Real Estate Information Archive

Are you planning to buy a home in Albuquerque and have kids in school? Then no doubt you want to find the right home near the best schools in Albuquerque.  You certainly don’t want to end up regretting buying your home if it turns out that the school you live near isn’t right for your child.

You may think that your real estate agent can show you all the best schools in Albuquerque. But they can’t. Fair housing laws have been enacted that prevents agents from recommending schools.  Why? It was discovered that some agents in recent years have been labeling schools as "bad" to swing the sales of homes toward more affluent neighborhoods. So it’s a good thing that agents in general aren’t allowed to recommend schools. That means that you as a parent should research the best schools in Albuquerque for your children. After you find a school you think would best suit your children’s needs, then your agent can help you find the right home near that school.

There are at least 3 questions you should ask when finding the right school in Albuquerque.

What school will you child attend?

Sure this may seem obvious, and that’s why some people forget to ask it. There are dozens of schools in the Albuquerque Public School district, so that means you have a lot of schools to choose from. Their website has a great deal of information about schools in Albuquerque that should be useful in finding a good school.

What are the numbers?

Even though numbers don’t provide a complete perspective, they are a great place to start. You can find helpful ratings and scores on websites such as GreatSchools.org and Niche.com. They use test scores, reviews, and other factors to rate the best schools in a given area.

What about reputation?

If you know people in the area you want to move to in Albuquerque, ask them what they know the schools in the area. You might even meet with the principal of a school to get an even closer look, presuming you can make such an arrangement. See if they can give you a tour of the school with your child present.  Look at class sizes.  Is the library well stocked? What does your child think about the school? These are great indicators to look for.

Finding the right school and the right home for sale in Albuquerque is worth the effort.  Once you do find a great school for your child, let us help you find the right home near that school.  Our powerful search tools can help you find homes for sale near the schools of your choice in Albuquerque.  Also make sure to take advantage of our Home Buyer Listing Alerts to get automated alerts of homes as they hit the market. And you can always feel free to call us at 505-980-2999 to speak with an experienced agent.

HOT HOME LISTING OF THE WEEK!

10 Tres Amigos Road, Placitas, NM  $399,000

3 Bedrooms/ 2 Bathrooms (2 full, 0 partial) / 2200 Square Feet

This stunning Placitas Custom Home offers a secluded .97 AC Sanctuary w/breathtaking views. Open & spacious floorplan featuring a dramatic entry way into a cozy living space. Warm & inviting property in a highly sought-after location. Fabulous access to hiking & biking.

Contact the Sandi Pressley team for additional details! 

Get your Morning Inspiration with the Sandi Pressley Team

If you love antiques, then get ready for the antiques event of the year in Albuquerque! Coming this Aug 5-6 to the Expo New Mexico State Fair Grounds is the 19th Annual Great Southwestern Antique Show. This huge antique show will benefit the New Mexico non-profit organizations that focus in enhancing arts and education in the area. You'll find over 200 dealers, making this the largest antiques show in the Southwest! There will be everything you can think of in addition to antiques - rare books,fine art, Native American & Western art, vintage guitars, ephemera, old pawn and estate jewelry and more!

The event starts with a sneak preview from 1-6 pm on Aug 4 that will donate all proceeds to the KNME PBS Endowment. Then the main event starts on the 5th. You'll enjoy learning about the art of collecting and investing in fine art and antiques. And if you have treasures of your own, bring up to 3 of them along and have them appraised from 12-3pm for $35 (limited to the first 100 donors) and proceeds go to New Mexico PBS.

Check out the full schedule and have a great time exploring the world of antiques in Albuquerque!

HOT HOME LISTING OF THE WEEK!

6640 Santo Lina Trail NW, Albuquerque   $279,000

3 Bedrooms/ 2.5 Bathrooms/ 2670 Square Feet

Oversized corner lot w/Unobstructed views of the City, Bosque & Mountains along the Bosque in gated community. Close to to beautiful & scenic walking & bike paths!

Contact the Sandi Pressley team for additional details! 

Get your Morning Inspiration with the Sandi Pressley Team

There's never been a better time to find an amazing home in Albuquerque and Placitas. Our top Hot Properties feature custom luxury amenities, beautiful landscapes, all in great neighborhoods.  Take a look at what our top Hot Properties have in store for you!

8100 Via Alegre NE, Albuquerque

This one-of-a-kind custom Medditerranean home features custom crafted gates, knotty aldre entry, beamed ceilings and n extraordinary chef's kitchen. There's pleny of room for all your toys and cars in the oversized garage.

Check out the details and amazing photos!

10 Cinco Circle, Placitas

Enjoy the extraordinary views from this spacious home, featuring 5 bedrooms, 2 living areas, and more.  Treat your guests to the upstairs bed with en suite bath.  Entertain in style with the spacious kitchen that opens into the great room.  And there's plenty of room for the wine with the built-in wine fridge that holds 400 bottles!

Check out the details and amazing photos!

Contact the Sandi Pressley team for additional details! 

Get your Morning Inspiration with the Sandi Pressley Team

Every year, US News & World Report comes out with their list of 100 Best Places to Live in America, and Albuquerque made the cut at #74! They base their ranking on quality of life, job market, and people's desire to live here. So it's really no surprise Albuquerque made the list, considering all that this great city has to offer. It's an area rich in culture and natural beauty. Albuquerque's economy and artistic community attracts new residents from all over.

There's so much to do in Albuquerque - art galleries, historic sites, the Albuquerque BioPark's zoo, museums. And don't forget the food! There is an enormous array of food to suit any taste. The wineries and breweries of Albuquerque are also known around the country.

And if you want to enjoy the great outdoors, no problem! Albuquerque Parks & Recreation has a whole host of great parks to keep you busy. There's a neverending list of things to do, such as golfing, swimming, walk through stunning open spaces, playing with your kids in the playground, ride a hot air balloon, shoot some targets, kayaking on the Rio Grande, you name it!

Learn more about what makes Albuquerque one of the best cities in America to live on our Albuquerque New Mexico Real Estate & Information page, as well as search for your dream home.

HOT HOME LISTING OF THE WEEK!

12105 Pocono Road SE, Albuquerque   $239,000

3 Bedrooms/ 2 Bathrooms/ 1790 Square Feet

Exceptional single story home built in 2013!  Light, bright & open great room w/fireplace, beautiful tile flooring thru out.  Spaciously designed kitchen complete w/stunning countertops/backsplash.

Contact the Sandi Pressley team for additional details! 

Get your Morning Inspiration with the Sandi Pressley Team

These Hot Properties in Albuquerque offer an amazing amount of bang for the buck! Whether you want tons of space or amazing views, either one of these homes is exactly what you’re looking for.  Take a look at all they have waiting for you.

5013 LA BAJADA ROAD NW, ALBUQUERQUE

When they say “location, location, location”, they’re talking about this contemporary stunner with amazing views of the Sandia Mountains, Bosque and City Lights! This bright and open home features a huge living room where you can enjoy the amazing views from the balcony. Or you can relax in the oversized back yard with covered patio – a perfect area for entertaining guests.

There’s so much more to see! Check out the property detail page for more info and photos!

8409 MESA TOP ROAD NW, ALBUQUERQUE

If you’re looking for a home with plenty of space, then this is the ideal solution.  With 4 beds and 3 baths spread over 3025 sq feet, you’ll have plenty of room for the whole family to sprawl out. And there’s a huge kitchen with center island just waiting to be used to entertain guests.  And you’ll be close to schools, parks, and a community pool.

And that’s not all! Check out the property detail page for more info and photos!

Check back on our blog every week for more hot properties!

Contact the Sandi Pressley team for additional details! 

Get your Morning Inspiration with the Sandi Pressley Team

If you’re looking for the ideal southwest city to buy a home, then Albuquerque, New Mexico is the place you’ve been looking for.  There’s so many things that make Albuquerque the perfect place to buy your dream home.

If you’re moving from a colder environment and looking for warm and dry weather, then you’ve found the right place.  Albuquerque boasts 310 days of sunshine on average per year, with high temperatures ranging around 77 deg, so it doesn’t get too hot.  And this is perfect for exploring the great outdoors that this city is famous for.

Albuquerque has a vibrant economy fueled by institutions such as Sandia National Laboratories, Kirtland Air Force Base,  Lovelace Respiratory Research Institute,  the University of New Mexico (UNM),  and Petroglyph National Monument. It’s also an award winning city that has received endless accolades from magazines and organizations all over the US.

And don’t forget the great shopping and dining opportunities in Albuquerque!

Want to learn more and search for your dream home?  Visit our Albuquerque, New Mexico real estate for sale page and find out all the excelling reasons you should move to Albuquerque!

HOT HOME LISTING OF THE WEEK!

1909 Bold Ruler Street SE, Albuquerque, NM 87123   $235,000

3 Bedrooms/ 2 Bathrooms/ 1670 Square Feet

Beautiful Medditeranean style home with oversized master bed, professional landscaping, tiled counters, and much more!

Contact the Sandi Pressley team for additional details! 

Get your Morning Inspiration with the Sandi Pressley Team

As you plan on buying your next home in Albuquerque, you no doubt are already setting aside a down payment.  But have you considered closing costs? If not, then you need to remember that’s it’s an important part of the buying process.

What exactly are closing costs?  They are also known as settlement fees, and are paid when obtaining a mortgage.  These fees are charged by your real estate agent, lender and other parties involved in the transaction.  These costs can be around 2-5% of the purchase price.

Many first-time home buyers in Albuquerque don’t realize this.  And if you have a low down payment program, the closing costs could be the same amount as the down payment.

There’s a number of factors that can affect the closing costs, such as appraisal fees, credit report fees, and others.  You can work with your lender and agent to see if there’s any way to decrease these costs. You can also negotiate with the seller over who pays the fees. This is called ‘seller’s concession’ and can be used in negotiation to get the deal closed with the seller.

So make sure to talk to us early about closing costs so you won’t be caught unprepared.

To receive a personal consultation for your home, contact the Sandi Pressley Team directly!

Looking for the perfect Albuquerque area home? Sign-up for our free Preferred Email Listing Alerts and receive only the properties that meet your personal qualifications! Follow this link: PREFERRED EMAIL LISTING ALERTS

HOT HOME LISTING OF THE WEEK!

4401 Pershing Avenue SE, Albuquerque, NM   $499,000

3 Bedrooms/ 4 Bathrooms/ 4100 Square Feet

INCREDIBLE Custom single story Home-In the heart of ABQ! This home has it all! Open floorplan with large living areas, game room, and so much more.  

Contact the Sandi Pressley team for additional details! 

In today’s Market in Albuquerque, some homeowners might be thinking about selling their home on their own.  This is known as For Sale by Owner (FSBO).  But there are a number of reasons why this may not be the best idea is you’re planning on selling your home in Albuquerque.

Here are 4 reasons why:

Buyer Exposure

It’s a fact that 94% of buyers search online for a home.  That’s compared to only 17% looking at the newspaper ads. Most real estate agents in Albuquerque have a marketing strategy that involves online marketing. Do you?

The Internet Gets Results

51% of home buyers find their home on the internet.  34% found it from a real estate agent.  A mere 9% found it from a yard sign.  Just putting up a sign in the front yard doesn’t work anymore.  A strong internet marketing strategy is essential.

Too Many People to Deal With

Most FSBO home sellers don’t realize at first all the people they have to deal with.  You have the buyer, the buyer’s agent, the buyer’s attorney, home inspectors, and appraisers. That can be overwhelming if you don’t have experience in selling a home.

FSBOs Have Become More Difficult

There’s far more paperwork involved in buying and selling a home than there used to be.  That’s why the percentage of people selling by FSBO has dropped from 19% to 8% over the last 20 or so years.

So before you take on the challenge of selling your home by yourself, give us a call and let us help you decide if an experienced Albuquerque real estate agent can help you sell your home.

HOT PROPERTY OF THE WEEK!

4 Cinco Circle, Placitas, NM 87043  $399,000

3 Bedrooms/ 3 Bathrooms/ 2740 Square Feet

Gorgeous single story custom home on private 2 acre sanctuary.

Learn more by contacting the Sandi Pressley Team

Get your Morning Inspiration with the Sandi Pressley Team!

Interest rates on a home mortgage remain low. Home prices are rising but they are still below the level they were at before the market took a dive. If you qualify for a low or no down payment loan, you're still likely to have closing costs and other expenses revolving around a new home purchase.

Here are 6 tips to help you save enough to make owning a home more than just a dream.

Tip #1 - Create a budget and expense report. Be specific about how much income you have each month and how much of it is being spent where. This will not only help you see where you might be able to make cuts, but will also help when you need to decide on a price range for your new home.

Tip #2 - Eliminate recurring service expenses, like gym memberships or cleaning services, that you aren't using or you might be able to do yourself to save some cash. A gym membership can add up to hundreds of dollars in a year.

Tip #3 - Cut out the java and other treats. Sure, we all like a good cup of coffee on the way to work but those trips can cost $30 - $40 a week or more if you add any food items to your stop. Your budget and your waistline will thank you!

Tip #4 - Eat out less or go earlier in the day. Dinners at restaurants are often more expensive than the same meal on a happy hour or lunch menu. Keep your leftovers and take them for lunch the next day. Living lean has become more and more popular in recent days.

Tip #5 - Consider getting a side job. What skills do you have that you can use on the side to make a little extra cash? Selling crafts on Etsy, working part time at the mall or even babysitting or mowing lawns can be great ways to earn a little extra each month.

Tip #6 - Be diligent about paying off debt. Start with your highest interest rate card first. Hit it hard and then move that payment to the next highest card. Rinse and repeat until all debts are paid.

It may feel like you're depriving yourself of the basics that make life comfortable to you but remember, there's a bigger purpose here. You want to be a homeowner and you want an affordable payment. Saving for the down payment or closing costs is a great start to ownership.

If you're ready to start your search, contact The Sandi Pressley Team today.

Have An Awesome Week!

Sandi's Hot Home Listing

4 Cinco Circle, Placitas

Price: $409,000 Beds: 3 Baths: 3 Square Feet: 2,740

GORGEOUS SINGLE STORY Placitas custom home offers a private 2 acre sanctuary with breathtaking mountain views. This 3 bedroom, 3 bath, 3 car garage, NM Pueblo home showcases spacious floorplan featuring a dramatic entry way into a cozy living space with Kiva fireplace and exposed vigas, T&G ceilings+wooden shutters throughout. Upgraded gourmet kitchen with custom cabinetry, granite countertops with beautiful backsplash accents. Private master suite with stunning Kiva fireplace and lovely Master Bath jetted tub, separate shower and large walk-in closets.

View This Listing

The one question we get asked more than any other is this: When is the best time to buy a home? It most often comes from first time homebuyers who are making the change from being renters to being owners. The answer is complicated and varies depending on your individual situation but let's take a look at a common situation as an example. Your readiness to make a commitment is likely the most important factor in the timing of a home purchase. You've already looked at your budget and determined that renting is costing you more than owning would. You have a down payment saved up and you're ready to take the leap. What's next? Here are some questions to ask to determine if it's time.

• Am I willing to work with a lender to determine my price range and ONLY look at homes in that range?
• Am I willing to research neighborhoods to find one that meets my lifestyle needs?
• Am I willing to compromise my desires to find a home that suits most of my needs?
• Am I prepared to make an offer when I find a home that fits my needs and is within my budget?

If you answered no to any of these questions, you may not be ready. Finding the right home is the easy part. Being prepared to jump, not so much. Prices are still at historic lows, rates remain very affordable. Now is a great time to buy a home. The real estate market has been tumultuous for years. Being fearful of making such a large financial commitment is understandable. Buying a home is a long term investment. Like the stock market, there is risk. If the market tanks again, you may lose equity and be forced to stay in your home longer than you expected. If you can be realistic about home ownership being a long term investment, you will eventually get a return on investment. However, you must be willing to:

• Keep your home updated and do repairs on a regular basis
• Be patient, return on investment can take a decade or more
• Buy in your price range

Once you asked yourself all the right questions and decided that you're willing to do what it takes, it's time to talk to your lender and a real estate professional. The Sandi Pressley Team is here to answer your questions.

Have An Awesome Week!

Sandi's Hot Home Listing

12105 Signal Ave NE, Albuquerque

Price: $945,000 Beds: 5 Baths: 4 Square Feet: 4,495

Sophisticated custom home with casita; Nestled in desired Primrose Pointe, showcases breathtaking MTN & City views!Built with Elegance & Luxury, the 4495 SF Award winning home offers the finest quality craftsmanship 5 bedrooms, 4 baths, 3 fireplaces, a 3 car garage and 2 spacious living areas, with wet-bar, travertine flooring and alder wood throughout! Gourmet kitchen with custom Alderwood cabinets, granite counters, island, stainless steel Subzero and WOLF appliances!  Tranquil Master suite with fireplace, sitting room and private patio.

View This Listing

AND HERE'S YOUR MONDAY MORNING COFFEE!!