Historic Eastside
“The Eastside is the most expensive, old, traditional area,” says residential designer Susan Trowbridge. The historic district -- one of five in Santa Fe -- is made up of traditional adobe homes, such as the Borrego House, built in 1756. Winding through the neighborhood is the Acequia Madre, or “mother ditch,” a means of irrigation in the city’s agrarian past. Contributing to the Eastside’s appeal is its proximity to town. “Canyon Road, running east to west through the Eastside, is lined with art galleries and restaurants,” says Bergman. “It’s attractive to be able to walk to dinner or turn the corner and find a vibrant, peopled road.”

Museum Hill
Lying south of Eastside, Museum Hill gets its name from its four renowned museums: the Museum of Spanish Colonial Art, the Museum of Indian Arts & Culture, the Museum of International Folk Art, and the Wheelwright Museum of the American Indian. “Largely established in the ’60s, the area is becoming esteemed for larger, older lots with old-growth landscaping, breathing space, and amazing views,” says rug purveyor Gary Coles-Christensen.

Railyard District and Downtown
For the last several years, the buzz around town has been the redevelopment of the once-blighted Railyard District. “The Santa Fe Railyard project is emerging as a magnet for contemporary art, providing a live/work environment for artists,” says Gayle Maxon-Edgerton of Gerald Peters Gallery. The mixed-use facility will incorporate restaurants and parklands and will be home to the Santa Fe Farmers Market. Because the area isn’t bound by historic-district restrictions, development has a more modern feel. The extension of the Rail Runner Express train line into the area means an easier commute between Santa Fe and Albuquerque. Nearby, a surge of growth is also happening downtown. The Santa Fe Convention Center, a 72,000-square-foot space, is set to open in October. Construction on a new New Mexico History Museum is under way, and other retail/residential combinations are also on tap.