Eco Lifestyle and Home News – July 2023
Dear Friends, Clients, Business Associates and Neighbors,
July 2023 marks the 87th edition of 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 County and beyond.
In this edition, we offer the following:
- Lifestyle: Success
- Real Estate Market Update
- Santa Fe Real Estate News
- Taos County Real Estate News
- Home Decor Insights
- Sierra Updates!
- 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
Success
Where does happiness & joy come in? Does one have to wait to achieve the end goals in order to be successful? Is success the end of the game, something to be achieved in the future, just upon ones death bed or can one define success in the day-to-day accomplishments?
So what is success, how do we define success? Is success something we achieve by ourselves or is it something we experience while in relationship? Achieving ones goals is a key factor, but is lasting success is a part of the process along the way to achieving ones goals? If success is the end game and the process of achieving success is not filled with happiness and joy, what purpose does success serve?
I have been told that I have always wanted to “have my cake and eat it to”, and I suppose this is true. I want “it” now. I have never liked waiting. I want to create “it”, now. So I am choosing to be happy, now. I am discovering joy, now. And I am re-defining success, now, all along this journey alone and in relationship. If not now, when?
“The adventure towards any goal is what brings value to it. The path towards the goal is where your life unfolds and where success is truly meaningful. When you are in the process of working to achieve something, you are experiencing who you are and what you’re made of. Your character is being tested and molded.
When you become aware of the importance of every step in the process of achieving success, you are sending a message to yourself, as well as the entire universe, that you are not only here, but qualified and ready to overcome obstacles along the way. All of which are essential ingredients for happiness and true success.”
Something I read recently has made me think about how we define success concerning our desires and wanting.
Life is divided into 3 stages:
1. Wanting stuff
2. Accumulating stuff
3. Getting rid of stuff
Thank you for reading our newsletter & feel free to pass it on to other kindred spirits. ~ Dianne McKenzie & Sierra
Real Estate Market
There is more inventory on the market than a year or two ago, however, the housing market can’t keep up with demand, hence this drives up home prices here in Santa Fe as well as nationally.
Regardless, it’s still a seller’s market, just not as hot as it was a year or two ago. Affordability is still a big challenge for buyers looking for starter or more modest homes. Interest rates are in the 6+% range and experts expect rates to remain there for the balance of the year. Multiple over asking offers has tapered off. Homes are staying on the market a bit longer.
The best advice to sellers, in the current market, is to keep up with maintenance and make sure your home is in turn-key condition. Best advice to buyers, is to get in wherever you can and build equity.
Santa Fe Real Estate News
Aldea Real Estate Stats
2023 Stats: Sold, Pending, Listed
SOLD: 12 Homes, DOM 37 | 1 Lots, DOM 56
PENDING: 4 Homes | 2 Lots
LISTED: 2 Homes, Avg $1,065,000 | 0 Lots, Avg $0
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.
Aldea Listings:
Aldea Pending:
Just Listed
Santa Fe Real Estate Offerings
3 Esquila Road in Eldorado | Santa Fe, New Mexico
Residential Home| MLS #202338568 | Price: $640,000.00 |
Located in the coveted community of Eldorado, on a quiet street, this Santa Fe style single-story passive solar home includes an open floor plan, 3 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, 1 car garage, radiant heat, air conditioning and is move-in ready!
The living room is graced with high ceilings adorned with vigas, a gas burning fireplace and windows on two sides. The adjacent kitchen and dining room are convenient for cooking and entertaining. The primary suite features dual closets, spacious bathroom with dual sinks, walk in shower and soaking tub. The second bedroom is is located across from the house bathroom with views on the patio side of the home. The 3rd bedroom is oversized which could be used as a media room, flex-space, exercise room, home office or art studio. A laundry room leads to the mud room/pantry storage area, just off the attached garage. There are 2 designated outside areas for relaxing & entertaining. This tranquil setting offers 360° breathtaking panoramic views: west sunset views to the Jemez mountains, eastern views of the Sangre de Cristos mountains and endless vistas to the south Sandia mountains in Albuquerque.
New Zone controlled 3 mini-split/ductless air conditioner/ heating, New refrigerator, Updated boiler for radiant floor heating system, New hot water tank, New septic system. Furniture package available.
The Eldorado community consists of miles of open land with approximately 2,776 developed parcels, and is a premier homeowner community in Santa Fe, New Mexico, known for its diverse, welcoming environment. Eldorado has many outstanding amenities and quality services: abundant 4,000-acre open preserve with local wildlife, extensive walking & bicycle paths, a community center, swimming pool, numerous sport courts, horse stables and dog parks. Whether you are seeking an active lifestyle or simply tranquil surroundings, you should schedule your home tour today, before it’s gone tomorrow.
Eldorado offers a well-regarded kindergarten through eighth-grade school as well as its own library, senior center, athletic room, outdoor pool, community garden, a 4,094-acre wilderness area, an arts and crafts association, annual spring studio tour, dog park, volunteer fire department, farmers market, grocery store, restaurants, shops, and art galleries. Like a small town, there is also a Fourth of July pancake breakfast, annual barbecue, ice cream social and many other popular social events.
Las Campanas Real Estate Stats
2023 Stats: Sold, Pending, Listed
SOLD: 32 Homes, DOM 98 | 5 Lots, DOM 495
PENDING: 13 Homes | 1 Lots
LISTED: 32 Homes, Avg $2,658,620 | 33 Lots, Avg $244,071
There are currently 32 homes for sale in Las Campanas
- 0 Homes under $1,000,000
- 32 Homes over $1,000,000
There are currently 33 Lots for sale in Las Campanas
- 3 Lots under $100,000
- 30 Lots over $100,000
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.
Taos Office: 575.776.7576
Visit the website for Santa Fe information: RealEstatePropertiesSantaFe.com
Visit the Kachina Mountain Realty company main website: KachinaMountainRealty.com
Taos Real Estate News
2023 Stats: Sold, Pending, Listed
*SOLD: 57 Homes, DOM 97 | 46 Lots, DOM 124
*PENDING: 24 Homes | 25 Lots
*LISTED: 71 Homes, Avg $800,308 | 152 Lots, Avg $372,000
* Areas tracked:
Lower North, Upper North, West North, Town of Taos, Taos Ski Valley, South West, South East
See map for areas »
Taos is very different than Santa Fe in many ways. With a population of 5,763 people and many surrounding neighborhoods, Taos is the 39th largest community in New Mexico. The greater Taos area is made up of several unincorporated areas and neighborhoods that separates out as if they were their own destinations or towns. Unincorporated areas around Taos have distinctive names that represent the ancient traditions of naming a place for a stream or topographic feature. Arroyo Hondo, Arroyo Seco and El Prado are all such places. These are not towns and have no political jurisdiction, they are simply places that help folks zero in on a very specific neighborhood. Within Taos itself are many such neighborhoods that may comprise no more than six “blocks.”
Selling real estate in Taos county is challenging for sellers, buyers and realtors, as the typical closing time for a property averages 90+ days, compared to under 30 days in Santa Fe. I have closed properties in Santa Fe under 20 days. There is a shortage of title companies which the realtors can work with in Taos. The back log of properties waiting to close often creates buyers to back out and leave the sellers in the same cycle for closing when the next offer comes in. Many buyers become frustrated as their lenders charge additional hold fees or back out all together. Below are some statistics that highlight the problem.
Pioneer Title
As of August 26, 2022, Pioneer Title has opened an office in Taos at 204 Paseo del Pueblo Norte, Suite A, Taos NM 87571, telephone: 866-294-4100. It remains to be seen if closing times will shorten in the coming months, but it is progress for realtors as well as sellers and buyers in Taos County.
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.
Buyers 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. They 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.
If you have been thinking about selling your home, now is probably a good time. Inventory is low and the demand for quality homes is up.
Call our Taos Office: 575.776.7576
Home Decor Insights
Lazy Days of Summer
Just because, I never seem to find the time to experience the “lazy days of summer”, doesn’t mean it doesn’t exist. Now is the season to sit out in cafés, drink cold drinks and gather with friends on your covered portals.
I love opening up all the windows early in the morning in summer. There is a coolness lingering from the night before and the air is still, with no breeze. Here in New Mexico we are under fire season watch when the winds pick up by mid day. Once the wind picks up and the heat of the day is rebounding off the ground, it is time to close the windows and stay under the covered portals. Summer is supposed to be the time to catch up on your reading list, explore easy cooking meals and schedule down time.
As a real estate broker summer is the time to research MLS listings, prepare homes for sale and to send out notices to buyers for possible homes to tour. Summer, to me, means hosting open house tours, marketing properties and being able to reschedule ones calendar on a minutes notice.
Summer time has the most amount of homes for sale and buyers are anxious about finding the perfect home before autumn show signs of approaching. Summer 2023 is more like pre-pandemic times, but with less homes on the market. Prices have dropped some since last summer 2022 when the only way to purchase a home was to pay over asking price against multiple offer bids. However, there are very few homes to tour. This is the state of the real estate market right now.
So if you can find the time to kick back and enjoy the time you do have, even if it is short, there are lessons in life to learn from the seasons: Enjoy it while you can, as the seasons will change.
For ideas on decorating with spring in mind, 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.Sierra
CFO, (Chief Fun Officer)
Our 4.3 year old female silver standard poodle
June 1-30, 2023
June has been a busy month with real estate activity and lots of driving, on tours and other events. It’s been windy and in the low 70’s. Warmer weather has reached the 80’s in the end of June.
Sierra is learning to catch a frisbee. Watching her learn to pick it up without stepping on it has been very entertaining.
I weigh & measure Sierra once a month, so here are her stats as of June 2023: 14″ collar, girth: 24″, height to shoulder: 25″ weight: 34.5lbs.
Photos for the Month of June 2023 »
Sierra’s web page: www.diannemckenzie.com/sierra
More photos will be continually posted on her own web page, so check back monthly, as we chronicle her life with us!
Sierra’s Videos »
You really need to watch Sierra’s videos as they capture her spirit!
Here is the link to Sierra’s Videos »
Sierra’s 1st video explains who she is and her new role at Kachina Mountain Realty. In Sierra’s 2nd video she talks about Dianne’s role at Kachina Mountain Realty in the era of COVID-19. In Sierra’s 3rd video, Sierra talks about selling and buying real estate during the COVID-19 pandemic. In Sierra’s 4th video she talks about how staying safe in the era of COVID-19.
As you probably already know, Sierra is the CFO (chief fun officer) at Kachina Mountain Realty. Sierra talks to you today about using your imagination in Sierra’s 5th video. When Sierra turned 2 years old on March 18, 2021, people asked what she sounded like now that she was older. While she does not have a lot to say right now, she is quick and to the point, as she starts her 2nd year as CFO, in Sierra’s 6th video. Currently Sierra is not recording videos at this time.
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 & 575.776.7576) & email. I return calls promptly, seven days a week!
Taos Office: 575.776.7576
Dianne & Sierra
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