Albuquerque Apartments and Rentals

If you are relocating to Albuquerque, NM, you'll find a great selection of apartments and rentals in this modern city with ancient roots. Located along historic Route 66, also known as the "Mother Road," this Southwest city brings together modern and traditional elements of Native American, Hispanic and Anglo cultures to create a truly unique city.

The largest city in New Mexico, Albuquerque sits on a plain by the banks of the Rio Grande River and at the base of the Sandia Mountains. It is an old city by U.S. standards and its history goes back even further. The city's official founding was in 1706, but its history is much older. The Pueblo people lived here for thousands of years before Spanish explorers arrived in about 1540. The earliest European settlers were Spanish who named their colony for Spain's Duke of Alburquerque. Over time, the spelling changed to its current form. In the 1880s, when the railroad came through, the center of town was moved to where Downtown is today. The city's boom began in the 1950s with Cold War development of the area's military bases.

Today, more than 840,000 people call this multi-cultural metropolitan area home. Although not the capital, Albuquerque is the state's only true urban area. And, even though the city is the hub for the state's transportation, businesses and university, it has a decidedly casual feel and the people are friendly. Located in the high desert, the city's climate is usually warm and dry, but it does experience four distinct seasons. The area's military presence and high tech companies provide a solid economic base, another plus. Popular neighborhoods in Albuquerque include Uptown, Clayton Heights, Altura, Foothills and Northeast Quadrant.

In the last decade or so Albuquerque has cemented its reputation as a high-tech city. The major employers in the area are the military, the University of New Mexico and tech companies like Intel and Sandia National Laboratories. In recent years, the film industry has been making inroads in town with construction of movie studios.

As for education, the major player here is the University of New Mexico. Founded in 1889, UNM is touted as the state's flagship institution with branch campuses around the state. It offers more than 215 degree or certification programs through 12 colleges and schools. The 600 acre campus just east of Downtown is split into three parts - Central, North and South. The North campus includes the University of New Mexico Hospital.

Albuquerque's cost of living is the same as the average for the country. Forbes magazine named the city to its 2011 list of the Best Retirement Places, which focused on the tax burden and cost of living as well as other factors. Rents here are quite reasonable. You can find one-bedroom apartments starting at $475 a month, although a bit over $600 is more common. Two bedroom apartments are commonly about $750 to $900. The city also offers a nice selection of condos, townhomes and single family homes. In fact, home rentals are generally affordable with a three bedroom, two bath home renting for $1,100 to $1,200 monthly.

This historic Southwest city abounds with things to see and do beginning with Old Town where the city was founded in 1706. From the central plaza in Old Town you can explore historic buildings, like the San Felipe de Neri Church, and easily walk to a number of museums. Among these are the Albuquerque Museum of Art & History, the American International Rattlesnake Museum and the Explora! Science Center and Children's Museum.

For the sports minded, you can catch the Isotopes, a Triple-A affiliate of the Los Angeles Dodgers. Or join the notoriously noisy fans from the University of New Mexico in Albuquerque for basketball or football games of the home team, the New Mexico Lobos.

The beautiful city also has plenty of outdoor attractions, including the Rio Grande Nature Center, Petroglyph National Monument, and Tingley Beach on the Rio Grande. In winter, you can ski or snowboard at Sandia Peak. There's also plenty of walking, hiking and biking trails. Unique shops, boutiques, eateries and taverns are popular with locals and tourists alike.

The annual Balloon Fiesta held every fall in Albuquerque is the city's most well known event. It is the world's largest ballooning event, and according to promoters one of the most photographed events. The nine-day event in October attracts balloonists from around the world who fly their spectacular aircraft in mass ascensions. The Fiesta has a number of different events in both day and nighttime. Other events of note include, The Native American Gathering of Nations Pow-Wow, The New Mexico State Fair and The New Mexico Arts and Crafts Fair.