Frequently Asked Questions

This fully planned community lies within the desirable city of Rio Rancho, New Mexico, just 35 minutes from Albuquerque.

No ordinary community; Mariposa takes special care to revere and respect the astonishing New Mexico terrain. Mariposa encompasses 6,500 acres of land, including a large portion that will never be developed. Within the heart of Mariposa sits The Mariposa Preserve, owned by The Albuquerque Academy, and consisting of 2,200 acres of dedicated open space, protected in perpetuity.

Mariposa East, LP, an affiliate of Harvard Investments, purchased Mariposa East in 2014. These 1,465 acres will continue to be developed over time, with amenities, neighborhoods and homes already built and in use by well over 1,500 residents.

Residents living at Mariposa enjoy all the benefits of excellent schools, nearby freeways, shopping, and top quality amenities including a Silver LEED- certified Residents’ Community Center, indoor and outdoor pools, Fitness Center, movement studio for yoga and other classes, kitchen and social area, community park including various ball courts, playground, ramadas and picnic areas, and renowned monumental sculptural art.

Every neighborhood is designed to sit lightly on the land, with special attention taken to maintain and showcase its 360º views. Homes, amenities, and roads are all thoughtfully sited within high desert vistas, juniper and pinõn-covered hills, boulder outcroppings, and gentle grasslands.

Throughout miles of hiking and biking trails and generous open space, and adjacent to thousands of acres of protected lands, Mariposa connects seamlessly with New Mexico’s diverse landscape. Among the natural assets of Mariposa are 900 feet of elevation change; sitting at 5,600 to 6,300 feet, Mariposa is blessed with a mild four-season climate.

Mariposa East opened in 2014 and is home to hundreds of families. There are 2,500 total homes planned in Mariposa. Currently, there are multiple neighborhoods available, built by national and local builders. Every builder neighborhood features unique architectural character, yet all honor the “new” New Mexico vernacular, creating an aesthetically cohesive whole.

With multiple award-winning builders, generous selections of new homes are available. Homes are designed for retirees, couples, singles and families of every size and type! Both seasonal and full-time residents call Mariposa home.

Our builders offer dozens of floor plans to choose from, including one- and two-story single-family homes with well-sized lots, and nearly countless options to make your home your own.

Homes range from approximately 1,790 sq. ft. to approximately 3,012 sq. ft. Prices currently start in the high $300,000s.

Mariposa is within the city of Rio Rancho, about 35 minutes north of Albuquerque, and is 40 minutes from the Albuquerque International Airport, which handles approximately 5,000,000 passengers annually.

While Mariposa is pleasantly removed from traffic, noise and congestion, residents are never far from daily needs and nearby entertainment. Rio Rancho is a thriving city of 90,000+ with a regional mall, resorts, golf courses, dozens of fine and casual restaurants, wineries, craft breweries, museums, casinos, hotels, movie theaters, sports complexes, libraries, places to worship, and excellent public schools. The Rio Rancho City Center, just minutes away, is anchored by the City Hall, the Santa Ana Star Events Center, University of New Mexico West Campus, Central New Mexico Community College and UNM Sandoval Regional Medical Center. It’s an easy 15-minute drive to groceries, pharmacies, and hardware stores, as well as dry cleaners, dentists, family physicians, urgent care, and just about any specialty shop you might need. Also within about 15 minutes, commuters have a seamless connection to Highway 550 and I-25.

Along with lesser known, but fun annual events, Rio Rancho and Mariposa offer fantastic views of the globally recognized Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta. Santa Fe is an easy hour drive, although many take the Rail Runner Express, an affordable and convenient option.

As a true master-planned community, Mariposa’s advantages are numerous. To begin with, great care has been taken in crafting a superior land plan and applying responsible practices in water and other natural resource uses.

Through master planning, Mariposa can provide more quality amenities to its residents, while still offering value in it’s appealing pricing. The 12,000 square foot Community Center, parks, community upkeep, and rich lifestyle all contribute to a higher quality, more connected way of living.

Ultra-high-speed internet, with direct-to-home fiber-optic connections, are standard for every residence, assuring modern technology is available and convenient.

At Mariposa, our full time Lifestyle Director and his staff provide a fun, fit, adventurous and healthy lifestyle that residents may engage with at their choosing. With everything from pool parties and holiday celebrations to BBQs and outdoor yoga, seldom a day goes by without something going on at Mariposa.

Mariposa is located in the Rio Rancho Public Schools District. Mariposa’s school-aged children attend some of Sandoval County’s, and the state’s, top performing schools: Vista Grande Elementary School, Mountain View Middle School, and V. Sue Cleveland High School. Parents are encouraged to consult with the Rio Rancho Public Schools District for their students’ specific school assignments as zoning is subject to change by the school district. For more information visit, www.RRPS.net.

One of the most comforting factors in purchasing a new home is its new home warranty. All six of Mariposa’s fine builders offer complete standard warranties, thereby standing by the homes they build and providing buyers peace of mind. Please speak with your builder representative for details on their warranties.

HOA fees are considered a great value and include access to the amenities at Mariposa for the owner and family members living in the home. This includes access to the Silver LEED-certified Residents’ Community Center, indoor and outdoor pools, fitness center, Movement studio for yoga and other classes, Kitchen and social area, community park including various ball courts, playground, ramadas and picnic areas.

The Master Association Assessment is $366 per quarter which works out to $122 per month. (Every owner pays this fee.) Revenue received from Assessment fees covers costs of operational expenses as budgeted, including but not limited to

• Administration expenses such as office supplies, postage, printing, legal services, accounting services
• Contract services such as landscaping, janitorial services and pool cleaning
• Repairs and maintenance for the Community Center and common areas
• Utilities such as water, electricity for the Community Center, and gas to heat the pools
• Insurance to cover the HOA as defined in the Charter
• A portion of the assessment is transferred to a “Reserve Account” to cover the costs of long-term capital replacements to components identified in a third-party, independent Reserve Study, on a 27 year funding schedule

For those living in the Redondo neighborhood, the Redondo Assessment fee (This is an additional fee paid by Redondo Owners only) is $159 per quarter which works out to $53 per month.

• Contract services such as landscaping and gate maintenance
• Repairs and maintenance for gates, streetlights and other street components
• A portion of the assessment is transferred to a “Reserve Account,” to cover the costs of long-term capital replacements to components identified in a third-party, independent Reserve Study, on a 27 year funding schedule

The Peaks Neighborhood Association fee (This is an additional fee paid by Peaks Owners only) is $150 per quarter which works out to $50 per month.
The M Neighborhood Association fee (This is an additional fee paid by The M Owners only) is $204 per quarter which works out to $68 per month.

• Contract services such as landscaping and gate maintenance
• Repairs and maintenance for gates, streetlights and other street components
• A portion of the assessment is transferred to a “Reserve Account,” to cover the costs of long-term capital replacements to components identified in a third-party, independent Reserve Study, on a 27 year funding schedule

Public Improvement Districts (PIDs) are created to fund public improvements such as parks, trails, roads and utilities. In the case of Mariposa, the PID was used to fund the building of water and wastewater infrastructure including treatment plants, water storage facilities, and transmission lines. Once the improvements are installed, bonds are sold by the municipality to reimburse the developer for the costs of the public improvements. The properties benefiting from these improvements are included within the boundaries of the District. The bonds typically have a 20 year term from the date of sale. The repayment of principal and interest to the bondholders is handled in the same manner as a resident’s property taxes. The amount of each homeowner’s annual PID payment appears on the owner’s County tax statement and is paid semiannually along with all of the other typical taxes assessments levied for the area. At Mariposa, residents have the option to make an early pay-off against the PID assessment on their lot, or they can pay it off over time. When a resident sells his or her home, the remaining PID assessment simply remains in place and the new owner continues to pay down the assessment through their county tax payments.

The PID at Mariposa can be funded through your home mortgage and is approximately $900 to $1,200 annual per home through 2032.

To learn more about PIDs please visit, www.RRNM.gov

Mariposa East, LP, an affiliate of Harvard Investments, Inc. purchased Mariposa East in 2014. Harvard Investments has over 30 years’ experience in community and property development throughout the Southwest and specializes in building award-winning, fully planned communities—each one committed to the principles of quality, longevity and sustainability.

Harvard Investments is the US subsidiary of The Hill Companies; a family-owned company based in western Canada. The Hill Companies has roots that go back to 1903, when it specialized in real estate development and insurance. More diversified today, Hill Companies continues to develop real estate, and has added other businesses over more than a century, including oil and gas production and distribution, broadcasting, manufacturing, and more. To learn more about Harvard Investments, visit http://www.harvardinvestments.com.