Eco Lifestyle And Home News – February 2018
Dear Friends, Clients, Business Associates and Neighbors,
February 2018 marks the Fourteenth 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: Harmony
- 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
Harmony
Harmony is achieved when the outer relationship between who we are and the world around us is in alignment. We experience harmony when we get in touch with who we are and what matters most, and then make those things a priority in our lives.
The word “harmony” comes from the Greek word that means “joint, agreement, concord.”
Another definition of harmony states: “Harmony is the combination of simultaneously sounded musical notes to produce a pleasing effect.” The term harmony is used to refer to notes that, basically, come together to make a whole. Chords are several notes played together to form the basis of many harmonies. A choir is filled with dozens of voices that all blend together to make a sound. If the voices all sound good together, we marvel at their harmony.
Harmony is about unity, consensus & fellowship, all coming together for the greater good.
Living in community requires harmony in the midst of differing viewpoints, ideas, needs & reactions. Just like a talented conductor, it takes a skillful facilitator to bring the variety of viewpoints to a consensus.
When I look around at various planned communities, I sometimes see non-harmonious & contentious issues dividing communities; such as political polarization, debates about solar installations, the “chicken wars” of Eldorado or the anti barn restoration that was so divisive at The Sea Ranch in California. When community health is threatened by such disruptive issues, solutions need to be found that nurture & strengthen a critical mass of common community interests; as needed to maintain the harmonious balance that healthy communities require. This non-harmonious behavior is also evident in our nations political climate this past year.
Creating harmony is to be at peace with one’s immediate relations, those with whom one must live with every day. Calm silence, sincerity, & courteous words, whether one is agreeing or disagreeing with others, bridges the gap between differing viewpoints.
Humanity faces many unavoidable challenges that require our best defense without us creating additional unnecessary problems between ourselves. Kindness is the greatest catalyst of harmony.
Tips to create harmony:
• Realize that if you are at peace with yourself, then it is easier for you to be at peace with others & your community.
• Resolve conflicts with patience, tolerance, & communication. Education is the key to understanding & resolving issues.
• Recognize that people have individual lifestyle preferences when it comes to things like food, fragrances, fashion, & entertainment & that sometimes one person’s trash might be another person’s treasure.
• Recognize the abundant potential that exists for us to be adequately sustained through cooperation & an intelligent management of our resources.
• Seek to enjoy life & seek to allow others to do the same.
Thank you for reading our newsletter & feel free to pass it on to other kindred spirits. ~ Dianne McKenzie
Real Estate Market Update
Reprinted from The Santa Fe Association of Realtors
The number of homes for sale, days on market and months of supply were all down in year-over-year comparisons in a majority of the country for the entirety of 2017, as was housing affordability. And although total sales volumes were mixed, prices were consistently up in most markets. Buyers may not benefit from higher prices, but sellers do, and there should be more listing activity by more confident sellers in 2018. At least that would be the most viable prediction for an economic landscape pointing toward improved conditions for sellers.
New Listings in the Santa Fe region increased 2.5 percent to 656. Pending Sales were down 10.8 percent to 504. Inventory levels fell 12.0 percent to 1,254 units.
The Median Sales Price increased 4.6 percent to $325,000. Days on Market was down 40.9 percent to 81 days. Sellers were encouraged as Months Supply of Inventory was down 22.9 percent to 5.9 months.
Unemployment rates have remained low throughout 2017, and wages have shown improvement, though not always to levels that match home price increases. Yet housing demand remained incredibly strong in 2017, even in the face of higher mortgage rates that are likely to increase further in 2018. Home building and selling professionals are both cautiously optimistic for the year ahead. Housing and economic indicators give reason for this optimism, with or without new federal tax legislation.
Money Matters
Mortgage Daily News Reports:
“Despite a poor showing in December, existing home sales in 2017 were the best levels in 11 years. The National Association of Realtors® (NAR) said the finished with 5.51 million sales of existing single-family homes, townhomes, condos, and cooperative apartments. This edged out, by 1.1 percent, the 5.45 million sales in 2016 to have the highest number of transaction since 6.48 million were sold in 2006.
Single-family home sales dropped by 2.6 percent to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 4.96 million from 5.09 million in November but remain above the 4.91 million pace of a year ago. Existing condominium and co-op sales fell 11.6 percent to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 610,000 units in December and are up 1.7 percent on an annual basis.
Lawrence Yun, NAR chief economist, says the housing market performed remarkably well for the U.S. economy in 2017, but wasn’t as good as it might have been.
The median existing-home price for all housing types in December was $246,800, a 5.8 percent rate of appreciation for the year and was the 70th straight month of year-over-year gains. Last December the median price was $233,300. The median existing single-family home price also rose 5.8 percent year-over-year to 248,100. Condos performed even better with a 6.4 percent annual increase to a median of $236,500.
The inventory of available homes fell another 11.4 percent in December to 1.48 million, and is now 10.3 percent lower than a year ago (1.65 million). The inventory has declined year-over-year for 31 consecutive months and is currently estimated at a 3.2-month supply, the lowest level since NAR began tracking in 1999.
“The lack of supply over the past year has been eye-opening and is why, even with strong job creation pushing wages higher, home price gains – at 5.8 percent nationally in 2017 – doubled the pace of income growth and were even swifter in several markets,” said Yun.
“Rising wages and the expanding economy should lay the foundation for 2018 being the turning point towards an uptick in sales to first-time buyers,” said Yun. “However, if inventory conditions fail to improve, higher mortgage rates and prices will further eat into affordability and prevent many renters from becoming homeowners.”
The slide in sales affected all four of the nation’s regions. Sales were down 7.5 percent in the Northeast to an annual rate of 740,000, 2.6 percent below a year ago. The median price in the region was $261,400, 3.0 percent higher than in December 2016.
In the Midwest, existing-home sales dipped 6.3 percent to a rate of 1.33 million, remaining 1.5 percent above a year ago. The median price rose 7.8 percent to $191,400.
Sales in the South decreased 1.7 percent to an annual rate of 2.30 million, an annual gain of 3.1 percent. The median price increased by 5.8 percent to $221,200.
There was a 1.6 percent decline in sales in the West, to 1.20 million units, 0.8 percent fewer than in December 2016. The median price in the West was $367,400, up 7.3 percent from December 2016.”
Read the complete article »
Mortgage rates move daily. Stay connected and informed! Visit: http://www.mortgagenewsdaily.com/mortgage_rates/
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
2018 will see lot & home prices increase
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: 2 Homes, DOM 88 | 0 Lots, DOM 122
PENDING: 4 Homes | 0 Lots
LISTED: 10 Homes, Avg $585,300 |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.
Update: In 2016, 46 homes sold in Aldea. In 2017, only 21 homes have sold in Aldea. Prices show a listing increase for homes and lots available than in 2016. Currently there are 7 homes on the market, 4 pending. Out of the 7 listings, 1 is a townhouse below $360,000. Our Winter sales are slow with a low inventory. With the 4 homes pending, 1 is in the price range $600,000. The high end market has been stagnant up until now. 1 townhome sold $250,000 range, 5 townhomes sold in the $300,000, 1 single family home in the $300,000 range, 4 single family homes in the $400,000, 5 single family homes in the $500,000, 4 single family homes in the $600,000 and 1 home in the $800,000. The highest priced home sale was the largest Aldea home of 4,500 square feet but was also the lowest price per square foot at $176 per sqft. sold below replacement cost and the highest cost per sqft was $264. There were 2 live works that sold for a substantial loss at $107 sq ft, originally built for over $300 sq ft. The commercial properties in Aldea have proven to be a financial disaster, according to realtors and commercial property owners.
Las Campanas Real Estate News
2018 Stats: Sold, Pending, Listed.
SOLD: 5 Homes, DOM 183 | 0 Lots, DOM 0
PENDING:1 Homes | 0 Lots
LISTED:44 Homes, Avg $1,3376,508 | 69 Lots, Avg $145,457
There are currently 44 homes for sale in Las Campanas.
- 16 Homes under $1,000,000
- 28 Homes over $1,000,000
There are currently 69 Lots for sale in Las Campanas.
- 30 Lots under $100,000
- 39 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
Real Estate Summary For Taos Area
From Taos County Association of Realtors:
Closing out 2017, this 12-month Local Real Estate Market Stats Snapshot report shows single family home sales up in all major local markets; 15.4% in Angel Fire, 10.3% in Red River, 12.4% in Taos, and 100% in Taos Ski Valley. Condominium sales on the other hand only saw an increase in units sold from 2016 in the Angel Fire market with slight decreases in units sold in all other local markets. Land sales also saw healthy increases in the Angel Fire and Taos markets, while holding steady in the Red River market and down somewhat in the Taos Ski Valley market.
As we start the new year activity is up in our normally slow winter months. This is likely due to fairly mild weather conditions so far this season as well as to the favorable business and job market conditions and outlook around the country. Home mortgage interest rates are still very low as well, providing home buyers with incentive to make a move and home purchase now.
Home Decor Insights
Modern Design vs Contemporary Design
Reprinted & written by Cynthia Bowman January 22, 2018 in Freshome’s Very Best Modern design refers to an era that has passed, while contemporary design is all about the now and the future.
The most popular modern design era is the mid-century modern era of the 1950s and 1960s. But Art Deco design of the 1920s or anything from then to the vintage look of the 1970s can also be considered modern.
vs
Contemporary design features state-of-the-art materials, glass and metals.
Modern vs. Contemporary design colors
Modern design colors have an earthier hue and feature shades like rust, turquoise, brown and olive greens. Contemporary design often sticks to a stricter palate of black, white and grey. If color is added, the color is often the pure, saturated tone like true red, indigo, orange or deep purple.
Modern vs. Contemporary similarities
Both design styles have three general elements in common, which make them good design styles to mix and match into your own signature look.
The three shared elements are:
1. The esthetics are both minimalist. – A modern design features a minimal amount of furnishings and accents.
2. Clean, architectural lines are their signature. – Contemporary design is minimal design.
Both modern and contemporary design styles are unfussy and lean toward clean lines instead of ornamentation, like the Scandinavian-style modern living room. Contemporary design interiors feature straighter, more austere lines, while modern tends to incorporate more curves.
3. They both have an open-space feel. – A contemporary open space flows from one area to another fluidly. Wood is featured on all surfaces to maintain the flow such as in an open-space modern living area.
Now that you know a little more about modern vs. contemporary design, which style do you prefer?
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.
Banana Apple Sauce Oatmeal Treats
Ingredients:
- 2 mashed bananas
- 1 cup of unsweetened apple sauce
- 2 cups of rolled oats
- 1 cup potato flour (or any flour)
- 1 cup flax seed meal
- 1 cup dried apple slices cut up
- ½ wheat germ
- ½ cup flax seeds
- ½ cup of diced dried apple
- ¼ 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: mashed bananas, apple sauce, diced dried apples, 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, flax seed meal, potato flour, wheat germ, & flax seeds. 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 25-30 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.
In this photo, 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!
