Retiring to the Southwest does not mean you have to limit your options to typical retirement hotspots such as Phoenix, Tucson, and Las Vegas. The mild winters, affordable housing and abundance of active adult communities have attracted retirees to these areas for years. However, as the desires of retirees continue to evolve, so have their preferred retirement living destinations.
One area that has become increasingly popular among retirees in recent years is New Mexico. New Mexico’s rise in popularity among retirees is well deserved. The overall tax burden on its residents is in the lower third of all states and among the best of the entire Southwest states.
New Mexico Has A Lot to Offer
New Mexico offers a wide array of landscapes, rich culture and plenty of recreational opportunities. Despite New Mexico’s image as an arid desert, heavily forested mountain wilderness covers a significant portion of the state, especially in the north.
Sunshine is abundant throughout 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.
Most people who retire in New Mexico opt for popular destinations such as Albuquerque and Santa Fe but a growing number of retirees have sought out quieter and less expensive options 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 southern part of the state. However, places like Santa Fe and Taos are among the highest cost of living cities in the country.
Active Adult Communities
There is an abundance of great places to retire in New Mexico but if you are seeking a 55+ age-restricted active adult retirement community in New Mexico, your choices are limited. Jubilee at Los Lunas 25 miles south of Albuquerque is the largest active adult community in New Mexico. Upon completion, Jubilee will be home to 700 residences.
Developed by Jenamar Communities, Jubilee Los Lunas promises to deliver desirable low-maintenance homes and a world-class lifestyle in a gated age-restricted neighborhood. A brand new state-of-the-art clubhouse just opened in June of 2009.
This intimate location provides the aura of small town living but with easy access to big city shopping, transportation, recreation, and entertainment.
To the north of Albuquerque is Alegria, one of the most popular retirement communities in New Mexico. Alegria is perched on the banks of the Rio Grande 40 miles from Santa Fe. Alegria is ideally situated near the base of the Sandia Mountains and centrally located near many notable attractions in northern New Mexico. It is located in Bernalillo, which is the historical center of New Mexico and one of the oldest continually established settlements in North America.
Fifteen minutes south, Albuquerque is rich with culture and heritage, breathtaking terrain and a vibrant social scene. There are also many non age-restricted communities throughout the state that are favored by adults aged 55 and older. Some of the all-ages housing developments in New Mexico are family friendly but targeted towards the needs of retirees.
Lifestyle communities with enviable amenities such as clubhouses, golf courses and activity directors have been popping up throughout the state in recent years. Search New Mexico active retirement communities.
