On this page
Why a house usually means probate
New Mexico's small estate affidavit lets a family collect up to $50,000 of personal property without a probate case, but it does not give anyone a new title to a house. A home in one person's name, with no co-owner and no recorded transfer on death deed, generally has to go through probate before it can be sold or retitled. A transfer on death deed recorded during the owner's lifetime avoids that for the house. See the small estate affidavit.
The county numbers
| Bernalillo County | Sandoval County | |
|---|---|---|
| Owner-occupied homes | 184,254 | 47,530 |
| Owned by a householder 65+ | 64,066 (35%) | 16,931 (36%) |
| Owned by a householder 75+ | 26,780 | 6,212 |
| Median home value | $292,900 | $313,800 |
Compared with the previous Census release (2019-2023), the two counties have about 3,372 more homes owned by someone 65 or older.
By ZIP code
87111 (Foothills, Northeast Heights (east)) has the most: 7,418 homes owned by someone 65 or older, 44% of the owner-occupied homes there. Type a ZIP or neighborhood to filter.
| ZIP | Area (approximate) | Owner-occupied homes | Householder 65+ | Householder 75+ | Share 65+ | Median home value |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 87111 | Foothills, Northeast Heights (east) | 16,736 | 7,418 | 3,697 | 44% | $379,500 |
| 87120 | Westside (central) | 21,099 | 6,340 | 2,184 | 30% | $300,600 |
| 87124 | Rio Rancho (south) | 17,845 | 5,791 | 2,084 | 32% | $298,000 |
| 87105 | South Valley | 14,081 | 5,159 | 2,192 | 37% | $220,900 |
| 87114 | Paradise Hills, Westside (north) | 19,183 | 5,138 | 2,209 | 27% | $333,400 |
| 87123 | Four Hills, Southeast Heights (east) | 12,942 | 4,940 | 2,417 | 38% | $249,500 |
| 87109 | Northeast Heights (north) | 10,519 | 4,523 | 2,243 | 43% | $325,800 |
| 87112 | Northeast Heights (central) | 12,175 | 4,504 | 1,978 | 37% | $281,400 |
| 87144 | Rio Rancho (north) | 15,827 | 4,380 | 1,465 | 28% | $321,900 |
| 87110 | Uptown, Midtown | 11,156 | 4,087 | 1,696 | 37% | $273,900 |
| 87121 | Southwest Mesa | 19,712 | 3,879 | 1,106 | 20% | $208,200 |
| 87107 | North Valley, Los Ranchos | 8,347 | 3,689 | 1,677 | 44% | $311,800 |
| 87122 | North Albuquerque Acres, High Desert | 6,504 | 2,623 | 1,109 | 40% | $650,200 |
| 87108 | International District, Southeast Heights | 6,398 | 2,547 | 1,093 | 40% | $243,200 |
| 87104 | Old Town, near North Valley | 3,793 | 1,867 | 741 | 49% | $362,500 |
| 87106 | UNM, Nob Hill | 4,757 | 1,765 | 648 | 37% | $354,200 |
| 87048 | Corrales | 3,341 | 1,751 | 783 | 52% | $574,000 |
| 87113 | Ventana Ranch, north Westside | 4,825 | 1,305 | 378 | 27% | $385,200 |
| 87102 | Downtown, Barelas, South Broadway | 3,718 | 995 | 442 | 27% | $197,300 |
* Census margin of error is more than 30% of the estimate for this ZIP, so treat the figure as rough. Area names are our approximate labels for each ZIP code area.
What this data cannot tell you
The Census counts homes by the age of the person who heads the household. It does not show whether a home already has a transfer on death deed, sits in a living trust, or is owned jointly with survivorship rights, any of which can keep the house out of probate. It also counts only the home someone lives in, not rentals or land.
Method and how to cite this page
Figures come from the US Census Bureau's American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates: table B25007 (tenure by age of householder) for owner-occupied homes by householder age, and table B25077 for median home value, by ZIP Code Tabulation Area and county. Householder 65+ adds the 65 to 74, 75 to 84 and 85+ groups. A script checks for a new Census release every week and rebuilds this page when one appears.
Cite this page: Probate Albuquerque, "Albuquerque homeowners 65 and older, by ZIP code," US Census Bureau ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates. probatealbuquerque.com/albuquerque-probate-data-by-zip/
Frequently asked questions
How many Albuquerque homes are owned by seniors?
About 80,997 owner-occupied homes in Bernalillo and Sandoval counties have a householder 65 or older, according to Census ACS 2020-2024 estimates.
Does a house have to go through probate in New Mexico?
If it is in one person's name with no co-owner, no trust and no recorded transfer on death deed, generally yes. The $50,000 small estate affidavit covers personal property, not a new title to real estate.
How do I keep my house out of probate in New Mexico?
The usual options are a transfer on death deed, owning the home jointly with survivorship rights, or putting it in a living trust. Each has trade-offs, so talk with a New Mexico estate planning attorney.