Moving to Las Cruces

[Glen]

I may be moving from Chicago to Las Cruces NM this June. I don't really know much about Las Cruces or the SouthWest (I've never been). I will either be moving to Las Cruces or Seattle and will have to decide in the next couple weeks. I was excepted to graduate programs in both places.

I have heard there are lots of snakes in Southern NM. I have a dog that I like to take on lots of walks. How cautious would I have to be about my dog being bitten by a poisonous snake?

I enjoy the outdoors (camping, hiking, boating, etc.) Do people do these activities around Las Cruces?

How is the nightlife (restuarants & bars)?

I have heard some good things about cost of living for the area. I'm currently paying almost $1200 a month for a small crappy apartment. When I checked some real estate sites for Las Cruces I found many large apartments between $600 and $800.

Any advise people can give me would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks,

Glen

[Fred Brito]

Hi Glen...

Welcome to Las Cruces.... I think. Las Cruces is a comfy, bedroom community.

There is a day life... but nightlife is next to nothing. Most people travel to El Paso, TX, which is just 50 mikes away for any kind of nightlife.

Las Cruces does have some very good restaurants, and there are days when we celebrate historical or customs, but very few and far in between.

The people are conservative. Most go to church on Sunday, then forget what they learned and return to old habits.

This is a very judgmental community, and the local press (Las Cruces Sun News) is as conservative as they come comes.

Over all, the prices are very low compared to Seattle or any large metro city. Homes here are very low. For instance, a four bedroom two story home, brand news cost $178K. Taxes and utilities are extremely high.

Drivers are as careless as in New York and lack human courtesy.

The politicians as in most cities promise many things yet don't deliver.

Crime is very low. If arrested, beware. You will be treated as "guilty until proven innocent." I kid you not.

Movie Theaters are plenty. Bowling: we have only one bowling alley.

Chain restaurants are plenty.

NMSU is a good place to go to school, but if you ask the students.. Las Cruces is boring, and most students quickly hop in their cars and head for points south.(El Paso)

Why do I live here? I like the prices of homes. I like the very slow pace, and I like the fact that there is a big city close by if I want to go, or 300 miles away Albuquerque and it southwestern beauty is a wonderful place to be.

Overall, I left Los Angeles last May for Las Cruces and I think I made a wise decision financially. It is a great place to retire, but if you are young... well... Seattle may look better.

Cost of living:
Las Cruces: Cheap living
Seattle: Expensive

People:
Boring and hypocritical. An ALL for me and NONE for you mentality

News Media:
Las Cruces New Press - Horribly judgmental
The Las Cruces Bulletin - Liberal and Wonderful

Home Prices:
Las Cruces: Extremely LOW
Seattle: Extremely HIGH

Apartment Rentals:
Las Cruces: Low and comfy
Seattle: High and expensive

The Arts:
Las Cruces: Great Orchestra and few theatrical programs
Seattle: Wonderfully full of everything

Ask me some questions... I will tell you no lies.

[e-mail]

[Glen]

Thank you very much for your reply. I found it very useful. I do have a few other random questions about las cruces. I've seen a few pictures of the Rio Grande, in some pictures it looks narrow and shallow, and in other pictures it looks like you could go motorboating on it.

1. How is the Rio Grande in the Las Cruces area? Do people Swim in it, fish it it, etc.?

Also, I'm a little scarred about all of the snakes I've been reading about in New Mexico.

2. Are the snakes really a problem? Would I be able to walk my dog off lease in certain areas?

3. Would you recommend living in Mesilla over Las Cruces if I were attending New Mexico State University? Is Mesilla far?

4. My girlfriend will be a recent law school grad when we move, would it be hard for her to find a job?

Thanks,

Glen Mathis
[e-mail]

[Glen]

Just checked out your profile. Looks like you've lived a very interesting and fun life. I'll look for your special on Dateline NBC.

[Not A Realtor]

Snakes rule here. Dogs must be leashed at all times per state law. Veterinarians do offer a rattlesnake vaccine for your dog. All the other snakes are harmless. The city has just recieved state money to build a dog park.

What most people won't tell you is that the Rio Grande only flows in the summer at the will of the government and for the benefit of the farmers. You can't boat on it, swim at your own risk, I wouldn't touch it or eat fish out of it. However, about an hour north is the dam and lake where you can boat and swim, etc. The spring winds are horrible, up to 55 mph today. If you suffer from allergies this is not the place for you. It only rains, let me re-phrase, pours during July and August, our monsoon season. So make sure your housing is "on high ground".

I'm not at all sure what Mr. Brito refers to when he says taxes are high here. I was raised back east where my mothers taxes were around $3500 a yr, I pay $350 a year.

I've lived here for 37 years. I stay because I hate snow. The crime rate is low, depending on the area you choose to live.

The cops are like cops everywhere, so what if they treat you like your guilty, they are not the judge and jury. Only criminals need beware.

There is a very strong cultural bias here and resistance to change. Prices for housing, groceries, gas, just about everything have skyrocketed in the last two years and most jobs do not pay anything near what that same job would elsewhere.

Most of our growth is a result of retirees moving in. They could sell their home in Calif. or NY for $500,000 and then come here and buy a bigger one for half the price and do rather well. But the market is catching up to that. Now is probably as good a time as any to move here should you decide to do so if you plan to see any immediate equity.

Best of luck in making such an important decision.

[Fred Brito]

NOT A REALTOR SAID: "The cops are like cops everywhere, so what if they treat you like your guilty, they are not the judge and jury. Only criminals need beware."

I ASSURE YOU, WHEN IT HAPPENS TO YOU,(CONTACT WITH THE POLICE) AND I HOPE THAT YOU DON'T... YOUR THOUGHTS ON THIS SUBJECT WILL IMMEDIATELY IF NOT INSTANTLY CHANGE. YOU JUST HAVE POSSIBLY NOT HAD AN OPPORTUNITY TO EXPERIENCE POLICE ACTION BEFORE.

YOUR STATEMENT, "SO WHAT IF THEY (THE COPS) TREAT YOU LIKE YOU ARE GUILTY...."

HUMMM, SEEMS A BIT IGNORANT IN MY VIEW.

[sun lover]

I have lived in LC or many years. I am a Seattlite! If you want an abundance of boating and culture - Seattle If you like being outside LC There is a culture of art and music if you look i wouldn't be parinoid about the snakes. Snake bites are not that common! Which school offers the best educational program for you? UW is huge! NMSU is smaller Traffic is horrible in Seattle. LC no comparison
Seattle great cusine and great fresh produce LC limited in comparision to Seattle.
Much more sunlight in LC and longer days Mostly down here yu don't have to plan around the weather. LC hasa bad windy season in the spring, Seattle long dark days in the winter can't beat Seattle's weather in the summer (going boating in August with friends)

good luck!

[A M I R]

Hi
I am just moving to las cruces
I need info about living expenses in las cruces
rentals
groceries
and the snake do they come into the house

[Anthony]

Im pretty sure I have lived in Las Cruces all my life. Not ONCE have I seen a live snake unless it's smashed on the road. I live in the East Mesa development pretty much in the desert, and not once have I seen a snake. The people here are great. It's just right in between a big metro city, and a town. Heck Mesilla is right down the street if Las Cruces is too big, or too full of crime. I think it is a great community not just for retirees, but for families. There's always something to do.

[Jack]

Glen wrote:

I may be moving from Chicago to Las Cruces NM this June. I don't really know much about Las Cruces or the SouthWest (I've never been). I will either be moving to Las Cruces or Seattle and will have to decide in the next couple weeks. I was excepted to graduate programs in both places.
I have heard there are lots of snakes in Southern NM. I have a dog that I like to take on lots of walks. How cautious would I have to be about my dog being bitten by a poisonous snake?
I enjoy the outdoors (camping, hiking, boating, etc.) Do people do these activities around Las Cruces?
How is the nightlife (restuarants & bars)?
I have heard some good things about cost of living for the area. I'm currently paying almost $1200 a month for a small crappy apartment. When I checked some real estate sites for Las Cruces I found many large apartments between $600 and $800.
Any advise people can give me would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks,
Glen

Dark ages no culture extremly corrupted, cops dealing drugs, over 100 degrees for 3 months a year, nothing to do, but eat and sleep,no night life, no day life, cheap apartements , becouse nobody wants to be here, wages from about 30 years ago, Run before it's too late. Stay in US

[Jack]

A M I R wrote:

Hi
I am just moving to las cruces
I need info about living expenses in las cruces
rentals
groceries
and the snake do they come into the house

it's cheap and not worth much either...sorry little crap hole no culture, the rudest, dumbest , most crooked and lazy yet naive people I ever met Soon we'll be glad to go back to US

[Robert]

Gotta agree with the snake comment. I have lived here 18 years now and the only snakes I've seen are ones at the pet store. Rattlesnakes are the only poisonous ones here and even if you were terribly unfortunate enough to run into one, vets have a vaccine that fights Rattlesnake poison. All other snakes are wimpy and a bunch don't even have fangs. Your dog, even if it was a Chihuahua, would probably treat the snakes as play toys.

As for housing, it's extremely cheap.

I'm a student at NMSU and it's not as boring as everyone else here says it is. There are tons of organizations to get involved with and most of them are throwing parties left and right. I've been here for about a year now and have yet to be bored out of my mind, because if I am, I send about 3 text messages to 3 people asking if anything is going on, and usually all 3 will give me an option. All in all, the college is pretty tight. People get along well, aside from the few frats who's soul purpose is to be jerks, and you can make friends very, very easily.

If I had to complain about anything here, it's that the weather is pretty annoying. I've got allergies so the winds in spring kick my butt. Summer is pretty hot... Allll the time.

So to sum it up: your dog will be just fine, make friends and you won't get bored with day life or night life, this is a good place for hiking because we are SURROUNDED by mountains, and although our lakes and rivers aren't the cleanest things in the world, if you're not a paranoid little baby you can boat in them. They even have an annual event where you build your own raft and go down the Rio in a 'race' sorta thing.

[North Mexico]

..."most of them are throwing parties left and right"... as i said nothing to do except for drinking,drinking and climbing up dry ass rock imitating a mountain in 100 degrees ,and drinking and boating in a stream which is empty most of the year. You can also enjoy pathetic wages, police brutality and mexican music, and drinking.

[rioazul]

Jack wrote:

<quoted text>
it's cheap and not worth much either...sorry little crap hole no culture, the rudest, dumbest , most crooked and lazy yet naive people I ever met Soon we'll be glad to go back to US

So--- where is it you think you are? I'm just curious.

[North Mexico]

rioazul wrote:

<quoted text>
So--- where is it you think you are? I'm just curious.

North Mexico..not Mexico and not US just something in between
Geographically it belongs to US, economically, culturally, and on every imaginable level such as nonexisting education, corrupted police, extremly corrupted justice system and government it belongs to Mexico. NM has exactly same problems as Mexico and the money comes from US government, drug deals and OIL just like in Mexico. The only state where Spanish is considered perfectly enough and wages are below $10.00 ph. Governor is half white and half mexican. Politicians are mostly Mexicans. NM is an experiment of what would happen to US if president was from Mexico.North Mexico