East Mountain community of Paa-Ko offers acreage and recreation
Paa-Ko is a sprawling residential community tucked between the East Mountains of the Albuquerque metro area that includes the Paako Ridge Golf Club. Homes come with acreage and have easy access to the Sandia Peak Ski Area and its hiking trails “We’re close enough [to Albuquerque], but you’re not living in an urban city,” says Ginni DiRaddo, a Realtor with Keller Williams Realty, who has lived in the community for 17 years. “We have bright stars and dark skies. You don’t deal with a lot of light pollution.”
Pueblo-style golf course homes are part of Paa-Ko Communities
Properties in Paa-Ko cover a flat stretch of land between the Sandia Mountain Range and the South Mountain, with views of occasionally snow-capped peaks. Pueblo-style homes built during the 1990s on 1 to 2 acres come with plenty of outdoor living and storage space and are priced from $500,000 to $600,000. Contemporary Pueblo-style estates from the 1990s and the first decades of the 2000s cost between $670,000 and $800,000, while those surrounding the fairways of the Paako Ridge Golf Club fetch between $900,000 and $1.25 million.
Homes belong to the Paa-Ko Communities Homeowners’ Association, which comes with monthly fees up to $120 that cover access to the community sewer system—which is mandatory—and the neighborhood tennis courts and swimming pool, which are optional. “There are lots of different gatherings in the community,” DiRaddo says. “I host a green chile cook-off every fall for the community, where we do a chile roast. You can bring your best recipes and come get freshly roasted chiles."
The CAP Index crime score in Paa-Ko is 1 out of 10, which is lower compared to the national average of 4.
Stunning views can be enjoyed in most homes in Paa-Ko.
This Pueblo style home in Paa-Ko features a flat roof.
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Skiing in the morning and golf in the afternoon is possible
Much of Paa-Ko is centered around the Paako Ridge Golf Club, which has 27 fairways and expansive views of the ridges that surround the course. Memberships are available. It’s widely considered the top course in the state and one of the best in the country by various national golf publications.
The Vista Grande Community Center offers before- and after-school programs for kids, and it’s next to five baseball diamonds that the East Mountain Little League uses, a playground and a soccer field. Nearby, the Bernalillo County Off-Leash Dog Park allows pups to get their energy out and interact with each other. The Sandia Peak Ski Area is about 11 miles—or 20 minutes—away from the community via New Mexico state Route 536. “You can ski in the morning and golf in the afternoon,” DiRaddo says.
Paa-Ko golfers love the Paa-Ko Ridge Golf Course located in the neighborhood.
Paa-Ko skiers can enjoy a day at Sandia Ski area juts a a few miles away.
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Well-rated schools and a public, lottery-based charter high school
Children living in Paa-Ko may start their K-12 journeys at San Antonito Elementary School, which earns an A-minus grade from Niche. They may then progress to Roosevelt Middle School—also earning an A-minus—before enrolling in Manzano High School, which receives a B. It offers students over 40 clubs and organizations.
The A-rated East Mountain High School is a public charter school that sits immediately south of the neighborhood. Enrollment is based on an application lottery system, and it is a National Blue Ribbon Award School. A wide range of humanity courses are offered, from philosophy and contemporary issues through film to multimedia journalism and creative writing.
San Antonito Elementary School earns an A-minus grades from Niche.
Many athletic programs are offered for rising athletes at the Manzano High School.
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Farm-focused market and restaurant in a one-gas-station town
The Lantern Ridge Farm Market is just south of Paa-Ko, with a variety of products in a prominent white stucco complex with a blend of Pueblo and Spanish Revival architecture. Its restaurant—which serves sandwiches, burgers and salads, as well as coffee, breakfast plates and baked goods—is attached to a small grocery market and an outdoor nursery. “The Lantern Ridge [Farm] Market is fairly new—but it’s kind of a star in the area,” DiRaddo says.
The Lazy Lizard Grill is next to Shell, the community’s only gas station. The grill serves microbrews and casual food in a laid-back space with pool tables, live music and lizard decorations that scale the walls. Triangle Grocery is about 7 miles south on New Mexico state Route 14.
Reaching downtown Albuquerque via New Mexico state Route 14
Though the community has a rural feel, Albuquerque is still within reach. SR-14 hugs the southeastern side of Paa-Ko and intersects with Interstate 40 in the south. The interstate then brings commuters to the center of the city, which is about 28 miles away.
Written By
Julia Straka
Photography Contributed By
Nate Myers
Video By
Tyler Hall
Interested in learning more about homes in this area?
Reach out to
Jeanette Raver,
an experienced agent in this area.
Welcome to this lovely custom home, designed and built for the current owner and rich with unique features. A grand Santa Fe Door welcomes you into a light-filled living space with a custom fireplace, exposed wood, and adobe accents. The open kitchen, breakfast area, and informal family room featuring a 2nd custom fireplace flow to a covered patio. A lower-level bedroom with a separate entrance
Spectacular Mountain & Golf course Views! This bright stunning home is situated in the privately gated golf fairway, on the 27 Green within the Paako Ridge subdivision. German porcelain tiles in all main living areas w marble baseboards! Two master suites! T&G ceilings. Gorgeous kitchen is open to great room & dining area & features large center Island. Bosch & Thermador appliances, wine chiller.
Rare chance to build your custom home on a 1-acre lot in the coveted Paa-Ko community! Utilities are readily available, and owners already have a stunning home rendering designed for this parcel. Enjoy resort-style amenities including tennis, pickleball, bocce ball, a pool, plus the top-rated Paa-Ko Ridge Golf Club just moments away. Experience luxury living, breathtaking scenery, and endless
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