estate Companies of the World.

Leading Real Estate Companies of the World serves over 10,000 communities with over 700 firms, 5500 offices, and 170,000 trained associates. The company has the highest number of sales units among the top 500 residential firms in the United States. This affiliation allows us to offer the helping hand and experience of the best relocation professionals in the country.

Finding you the home of your dreams…
With 7 offices and over 165 agents, The Vaughan Company Realtors, along with our Relocation Department, will work diligently to provide timely, professional service to help you with all your relocation needs.


Community information and more…
The Relocation Department has information and materials about Albuquerque and our schools always available to prospective buyers. 

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Albuquerque Public Schools
Albuquerque Public Schools (APS) was created twenty years before New Mexico became a state in 1912. APS serves 1,243 square miles and ranks as the 25th largest among the 15,173 school districts in the United States. It has 80 elementary schools, 24 middle schools, 11 high schools and six alternative schools for those with special needs.

Private Schools
Albuquerque has four fully-accredited, non-denominational, private schools and five fully-accredited parochial schools.

Colleges and Universities
Albuquerque is home to The University of New Mexico and Central New Mexico Community College, as well as six private schools of higher learning.

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East Mountain
The area called East Mountain is located on the east side of the 10,000-foot high Sandia Mountains and Manzano Mountains. It encompasses more than 500 square miles in Bernalillo, Santa Fe, and Torrance counties, just east of Albuquerque. The area is bisected by Interstate 40, the primary east-west connection to the city.

This East Mountain area has developed around three mountain ranges controlled by the National Forest Service: the Sandia, Manzanita and Manzano mountains. These mountains provide diverse recreational opportunities and wildlife habitat areas. Because of unique weather patterns, it boasts being the "green side" of the southern Rocky Mountain range.

The population in this area has shown dramatic growth through the last two decades, with a much higher growth rate than most parts of the state. In Bernalillo County, which includes Albuquerque, more than a third of the building permits issued occur within the East Mountain Area. The overall population in this area is estimated to be about 25,000 - with more than half living in Bernalillo County.

The average altitude of the East Mountain Area is between 6,500 and 7,000 feet above sea level. (For comparison, Albuquerque's average altitude is 5,300 feet; Santa Fe is 7,000 feet.)

Cedar Crest, Sandia Park and Sandia Knolls
Cedar Crest, Sandia Park, and Sandia Knolls are small communities on the east side of the Sandia Mountains. All are bedroom communities for Albuquerque and are inhabited by those seeking a more rural environment and who prefer living in the pines found on the east slope.

Placitas
Conveniently located between Santa Fe (36 miles) and Albuquerque (15 miles), Placitas was formed by the San Antonio de las Huertas land grant of 1745. The name means "little plazas," cultural centers of the Spanish villages. Sandia Mountain looms nearby, and other features include the Jemez range, the Rio Grande, juniper and pinon-covered hillsides and always, the sky.

Placitas is ideally suited for many of New Mexico's favorite outdoor activities: hiking, biking, horseback riding, picnicking, golfing, skiing, and sightseeing. Far from the crime and other problems of big-city life, Placitas is simply a great place to live. Expansive homes dot the high desert rolling hills, yet thanks to large minimum lot sizes, density is not a factor.

Each year the Placita's Artists Series presents a program of concerts by the Helios String Quartet. Community art shows, the traditional posada at Christmas, the 4th of July parade and homeowner gatherings provide additional social opportunities. Of course, the vibrant cultural lives of Albuquerque, Santa Fe, and even Taos are within easy driving range.


Rio Rancho
In the 1960's the AMREP corporation of New York began selling in the southern tip of Sandoval County. Soon many left harsh winters behind and moved to New Mexico. In 1980, the city incorporated and it now boasts shopping centers, tourist facilities, a library, churches, schools, an industrial park and a country club. By the mid 90's the population exceeded 40,000 and because of its affordable housing and wonderful views of the city and the mountains, the area continues to grow.

Rio Rancho is a delightful study in contrasts - a fast growing community that retains and cherishes its small-town atmosphere. A city with good, clean light manufacturing and service jobs amid well-planned, quiet neighborhoods.

Called "The City of Vision," Rio Rancho is a town that works. Rio Rancho's determination and drive received national and international recognition when Intel Corp. announced plans for a 1.8 billion dollar expansion (the largest single industrial construction project in this decade in the U.S.) at its computer microprocessor manufacturing plant in Rio Rancho.

Rio Rancho won the Intel expansion over six other states and several foreign countries that had tried vigorously to win the prize.


Taylor Ranch
Taylor Ranch has long been considered one of Albuquerque's most desirable west side communities, with a variety of some of the best home builders in New Mexico, and many of the amenities sought after by most homeowners including quiet streets, and abundance of large park areas for soccer, baseball, and other activities. It's easy to ride your bicycle or walk from your home to any of these parks along the many city-maintained bike/walking trails that meander through the area.

Since Taylor Ranch is within the city limits of Albuquerque, it is served by city police, fire protection, and water and sewer systems. Excellent primary schools and a new middle school make quality living a reality for the growing family. Add to that, easy access to shopping and transportation systems and you have a community that is truly complete.

Corrales
Corrales is a community located along a six-mile stretch of Corrales Road #(NM46). Once part of the Alameda Land Grant, one still can find productive farms and orchards. Today the area is a mixture of the old and new. Spanish homesteads are side by side with solar adobe homes. The residents enjoy the atmosphere and consequently side roads are unpaved and gardens and animals abound. Many professionals who live in Corrales chose to do so because of its old-world Spanish Adobe charm and the privacy of country living within a close proximity to the city. Volunteers keep the community functioning...the village even built their own adobe library. Excellent restaurants, art galleries, small shopping centers, and the famed Adobe Theater draw visitors from throughout the area.

Sandia Heights
Sandia Heights is located on the west face of the Sandia Mountains in the Foothills, the very far NE corner of Albuquerque. The style and landscaping is similar to the homes in Placitas; Southwestern contemporary being the norm. North America's longest Tram starts in the Sandia Heights and traverses the west face of the Sandia Mountains to an altitude of 10,800 feet at the crest.

Los Ranchos De Albuquerque
Los Ranchos de Albuquerque is an incorporated village which is surrounded by the city in the North Valley. The town contains excellent examples of ancient and modern adobe buildings. In 1980, residents digging a swimming pool discovered a significant archaeological site which confirms that Indians settled in the Albuquerque thousands of years ago.

Santa Fe
The charming city of Santa Fe, only 50 miles north of Albuquerque, claims the distinction of having the oldest capitol building in the United States, the Palace of the Governors, built in 1610. This internationally famous city, which is also the capital of New Mexico, is perhaps best known as a cultural and culinary Mecca, with over 200 restaurants and countless galleries. Santa Fe is known as the third largest art center in the United States, behind New York and Los Angeles.

Santa Fe was recently recognized as one of the top three destinations for vacation and resort travelers. It is also the primary or secondary home for many of Hollywood and California's elite. With its uniqueness and desirability, Santa Fe demands the highest average sale price per home in the state of New Mexico, approaching $200,000.

Areas to the South
Three small communities, Los Lunas, Belen and Bosque Farms, also serve many people working in the Albuquerque area. Located 15-25 miles south of Albuquerque, these communities offer a more rural environment.

Pueblos of the Rio Grande
There are approximately 15 different pueblos located within 50 or 60 miles of Albuquerque, each with its own culture and uniqueness. If you want to learn more about the Native American communities in the area, this is absolutely the best place to start. Albuquerque's Indian Pueblo Cultural Center is owned and operated by the pueblos of New Mexico. On exhibit at the center are samplings of arts and crafts from pueblos from all over the state. Also available are materials and guides to help you decide which pueblo to visit. Visiting these pueblos is always a pleasure. They each have their own distinction.

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Sandia Peak Tramway
The world's longest single span tramway. The 2.7-mile ride to the summit takes approximately twenty minutes. It starts at the base of the Sandia Mountains and goes up to 10,678 feet. The panoramic views take in over 11,000 scenic miles. It is breathtaking

The Rio Grande Zoological Park
Located off Central Avenue (historic Route 66) and covering 60 acres, it is home to more than 1,000 animals from around the world (many are from endangered species).

Old Town
The original town square dating back to the first settlers in Albuquerque. The original adobe buildings now serve as shops, restaurants and art galleries. Also on the Plaza is the San Felipe de Neri Church; originally built in 1706, it has been added on to many times.

The Albuquerque Balloon Fiesta
Takes place in the fall, usually the first two weekends. It was started twenty years ago and is held every fall attracting over 600 balloonists and over 1,000,000 spectators. It is the largest event of its kind and the most photographed event in the world.

The New Mexico State Fair
It is one of the largest fairs in the nation. Running for three weeks each September, it features PRCA rodeo, entertainment by nationally famous country-western stars, Indian and Spanish villages, livestock shows, arts and crafts exhibits and much more.

The Petroglyph National Monument
On the west side of the Rio Grande River, it contains nearly 15,000 petroglyphs (ancient Indian drawings) along this 17-mile-long escarpment.

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• The New Mexico Arts and Crafts Fair is held the latter part of June every year at the State Fairgrounds (Central and San Pedro). There are over 200 local artisans exhibiting their talents during this favorite summer event.
   
• Rio Grande Arts & Crafts Festival is a juried show coinciding with the Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta.
   
• Weems Artfest is also held in November at the State Fairgrounds. There is a mixture of southwest and seasonal wares (all crafted by local artisans). Also, at the same time is the Children's Art Mart for the kids.

Art Galleries
Our neighbor to the north, Santa Fe, is known to be the "fine arts capital of the southwest." Albuquerque and Taos are not far behind. Albuquerque also has a strong artist community and we boast of having not only a fine assortment of art galleries, but a wide variety of art as well, ranging from native American to modern.

Culture

• The Albuquerque Civic Light Opera has five productions yearly featuring musical favorites. Past performances included South Pacific, Fiddler On The Roof, and The Music Man.
   
• Albuquerque Little Theater is Albuquerque's oldest community theater with a season running from September through June.
   
• Dance Theatre Southwest
   
• New Mexico Symphony Orchestra has over 40 concerts per season. Most are performed in Popejoy Hall on the University of New Mexico campus. To the delight of the public, the orchestra performs outdoor concerts every Mother's Day on the lawn of the Rio Grande Zoo, and every 4th of July along with a fireworks display at the Civic Plaza Downtown.
   
• The Chamber Orchestra of Albuquerque performs at the Albuquerque Little Theater near Old Town.
   
• The Santa Fe Opera, a world famous "out-door" auditorium, is an easy drive north of Albuquerque. It is nestled in the Sangre de Cristo foothills with a season which runs from July through August. Operas are performed in English and French.
   
• Summerfest at Civic Plaza takes place every Saturday evening in July and August. Each week features a different ethnic specialty of food, music, and entertainment.

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