New Mexico 55+ Active Adult Retirement Communities

2 Active Adult Communities in New Mexico

New Mexico remained largely unnoticed by the retirement population throughout most of the twentieth century. Recently, however, the state has received more attention from retirees as an up-and-coming retirement destination. As prices and population in places like Phoenix and Las Vegas increased dramatically throughout the 90s and early 2000s, people looked for an escape that offered reasonable prices and less congestion. As a result, New Mexico emerged as a logical alternative to those seeking a retirement destination in the Southwest.

New Mexicos rise in popularity among retirees is well deserved. The overall tax burden on its residents is in the lower third of all the states and among the best of the entire Southwest states. New Mexico offers a wide array of landscapes, rich culture and plenty of recreational opportunities. Despite New Mexicos image as an arid desert, heavily forested mountain wilderness cover a significant portion of the state, especially towards the north. Sunshine is pretty much the norm in most parts of the state and some places experience up to 340 days of sunshine a year. Surprisingly, some of the high altitude regions of the state have been known to get in excess of 300 inches of snow a year.

Retirement Real Estate & Active Adult Communities

Real estate prices range from very affordable in rural areas and small towns to downright expensive in places like Santa Fe where real estate prices are 40 percent higher than the national average. Albuquerque and Santa Fe have traditionally been the most popular retirement destinations in New Mexico. However, more recently, retirees have flocked to hidden gems across the southern part of the state in places like Silver City, Las Cruces, Ruidoso, Roswell and Carlsbad. Home prices tend to be above the national average in the northern part of the state and below the national average in the south.

55+ active adult and retirement communities in New Mexico are few and far between. Unlike some of the large-scale active retirement communities in other parts of the Southwest, the largest active adult community in New Mexico is only 700 homes. Many people retiring to New Mexico have instead settled in quaint towns or found homes in all-ages master-planned communities. Some of these communities are age-targeted, meaning people of all ages can live there but they tend to offer amenities and social activities that are appealing to active adults and are heavily populated by those 55 and older.

Several active adult communities near Albuquerque, NM have been especially popular with retirees. Alegria is a 376 home community by Centex on the banks of the Rio Grande north or Albuquerque. Jubilee at Los Lunas will be the states largest active adult retirement community with nearly 800 homes. Both include ranch-style homes, great amenities and a socially active lifestyle.

Climate & Geography

Despite New Mexicos reputation as an arid desert state, it is actually covered in a varied landscape of high snow-capped mountains and lush forests. The climate varies tremendously by location and altitude. Though summer days can typically rise into the 90s throughout much of the state, a sweater or light jacket is usually a requirement in the evening as temperatures typically fall into the 50s and 60s. Winter highs tend to be in the 40s throughout most of the state and lows are in the 20s. Most places in New Mexico experience in excess of 300 days of sunshine a year; as a result, rain is scarce. Places at higher altitudes experience abundant snowfalls throughout the winter.

Recreation and Culture

New Mexicos varied landscape and year-round reasonable temperatures make it a great place for a variety of recreational opportunities. There are over a dozen ski resorts in the state and when the snow melts, the mountains make for great hiking, fishing, mountain biking and hunting. Albuquerque is home to seven horse tracks and the University of New Mexico, where retirees can attend sporting events, lectures, performing arts and concerts. The states Hispanic heritage means there are plenty of museums and art galleries that showcase exhibits devoted Native American life, artifacts and history. In addition, places like Santa Fe and Taos are known for their thriving artistic communities. For those looking for something more urban, Albuquerque is home to over half a million people and is a great spot for entertainment, dining and nightlife.

Taxes

New Mexicos tax burden places it in the top third of all states for overall tax burden on their residents. In short, the tax liability is better than most states, but certainly not in the top 10. Still, among the Southwest states, it ranks as one of the best. New Mexicos state income tax is graduated from 1.7 to 5.3 percent, depending on income bracket. All income over $24,000 is taxed at the 5.3 percent level. Married couples over 65 filing jointly receive a $12,300 deduction. Sales tax varies from 5 to 6.25 percent and there are no sales tax exemptions. Property taxes range from .6 to 1.5 percent of the homes value.

Continuing Education & Job Opportunities

For those seeking continuing education, the University of New Mexico in Albuquerque, Eastern New Mexico University in Roswell, New Mexico State University in Las Cruces and the Santa Fe Community College offer great programs for older adults. A variety of part-time work can be found throughout the state, but full-time work is generally only readily available in Albuquerque.