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The local history, much of which was spent under
the Mexican flag, has greatly influenced the architecture in
Las Cruces; western-style adobe, similar to what is found in
Santa Fe, is the dominant housing style. Homes in town
tend to be older and smaller; new subdivision on the
outskirts of the city generally have larger, newer
homes. The median three-bedroom home price here is
$145,000 (compared to $375,000 in Santa Fe) and is the
primary reason that the overall cost-of-living in Las Cruces
is roughly 10% below the national average. Nice,
two-bedroom, two-bath town homes and condominiums in town
are available starting for less than $100,000, and older,
modest single-family homes with two bedrooms and one bath
are for sale in the $100,000 range. |
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The median home price of $145,000 will fetch a newer, attractive,
2,000 sq. ft., adobe-style dwelling with two stories,
four bedrooms, two and a half baths and an attached 2-car
garage. Homes in the $150,000 to $200,000 range are
quite plentiful. Higher-end, custom homes have been overbuilt
and as a result are not selling as well, so there may be deals to
found in the $250,00+ range and above. Residences at
this price come with terracotta tile roofs, 2,500 to 4,000 sq.
ft., three to four bedrooms, two to three baths, an outdoor
kitchen, tile floors, 9-ft. ceilings, a great room, granite
countertops, custom cabinets and much more. Las Cruces
certainly has its share of beautiful homes, and since the city is
in the Chihuahua Desert ecoregion, xeriscaping, using
drought-resistant plants and vegetation that do not require
supplemental irrigation, is the preferred landscaping method for
most homes.
This is an interactive
map. Click on the arrows in the upper left hand corner to
move the map to the East, West, North or South, and click on the
+/- signs to zoom in and out.
Las Cruces has a number of active adult
communities. Trails West is an attractive,
gated, manufactured home development. Fairway Village on the
Picacho Hills Golf Course is a private, gated community with lots
for sale from $39,500 and home/land packages starting at around
$159,000. The
Boulders on the Sonoma Ranch Golf Course is a new, upscale
development with homes starting in the mid-$200,000s. The
average apartment rent is $650 per month. Low
property taxes are a reason many retirees come to Las
Cruces. Residential properties are taxed at a rate of $27.53
per $1,000 on 33.3% of appraised value. There is a
homestead exemption of $2,000 off the assessed value for all
homeowners. With certain restrictions, there is also a property
tax rebate for residents age 65 or better. The annual property taxes on a $180,000 home
would be $1,595. New Mexico taxpayers 65 and better
may be exempt up to $8,000 (single filer) or $16,000 (married,
filing jointly) from any income source if the income is under
$28,500 (single filers) or $51,000 (filing jointly). Anyone
who is 100 years old or better pays no income tax whatsoever!
Las Cruces' sales tax is 7.1% The city is feeling the
effects of the recession just as most cities are, but Las Cruces'
unemployment rate remains below the national average. The American southwest is
home to a certain mysticism, an intangible quality often
cited by those that live here. When awash in the
warm glow of a New Mexico sunset, the land around Las
Cruces, a combination of high desert, mountains and the
green Mesilla Valley, mesmerizes. Anglo, Spanish,
Native American and Mexican cultures have all made their
mark here; today, the city remains ethnically
diverse. Spanish is heard as often as English,
and life proceeds at a leisurely pace.
Las
Cruces, New Mexico, Continued....
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