Eco Lifestyle And Home News – June 2022
Dear Friends, Clients, Business Associates and Neighbors,
June marks the 74th 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:
- COVID-19 UPDATE
- Lifestyle: Encourage
- Real Estate Market Update
- Santa Fe Real Estate News
- Taos County Real Estate News
- Home Decor Insights: Summer
- 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
COVID-19
The End of COVID-19 Updates
NMDOH will not host a COVID-19 update unless something drastically changes with the pandemic, now endemic. We’d love to believe this is the last of COVID-19, but if there’s one thing that is evident in the past year, it’s that we’ll likely never be rid of the coronavirus. We’ll simply have to live with it.
The next step for the Virus is hard to predict, if only because the virus has a mind of its own. New cases and deaths are falling, but other omicron variants are lurking in the world. If history is any guide, the virus will morph. The wisest among us will remain wary and remember the smart practices that kept hundreds of thousands safe. We knew what to do because public officials were driven in their zeal to make sure we understood. Let’s hope neither leaders nor the public become complacent in the coming weeks and years.
Please be mindful that many people who have been fully vaccinated may have underling health issues such as pulmonary, respiratory and immune issues, therefore they should still take precaution in wearing masks, as well as continue with social distancing.
What you can do
Get a COVID-19 vaccine as soon as it’s available to you.
If you are fully vaccinated, you can return to many activities that you did before the pandemic — without wearing a mask, except where required by a rule or law. However, if you are in an area with substantial or high transmission of new cases in the past week, the CDC recommends wearing a mask indoors in public.
If you haven’t had the COVID vaccine, you can take many steps to reduce your risk of infection.
What We Know
- COVID-19 vaccines are effective at preventing COVID-19 disease, especially severe illness and death.
- COVID-19 vaccines reduce the risk of people spreading COVID-19.
- The Delta Variant is more infectious.
What We’re Still Learning:
- How effective are the vaccines against variants of the virus that causes COVID-19?
- Early data show the vaccines masks work against some variants but could be less effective against others.
- How well the vaccines protect people with weakened immune systems, including people who take immuno-suppressive medications.
- How long COVID-19 vaccines can protect people?
As we know more, CDC will continue to update our recommendations for both vaccinated and unvaccinated people.
Want to learn more about these recommendations? Read our expanded Interim Public Health Recommendations for Fully Vaccinated People.
Resources & Links:
CORONA VIRUS
| Santa Fe Information: | New Mexico Information: |
| Santa Fe Information » | |
| https://www.santafenewmexican.com » | https://www.hhs.gov |
| Taos Information: | US Centers for Disease Control: |
| https://www.taosnews.com » | https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/index.html» |
| https://holycrossmedicalcenter.org» | https://www.coronavirus.gov |
| https://www.taoscounty.org» | https://www.epa.gov |
Lifestyle
Encourage
We all need encouragement along our journey. I have been blessed to have lots of encouragement over the years. Almost daily I hear from a client how happy they are in their new home, or how happy they are that I sold their home in record time. I feel very encouraged by my clients, past & present.
Recently a client of mine from the 1990’s sent an email thanking me for the tapestry I wove for them many years ago. Over the years the artwork has given my client much joy and she reached out to me just to let me know how much the tapestry plays a part in her daily life.
For my birthday one year, my sister sent me a juicer to help me on my journey to good health. Her encouragement and friendship throughout the years has been a major contribution in my life.
My husband is another source of encouragement for me. He has stood by me through my knee replacement, to getting my real estate license to getting my qualifying broker license and through many other events.
My colleagues have encouraged me years back to keep on going when starting out on this real estate profession after a very hard recession.
Years back I received lots of encouragement from my students when I was touring, lecturing and teaching web design at conferences and corporations around the country. In my early childhood I was encourage to be creative and independent.
Encouraging others starts a ripple effect, that we do not even know how it will impact our or their lives. Years back I attended my nephew’s graduation from law school. A real accomplishment for my nephew and my sister as well. He was encouraged from before he was birthed, that he had greatness ahead of him and that the world needed wonderful men to do good things. Fast forward to the present, he now has his own law firm and several legal assistants, handling very important cases.
All these and many more significant and insignificant encouragements shape ones life.
Encouraging others has a deep impact that often takes years to see the total effects. We all need more encouragement and to encourage others to shine. When we encourage ourselves and others, we can set goals that can be attainable.
I encourage you all to set goals, visualize your future, and live your passion. The world needs more of us to dream.
Thank you for reading our newsletter & feel free to pass it on to other kindred spirits. ~ Dianne McKenzie & Sierra
Real Estate Market
Mortgage interest rates are climbing, inventory of available homes is low, and sellers are receiving multiple offers. What’s going to happen this summer?
Typically summer listings increase starting in June. So we need to wait and see what & how many properties start coming on the market.
Some pundits see a cooling off in the market, some see a correction of lowering prices while mortgage application are in a decline at a slightly slower pace. Sellers are eager to list knowing that prices remain high, but buying a replacement home means there is less on the market to choose from and at a higher price.
Key Findings from Realtor.com »
- The median listing price grew by 16.6 percent over last year.
- New listings–a measure of sellers putting homes up for sale–were up 6% above one year ago.
- Active inventory continued to grow, rising 9% above one year ago.
- Homes spent 6 days less on the market than this time last year.
My crystal ball does not tell me very much, other than change is inevitable, the real estate market is always changing up/down or steady….
Santa Fe Real Estate News
Aldea Real Estate Stats
2022 Stats: Sold, Pending, Listed
SOLD: 11 Homes, DOM 2 | 1 Lots, DOM 193
PENDING: 3 Homes | 0 Lots
LISTED: 1 Homes, Avg $660,000 | 1 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.
Just Listed:
Located in the desirable community of Aldea, on a quiet cul-de-sac, this open floor plan, two-story, 3 bedroom, 2.5 bathroom townhouse borders trails and open spaces is move-in ready!
The living room is graced with 12’ high wood ceiling adorned with vigas, a gas burning fireplace and tall windows on two sides. The adjacent dining room leads to the sizeable kitchen, convenient for cooking and entertaining.
The landscaped enclosed garden patio with water feature enhances al fresco dining, with a covered portal and access to the detached 2-car garage. The living level includes a 3rd bedroom/office, along with a half-bath, separate laundry room & a new $15,000 Navien high efficiency combi-boiler. Upstairs features a spacious primary bedroom suite with sitting/office/exercise area, private balcony with 180˚ views, walk-in closet and a luxurious bathroom. The tranquil 2nd bedroom is light and airy within steps away from a full bathroom.
From it’s coveted large rooftop deck with 360˚ breathtaking panoramic views to the east Sangre de Cristos mountains, sunset west views to the Jemez mountains, and endless vistas to the south Sandias mountains in Albuquerque, you will experience the privacy of your own retreat.
This is an outstandingly beautiful end unit property, where one can wander the arroyos and walking trails, partake in the sports courts, playground, yoga classes, enjoy the workout facilities, Aldea Plaza and local café. Not all townhomes are created equal, this one stands out among all the rest! Schedule your home tour today, before it’s gone tomorrow.
Las Campanas Real Estate Stats
2022 Stats: Sold, Pending, Listed
SOLD: 20 Homes, DOM 31 | 12 Lots, DOM 469
PENDING: 31 Homes | 18 Lots
LISTED: 23 Homes, Avg $3,117,652 | 32 Lots, Avg $270,916
There are currently 23 homes for sale in Las Campanas
- 1 Homes under $1,000,000
- 22 Homes over $1,000,000
There are currently 32 Lots for sale in Las Campanas
- 2 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
2022 Stats: Sold, Pending, Listed
*SOLD: 93 Homes, DOM 138 | 45 Lots, DOM 227
*PENDING: 65 Homes | 57 Lots
*LISTED: 39 Homes, Avg $868,322 | 159 Lots, Avg $227,098
* 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.
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
Summer is officially started with the Memorial Holiday. New Mexico loves to celebrate holidays, where businesses close up early and take time off. Even real estate companies take 1/2 day off on Friday to the the full day off on Monday. For many it means spending time at home or gathering with others for barbecues. I love holidays of any kind, as it gives cause to pause and participate in rituals.
Originally called Decoration Day for over a century, this special holiday was changed to Memorial Day by federal law in the 1880’s. Other names this day has been called; Memorial Day USA, Remembrance Memorial Day, US Memorial Day and others. It is a day of remembrance for all those who have served our country in the armed forces.
And with the seriousness, gratefulness and appreciation of the actual meaning of this day, it is the start of the summer season. Right now in New Mexico, we have experienced the devastating fires that have ravaged our state for the past 2 months, with unusually sustained high winds. The forest are closed to visitors in hopes of preventing any other fires.
Summer means barbecues, patriotic celebrations, and idle hours spent lounging in the sun. Is your backyard ready? Spruce up to your outdoor spaces, front, side and backyard.
It is time to decorate for the summer season. It is time to plan for outdoor events as the days become warmer and the nights cool down from the high desert heat.
It is also time to turn ones attention to the garden. Time to plant, trim and spend times outdoors.
- Prep the patio for outdoor al fresco dining
- Add comfy furniture for reclining and casual seating
- Add lots of color with outdoor rugs, pillows and lights
- Set a colorful table with runners, flowers, place settings
- Add twinkling candles or café lights to your garden area
- Add a mirror to your seating area to reflect the environment around you
Most of all, its time to start spending time outside again. Celebrate: life, love, seasonal change and good food.
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 3.2 year old female silver standard poodle
May 1-31, 2022
Sierra started her 4th heat cycle in May. That means Sierra has to wear fancy pants for 21-28 days. Sierra is not allowed outside by herself, as we definitely do not want coyote poodle puppies!
We are planning on breeding her in 2023 and possibly keeping a silver female puppy. John has said it is my decision as to whether to keep a puppy or not, since I take care of all the “input” of feeding, grooming & training and John manages the “output” of pooping & peeing. The decision will be made once the puppies are born.
I had 2 standard poodles together, my mother dog, Iona, a black standard poodle and later I kept her white female puppy, Yogi. Grooming 2 standard poodles is very time consuming, with grooming weekly and brushing daily. I was 30+ years younger then. I loved my 2 poodles and they kept each other company, while I worked form home with them. So can I do this again? I will decide next year. In the meantime, we are loving being with Sierra and having her as our only dog.
I weigh & measure Sierra once a month, so here are her stats as of May 2022: 14″ collar, girth: 24″, height to shoulder: 25″ weight: 32.5 lbs. Sierra lost 1 lb during her heat as she is not as hungry.
Photos for the Month of May 2022 »
In Celebration of Sierra’s 3rd Year »
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.
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!
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!
Taos Office: 575.776.7576
Dianne & Sierra
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