Amreston Homes sees plenty to like about Rio Rancho’s Vista Entrada neighborhood.

“It’s beautiful. You look out the window, you have a full view of the mountains. You have open space in any direction you care to go. You have availability for walking through the area. It’s just a beautiful place,” said Brian Earnest, president of Homebuilding with Amreston Homes.

Brian Earnest, President of homebuilding for Amreston Homes, showcases a home in Rio Rancho’s Vista Entrada neighborhood on Saturday, April 9, 2022. (Matt Hollinshead/Observer)

That’s why the Rio Rancho-based real estate company is tapping into that particular area for home sales. Vista Entrada’s in the northeast section of town, a fast-growing area.

Amreston Homes emphasizes custom designs for specific amenities, from outdoor yards to garage spaces. Buyers in this case are eyeing more of that custom look with the traditional price point.

For example, Earnest said one display house Amreston showcased at 3009 Ilford Road on April 9 includes a three-car garage designed to accommodate full-sized crew-cab trucks — something he noticed are plentiful in the Rio Rancho market.

“Many have to park in the driveway, and we’ve tried to specifically address that need here,” he said.

Last year, the interest came almost entirely from first-time buyers and retirees because of the lower prices. Today, those prospective buyers include families looking to move into a home that’s larger or in a better area.

“The Vista Entrada folks truly enjoy having their space and their land,” said Rio Rancho Deputy Mayor Bob Tyler, who was at the April 9 home showcasing. “All of Enchanted Hills, and including Vista Entrada, is one of the fastest-growing areas in the city… People really still want to have that space in between each other.”

Amreston sold its first home in Vista Entrada in May 2021. After acquiring a block of lots at Idalia and Chayote roads about five months ago, it’s working on more.

“You have the large, half-acre lots. You’ve got magnificent views,” Earnest said, adding Vista Entrada has quick access to NM 528, US 550 and I-25. “The pace here has been tremendous. I’d say at an estimate that 40 percent of the houses in Vista Entrada have been built in the last two years.”

The average price for houses that Amreston oversees is about $520,000 because of how large the lots are.

“They’re working with the community and holding true to the community needs,” Tyler said.

Earnest said the challenge going forward is that available lots in Vista Entrada are drying up because of the increased activity in that section of town.

(Editor’s note: Amreston Homes is the home builder arm of AMREP Southwest, the Observer’s landlord.)