This is a small development (100 homes currently occupied out of an eventual 240), and that contributes to the coziness of the community.  Landscaping is a combination of green grass patches and attractive Xeriscape desert sand and cacti.  New homes are in short supply right now; the only one we found is $185,000 and has 3 bedrooms, 2 baths, a den and a 2-car garage.   Re-sale homes are more plentiful and start at $125,000 for 1,025 sq. ft., 2 bedrooms, 2 baths, a 2-car garage and a patio, and they reach as high as $230,000 for 3 bedrooms, 2 baths, a den, a great room, a dining room and a 2-car garage (2,108 sq. ft).  Lots are also for sale from $28,000 to $47,000, and homes do become available for lease.  Currently, a 3 bedroom, 2 bath home with 1,700 sq. ft. is for rent for $950 per month.

This is a well-maintained development, and each home also comes with a fully landscaped yard, a drip irrigation system, air conditioning, a 40-gallon water heater  Phase III, the newest section, will have homes built with attached RV ports.  These are slated to begin selling in the $190,000 range.  Call 877-725-8337 or visit www.sunrisebluffs.com for information.  The management company is on site, and the monthly HOA fees, which include utilities and maintenance, are $75 (and they have not increased since 2001).   With recent improvements in design and construction, new manufactured homes feel and look nearly the same as site-built homes, and the residences at Sunrise Bluffs are no exception.

Sunrise Bluffs has a lovely clubhouse facility with an indoor pool, an exercise room, a billiards room, a kitchen, a library, a pond and a waterfall.   Social and recreational activities are scheduled throughout the month and include a potluck, card games, a sewing group, tennis games and golf outings.  Volunteers work in the library, help with the newsletter and assist with planning community events.  An 18 hole, public golf course, Tierra Del Sol Golf Course, is nearby, and another seven courses are within 30 minutes of Sunrise Bluffs.  Golf is nearly a year-round activity here.  Hospitals, including Albuquerque Regional Medical Center and Presbyterian Hospital, are located in Albuquerque, just 30 miles away, as are lots of history, theater, dining and shopping.   Potential buyers should be aware that Belen has a crime rate higher than the national average.

Belen itself a sleepy hamlet with sprawling views of the Sandia and Manzano Mountain ranges surrounded by the scenic Rio Grande Bosque.  Roughly 7,000 people call the town home, 20% of whom are age 45-64 and 15% of whom are age 65 and above.   This is an ethically diverse area (Spanish is heard around town) and attracts retirees seeking a dry climate and a mild climate.    The sky stretches endlessly, and summer temperatures can reach the low to mid 90s.  Winter temperatures average in the high 40s and 50s.  The area receives less than an inch of precipitation each month (August may see slightly more), and gardens bloom from April to October.  The sun shines nearly 80% of the time, and the average humidity is 43%.

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