Neighborhood Series: Unit 17

Nestled in the Desert

The sage-scented air is fresh, the birds are singing, and the view of the Sandia Mountains fills my windshield as I exit my driveway onto Vera Cruz Road—nothing is better than loving where you live. 

When looking for a new home, whether it’s your first or your last, whether you are a growing family or downsizing, it’s important to consider the neighborhood, not just the house. In my neighborhood series, I hope to showcase some of my favorite neighborhoods in the greater Albuquerque area, as well as some of your favorites too.

So, why not start this series with my own neighborhood, Unit 17, or as Rio Rancho locals like to call it The Dirt Roads.  Unit 17 is located north of Northern Blvd and west of Hwy 528, sloping slowly down towards the Rio Grande Valley.

Attune with Nature

Unit 17 feels special thanks to its unpaved roads—it didn’t get its nickname for nothing!  Some may scoff at the downsides to driving on dirt roads every day, and they certainly present their challenges, especially during the rainy season.  The locals know better though, as the positive aspects far out-weigh the negative.

So, what is so special about unpaved roads?  Not having miles of concrete and walls separating its lots like most traditional neighborhoods gives your home the feeling of being nestled in the desert—and not in the third largest and fastest expanding city in New Mexico!

That, in combination with its larger lot sizes, means it’s quieter.  Less traffic passing through, therefore less commercial development, fewer street lights competing with the night sky, and fewer obstructed views of the Sandia Mountains. Not to mention an abundance of native wildlife free to come and go as they make their way from the undeveloped land to the northwest down to the Rio Grande river.

All Access

Despite feeling secluded from the buzz of the city, Unit 17 is conveniently located. It borders three main arteries of Rio Rancho: Loma Colorado Blvd. to the west, Northern Blvd. to the south, and Hwy 528 to the east giving easy access to Rio Rancho city center, Bernalillo, and Corrales.  See map here.

Proximity to schools. Where you send your children to school can have a tremendous impact on their future; Unit 17 has you covered with close proximity to some of the top-rated schools in New Mexico. Rio Rancho Middle School and Enchanted Hills Elementary are within its borders, both ranking 8/10 on Greatschools.org, a national non-profit organization that ranks schools based on a variety of important components like test scores, academic progress, and college readiness.

Both of Rio Rancho’s high schools sit minutes from the neighborhood, Rio Rancho High School to the southwest and V. Sue Cleveland High School to the north.  Both schools are ranked in the top 50 high schools in New Mexico, and are ranked 9/10 on Greatschools.org who gives them both a 10/10 on college readiness.

A Unique Neighborhood 

Subdivisions sprawling with the same style homes, HOA fees, and restrictions on what color you can paint your house or where you put your trash bins is not everyone’s cup of tea. This is not the case for Unit 17—all of the homes are individually built, meaning they are as unique and varied as their owners.

Whether you are keen on building your home yourself, hiring a contractor, and/or working with an architect, this neighborhood is perfect.  In fact, many special homes have already been built, including the famous Fu Residence designed by architect Bart Prince, a sure talking point for anyone taking a tour of the neighborhood.

If you are looking for friendly neighbors or peace and quiet without compromising your commute to the local grocery store, Unit 17 has it all, and a little bit more.  If you are in the area give me a call and I’d be glad to give you a neighborhood tour!

Fu Residence (WAM, worldarchitecturemap.org)

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Keys to Real Estate Wealth in Rio Rancho and Albuquerque – by David Apodaca, Associate Broker and Owner of Southwest Realty.  My goal is to help people buy, sell and invest in real estate,and provide individuals with the keys to real estate solutions. 

Keys are important in real estate—keys not just to the door to your home, but keys that are the knowledge on how to gain wealth by investing in real estate.  It can be as simple as maintaining your own home (maintaining its value or adding value), or investing in rental properties (individual houses or multifamily complexes like duplexes or fourplexes).  Knowing what to do and understanding the local real estate market are both keys to gaining personal wealth.

I can provide you with the necessary information so you can make more informed decisions—so that you can have the keys to unlock your potential wealth.  If you have any questions about real estate or the real estate market in Rancho, Albuquerque, Bernalillo, Placitas, Corrales, the East Mountains, or the Jemez Mountains, Sandoval county or Bernalillo county, contact me today.  505-270-0302, David Apodaca.

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