Alamogordo Flooding?? (White Sands, Cloudcroft: home builders, buying, public schools)
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I have been researching and found that Alamogordo is prone to flash flooding, and at times this flooding has been major... with that in mind can you guys give me a good idea of which areas towns to avoid. I do not want to end up purchasing a home that has been flooded and carries all the problems of a flood home. I also do not want to be in an area that floods easily. Any help will be appreciated. We are still looking to be there in June around the 12th, so hopefully I will have all my rsearch done by then. I have also been spending some time looking into Cloudcroft, my interest was sparked when I read a post that had a link showing Cloudcroft to have the #2 schools in the state of New Mexico.
I have been researching and found that Alamogordo is prone to flash flooding, and at times this flooding has been major... with that in mind can you guys give me a good idea of which areas towns to avoid. I do not want to end up purchasing a home that has been flooded and carries all the problems of a flood home. I also do not want to be in an area that floods easily. Any help will be appreciated. We are still looking to be there in June around the 12th, so hopefully I will have all my rsearch done by then. I have also been spending some time looking into Cloudcroft, my interest was sparked when I read a post that had a link showing Cloudcroft to have the #2 schools in the state of New Mexico.
When I was looking at properties last summer, I had asked about that also. During the 2006 major flood (which is not common), it seems that the area around Scenic/10th St/Abbot Ave took the brunt of the water. Where I ended up buying did not flood during that time, and neither did the north part of town. I didn't even consider housing in that area when I was researching.
But if I'm wrong, Jane (Chilegal) and Harry (6/3) can correct me. I do know that where I live now did not flood, as it is not at the foothills.
If the house flooded during that time, or any other time, the seller has to legally disclose that if they are aware of it. Check the seller's disclosure form carefully, and insist that it be filled out in its entirety. Property inspections can reveal prior flooding also.
Flash flooding can happen at any time in any part of town.
Tell your realtor you DO NOT want in the flood zone. They have to respect that or you can get back at them.
OK, in the 10 years I have been there there has been 1 flood.
Abbott street on both sides of Scenic. Do not buy where an arroyo is. West of White Sands is the lower part of town, so think of that.
Also, some of the homes east of Scenic between 13 and 18th have a problem with settling.
If you have kids I would really think of CC.
Good luck,
Jane
Tell your realtor you DO NOT want in the flood zone. They have to respect that or you can get back at them.
OK, in the 10 years I have been there there has been 1 flood.
Abbott street on both sides of Scenic. Do not buy where an arroyo is. West of White Sands is the lower part of town, so think of that.
Also, some of the homes east of Scenic between 13 and 18th have a problem with settling.
If you have kids I would really think of CC.
Good luck,
Jane
So you agree that Cloudcroft is a better area to raise a family with its schools and all? Some of the videos that I have seen on Alamogordo (not just the flood videos) have me a bit scraed about Alamo. Not being from there, it is hard for to judge a good or bad area with online photos and descriptions.
I have been researching and found that Alamogordo is prone to flash flooding, and at times this flooding has been major... with that in mind can you guys give me a good idea of which areas towns to avoid. I do not want to end up purchasing a home that has been flooded and carries all the problems of a flood home. I also do not want to be in an area that floods easily. Any help will be appreciated. We are still looking to be there in June around the 12th, so hopefully I will have all my rsearch done by then. I have also been spending some time looking into Cloudcroft, my interest was sparked when I read a post that had a link showing Cloudcroft to have the #2 schools in the state of New Mexico.
Go up on the mountain and get a good view of where the natural arroyos are. You can see where the water has to end up -- it has to go somewhere. It's not so much the amount of water, it's that the water goes where it's always gone, and if someone builds a house there, then they get flooded.
Also be careful because home builders should build correctly for the area. A house should be up off the ground at least 18 inches, and not just some dirt piled up, make sure the house sets higher up than the street. Some of the home builders just go cheap. The big developers will haul in dirt to fill in any arroyos and build a flat plane of homes, but nature will end up having it's own way.
So you agree that Cloudcroft is a better area to raise a family with its schools and all? Some of the videos that I have seen on Alamogordo (not just the flood videos) have me a bit scraed about Alamo. Not being from there, it is hard for to judge a good or bad area with online photos and descriptions.
Cloudcroft is beautiful -- but then you have heating bills in the winter and you have to deal with forest fires and the anticipation of them. Forest fires happen -- just like storm water.
If it were me, I'd pick Alamogordo and take advantage of it's closeness to Cloudcroft pretty often.
Minor flooding in Alamo is seasonal and common. Major flooding is rare, though certainly worth doing your homework on.
Forest fires near CC are common, but major ones that wipe out many homes are rare. I would guess there's a greater chance of losing your house to fire near the forest than to flooding in the desert.
Consider that NM public schools score low nationwide. Being No. 2 here may not be saying much. I'm near CC and know families who left the area because they were not happy with the schools. I know former CC teachers who sent their own kids down the hill for schooling. Other people like the schools here, often for reasons that cannot be measured by test scores. As always, statistics tell only part of the story.
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