22 Derek Road, Sandia Park, NM 87047

This is not a cookie‑cutter mountain cottage — 22 Derek Road is a custom, single‑story home that makes the landscape part of its architecture. Set on a private, wooded 1.5‑acre parcel in Sandia Knolls, the house was designed around an interior atrium with a small water feature and is pierced by a dozen skylights that give the interior a distinctive vertical openness. Pella wood/clad windows, teak hardwood floors, and original walnut & maple cabinetry speak to craft and permanence.

At roughly 2,224 square feet the floor plan favors living areas and sightlines: generous common rooms open to the atrium, and the footprint flows easily without stairs. Mechanical systems are straightforward — baseboard electric heat and evaporative cooling — and the standing‑seam metal roof and frame construction are practical choices for this mountain environment. The greenhouse, wired with electricity and tied into a sprinkler system, expands opportunities for gardening or small hobby agriculture under the property’s A‑2 zoning.

Outdoors the heavily treed lot offers privacy and room to roam: natural understory, mature pines and firs, and a private driveway set back from Derek Road. A detached 2‑car garage with opener provides covered parking and workshop space. Utilities include community water, septic, public electric and propane service.

Buyers who prize character will find much to love here: the atrium and skylights are rare features, and the original wood finishes feel intact and cared for. At the same time, the home’s 1979 vintage suggests buyers should budget for routine updates. Key due diligence items include verifying roof, HVAC and septic condition, and confirming any constraints under Bernalillo County’s A‑2 zoning. This is an opportunity to own a thoughtfully designed custom home minutes from Sandia Crest and local attractions while still within the Albuquerque MSA.

Sandia Knolls is a quiet, wooded enclave set against the eastern slopes of the Sandia Mountains. Residents value privacy, outdoor recreation and a slower pace while remaining within commuting distance of Albuquerque amenities. Local draws include the Tinkertown Museum, scenic drives to Sandia Crest, and a network of trails and picnic areas. The neighborhood’s character is rural‑residential with generous lot sizes, mature trees, and a small‑town feel that draws buyers seeking a retreat with easy access to urban services.