Eco Lifestyle And Home News – March 2018
Dear Friends, Clients, Business Associates and Neighbors,
March 2018 marks the Fifteenth edition of Eco Lifestyle and Home Newsletter produced by Kachina Mountain Realty. 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: Dream
- Real Estate Market Update
- Money Matters
- Santa Fe Real Estate News
- Taos County Real Estate News
- Home Decor Insights
- Aeowyn’s Dog Treats
- Calendar of Event Links for Santa Fe, Taos Ski Valley, Taos County & all around New Mexico
- Entertainment Links for Santa Fe, Taos County & around New Mexico
Lifestyle
Dream
Dreams are manifestations of our deepest desires and anxieties and are often considered expressions of the dreamer’s deepest fears and desires. Dreams are successions of images, ideas, emotions, and sensations that occur in the mind during certain stages of sleep.
The content and purpose of dreams are not definitively understood, though they have been a topic of scientific speculation, as well as a subject of philosophical and religious interest. In modern times, dreams have been seen as a connection to the unconscious mind. They range from normal and ordinary to overly surreal and bizarre.
The events in dreams are generally outside the control of the dreamer, with the exception of lucid dreaming, where the dreamer is self-aware. Dreams can at times make a creative thought occur to the person or give a sense of inspiration. A dream or vision is recounted as having revealed knowledge or a truth not available to the dreamer or visionary in a normal waking state. In both its ancient and medieval form, the dream/vision is often felt to be of divine origin, where dreams are regarded as creative gateways to imaginative possibilities beyond rational calculation.
I live with a dreamer, a true visionary, who is constantly cultivating his dreams. I tend to be more of a “realist”, seeing only what I experience and feel. It is harder for me to manifest my dreams based on my past high expectations that did not turn out as I dreamt. I easily become disillusioned, while my partner tends to re-envision his dreams, refining his goals and expectations, seeing the experience from a more positive viewpoint. I dream big, expect my dreams to be my reality and fall flat when the dreams do not match up with my expectations. My partner readjusts his dreams and moves on with more and bigger dreams, that sometimes exhaust me, as I am stuck in the inability to re-adjust.
There must be something more to manifesting ones dreams than just visualizing, intentions, and expectations.
- How do you manifest your dreams?
- What do you do to cultivate your dreams?
- What do you do when your dreams take a different path than you expected?
- What if we could manifest our dreams and cultivate them into our reality?
- What if we could become proactive dreamers?
- What if what we dreamed or envisioned, we actually manifested into reality?
- What would that reality look and feel like?
The process of proactive dreams has me thinking about shedding all the negativity and the judgment, while focusing on the manifestation process:
re-newing, re-dreaming, re-vitalizing ones intent.
While this seems like a lot of work, it is gentler than carry the weight of negative emotions, sadness, & despair. So for now, I am intending to dream more, dream bigger and let go of expectations! After all… all I really want is what we all want….to be happy. As the Buddhist chant: “Mental happiness, physical happiness, & ease of well being.” Here’s to dreaming!
Thank you for reading our newsletter & feel free to pass it on to other kindred spirits. ~ Dianne McKenzie
Real Estate Market Update
Existing Home Sales Decline, Inventory Still a Big Issue
Sales of existing homes fell again in January, the second consecutive month-over-month decline. Sales of pre-owned single-family homes, townhomes, condos, and cooperative apartments were down 3.2 percent compared to December, and the seasonally adjusted annual sales in December, already estimated at a 3.6 percent decline, were revised down even further. The National Association of Realtors® (NAR) said existing homes sold during the month at a seasonally adjusted rate of 5.38 million, representing a year-over-year decline of 4.8 percent. It was the slowest sales pace since last September and the largest annual loss since a 5.5 percent decline in August 2014. December sales were revised down from 5.570 million to 5.56 million. The months sales results were broad-based. All four U.S. regions saw both monthly and annual declines.
Lawrence Yun, NAR chief economist, says January’s retreat in closings highlights the housing market’s glaring inventory shortage at the start of 2018. “The utter lack of sufficient housing supply and its influence on higher home prices muted overall sales activity in much of the U.S. last month,” he said. “While the good news is that Realtors in most areas are saying buyer traffic is even stronger than the beginning of last year, sales failed to follow course and far lagged last January’s pace. It’s very clear that too many markets right now are becoming less affordable and desperately need more new listings to calm the speedy price growth.”
Mortgage rates move daily. Stay connected and informed! Visit: http://www.mortgagenewsdaily.com/mortgage_rates/
Money Matters
The levels of appreciation over the last four years aren’t anywhere near the levels that were reached in the four years prior to last decade’s crash.
The current run-up in prices is how the market is trying to catch up after a crash that dramatically dropped prices for five years.
Prices are appreciating at levels greater than historic norms. However, the real estate markets are not at the levels that led to the housing bubble and bust.
Mortgage News Daily provides the most extensive and accurate coverage of the mortgage interest rate markets.
Mortgage rates move daily. Stay connected and informed! Visit: Mortgage News Daily »
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
Aldea Lots
According to the real estate pundits, the coming wave of residential sales in 2018, is in view lots with new construction. To prepare for this wave, it is a good time to buy a lot in anticipation of the real estate surge. There are very few and far between quality view lots for sale on the west side of Santa Fe and these the best!
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! Prices will go up in Spring 2018, so buy now and save!
Builder package available for the Aldea lots, please inquire.
For more information visit the website: Aldea Lots For Sale »
Location Map of the Aldea Lots
7 Aldea Lot For Sale –Price Adjustment on 4 Lots!!!
The Barranca Lots: 3 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
Price Adjustment:
Avenida Frijoles 2 View Lots
134 Avenida Frijoles | Lot Size Acres 0.230 | MLS #201700371 | Listing Price: $82,500
Price Adjustment:
136 Avenida Frijoles | Lot Size Acres 0.200 | MLS #201700370 | Listing Price: $77,500
Price Adjustment:
Avenida Aldea View Lot
101 Avenida Aldea | Lot Size Acres 0.230 | MLS #201700369 | Listing Price: $82,500
Price Adjustment:
Arroyo Privado View Lot
4 Arroyo Privado | Lot Size Acres 0.190 | MLS #201700368 | Listing Price: $82,500
Aldea Stats
2018 Stats: Sold, Pending, Listed
SOLD: 7 Homes, DOM 141 | 0 Lots, DOM 0
PENDING: 2 Homes | 0 Lots
LISTED: 11 Homes, Avg $577,454 |10 Lots, Avg $86,300
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.
Las Campanas Real Estate News
2018 Stats: Sold, Pending, Listed.
SOLD: 8 Homes, DOM 150 | 1 Lots, DOM 0
PENDING: 1 Homes | 0 Lots
LISTED: 46 Homes, Avg $1,392,560 | 72 Lots, Avg $142,306
There are currently 46 homes for sale in Las Campanas.
- 16 Homes under $1,000,000
- 30 Homes over $1,000,000
There are currently 72 Lots for sale in Las Campanas.
- 29 Lots under $100,000
- 49 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!
$1,000 Gift Card Offer
When you choose me to be your Real Estate Agent/ REALTOR®, I will give you a $1,000 Gift Card to the place of your choosing upon successful closing of your Las Campanas Developer Homesite in Las Campanas in 2018*.
A gift card allows my buyers to use it for the purchase of goods or services. It is a thank you from me to you, for trusting me with the most important transaction: the closing of a Developer Homesite in Las Campanas.
- *Offer cannot be combined with any other offers
- *Offer does not apply to past transactions
- *Offer not valid or assignable to third-parties
Pulte Homes in Las Campanas
$500 Gift Card Offer
When you choose me to be your Real Estate Agent/ REALTOR®, I will give you a $500 Gift Card to the place of your choosing upon successful closing of your Pulte home in Las Campanas in 2018.*
A gift card allows my buyers to use it for the purchase of goods or services. It is a thank you from me to you, for trusting me with the most important transaction: the successful search, negotiation and the buying of your new Pulte home in Las Campanas in 2018.
- *Offer cannot be combined with any other offers
- *Offer does not apply to past transactions
- *Offer not valid or assignable to third-parties
Marketing Properties, Not Just Listing Properties
If you are thinking of selling your property, why not list it with a realtor who will market the property, not just list it in the MLS? By actively marketing your property, the property gets the most exposure to other realtors and to the general public through online blogging, email campaigns & the typical MLS exposure.
Call me, Dianne, 505.603.9300, to discuss your property needs, or for a tour of Lots & Homes in Aldea, Las Campanas and the Santa Fe region.
Visit the website for Santa Fe information: RealEstatePropertiesSantaFe.com
Visit the Kachina Mountain Realty company main website: KachinaMountainRealty.com
Taos Real Estate News
Recently, I have received inquiries from out of town buyers who are researching homes in the Taos area. These buyer profiles are looking to live in a safe community, with a country atmosphere, small homes, with flexible spaces. They are wanting to move to the area, but can’t find the properties that offer amenities that don’t include huge HOA fees. They want walking trails, localized eateries, a small grocery store, community activities and a sense of neighborhood. The are either downsizing their home and retiring or wanting a second home. They are wanting to go smaller, but the quality of their lifestyle and home features are upscale. “Does such a community even exist?” they ask. In the coming months, I will be featuring such a community.
Home Decor Insights
“Small House” vs the “Tiny House”
There has been many articles and TV shows that feature tiny houses. It is fascinating to watch and read about how people downsize from 3,500 square foot home to a 250 square foot home with a family of 4. I research and really enjoy the whole tiny house movement. I collect information and images on Pinterest or on Flipboard. The tiny house movement has even spread into the vacation rental market, including resorts that specialize in tiny home rentals and airstream trailers.
I have always loved airstream trailers, the design is sophisticated and much like living on a yacht. Clever design, is always of interest to me. But the tiny house movement, while it is catching on, will most likely not go mainstream.
The future of the “Tiny House” movement is shifting into the “Small House” movement. “Small House” movement is not as catchy a phrase or perhaps as interesting to see how people give up 90% of their possessions to squeeze into 10% of their former life.
The Small House movement is taking root all across the country. The typical American home is around 2,600 square feet, whereas the typical tiny house is between 100 and 400 square feet. Small houses range in 700 square feet to 1,200 square feet, depending ones definition. Small house are more traditional homes, and are not mobile. They are a great option for someone looking to live in a smaller space – often Millennials – but with all the amenities of a typical home. Small houses normally have two bedrooms. Some may have one, with larger kitchen and living areas, or three smaller bedrooms. The homes are ideal for young, single; first-time buyers; newlywed couples; recent empty nesters; vacation homes; short term rentals and retirees.
Many of my clients want to downsize, scale back and live a life of ease without too many things that require obligations. At the same time they are considering downsizing their spaces, they are not wanting to downscale their lifestyle. They want their freedom, yet be a part of a community, live large in regards to experiences, but live lightly on the land as much as possible.
In Santa Fe, Homewise is building a new residential development, El Camino Crossing, with homes ranging in 524 – 1,481 square feet, with 1-4 bedrooms and 1-2 bathrooms. Prices start at $199,900 to $298,900 with optional garages and upgraded features. The project is very innovated and offers affordable homes that will meet many buyer profiles, looking for smaller homes that are energy efficient and new home construction. Call me (505.603.9300) for a tour of this new development.
Watch this space as the year unfolds, as this blog space will feature more small home developments in coming months.
For ideas on small homes, check out Pinterest and explore a whole new way to spend your time online and check out my Pinterest page: KachinaRealty Happy pinning!
While you are surfing the “net” check out Flipboard for a variety of news and lifestyle reading.Aeowyn’s Dog Treats
Aeowyn is our 14 year old apricot standard poodle, retired service dog, Comet Studios visionary, Kachina Mountain Realty office receptionist and CFO (Chief Fun Officer).
Aeowyn is the inspiration for this dog treat recipe book. Her enthusiasm and her keen intense interest while we cook, has greatly encouraged our recipe development. While she loves to watch us cook, she prefers to taste test everything. We have confined her taste testing to vegetables, fruits and dog treats. She prefers not to share her treats or her toys, being that she is our “only” dog.
However, if you would like to receive Aeowyn’s Dog Treat Recipe e-booklet, please send me an email for your free copy.
Pumpkin Peanut Butter & Oatmeal Blueberry Treats
Ingredients:
- 1 can (15 oz) pumpkin (not pie filing)
- 1 cup of peanut butter
- 2 cups of rolled oats
- 2 cup rice flour (or any flour)
- ½ cup flax seed meal
- 1 cup(4 oz) dried blueberries
- ½ wheat germ
- ½ cup blueberry flax seeds
- ½ cup of chicken broth (low sodium) or water as needed
- 1.5 tablespoons apple cider vinegar
- 1 tablespoon coconut oil
- 1 tablespoon cinnamon
*Parchment paper for rolling out the dough, pizza cutter, ruler for cutting straight lines & a dog to snoopervise.
Method:
- Preheat oven to 350° F.
- Mix the wet ingredients: pumpkin, peanut butter, apple cider vinegar & coconut oil in a bowl. Wait to add the chicken broth or water.
- Mix dry ingredients in a large bowl: rolled oats, flour, flax seed meal, dried blueberries, wheat germ, flax seeds & cinnamon. Stir in the wet ingredient mix & add in small amount of the liquid, as needed. Divide into 4 balls.
- Roll out dough ball between parchment paper, 1/8” consistent thickness in rectangular shape to fit baking sheet. Discard top parchment paper, use for next baking tray. Transfer rectangular shaped dough with the bottom parchment paper to baking sheet. Use pizza cuter to cut dough in parallel strips to create a checkerboard of 1” squares. Use a ruler to help cut straight lines.
- Bake 25-35 minutes slightly brown. If you prefer a softer treat, bake for 15-20 minutes. Remove from oven and cool. This recipe uses 4 baking sheet/trays.
These treats are a soft thin treat & are very tasty. Recipe makes enough treats to fill a little more than 3 quart storage container with some to share with dog friends & keep in tins around the house. You can keep the dog treat crisps up to 1 week at room temperature in an airtight container or in an airtight container in the refrigerator up to 4 weeks.
Aeowyn sits waiting to taste test her dog treats. She “snoopervises” the whole process from start to finish. She tests every batch after the treats are removed from the oven and cooled.
Posing with her treats is the least favorite part of the process, as she is anticipating eating all of them at once. She can get rather bored with the photo shoots unless she is rewarded for her patience.
So far she has never rejected a recipe. Her favorite treat is the one she just ate!
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 »
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 »
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 thirty 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!
