Looking to relocate to New Mexico

[Bardingly]

Hi everyone, I'm exploring the possibility of relocating to NM, perhaps Santa Fe or Albuquerque. Does anyone have insight as to how the appraisal business is there? We like the Santa Fe area, but I would imagine most of the appraisal work is in Albuquerque. Any recommendations as to where to live? What other questions should I ask?

 

[Scott R Marshall]

Mr Smith,


There are some real differences in appraising in New Mexico. First off we are a non-disclosure state. While I will not go into all the details of what that means, the biggest impact is that word of mouth and MLS are the only resources available for a lot of pertinent items. Secondly Santa Fe and Albuquerque MLS systems are separate. If you want both it will run you about $350 to $400 per year (even though I just renewed I forget the exact amount) for Santa Fe and about $500 per year for Albuquerque. In addition you will need to be in good standing with one of those 2 offices (an active member) and that will run you close to $600 per year.

As for appraising within those 2 markets, Santa Fe is by far the hardest of the 2 for multiple reason. The primary reasons are the vast diversity of housing and micro-markets, the overall lack of reliable data in the MLS system and the general trend that Santa Fe realtors will not talk to you regarding information. While the latter 2 have gotten slightly better it is still not good. Albuquerque is the easier of the 2 markets and where the majority of work is.

As for business, for me personally it is has not been good over the last 6 months. I have also heard that currently there has been a marked slowdown and that a lot of appraisers are slow but I am sure there are some exceptions.

 

[Terrel L. Shields]

I want to move to Otero county....maybe Lincoln co....I want my neighbors to be at least 12 miles away. To heck with appraising. I want to retire.

 

[Mike Garrett RAA]

Sante Fe is fairly expensive, much of Albuquerque is not.

 

[nm505]

I want to move to Otero county....maybe Lincoln co....I want my neighbors to be at least 12 miles away. To heck with appraising. I want to retire.

We welcome you, Terrel. Come on down. It would be great to have someone of your knowledge in our fair state.

 

[Terrel L. Shields]

We welcome you, Terrel.

NM is an interesting place.
You can live in the warm weather of Alamagordo and drive 20 miles to Cloudcroft and go skiing. I cannot think of any other place that I have seen antelope grazing on a golf course. Billy the Kid, Oliver Lee, Kit Carson, ah, the history of the West. You can trout fish. You can hunt. Rock hound. Caves. Mountains, desert, lakes...ride a steam engine. I like it.

 

[nm505]

Yes, and the drought and dust blowing spring winds BUT better than the floods along the great mississippi river and terrible fires that TX has experienced. I love it here and will never leave. Can't wait to leave appraising however.

 

[Mike Garrett RAA]

There is good bass fishing in New Mexico too!