With its many unique natural wonders, mountain ranges and desert areas, the exotic Native American and Spanish culture, combined with the magical quality of its light and salutary nature of its air, New Mexico is one of the most popular states. It is known as the Land of Enchantment. Today, New Mexico’s almost 2 million residents are among the United States’ most diverse populations, with an ethnic make-up of approximately 45 percent non-Hispanic, 42 percent Hispanic and almost 10 percent Native American.

New Mexico real estate prices have traditionally been some of the lowest in the nation. With the inflow of people from other states, prices have increased dramatically. A single family home in Santa Fe will set you back in the $500,000 range, while the same home will run half that in Albuquerque. Taos homes vary entirely on the specific structure. Appreciation rates for New Mexico in 2005 were nearly 12 percent.

The Albuquerque – Santa Fe metro area includes six major communities, making it the center of the state’s commercial and governmental activities. These are the most popular places. The overall cost of living in Albuquerque is 18% below the national average, with a median home price of $170,800 in the Albuquerque metro areas. Santa Fe, one of the oldest cities in the USA, is a much more expensive place to live, with median home prices rising above $400,000, with few homes selling for anything below $250,000. Helping to balance the costs of some of the more expensive areas, New Mexico’s residential and commercial property taxes are among the lowest in the United States, with tax rates depending on the property type and location. Though Santa Fe is very expensive, but if you can afford it, it is a nice place to live. It’s beautiful, has a strong and flourishing culture and many of the events and issues that take place here are interesting and entertaining. This area has very good weather. The high-desert offers the delights of sunshine (about 300 days per year) and low humidity but not the scorching temperatures of the lower elevations. Sometimes it’s even snowing here.

Las Cruces, New Mexico has earned the ranking as one of the best college towns to retire, and AARP tabbed the city as one of their “dream towns” to retire in. Not only is the area good for retirement, but it is also a thriving area for business and careers, as evidenced by the recent high rating of Forbes magazine. Since the sun is almost always shining, visitors to the area can enjoy many outdoor activities year round including bird watching, camping and hiking, day trips to any number places surrounding the city, ghost towns, tennis, golf, wineries, and swimming. The city also boasts an extensive night life which includes performing arts and shopping to name a few favorites. Las Cruces is home to attractions that celebrate the city’s rich history and cultural diversity. The art lover will certainly fall in love with the area as it boasts over 40 art galleries which feature work from over 200 area artists. Another attraction in the area includes the Bataan Death March Memorial which is the only federally funded memorial dedicated to those who lost their lives during World War II.

After reading all that Las Cruces, New Mexico has to offer you can see why many people think it is a wonderful place to live, and with the right new home built to your needs it will be your own Southwestern desert paradise. Now is the best time to look into real estate in the Las Cruces area and see all that is available.