Dear Friends, Clients, Business Associates and Neighbors,

August 2017 marks eighth edition of Eco Lifestyle and Home Newsletter in its new email only format for 2017. We offer Real Estate & Lifestyle news in the email newsletter covering Santa Fe, Taos Ski Valley, Taos County and beyond.

In this edition, we offer the following:

• Lifestyle: Community
• Real Estate Market Update
• Money Matters
• Santa Fe Real Estate News
• Taos County Real Estate News
• Taos Ski Valley Real Estate News
• Home Decor Insights
• Calendar of Event Links for Santa Fe, Taos Ski Valley, Taos County & all around New Mexico
• Entertainment Links for Santa Fe & Taos County

Lifestyle

Community

Definition:
A group of people living in the same place or having a particular characteristic in common.

A feeling of fellowship with others, as a result of sharing common attitudes, interests and goals.

A community is a social unit of any size which can gather physically or virtually that shares common values.

How do you create community where you live & work?
What makes for a successful, inclusive community?
An online community is a virtual community whose members interact with each other via the Internet. Online communities require membership. An online community can act as an information system where members can post, comment on discussions, give advice or collaborate. Online communities have become a way for people to interact, who have either known each other in real life or met online. The most common forms people communicate through are chat rooms, forums, email lists or discussion boards. Most people now rely on social networking sites to communicate with one another. People also join online communities through video games, blogs & virtual worlds.

Community is shifting as we embrace the internet technology, which is changing how we create & participate in communities. Most notably Facebook has the largest appeal to mostly the 30 something & below, but also is now blurring age participation. The smart phone messaging adds to creating community where you can share your whereabouts with friends. Pinterest, which is another online community, made up of mostly women, (but that is shifting), is a pin board of pictures ranging from home décor, technology, fashion, gardening, food travel & much more.

When you want to find information where do you turn to? For me it is the online community. For health issues either with people or pets it’s Earthclinic.com, webmd.com & others. For news, it is all online, as I never read print news papers anymore. For weather, I turn to weather.com or weather.gov. When shopping online, I read the online reviews & comments, which help govern my decisions.

It seems that the online community has taken over as we turn to the internet for information. But what about our immediate physical community, how are we connected to our local community? By participating & reaching out, volunteering & getting involved with civic, social & personal actions, we can enhance the community we live in.  As our online community grows, we need to remember to interact with our physical community that surrounds us. Think globally & act locally needs to include, “& in person”. I know I spend an enormous amount of my daily schedule online, often with very little in person interaction. Emails, texting, researching online, reading online, & working online, are more common than interacting with people in person. I am attempting to spend more time in the flesh with people. Good thing I have a standard poodle & we live in a wonderful place with my husband, (even though we text each other throughout our day), otherwise I would live as a hermit!

Thank you for reading our newsletter & feel free to pass it on to other kindred spirits. ~ Dianne McKenzie

Real Estate Market Update

Sustainable Real Estate Will Be the New Normal

Daily Real Estate News | Friday, July 28, 2017 -From  NAR

The United States is going through an energy revolution that within 20 years will reshape people’s homes and communities, experts said at the National Association of REALTORS®’ 2017 Sustainability Summit in Washington, D.C., this week. Most people aren’t aware of the revolution right now, but that will change as the cost of alternative sources of energy, such as solar panels, plummets and the use of smart technologies—particularly LED lighting—goes mainstream.

“Consumers are already telling us they want sustainable features in their home,” NAR President-elect Elizabeth Mendenhall said at the meeting. “What consumers don’t know is how to make their home more energy-efficient and what to ask for, and that’s where REALTORS® can help.”

mong the developments speakers talked about at the summit:

• Innovation districts. These are already in place in some parts of the country. They use alternative energy sources and digital technologies to manage energy use in homes, commercial properties, and infrastructure to create sustainable live, work, and play clusters.
• Micro homes. These are typically between 250 and 450 square feet and help make housing affordable in high-cost urban areas so people in modest-paying jobs can live where they work.
• LED street lighting. These are more than lights. They double as digital sensors so cities can manage traffic, parking, and infrastructure needs more efficiently.

“We’re transitioning from a petroleum- to a solar-based global economy,” Kasselman said. “We might never see a barrel of oil over $50 again. A new world order is emerging.”

—Robert Freedman, REALTOR® Magazine

In the coming months, here at Kachina Mountain Realty, we will be announcing a new housing development that will be in the forefront of sustainable building & lifestyle.

Money Matters

Mortgage Daily News Reports:

by: Matthew Graham

Mortgage Rates Starting to Look Paralyzed

Jul 28 2017, 5:16PM

Mortgage rates were generally flat today, despite improvements in underlying bond markets.  Although several lenders did offer price improvements throughout the course of the day, the improvements were generally “token” in nature and did little to alter the sense of paralysis in the bigger picture.  This is the third straight day with essentially no change.

Uncertainty, fear, a lack of inspiration, or some combination of the three all have the ability to paralyze rates from time to time.  Uncertainty is leading the charge at the moment.  On the one hand, we have global central banks chomping at the bit to drain the proverbial punch bowl (buying fewer bonds and raising rates).  On the other hand, those central banks admit they can’t be too aggressive without justification from rising inflation, and inflation seems to be in short supply based on recent economic data.

Next week brings one of the more important inflation reports on Tuesday.  If it makes a strong statement for better or worse, it could certainly coax mortgage rates out of their exceptionally flat range seen over the past few days.  From there, we’d be waiting for bigger moves to break the generally flat, narrow range that’s been intact over the past few months.

Recommended Mortgage Lender

Francis Phillips, NMLS #193642, is Senior Mortgage Loan Originator with First Choice Loan Services Inc. in Santa Fe. He has served as director of business development for national mortgage companies. He and his mortgage partners have funded and built three homes for Santa Fe Habitat for Humanity. Contact him at francis.phillips@fcloans.com or 505.982.3400.

First Choice Loan Services Inc. (NMLS# 210764), a Berkshire Bank Company (NMLS# 506896 / Member FDIC), is located at One Tower Center, Floor #18 East Brunswick, NJ 08816. First Choice Loan Services Inc. is registered or exempt from state licensing in the states it originates mortgage loans. Licensed by the NJ Department of Banking and Insurance. AZ BK #0918586. First Choice Loan Services Inc. is not an agency of the federal government and is not affiliated with your current lender. All loans are subject to credit approval. Programs, rates, terms and conditions are current, but are subject to change and may expire without notice. Other restrictions may apply. All applications must be submitted in writing. This advertisement is not a loan disclosure and all disclosures provided after applying should be reviewed carefully. This is not a commitment to provide a loan approval or a specific interest rate.

Santa Fe Real Estate News

With Aldea build-out almost complete, the inventory of lots has dwindled to about 9 lots that are currently for sale. Homewise is almost complete with the construction of their homes on the lots they bought a few years back.

Resale of homes in the higher price range of $600,000 to $849,000 is dominating the market. With these 16 homes listed, 5 of the homes have been on the market for more than 90 days. Out of the 11 homes that have sold this year, only 1 property sold above $599,000. Watch this higher end market as this sales trend will determine much of the future sales in Aldea in this price range.

Currently, I have 7 of the last and best remaining Aldea view lots.  2 lots have already SOLD!!! If you have ever considered building your Santa Fe dream home, now you have some amazing view lots in which to choose. Aldea is 98% built out and up until now, there have not been a lot of choices for view lots, as most have already been built on. Now you have a great selection of view lots in which to choose to build your dream home, before they are all gone!

For more information visit the website: Aldea Lots For Sale »

7 Aldea Lot For Sale – 2 SOLD

The Barranca Lots: 4 Amazing View Lots!

9 Camino Barranca | Lot Size Acres 0.180 | MLS #201700363 | Listing Price: $100,000

7 Camino Barranca | Lot Size Acres 0.180 | MLS #201700364 | Listing Price: $110,000

5 Camino Barranca | Lot Size Acres 0.180 | MLS #201700365 | Listing Price: $110,000

3 Camino Barranca | Lot Size Acres 0.210 | MLS #201700366 | Listing Price: $95,000

136 Avenida Frijoles | Lot Size Acres 0.200 | MLS #201700370 | Listing Price: $80,000

Avenida Aldea View Lot

101 Avenida Aldea | Lot Size Acres 0.230 | MLS #201700369 | Listing Price: $85,000

Arroyo Privado View Lot

4 Arroyo Privado | Lot Size Acres 0.190 | MLS #201700368 | Listing Price: $85,000

Arroyo Privado Patio Home Lot

9 Arroyo Privado | Lot Size Acres 0.093 | MLS #201700367 | Listing Price: $57,500

Aldea Stats

2017 Stats: Sold, Pending, Listed

SOLD: 11 Homes, DOM 108  | 2 Lots, DOM 122
PENDING: 1 Homes | 0 Lots
LISTED: 16 Homes, Avg $587,712 | 9 Lots Avg $90,000

Aldea de Santa Fe consists of 345 acres, with 205 acres of perpetual open space with 13 miles of walking trails, basketball & tennis courts, community center, (which offers yoga classes, exercise equipment & gathering space for events), a local cafe, superbly located in the high-value northwest corridor of Santa Fe County, with easy access to Highway 599, all just 10 minutes from downtown Santa Fe.

While the inventory is increasing in Aldea right now, there is 1 homes pending. Prices show an increase for homes and lots listed. Sales are up this year from last year in Aldea with 44 homes sold in 2016 vs 35 homes sold in 2015.  5 Lots sold in 2016 vs 4 lots sold in 2015.
 

Las Campanas Real Estate News

2017 Stats: Sold, Pending, Listed

SOLD: 45 Homes, DOM 186 | 6 Lots, DOM 65
PENDING: 20 Homes | 5 Lots
LISTED: 62 Homes, Avg $1,396,919 | 86 Lots, Avg $140,682

There are currently 62 homes for sale in Las Campanas.

• 22 Homes under $1,000,000
• 40 Homes over $1,000,000

There are currently 86 Lots for sale in Las Campanas.

• 35 Lots under $100,000
• 51 Lots over $100,000

Las Campanas recently announced the release of the first new custom home neighborhood in over 10 years! Black Mesa, is their new 44 acre neighborhood consisting of 25 larger, estate sized mountain and golf view properties. The minimum size home in this section will be 2,500 sqft, with lots ranging from 1.02-2.58 acres. The property contains a centerline crest that rolls down in both directions off the roadway, creating dramatic unobstructed views.

Overlooking the sweeping mountain vistas of the Sangre de Cristo and Jemez Mountains, Las Campanas’ new Black Mesa neighborhood offers a unique collection of homesites boasting the largest lot sizes in the best section of the Las Campanas property with awe-inspiring mountain views and centrally located to their finest amenities: golfing and the Hacienda Clubhouse.

Let me take you on a tour and arrange a stay at Las Campanas!

Taos Real Estate News

The **Taos County region is a completely different real estate market than Santa Fe. Here are some stats that really show a totally different economy, sales volume and market conditions:

SUMMARY*

Single-family homes are the largest component of the total market.  Through June, SFH accounted for 61% of total transactions, and 76% of dollar sales. June 2017 single-family home sales were UP 21% over June of last year.  Every month so far this year has been up; however, at the time of this writing, July 2017 looks as if it may fall short of last July’s sales.

Condo sales were up in June by 1 unit over last year.  Land sales were much higher.  Commercial sales were the same as last June. 

If you have been thinking of selling your home, now might be the time!  The inventory is low, and prices are rising.  Call us for a free consultation and market analysis.

TOTAL MARKET (all categories of property)

Month of June  (2017 vs. 2016)

# of Closed Sales       
INCREASED from 33 to 45   (+36.4%)

Dollar Sales                
INCREASED from $9,709,100 to $14,588,800  (+50.3%)

Year to June 30  (6 months)

# of Closed Sales       
INCREASED from 166  to 209    (+25.9%)

Dollar Sales                
INCREASED from $41,444,600 to $54,368,800 (+31.2%)

SINGLE-FAMILY HOMES

June unit sales exceeded last June’s by 5 units:  29 vs. 24 (+20.8%).  Dollar sales were up 50.1%, from $7,597,600 to $11,405,900.

Year-to-date unit sales are up 33.7% at 127 houses sold  vs.95 for the same period last year.   Dollar sales are up 35.5%, from $30.6 million to $41.4 million.

Average Prices – The median price year-to-date is the same as last year, at $302,000.  The average (mean) is up 1.3%, from $321,700 to $326,000.

Price Discounting – Through the first six months of the year, actual selling price has averaged 4.3% less than the last asking price when the property went under contract; the average discount from original asking price is 8.5% so far this year.  For the full year 2016, it was 10.5%; in 2015 it was 13.9%; in 2014 it was 16.9%; in 2013, it was 18.4%.

Price Level – Prices of single-family homes fell 30%–40% from the market peak in 2007 to a bottom in 2013.  There was no discernible increase until 2016, when prices started to move up some, but only for good-quality homes in the most preferred areas.  We are now beginning to see prices rising in most cases, due to increasing demand and limited supply; some areas are rising more than others.

Days On Market – The average days on the market for all the homes that have sold through June this year is 202 vs. 282 for the same period last year.   The average for the full year 2016 was 228 days; in 2015 it was 234 days; in 2014, it was 235 days.  Even during the boom years 2004-2006, the average time to sell a house in Taos was about eight months — much longer than in many U.S. markets.  However, we are seeing well-priced homes in preferred areas selling relatively quickly, again due to the limited inventory, and that is bringing the average down so far this year.

The number of pending sales increased from 16 to 24.

Inventory – The seasonal increase continued, with 320 homes on the market, up 8 from a month ago; but that is still relatively low.  The inventory consists of a wide variety of price, style, location, and condition; it is often difficult to find more than several homes to show a buyer that meet his or her criteria.  Note that in September of 2008, there were 518 homes listed for sale.  The limited inventory has been a damper on sales.

CONDOMINIUMS

June condo sales were up slightly over June of last year (6 vs. 5).  Dollar volume was up from $844,500 to $1,203,000 (+42.5%).  

Year-to-date unit sales are 25.9% below  last year’s pace (20 vs. 27).  Dollar sales are down 25% at $4.4 million this year vs. $5.9 million last year.

The median price year-to-date is up 18.0% ($206,500 vs. $175,000).  The average (mean) price is up 1.3%, from $218,700 to $221,600.

As a comparison to peak market levels, in the full year 2006 there were 149 condos sold, with a median price of $251,000, and an average price of $259,300.

Price Discounting – Through six months this year, final sales price has averaged 5.2% less than last asking price when the property went under contract.  The average discount from original asking price is 8.1%.  For the full year 2016, the discount from original price averaged 11.8%.

Inventory – The number of condos listed for sale increased from 61 last month to 64 at the time of this report.  Last year’s highest inventory was 72 units for sale, which occurred in January.  In 2006, there were often over 200 condos on the market at any given time.

* The Lora Company Stats
** Greater Taos Valley including Taos Ski Valley (excluding Angel Fire, Black Lake, Chama and Red River).
  

Taos Ski Valley Real Estate News

Featured Listing

Homesites Available

The Kachina Mountain Lodge (KML) project has been thoughtfully master planned to include five Euro-alpine Wilderness Eco-Homes, a three-unit Eco-Townhome Lodge and unique regenerative Permaculture Landscaping that includes demonstration greenhouses for growing food year-round.

Each wilderness Eco-Home possesses a distinct character that welcomes the natural warmth of a sunny south exposure and breathtaking mountain views through generous passive solar curtain wall glass. Architecturally designed with a Permatecture philosophy to be environmentally conscious, hand-hewn and sturdy, KML’s authentic euro-alpine wilderness residences contain many sustainability features, fire-wise  details and the timeless qualities of whimsy, elegance and permanence. 

Conceived as the first sustainable development project in Taos Ski Valley, KML homes will be heated by active and passive solar sources, including regenerative annualized geo-solar. All KML homes also offer easy ski-in/ski-out access.

This project is fully approved and entitled for construction. One KML homesite is already reserved. And only Four competitively priced to-be-built homes remain available for sale to investors who would like to get involved with Taos Ski Valley’s exciting development opportunities.  All homesites include creative flexible designs that are already approved by the Village of Taos Ski Valley!

Visit the website for floor plans and detailed information. Kachina Mountain Lodge »

Home Decor Insights

Decor trends: happy colors, geometrics, touches of shimmer

article by Pat Setter

Here are a few hot — and cool — decorating ideas:

“Right now, livelier materials and happier colors are in,” said Dawn Davidson, chairwoman and CEO of Design Line Interiors, especially warm, earthy colors. But, she said, grays are not going away.

“Gray will still be around. It will always be in as long as it’s a warm gray,” she said.

The color folks at Pantone are forecasting geometrics along with splashes of iridescence. Adding geometric patterns is easy. The hard part is knowing how much you’ll like it in the long run. Geometrics can be found in floor tiles, backsplashes and wallpaper.

If you’re feeling futuristic, add a touch of iridescence. Luminous tiles will add some glam to a powder room. The small room’s small size makes it the ideal place to let your inner designer reign free. Think of the powder room as a designer’s jewel box. Or try a decorative piece, such as a side table or lamp.

In our increasingly high-tech world, natural elements in a home are a soothing antidote to electronic gadgets and help create a relaxed atmosphere. Wood floors are always popular, adding warmth to a home while reducing the allergens that hide in carpeting.

Gray-washed wood is giving way to more natural colors, Davidson said, especially dark-stained wood. Also look for wood to be used in more unusual ways, such as accent walls and ceilings. Real wood furniture will stand the test of time and will reduce harmful volatile organic compounds (VOCs) inside the home.

While, light, bright kitchens remain popular, color has been creeping back into this space with darker hues on cabinets and on the island. The design trend in kitchens is to add contrast with black, dark blues or grays on the wood, while backsplashes and countertops remain light and neutral.

Function in homes is very important. “Things are more minimalistic and need to have a purpose,” she said. But, she added, comfort is key.

“Contemporary is more popular, while ultra modern is more trendy,” Davidson said. “Modern interiors lack comfort. Modern so minimalistic it tends to get cold.”

Contemporary is still edgy and simple with clean lines, but it’s more functional.

Modern furniture tends to be really low, she said. Furniture needs to look good and be functional. “In the end,” Davidson said, “I still want a sofa that hugs you.”
 

Summer Rains in The Mountains

August is monsoon season in the New Mexico mountains. Soothing summer rains feed the acequias and the pastures are green with new growth. Here in New Mexico the natural colors in the landscape inspire our way of life regardless of the design trends.

Check out Pinterest and explore a whole new way to spend your time online and check out my Pinterest page: KachinaRealty Happy pinning!

Calendar of Events

New Mexico has long been a center for arts, culture, classes and gourmet food. With such a strong art market, there are hundreds galleries to explore and experience, along with a wide selection of thriving restaurants. Our Museums feature culture, history and traditions of the region and the world. Santa Fe, Taos County and beyond have something scheduled every day & night of the week, all year long.

Santa Fe »

All things Santa Fe »

Taos Ski Valley »

Taos County »

New Mexico Events Calendar »

Entertainment

If there’s one thing you can count on when spending time in New Mexico, it’s the treasured experiences and wide selection of entertainment: music venues, great sporting events, theatrical and musical entertainment as well as year-round festivals.
From festivals, music concerts and dance performances to theatrical offerings by local and touring groups, the performing artists work hard to keep its locals and visitors entertained by both New Mexico performers and acclaimed stars from around the world.

Santa Fe »

Taos County »

New Mexico »
 

About Kachina Mountain Realty

I am passionate about real estate development. I consider myself a “Dream Maker”, and strive to help my clients manifest their dreams and lifestyle goals.

I believe that, “…the dreams which accompany all human actions should be nurtured by the places in which people live and work”.

To promote this possibility, I encourages my clients to develop and share their dreams and lifestyle goals as part of the process of selling, buying or investing in property.

I have over twenty-nine years of business experience as an executive producer, web architect, social media marketer, business developer, architecture assistant, real estate marketing developer and real estate consultant.

I am a licensed real estate qualifying broker for Kachina Mountain Realty & an accredited ACRE® real estate consultant. I have worked in the Santa Fe & Taos real estate market for years. I specialize in working with buyers and sellers who are looking for a solid real estate investment.

Contact me, Dianne McKenzie, for your real estate transactions & let me help you manifest your dreams!

I am readily available by cell phone, text, (505.603.9300) & email. I return calls promptly, seven days a week!
 

Top Producer for the 2016 year!
I received an award for “Top Producer” for 2016 from Chris Landers of Equity New Mexico. I am very grateful to all my clients who trusted me with their business.

While the Equity New Mexico real estate office on Aldea Plaza has closed, Kachina Mountain Realty is ready and available for tours and information. KMR will be opening an office later this year. In the meantime, as always, all real estate information and printouts of listings for Aldea, Santa Fe, Taos Ski Valley, Taos County and beyond are still available, just free for the asking. I can email you PDF listings per area, any time, once requested. Even better, I can take you on a tour of the properties you would like to visit. I  represent Buyers and Sellers. Call me for a consultation today.