Vista Vieja in Albuquerque, NM

Vista Vieja is the subdivision that makes up Montecito Estates, a D.R. Horton neighborhood on Albuquerque's West Mesa, above the basalt escarpment. It is reached from Montaño Road by heading north on Unser Boulevard to Molten Rock Road, then west on Vista Vieja Avenue. Petroglyph National Monument sits alongside it, and Paseo del Norte and I-40 are both close. Homeowners share a private pool and hot tub, a clubhouse, playgrounds, parks and open space through the association. Houses are detached single-family, and the builder's lots here sold out some years ago.

The Montecito Estates Community Association, run through the management company Associa Canyon Gate, maintains the shared amenities. Dues cover common areas, grounds and road upkeep along with the pool and clubhouse, and members handle association business through an online portal.

The setting is mesa top, west of the black basalt escarpment. Volcano Cliffs, the wider area it belongs to, reaches from that escarpment out to the open space around a line of dormant volcanoes. Downtown Albuquerque is about twenty minutes east.

Listings here name Tierra Antigua Elementary, Tony Hillerman Middle School and Volcano Vista High School.