This top ten list is as follows:

1)  Bend, Oregon: Once a destination town, now a highly sought after place to live, Bend represents a great place to find retirment real estate.

2) Las Vegas, Nevada: Into shows, gambling, and the sun.  Las Vegas has all of these.  Combine that with a giant inventory of homes, and prices 50% off what they were only a few years ago, and you’ve got a deal.

3) Phoenix, Arizona: See Las Vegas, without the gambling.

4) Napa, California: Fantastic weather, great proximity to a world class city and pristine vineyards, lower prices have made this a desirable place to find a retirement home.

5) Fayetteville, Arkansas: Home to the University of Arkansas, low home prices reign supreme for retirees.

6) Punta Gorda, Florida: If boating, fishing, and hugely discounted real estate is your thing, this place may be for you.

7) Burlington, Vermont: This beautiful Northeastern hamlet has great restaurants, outdoor activities, and the University of Vermont.

8) Ft. Meyers, Florida: See Punta Gorda, but bigger.

9) Santa Fe, New Mexico: If you’re reading this, you know why this place is so great. If you don’t, give us a call and come visit!

10) Santa Cruz, California: While still expensive, home prices have dropped. Combine that with some of the best California coastline and a laid back attitude and you possibly have retirement heaven.

Link to the U.S. News and World Report Here

Contact Matt Desmond and Ryan Bolton

This 2 bedroom condo in the Cielo Grande complex is priced to sell!

Property Description:

Beautifully remodeled Cielo Grande condo located only a mile from downtown Santa Fe. Stroll to the DeVargas mall for groceries, to catch a movie, or to shop a one of the many boutiques.  Walk a bit farther and you’ll be in the heart of Santa Fe at either the Plaza or Railyard district.

This single-level, 2 bedroom, 3rd floor unit is easily accessed by either an elevator or stairs and has been thoroughly upgraded with newly remodeled kitchen and baths, and new tile floors. The entire home has been recently painted as well, adding to the value and charm of the home. The open  floorplan has a wonderful portal with southern exposure providing great natural light and a beautiful outdoor dining area during the warm months. During the cooler months you can warm your toes by the  kiva fireplace that graces the living area. The bedrooms are well proportioned, and the updated bathroom(s) have great storage and a washer and dryer.

With low HOA fees, this condo, previously priced at $219,000, is a steal at $214,900.

These condos are solid commercial grade construction, not apartment conversions.

Stop by on Sunday to check out this great listing or give Matt or Ryan a call to set up an appointment.

Link to More Photos

Contact Matt Desmond and Ryan Bolton

Made of all adobe, quality construction is evident throughout this home. As you enter through the front door you are greeted by a kiva fireplace and warm plaster walls.  To the right is a very well equipped kitchen with a large pantry and nice finishes. To the left is the spacious bedroom wing with a full bathroom and ample closet space. Off the bedroom is a private courtyard area, perfect for morning tea/coffee, or an afternoon drink.

What really makes this place special is the location.  Located on classic Alto street, the Plaza is a 5 minute stroll away, the Railyard is just around the corner, and the DeVargas Mall is only a hop, skip and jump away.  This is truly a centrally located condo where many of Santa Fe’s amenities are at your fingertips.

548 Alto Street: Unit B, Santa Fe, NM 87501

Listing Description:

Located in the Guadalupe Historic District, this beautifully remodeled condo is only a couple blocks from the Plaza, Railyard District and Sanbusco Center. An upgraded kitchen, large master bedroom, and private patio area add to the charm of this warm and inviting home. The unit will make a great Santa Fe escape and can also be rented short term. A furniture package is available.

The warm and inviting living room with Kiva fireplace:

Click Here for More Information on 548 Alto Street

Contact Ryan Bolton and Matt Desmond

A Classic Betty Stewart Home nestled in the lush Tesuque valley, this home with plaster walls, brick floors, a two-way fireplace, & vigas truly exudes charm & elegance. The wrap around portal provides venues for entertaining or relaxing in this serene setting. With a detached artist’s studio, the home is perfect for artists in residence or accomodating visiting guests. Recent updates to the kitchen, bathroom, and electrical system make this home move in ready. All of this conveniently located close to the Plaza, miles of hiking and biking trails, and the Tesuque Village Market.

When sitting in any one of the portals you feel as if you a entrenched in the beautiful country setting,  yet you are only 3.5 miles from the Plaza and everything Santa Fe has to offer. Within walking distance from this home is the Windsor Trail (a favorite running/hiking/biking trail for Ryan and Matt) and the many other trails leading into the National Forest. The Tesuque village center is also very close to the property, providing a great place to grab a pint of ice cream late at night, or a great dinner close to home.

This home is in immaculate condition, and would be suitable for a full time residence, a manageable Santa Fe reteat, or for use as a short term rental. 

Check out a video tour of the property below.

Give us a call if you or someone you know would like a personal tour of this exceptional home.

Contact Ryan Bolton and Matt Desmond

The United States Commerce Department announced that national housing starts rose in January to their highest levels in 6 months.  Starts were up 3% for the month, seeing increases in 3 of the 4 nationwide regions.  The only region that did not show increases was in the Midwest. Here in the West starts were up 9%, whereas in the South they were up 1%, and in the East, 10%.

The most recent quarterly report (4th quarter 2009) for existing home sales and condos showed a 14% increase in sales over the previous quarter. Trasactions increased in 48 of the 50 states, with double digit increases in 32 of those states.  Promising numbers, indeed. Once again, here in the West some of the highest numbers were seen, with a 16% increase over the previous quarter.  Contrary to the housing start data, the Midwest showed a sales increase of 15%. The South showed a 14% increase in sales and the Northeast, 11%.

Of the 151 housing markets followed by the National Association of Realtors (NAR), 67 showed higher median prices. 16 of the metro areas in the survey actually showed double digit increases in median prices. Another sign of a recovering market.

Here in Santa Fe the market seems abuzz with activity. We are seeing buyers in all price ranges, but particularly people looking to cash in on the first time home buyers credit which ends on April 30th (unless it gets extended). Hopefully, the market will continue to recover and thrive.

Contact Ryan Bolton and Matt Desmond

One of the greatest attributes of this home is its location. The South Capital district is a cozy nieghborhood located within walking distance of nearly everything Santa Fe has to offer.  A two minute walk will get you to Kaune’s market, Ohori’s coffee, the State Capital, and the Guadalupe Cafe.  Walk another two minutes and you will be in the historic Santa Fe Plaza and all of the restaurants, galleries, museums, and shops in the vicinity.  The attractions of Canyon road are only a five minute walk from the house, and the Railyard district is only about seven minutes away. If you’re looking for a centrally located house, this is it.

This property also has income potential.  You could live in either house and rent out the other. Or, as an investment property, you could rent both. At a list price of $525,000, this house is a great buy.

For a full video tour of the property, check out the video below.

Contact Matt Desmond and Ryan Bolton

New Mexico has two of the top retirement spots in the US- Santa Fe and Las Cruces. Perhaps this is helping to stabilize our Real Estate Market.

 Boomers are willing to move farther than previous generations when they retire, and they are choosing places unlike stereotypical retirement hotspots, says Tom Brokaw in his report on Boomer retirement, airing on CNBC, Thursday, March 4 at 9 p.m. ET

The top places listed by AARP and explored on the show are:

1. Loveland/Fort Collins, Colo.
2. Las Cruces, N.M
3. Rehoboth Beach, Del.
4. Portland, Ore.
5. Greenville, S.C.
6. Sarasota, Fla.
7. Ann Arbor, Mich.
8. Tucson, Ariz.
9. Montpelier, Vt.
10. Honolulu
11. Santa Fe, N.M
12. Atlanta
13. Charleston, S.C
14. Northampton, Mass.
15. San Diego, Calif.

Source: CNBC, Paul Toscano (02/05/2010)

Foreclosures hit hard but less so in N.M.
By | The Associated Press

2/11/2010

The number of U.S. households facing foreclosure in January increased 15 percent from the same month last year, and a surge in cash-strapped homeowners who’ve fallen behind on mortgages could be on the way.

More than 315,000 households received a foreclosure-related notice in January, RealtyTrac Inc. reported Thursday. That number is down nearly 10 percent from 349,000 in December, which saw the third highest total since the company began tracking foreclosure data in 2005.

There were 107 foreclosures in Santa Fe County in January, according to RealtyTrac, most of them (33) in the 87507 Zip Code. That was followed by the 87505 Zip Code, where there were 22.

Santa Fe’s foreclosure rates for January 2009 were not included in RealtyTrac’s report, precluding a comparison with 2010′s rates. RealtyTrac’s data specialist could not be reached.

In New Mexico there were 1,281 new foreclosure filings and nine foreclosure sales, according to RealtyTrac. The average sales price of foreclosed homes in January was $208,841.

The rate of foreclosures in New Mexico remains low. In his most recent newsletter, Santa Fe title company executive Alan Ball said foreclosures in states such as California and Florida exceeded 400,000 last year.

In New Mexico, by contrast, there were just over 7,000 foreclosures.

Ball also said that Santa Fe real estate sales in January were up 58 percent from the same month last year.

“We have already thanked the first-time homebuyer tax credit law and can certainly do so again” for the increase in home sales, Ball said. “Does that account for the increase? That is difficult to say.”

In January, one in 409 homes across the country were sent a filing, which includes default notices, scheduled foreclosure auctions and bank repossessions. Banks repossessed more than 87,000 homes last month, down 5 percent from December but still up 31 percent from January 2009.

January marked the 11th straight month with more than 300,000 properties receiving a foreclosure filing. The numbers could stay above that level as unemployed homeowners who have tried to keep up with their mortgages finally start missing monthly payments.

Mortgage financier Fannie Mae reported in late January that the rate of borrowers who have a conventional loan on a house and are seriously delinquent was 5.29 percent in November, more than doubling the rate of 2.13 percent in November 2008. Borrowers are considered seriously delinquent if they are past due by three months or more, or are in foreclosure.

“There’s a lot of foreclosures in the pipeline, and the number is going to continue to get bigger,” said Patrick Newport, an economist with IHS Global Insight.

Last month’s foreclosure activity followed a pattern similar to that of a year ago, when a double-digit percentage increase in December was followed by a 10 percent drop in January.

The dip in January’s numbers may be due to processing delays by lenders during the end-of-year holidays, said Rick Sharga, senior vice president of RealtyTrac, which is based in Irvine, Calif.

“I don’t think it’s an early sign of the coming of the end of the foreclosure crisis,” Sharga said.

A record 2.8 million households were threatened with foreclosure last year, and the numbers are expected to rise to between 3 and 3.5 million homes this year, RealtyTrac said.

Slowing the foreclosure rate is a key step in the recovery of the real estate market and the overall economy. The foreclosure crisis forced the federal government and several states to come up with plans to prevent or delay the process to help delinquent borrowers.

Foreclosed homes are usually sold at steep discounts, so they often lower the value of surrounding properties. Cities lose property tax dollars from foreclosure homes that sit empty and from declining home values, straining local economies. Home prices have stabilized in some cities, but are still down 30 percent nationally from mid-2006.

Economic issues, such as unemployment or reduced income, are expected to be the main catalysts for foreclosures this year. Initially, subprime mortgages were mostly the culprit, but homeowners with good credit who took out conventional, fixed-rate loans are the fastest growing group of foreclosures.

Among states, Nevada posted the nation’s highest foreclosure rate, followed by Arizona, California, Florida and Utah. Rounding out the top 10 were Idaho, Michigan, Illinois, Oregon and Georgia.

The metro area with the highest foreclosure rate in January was Las Vegas, with one in every 82 homes receiving a foreclosure filing. It was followed by Phoenix and the California cities of Modesto, Stockton, and Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario.

The New Mexican contributed to this story.

Here is a link to the Original Story

There are probably many reasons for the drop in house size. The obvious one is economics. During the recent economic and housing downturn buyers are needing to save money, and, thus, sacraficing space. Smaller bedrooms, smaller kitchens, and less “extra” rooms (I always think of the two, not one, “present wrapping” rooms that were noted in the Beverly Hills estate of the late T.V. producer Aaron Spelling). Additionally, larger homes are more expensive to maintain, heat, cool, etc. Here at homesinsantafenm.com we have also noticed that some people are wanting to “simplify” their lives. They are accomplishing this by living in smaller, more manageable homes that cost less money both to buy and maintain.

Looking into the crystal ball, what do we see? In Santa Fe we still have clients looking for all types of houses.  Families still want larger houses that can accomodate all of their needs, some retirees still want large homes to entertain, and some buyers want room to grow and roam.  However, other buyers are wanting to downsize, some retirees want less space to manage, and some families are realizing that they need less space. Basically, there is still a market in Santa Fe for all sizes of homes.

Contact Ryan Bolton and Matt Desmond 

This house is conveniently located in the Bishops Lodge Hills and Villas. It is a short (5-6 minute) drive to Historic Downtown Santa Fe. The house is perched on the highest point of this 2.5 acre lot. On a clear day you can see to Colorado and the neighboring green space protects your view of the Santa Fe Ski area.

The house itself is the work of one of Santa Fe’s more exclusive “boutique” builders. This Kitchen will satisfy even the most discerning Chef…. Subtle Green features abound.

The amenities will make this a great vacation home or a full-time residence.  Included are a private pool and clubhouse for homeowners, and discounts at Bishops lodge resort, Spa, and Restaurant.

The Price is $999,000. 3 Bedrooms, 3 1/2 baths, 3470 square feet, on 2.5 acres. Please contact us for a private tour or more information.  

Otherwise Enjoy:

The business is owned by partners Dennis Dampf and Don Scharhag, who have owned the restaurant for the last 27 years. “This has lasted longer than any of my marriages,” Dampf said Wednesday evening. “Don and I like to say we’ve only raised our voices to each other twice in 27 years.

“When asked about the reasons for the closure, Dampf declined to disclose them, other than to say it was partly due to difficult times in the restaurant business, which have seen fewer people eating out and more eating at home. “Business has been slow,” Dampf said. “That’s one reason for it.” Scharhag couldn’t be reached for comment.

A statement Dampf e-mailed to The New Mexican said in part, “owners Don Scharhag and Dennis Dampf are announcing the end of an era … many thanks to our loyal customers and wonderful staff. Don and Dennis hope to see as many folks as we can until the Jan. 24 closing. “Again a sincere thanks goes out to everyone for supporting us these past 27 years.”

El Nido restaurant and bar has enjoyed a long and colorful history, starting out in the 1920s as a roadhouse and dance hall known for its jukebox and lively tunes. “We heard it was a house of ill repute,” Dampf said.

The restaurant changed ownership many times over the years. It was owned from 1962 to 1976 by the politically prominent Arias family. Steve Arias couldn’t be reached for comment Wednesday evening.

The murals famed artist Will Schuster painted at El Nido eventually ended up at the state Capitol building, Dampf said.

Santa Fe author Pen La Farge mentions El Nido several times in his book about Santa Fe, Turn Left at the Sleeping Dog, focusing on the restaurant’s colorful history in the 1930s and 1940s. “There weren’t many places in Santa Fe to go for entertainment, either bars or restaurants or dance halls,” La Farge said in a 2002 interview. “The two main ones were La Fonda and, going out of town, El Nido.” El Nido, La Farge continued, “as I understand it, based on implications from the way people speak about it, started off as a dance hall and went through various incarnations, including as a restaurant and as a brothel.”

El Nido became a popular spot for celebrities, including Gene Hackman, Gwyneth Paltrow and Randy Travis. Locals gathered there for birthdays, anniversaries and other celebrations. Scientists from Los Alamos National Laboratory tended to gather there, a tradition that started during World War II, when, rumor had it, more secrets were whispered on the dance floor at El Nido than spies Julius and Ethel Rosenberg could have imagined.

El Nido was also popular with opera-goers because of the restaurant’s proximity to the Santa Fe Opera. “We’re well-known for getting people to the opera on time,” Scharhag said in a 2002 interview.

Flamenco dancer María Benítez began performing at El Nido in 1970.

Scharhag and Dampf moved to Santa Fe from New York in the 1970s, and both ended up working at The Steaksmith when it was at the former DeVargas Hotel, now the Hotel St. Francis. “At that time, The Steaksmith was the busiest restaurant in all of Northern New Mexico,” Dampf said. “The opportunity came along to take over El Nido, and we went for it.” Starting in December 1981, they spent several months remodeling the 7,000-square-foot building but not making too many changes to the adobe structure, which was apparently built in the ’20s or ’30s with additions over the years. “We wanted to keep the character of the building,” Scharhag said. “We did add some partition walls and retiled some of the floor and added the back bar.”

El Nido had been serving Northern New Mexican food, but the partners changed that, switching to steak and seafood. To this day, other than appetizers, they have only one New Mexican dish on their menu, a green-chile enchilada. “We were the first restaurant in Santa Fe to dabble with expensive fish, like sole, halibut and salmon,” Scharhag said. “We realized we were dealing with a diet-conscious community, and fish was a big part of that.”

The menu has remained pretty much the same over the years. “It’s a good, solid menu with quality food,” Scharhag said. “We’ve never tried to be trendy. Compared to a lot of other restaurants, I think we really give good value.”

Another big part of El Nido is its service, which Dampf and Scharhag oversaw themselves — at least one of them was on hand the six days per week the restaurant is open. And they weren’t just sitting at the bar schmoozing with customers — they took orders, cleared tables and even washed dishes.

Bob Quick | The New Mexican