In court-decided eviction outcomes for Rio Lucio, NM, tenants prevail in roughly 32.3% of contested cases. A higher number means landlords face stronger tenant defenses, longer calendars, and more required documentation, and landlord-friendliness drops as this rises.
Timeline
74d
filing → judgment
From the moment an unlawful-detainer notice is filed in Rio Lucio, NM until a money judgment is entered, a contested eviction takes about 74 days on average. Longer timelines mean more lost rent and higher carry costs for landlords.
Cost range
$2.6–7.1k
legal + lost rent
A typical eviction in Rio Lucio, NM costs landlords $2,620 to $7,142 all-in, covering court filing fees, process-server costs, attorney time, and lost rent during the calendar between filing and possession.
Average rent
$1,089
26% stretched on rent
Average gross rent in Rio Lucio, NM is $1,089 per month per the U.S. Census American Community Survey (5-year 2023). 26% of renter households here spend more than 30% of pre-tax income on rent, the federal cost-burden threshold.
Renters
10.6%
of households
10.6% of occupied housing units in Rio Lucio, NM are renter-occupied (vs owner-occupied). A higher renter share usually correlates with more eviction filings, more turnover, and a more active rental market.
Poverty
7.2%
8.4% unemp.
7.2% of Rio Lucio, NM residents live below the federal poverty line, and unemployment runs at 8.4%. Both feed into the economic-stress sub-score in our Eviction Risk Score model because rent payment problems track poverty + joblessness more reliably than any other single signal.
Time machine
Scrub 50 years
197619861996200620162026
2026
● LIVE · today◀ REPLAY · historical
Nine-axis profile
9-axis profile · today
Shape of the risk surface
1 landlord · 10 tenant
Sub-scores · with sparkline
Where the score comes from
1 → 10 scale
Local political climate
Dem margin +47.5% (2024)
8.0
Regional political climate
County-weighted neighbor mix
8.0
State political climate
New Mexico legislature & governorship
3.9
Economic stress
7.2% poverty · 8.4% unemp.
6.3
Supply constraint
$1,089 average · 10.6% renters
4.7
Rent Control risk
26.3% of income on rent
4.8
Eviction process difficulty
74 days filing → judgment
3.7
Tenant organizing strength
10.6% renters
2.7
Housing court bias
County bench composition
4.4
Geographic context
Risk heat across Rio Lucio and the region
Click any city to see its score
How Rio Lucio compares
Risk score vs. peers, county, state, and the U.S.
Rank in Taos County
Elevated
#6of 19 cities
#6 of 19 cities in Taos County for landlord eviction risk.
Rank in New Mexico
Elevated
#170of 518 cities
#170 of 518 cities in New Mexico for landlord eviction risk.
vs. county · state · U.S.
Score story
Six-stop tour of the risk profile
3.6
/ 10 · LOW
The verdict
A Low-tier market.
Composite 3.6/10. Mid-range market; standard documentation usually wins. The 50-year curve shows a slow, steady climb.
50-yr trend+1.5 over 50 yr
197620012026
Steady ratchet · no large swings
74d
Typical timeline
The money
What renting (and evicting) looks like.
Rent published at $1,089/mo. A contested eviction takes 74 days and costs $2,620–$7,142 per case.
50-yr trendCalendar drag rising since '15
197620012026
Court-clerk data lands in the next release.
10.6%
Renters
The renters
Who you'll be renting to.
Out of 485 residents, 10.6% rent. 26% are spending 30%+ income on rent, 7.2% below the poverty line.
50-yr trendRenter share rising
197620012026
ACS 1970-present · once the migration overlay is in.
8
Local + regional
The politics
Strong-tenant coastal market.
Local & regional political climate score 8 and 8 (Dem margin +47.5% (2024)). State climate at 3.9, a mid-range statehouse.
50-yr trendTracks county vote margin
197620012026
Built on 50-yr presidential margins back to 1976.
3.9
State politics
The process
Moderate calendar, moderate friction.
State political climate 3.9/10 sets the legislative ceiling for landlord remedies, and it shows up in the process. Eviction process difficulty reads 3.7, housing court bias 4.4, rent-control risk 4.8. Standard process speed for the state.
50-yr trendProcess difficulty +-1.3 since '00
197620012026
Court-clerk data lands in the next release.
6.3
Economic stress
The stress
Economic pressure is the background risk.
Economic stress: 6.3. Supply constraint: 4.7. The numbers behind those: 7.2% poverty, 8.4% unemployment, 26% of income on rent.
50-yr trendTwo visible dips · '08 + COVID
197620012026
Mirrors BLS unemployment series.
US eviction landscape · timeline × all-in cost
Rio Lucio sits in the slow & expensive quadrant
Bubble size = population · color = risk score
Rio Lucio · 74d · ~$4.9k all-in ($66/day) · score 3.6National average: 58d · $4.6k all-inHover any bubble for stats · click to openColor: 0–4 4–7 7–10
Landlording in Rio Lucio, New Mexico, presents a manageable operating environment for documented landlords. The Eviction Risk Score is 3.6/10 (LOW tier), drawn from the nine sub-axes shown above, covering rent-control exposure, eviction-process difficulty, housing-court bias, tenant-organizing strength, supply constraint, economic stress, and local, regional, and state political climate. This is not a quick-fix market: it's a Mid-tier market where lease drafting, screening discipline, and well-documented notices materially change outcomes.
Rio Lucio is a city of 485 residents where 10.6% of occupied units are renter-occupied, and the typical renter spends 26.3% of income on rent. At an average rent of $1,089/month, the typical renter household here spends more than the federal 30% threshold on housing, a leading indicator of payment volatility and a precondition for the kinds of tenant defenses that show up most often in housing court.
01Process
How Rio Lucio eviction process actually works
Eviction process difficulty here reads 3.7/10, a number that combines statutory complexity (notice categories, just-cause rules, mandatory pre-filing disclosures) with operational realities (court calendar length and clerk responsiveness). The typical contested filing in Rio Lucio closes 74 days after the initial notice. For non-payment of rent the first step is a properly-formatted, properly-served pay-or-quit notice; for material lease breaches it's a cure-or-quit; for tenancies under just-cause protection an at-fault grounds notice (or a no-fault notice with statutory relocation assistance) is required.
The slow part of Rio Lucio's timeline is usually the calendar, not the motion practice. Housing court bias scores 4.4/10 here, meaning judges read borderline procedural defects in the tenant's favor more often than the national norm. The practical implication: every notice and every proof of service needs to be airtight before it gets filed.
02Cost
What it costs (and how long it takes)
An all-in eviction in Rio Lucio runs $2,620 to $7,142 per case once you account for filing fees, attorney time, lost rent during pendency, sheriff lockout, and unit turnover. That range is wide because the upper bound assumes a tenant answer plus motion practice, common when housing court bias is high. The lower bound assumes a default judgment after proper service.
For landlords running the numbers on holding costs vs. cash-for-keys: if your projected timeline times your monthly rent already exceeds the high-end cost number, cash-for-keys at 1–2 months' rent is typically the economically rational choice. With 74 days of typical timeline and $1,089/month in lost rent, that crossover happens fast here.
03Operations
Security deposits, screening, and lease terms
Tenant organizing strength scores 2.7/10 in Rio Lucio, and the city has limited rent control exposure (4.8/10). Operations practice that survives audit in this environment looks like:
Screening discipline. Document income (verified at 2.5 to 3x rent), credit (with a clear minimum), and prior-tenancy reference checks, but do not screen on protected categories or source-of-income where banned. Keep a written, consistent screening criteria document for every applicant.
Lease specificity. Use a state-specific lease that names every term clearly: rent due date, late fees within statutory caps, deposit handling, smoke and CO disclosure, lead paint disclosure (pre-1978 stock), and a clean attorney's-fees clause.
Security deposit handling. Itemize deductions within the statutory window. Photograph move-in/move-out condition. In New Mexico, deposit cap and refund window are statute, so exceed them at your own risk.
Mid-tenancy documentation. Keep date-stamped records of every rent receipt, every habitability request, every notice served. The day you need them in court is too late to start.
04Strategy
What an everyday landlord should actually do here
If you own one to four units in Rio Lucio: hire a property manager who knows the local court. The pricing differential between self-managing and hiring out is small relative to the cost of one botched eviction in a LOW tier market. If you own five or more: build relationships with a local landlord-side attorney before you need one, since retainer fees are negligible compared to emergency-rate billing when an eviction is already moving.
The avoidable mistakes here are all upstream of the filing: weak screening, an informal lease, sloppy rent receipts, and notice templates pulled off the internet that don't match New Mexico's statutory language. Fix those four, and most cases settle or default. Skip them, and a $7,142 all-in fight is the realistic worst case.
04bPractical traps
Local traps to avoid in Rio Lucio
Trap · 7.2%
Local poverty rate is 7.2%, and the rent-burden distribution skews the eviction-filings curve toward moderate volume in Taos County. Rent-control-risk sub-score: 4.8/10. Tenant organizing is most active in the rental concentration corridors.
04Eviction filings
Live filings tracking · Eviction Lab
Princeton Eviction Lab Tracking System, state-level (no county tracker available). Last update 2026-05-01.
In the most recent month, 1,016 eviction cases were filed across the tracker's coverage area, 0.91× the historical baseline (below baseline). Past 12 months: 12,651 filings. Pandemic-era cumulative: 74,831.
1,016Past month
12,651Past 12 months
0.91×vs baseline (past mo)
21.2%Repeat-tenant filings
Notice requirement: at least three days notice (in some cases more). Filing fee: minimum filing fee of $77 (depending on the court level).
Last 36 months of filings2023-05-01 – 2026-04-01
Filings climbed 5% over the past 12 months.
Source: Eviction Lab Tracking System, Princeton University. Open Data Commons Attribution license.
05FAQ
Frequently asked questions
Q1
What if my tenant just disappears?
If a tenant abandons the property and leaves personal belongings, New Mexico law has specific procedures. You generally need to send a notice to their last known address, giving them a chance to retrieve their items. After a set period (usually 30 days), you can dispose of or sell the property. Consult an attorney for the exact steps to avoid liability.
Q2
Can I turn off utilities if a tenant doesn't pay rent?
Absolutely not. This is illegal in New Mexico and can result in significant penalties. You cannot engage in "self-help" evictions, which include changing locks, removing doors, or shutting off utilities. The only legal way to remove a tenant is through the court-ordered eviction process.
Q3
How do I handle a tenant who damages the property?
For significant damage, beyond normal wear and tear, you can deduct the costs from their security deposit. Make sure you have clear documentation (photos, repair invoices) to justify these deductions. If the damage exceeds the deposit, you can pursue the tenant in small claims court.
Q4
Is there rent control in Rio Lucio?
No, there is no statewide rent control in New Mexico, and Rio Lucio does not have any local ordinances imposing rent control. Landlords are generally free to set rent prices, though local market conditions will dictate what tenants are willing to pay. For more details, see our New Mexico rent control rules.
Q5
What if the tenant claims I discriminated against them?
Fair housing laws are serious. Always treat all applicants and tenants equally, regardless of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, familial status, or disability. Have clear, objective criteria for screening and apply them consistently. If a tenant makes a discrimination claim, consult an attorney immediately. Understanding New Mexico tenant protections is crucial.
Q6
When should I definitely hire an attorney?
You should hire an attorney if the tenant contests the eviction, if they raise counterclaims, if the case involves complex legal issues (like bankruptcy or squatters), or if you simply feel overwhelmed by the court process. An attorney can navigate the legal complexities and ensure your case is presented correctly, saving you time and money in the long run. Even for simpler cases, a quick consultation can clarify your options. For issues specific to the area, checking the Taos County eviction guide can be helpful.
A 3.6/10 places Rio Lucio in the 73rd percentile of New Mexico cities on the Eviction Risk Score index. The score is the average of the nine sub-axes, all calibrated on a national 1 to 10 scale where 1 is most landlord-friendly and 10 is most tenant-protective. The 50-year reconstruction shows this score has climbed steadily since 1976, a structural drift driven by court-calendar growth, rent-control adoption, and the rise of tenant-side legal aid. The trajectory matters more than the snapshot: the score is the climate, not the weather.
Cities with similar eviction risk to Rio Lucio (3.6/10)
Same risk band nationally · click any city for its full breakdown.
