Overview
Opportunity Overview
HREC Investment Advisors (“HREC IA”) is pleased to offer, to qualified investors, the opportunity to acquire the fee-simple interest in the 65-room Econo Lodge Inn & Suites Socorro (“Hotel” or “Property”), situated at 713 N California St Socorro, NM 87801.
Terms of Sale
· Tenure: Fee simple
· Price: Please contact HREC for pricing guidance
· Management: Free and clear of management
Please DO NOT contact the staff, management, or ownership of the Hotel to request additional information or to arrange a site tour.
The offering presents a unique opportunity to acquire the 65-key Econo Lodge Socorro, a well-positioned limited-service asset located in one of New Mexico’s most demand-diverse secondary markets. Ideally situated just off Interstate 25, the Property benefits from excellent regional accessibility and proximity to the New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology (New Mexico Tech), the city’s primary economic driver. This nationally recognized research university, along with its affiliated federal and scientific institutions—including the Energetic Materials Research and Testing Center (EMRTC) and Magdalena Ridge Observatory—generates stable, year-round lodging demand from students, researchers, military personnel, and government contractors.
The Hotel further benefits from its proximity to a wide variety of corporate, industrial, leisure, and military demand generators, including Dicalite Management Group, Northrop Grumman Innovation Systems, and Stallion Army Airfield, as well as regional tourism anchored by Sedillo Park, the New Mexico Tech Golf Course, and cultural events such as the Festival of the Cranes. With minimal branded competition in the immediate area and a low-friction operating model, the Econo Lodge presents new ownership with multiple value-add avenues—ranging from revenue optimization and minor capital upgrades to improved yield management and potential brand repositioning. The offering allows investors to enter a high-barrier-to-entry, institutionally relevant college town with a strong public-sector and government contracting presence, while capitalizing on the continued lodging demand tied to Socorro’s research, defense, and ecotourism economies. The Hotel also offers an above-market amenity package that includes an outdoor pool, jacuzzi, and a sizeable gym with sauna in a dedicated building. These features further enhance guest appeal and position the asset ahead of typical economy branded competition.
The offering also includes a separately deeded 12.83-acre adjacent parcel, providing an exceptional opportunity for future development. This additional landholding unlocks multiple exit or expansion strategies, including the potential for self-storage, a second hospitality asset, or a fast-casual restaurant to capture transient highway and university traffic. With direct access to the hotel site and strong visibility from the surrounding corridor, the parcel represents untapped value that could significantly enhance the investment’s long-term return profile.
Investment Highlights
Investment Highlights
Prime Location Near New Mexico Tech
The hotel sits less than one mile from New Mexico Tech, a nationally ranked STEM-focused research university and one of Socorro’s largest employers and economic drivers. Year-round lodging demand is generated from visiting faculty, students, researchers, and government partners affiliated with the university and its research centers.
Strong Transportation Connectivity
The Property is highly visible from and easily accessible via Interstate 25 and U.S. Highway 60, which link Socorro to Albuquerque, Las Cruces, and surrounding rural communities. Socorro Municipal Airport and freight access via BNSF Railway further support commercial and industrial traffic.
Limited Direct Competition
The immediate market features minimal nationally branded limited-service competition, particularly in the economy segment. This allows the Property to maintain a defensible occupancy position and provides an advantage to drive rate growth through targeted marketing and service enhancements.
Upside Through Operational Optimization
The Econo Lodge presents a compelling value-add opportunity through improved revenue management, minor renovations, enhanced digital marketing, and refined cost controls. Potential exists for repositioning within the Choice Hotels brand family or conversion to an independent or midscale flag, subject to franchise requirements.
Government & Defense Demand Stability
The Hhotel benefits from consistent demand tied to government and defense entities such as the Department of Defense, Department of Homeland Security, and White Sands Missile Range. Training cycles at EMRTC and testing at Stallion Army Airfield generate high ADR, transient bookings from visiting personnel.
Above Market Amenity Package
The Hotel’s amenity package meaningfully differentiates it from typical limited-service assets in its chain scale. In addition to an outdoor pool and jacuzzi, the Property features a large fitness facility with a full gym and sauna located in a separate building. This rare offering in the economy segment enhances the guest experience, encourages repeat visitation, and strengthens the Hotel’s competitive position in the Socorro market.
Offered Well Below Replacement Cost
The opportunity to acquire this asset well below replacement cost allows an investor to benefit substantially from a combination of location in a growing economy and upside opportunity. The national average cost of building a hotel has increased significantly in the past few years. Given the size and condition of this Hotel, as well as the increased cost of labor and supplies in today’s market, we can reasonably assume that the construction of this Property would be significantly more than the target selling price of this asset.
Fee Simple Interest
The Property will be offered as fee simple.
Offered Unencumbered by Management
The Econo Lodge Inn & Suites Socorro is being offered unencumbered by a management agreement. An investor possesses the opportunity to bring in a new management company or to act as an owner/operator and seek to revamp the operational strategy of the Hotel, implement strategic cost control initiatives, and employ more aggressive yield management strategies.
