La Vida Buena

The whole team at La Vida Apartments is amazing! They are professionals who really know their jobs and are genuinely so nice and helpful. They take very good care of the property and the tenants.The neighbors are friendly and the new tenants and the ones who have been here long time have nothing but good things to say about living here.La Vida Buena is a beautiful and well-kept complex with large one and two well laid out bedroom apartments.

Don't believe the pictures here of LVB. The complex is not nearly that good. With that said: I can see by the many new reviews that LVB Management has been at work. And -- it's not a bad place to live. I just have a different story/slant. I wrote out the whole bad story, and then I realized I need to do a short version and forget all about LVB. //// LVB has "water issues". Almost all of the apartments do not get direct light (which means that there have to be mold issues - I do realize that all buildings in ABQ have mold, more or less, but mold has to be worse when there is no light). The laundry rooms are so tiny -- like a closet. The halls are so narrow. But, for me, the worst about LVB were the Manager Brian and The Regional Manager Julie. They were so rude and so patronizing. I don't know why they were. Once in a while I still go over, in my mind, what happened -- and for the life of me, I can't figure it out. //// I'm 76. I've rented in apartment complexes for almost 50 years. Never in my life have I come across such rude management like Brian and Julie. Not even close. Two more things: (1) Julie mandated that I turn in my Notice to Vacate (at my current complex) before LVB would process my application to LVB. Think about it. If you fail to quality for LVB or if you change your mind - your current apartment can be rented by your current Manager. Which is what happened to me. In less than a week, I changed my mind about moving into LVB, and when I went to rescind my Notice to Vacate at my current complex, my current apartment Manager had already rented out my current apartment. I was technically homeless (I could have moved into another apartment in my current complex, but I haven't liked it here - the first apartment complex that I have lived in that I haven't liked at all). Lucky for me, everything turned out extremely well for me. I found a much better complex, I was treated very well by the Manager and Leasing Agent, and in 24 hours I was approved. I also got a chance to talk to some long-time residents. They have loved living there. (2) There has to be something wrong when an apartment Manager goes through 5-6 Leasing Agents in the past 12 months, which is what LVB management has done. At my new complex, the Manager has worked there and lived on the property for the last 10 years. The Leasing Agent has worked there for 8 years. One of the two maintenance men has worked there and lived on the property for 25 years. That longevity was a selling point for me. //// The only bad thing is that LVB kept my $500 deposit (and, of course, the $150+ application fees). I am grateful that the loss was not a big deal for me. And the loss of the money was certainly worth finding out how bad LVB Management is before I got stuck living there. Oh, one last thing: you don't get to see your apartment before you move in. LOL THAT has never happened to me before. Who is going to move into an apartment that they haven't been able to see ahead of time? LOL SO glad I did not move there (and I bet Management is also -- LOL).

Absolutely the worst place to rent. You are better off in the war zone. Lived here for years and have never had a good experience with any of the staff.

AC n heat have not workd.I've expressd it for months n now that it's wintr, temps hav been below freezing.I have not been able to stay here due 2 that n the scolding hot watr in the shower.It took 10mo.2 be told that if ANY1 else in the building flushes the toilet I will get scolded by hot water in the showr.WTF??I NEVR WOULD'VE MOVE IN2 PLACE LIKE THAT.Also,Why ask permission 2enter my apt if ur going 2 enter anyway?So My child almost died going thru the extreme spacing of the bars on the balcony, (3rd fuckling floor)w/more than 7in of space btween the bars.Also, I had2 put a mattress in front of the 1st bdrm window 2 block it.Initially,was told it needed 2be replaced.I was told yesterday that they did it when I first moved in in Dec. The window was never chngd,which is why this time,a diff maintenance man offered 2put a lock on the window n additional child locks that screw.He also said the others cut corners.After I complained,their immediate response was 2let me out of my lease.Offering2 let me out of my lease instead of fixing things is a chicken shit move n screams slum Lord.So, I had to put a Twin mattress 2block the window Apparently they entered while I wasn't here n "replaced" it,but it's been in the same condition since.It seems like some1 needs to die off the balcony for them 2do anythg.Numerous times I've mentioned it, STILL nothing to improve.I've been here 10mo. n nothing done.The window in my kid's room is a death trap and I got blamed for the wack ass work done 2 "patch" it.12/1/2020-Update: I received a 30day notice 2terminate 2day.Since my initial post,Julie Bailey,the Regional Mgr calls me the next business day n we setup a time 2go ovr everything.We agreed that she would get everything fixed,she would speak to her legal department about refunds or bill adj, n I mentioned they need to start w/a free month.She said she would speak w/them n get back 2me about an amount,but wud focus on the repairs, n we wud move fwd.Sounds great,I'm like finally. I was wrong! It took about a wk and a half,3 visits, n me pointing out a few more mistakes with loose wood even aftr that, 2get the balcony repaired.They replaced more than TEN wooden poles.Even STILL to this day it's not completely painted. Com see apt 322.Anothr reflection of incomplete work n low standards.So, a little over 3wks ago the same hired plumbers replaced the faucet completely in the main bathrm.After testing it,I told them right away the water now does not get hot. Standard is 120degrees, all the sinks get to 130 n now,that main bath barely gets to 90,which is barely lukewarm,but Julie felt it was okay to her. Very subjective.Aftr discussion,she said they'd get the plumber bck out.There's a 24hr notice on Fri,but don't com until Mon, even though they're open on Sat. Unexpectedly, right aftr I put my 2 an 3 yr old dwn 4 a nap I hear my door close more than 1x, it makes a distinct sound.So, I start walking frm my bedrm thru the hall n hear a thud mor than 1x.As I'm coming around the corner,anothr thud n I hear someone say there's a box right there.The thud was the noise from the chain lock stopping the door.Immediately I'm thinking someone is breaking in so I shout who's there, what are you doing.They say,"maintenance".I asked that They com bck anothr time.Right aftr that I put in cameras.I speak2 Julie about my disappointment and she agreed they would call me within the hour and give 24hr notice moving forward, not 2 days. The very next time the give 24hr notice on a Mon n come Wed afternoon.My camera alerts me, they're inside more than 12ft before evn saying "maintenance".Thru the camera,I ask them 2put somthng down since I've had2 clean up aftr thm,he said no,I askd they wait 20min 4me 2get there 2put somthng dwn.He said no n I haven't heard from them since, until the 30day.I call Julie n she acts like we NVR agreed on anything, said I denied them entry n I will not be refunded or adjusted. I have them on camera n recordings.Court it is.I'm not paying them.Cant evn showr n my own place.She backed out of agreement n say I owe them.Hw wud YOU feel?Sorry, Google has a character limit.

I have lived here for a 16 months and i love it here mangment is got better and their very helpful. If you have a complaint they get it taken care of right away. The car break in have gone down since lou started and took over yeah the washer were out but i have personal seen her call several time to have them fix and the place there through said they were sending some one out now their replaced. About the pool being closed it was vanalized so it has to be closed to safety sorry the office want us safe. About the work out room it nice and yes the work out key keeps getting taken i have seen them replace it several time but you can help sticky fingers. Please give the place a try. Don't take the word of a person who was mad.

There are pros and cons to any apartment complex and La Vida Buena has its share of both. I mainly want to speak on my interactions with the maintenance and office staff. Lu, the office manager, has gone out of her way on several occasions to accommodate my needs - some of which were repairs, etc. and one of which was a move from a one bedroom apartment to a two bedroom apartment. Moving is incredibly stressful and she made sure she did the max that she could to make my move as smooth as possible. That's not necessarily a part of her job description but she did it anyway. She is such a sweet, warm person and I truly appreciate her quick, efficient and considerate responses to things that come up in apartment living. The maintenance staff is also incredibly friendly and quick at responding to requests for repairs, etc. There will always be room for improvement in the overall scheme of things but this is definitely the best experience I have had thus far with an apartment complex and the staff who run it.

Over the last three years there has been 4 managers, the latest is rude and tells residents that she "is not here to be your friend". Office hours are not correctly listed the manager closes the office at will to go home. The 24 fitness center is only available when the office is open. Indoor pool is closed more then open and there is no notices or posting of why things are not available. I cant wait till the end of my lease........