Sonoma Ranch is designed around the award-winning, 18-hole Sonoma Ranch Golf Course.  The three communities in the development are the Del Prado Villages (for all ages), which has two-bedroom, two-bath condominiums priced from under $220,000; the Del Prado Collection (for all ages) with single-family homes priced in the $400,000s and The Boulders (age-restricted) with only 71 two- and three-bedroom, two-bath single-family homes.  These beautiful dwellings come with open floor plans, low-maintenance, landscaped front yards with drought-resistant plants and attached two-car garages.  Most of these residences are situated along the golf course, and many have views of the nearby Organ Mountains.  Elegant golden brown, adobe-style southwestern exteriors with interior dark woods, large kitchens, fireplaces, tile floors and lots of natural light create soothing, comfortable living spaces.   Prices start in the low $300,000s.

The combination of the three neighborhoods, each with its own flavor, produces a welcoming ambiance, a nice mix of ages in one community but not on top of each other.   The development will eventually spread across 900 acres and have 3,200 homes.  Builders vary but include D.R. Horton, Flair Homes and Medallion Homes.  HOA fees are currently $110 per month.  Call 877-700-7210 for more information.

Sonoma Ranch's clubhouse is spacious and airy with ornate tables and subdued lighting; facilities include a pool, spa and a gym.   The golf course, on which much of life here centers, opened in 2000 and was nominated by Golf Digest as the "Best New Course."   It was designed by Cal Olsen, is 7,001 yards long, privately-owned (but open to the public) and has rolling hills with amazing desert views.  Green fees are $27 to $49 and include the cart.

The cost-of-living in Las Cruces is just below the national average, but it is one of the fastest growing areas in the U.S. so prices are bound to rise.  It is also the home of New Mexico State University, which has a student population of 23,000, adding a youthful zest to the town.  Three medical facilities, with a full range of specialties and care options, serve the local population.  

Las Cruces' climate is hot (summer temperatures reach into the mid and high 90s) and dry with average afternoon humidity around 30%.  The area receives an average of an inch of precipitation a month, and sunshine is in abundance.