The story of this market
The typical home in ZIP 88418 sells for about $145,000, or $112 per square foot.
Prices are up +2.1% from a year ago, so sellers still have some momentum. Homes take about 84 days to sell, which is slow. HUD's fair market rent for a two-bedroom is $850 a month.
ZIP 88418 — Des Moines
The housing market in 88418 is characterized by low volume and stable, modest price growth. The market is driven by local demand and limited inventory, with no significant development or economic shifts impacting the area.
This ZIP is best suited for those seeking rural, low-cost living, ranching opportunities, or quiet retirement, as it lacks the amenities and employment density required by commuters or families seeking urban services.
Median prices moved up 2.1% year over year.
Homes spend a median of 84 days on market with 6.0 months of supply — a balanced-paced market.
8% of listings have cut prices · homes sell at 96.5% of asking — demand is running ahead of supply.
no recorded foreclosure-ledger notices (0.0 per 10,000 residents) · unemployment 4.5% · poverty 14.0% — a stable, low-distress profile.
Researched annual trajectory for this ZIP, from published historical series
Solid: researched ten-year history · dotted: 1 / 3 / 5-year projection extended from the historical 2.6%/yr trend — a deterministic estimate, not a published forecast or guarantee.
Median annual property tax paid on this ZIP's residential parcels
Solid: researched ten-year history · dotted: 1 / 3 / 5-year projection extended from the historical 2.7%/yr trend — a deterministic estimate, not a published forecast or guarantee.
versus the prior ACS vintage
ZCTA 88418, Union County NM
Crime rates in Des Moines, NM are generally low, consistent with rural Union County trends, though specific localized data is limited.
The area is served by the Des Moines Municipal School District, which provides small-scale rural education; performance metrics are limited due to the small student population.
The region faces moderate wildfire risk typical of high-plains New Mexico, with standard insurance requirements for rural properties.
Economic momentum is minimal, driven primarily by local agriculture and ranching with no major industrial or infrastructure projects currently underway.
Property taxes are assessed at the county level by Union County; the area lacks significant special district overlays like MUDs or PIDs.
Commuting is primarily by private vehicle, with long drive times to regional employment hubs in Raton or Clayton.
Recreation is centered on outdoor activities, including access to nearby Capulin Volcano National Monument and rural open spaces.
The rental market is extremely thin with very low turnover and limited institutional investor presence.
The local economy is heavily reliant on agriculture, ranching, and small-scale local services.
Public transit is non-existent; residents rely entirely on personal vehicles for transportation.
There are no major commercial or residential developments currently approved or under construction in this ZIP.
Union County Assessor manages property valuations based on standard New Mexico assessment cycles.
Parcels are subject to standard county and school district levies; no complex special utility districts are present.
Property insurance availability is stable, though premiums are influenced by regional wildfire risk factors.
Net domestic migration is stagnant, with little population growth or decline observed.
New Mexico is a judicial foreclosure state, requiring court intervention for the foreclosure process.
Sellers are required to provide a property disclosure statement covering known material defects.
Data retrieved from data.census.gov ZCTA 88418 profile.
Public schools whose reported address is in this area (NCES). Not attendance boundaries — schools that serve residents may sit outside it. Check the district's address locator for assignment.
- Capulin Volcano National Monument4.812.1 mi
- Capulin Volcano National Monument4.812.1 mi
Theme parks, venues, golf, airports, museums, water and shopping across the area from Google Maps, ranked by popularity within the radius shown.
A major regional landmark located near the ZIP offering hiking and scenic views.
Key-figure check: no independent anchor retained yet — first-researched cycles establish the anchor baseline this pass.