Eco Lifestyle and Home News – March 2024
Dear Friends, Clients, Business Associates and Neighbors,
March 2024, marks the 95th 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 County and beyond.
In this edition, we offer the following:
- Lifestyle: Dream
- Real Estate Market Update
- Santa Fe Real Estate News
- Taos County Real Estate News:
Tarleton Ranch Eco-Village Announcement - 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
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 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 dreamed. 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.
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 & Sierra
Real Estate Market
Q4 2023
From the Santa Fe Association of Realtors
The fourth quarter was a challenging period for the U.S. housing market. The supply of homes for sale remained scarce, the average 30-year fixed-rate mortgage hit a 23-year high of 7.79% in October, according to Freddie Mac, and home prices marched upward in many markets, causing existing-
home sales to slump nationwide. Affordability challenges continue to weigh down buyer and seller activity, creating a standstill of sorts: fewer people can afford to buy, and fewer people can afford to sell, further constraining a tight supply of homes for sale and putting upward pressure on sale prices.
New Listings decreased 3.4 percent for Single Family but increased 7.8 percent for Townhouse/Condo. Pending Sales decreased 5.3 percent for Single Family but increased 8.0 percent for Townhouse/Condo. Inventory decreased 12.3 percent for Single Family and 2.3 percent for Townhouse/Condo. Median Sales Price decreased 0.6 percent to $670,000 for Single Family but increased 28.2 percent to $499,373 for Townhouse/Condo. Days on Market increased 2.4 percent for Single Family and 30.3 percent for Townhouse/Condo. Months Supply of Inventory decreased 3.6 percent for Single Family but increased 4.2 percent for Townhouse/Condo. But there have been signs of recovery as well.
Inflation is cooling, and mortgage rates have plunged in recent weeks, falling to their lowest level since June, giving home shoppers some much-needed relief this quarter. Demand for homes is strong, and buyers are responding favorably to lower rates, with U.S. existing-home sales recently increasing for the first time in five months, according to the National Association of REALTORS®. Economists expect mortgage rates will continue to drop into 2024, which should bring more buyers and sellers back to the market and help supply and sales activity increase in the new year. ~ From the Santa Fe Association of Realtors
Link to the full PDF report »
Well that was last quarter and as usual for this time of year we are off to a slow start in our local Santa Fe market. In the Aldea subdivision there are 7 active listings as of this posting. The average days on the market is about 120, with an average price of $868,280.
Mortgage Interest rates have dropped some as vied on the chart below.
That’s all the news on the real estate market for this issue.
Santa Fe Real Estate News
Aldea Real Estate Stats
2024 Stats: Sold, Pending, Listed
SOLD: 3 Homes, DOM 54 | 0 Lots, DOM 0
PENDING: 3 Homes | 0 Lots
LISTED: 7 Homes, Avg $931,971 | 5 Lots, Avg $600,000 for all 5 lots
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:
Las Campanas Real Estate Stats
2024 Stats: Sold, Pending, Listed
SOLD: 1 Homes, DOM 73 | 1 Lots, DOM 593
PENDING: 6 Homes | 1 Lots
LISTED: 16 Homes, Avg $2,954,050 | 27 Lots, Avg $259,000
Las Campanas is the only luxury master-planned community in Santa Fe. Stretching across 4,700 acres surrounded by pristine high desert, the community is comprised of exclusive neighborhoods. Las Campanas is also home to The Club at Las Campanas, where members can enjoy two award-winning Jack Nicklaus Signature golf courses, the 46,000 square foot Hacienda Clubhouse, a peerless Equestrian Center and the Fitness & Tennis Center, which includes a luxurious spa.
There are currently 20 homes for sale in Las Campanas
- 0 Homes under $1,000,000
- 20 Homes over $1,000,000
There are currently 30 Lots for sale in Las Campanas
- 2 Lots under $100,000
- 28 Lots over $100,000
Taos Real Estate News
Announcing Tarleton Ranch Eco-Village
We have just launched the much anticipated website for the Tarleton Ranch Eco-Village. www.TarletonRanchEcoVillage.com
The Tarleton Ranch Eco-Village (TREV) has been thoughtfully master planned as a walkable mixed-use “agrihood” community with a variety of clustered homes and a convenient commercial Village Center, developed around a beautiful 185 acre Eco-Farm Park filled with an abundance of food production, trails and recreation amenities. This unique community’s master plan embraces sustainability and a new earth stewardship paradigm with Permaculture based environmentally conscious solutions that include regeneratively-sustainable food forest agriculture, renewable energy and eco-lifestyles of well-being.
Location:
Located just 5 minutes north of Taos on highway 150 to Taos Ski Valley in El Prado, New Mexico, the Tarleton Ranch property has been a working cattle ranch and hay farm, owned and maintained by the same family for over three generations.
The Tarleton Family is developing their 331 acre property with a variety of mixed uses, in a manner that preserves approximately 185 acres (56%) of open space for agriculture and recreation.
Residential:
The Eco-Farm:
This conceptual eco-community plan features Permaculture based evolution of the existing Tarleton Ranch into a vibrant regeneratively sustainable farm and mixed-use community. Proposal incorporates principles and concepts of Permaculture Science.
Approximately 185 acres are designated for regeneratively sustainable community agriculture, recreation uses and wild life habitat restoration.
Status
The TREV development is in the initial stages of seeking development permits with Taos County. This process, including public hearings will take place over the next several months before property can be sold and the infrastructure can be started. We will keep you informed as we progress through the approval hearing process.
Map of the development:
Visit the website for more information:
Tarleton Ranch Eco-Village. www.TarletonRanchEcoVillage.com
Taos Real Estate Stats
2024 Stats: Sold, Pending, Listed
*SOLD: 18 Homes, DOM 130 | 11 Lots, DOM 178
*PENDING: 20 Homes | 15 Lots
*LISTED: 67 Homes, Avg $1,103,728| 153 Lots, Avg $292,847
* 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.”
Real estate sales 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.
If you been looking to buy a home, you are probably frustrated with the lack of quality homes on the market at any price point. I receive inquiries almost daily from out of town buyers and locals 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, or simply find a home to purchase, 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, retiring, moving to the area for work, 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.
The Tarleton Ranch Eco-Village will be the answer to many of the needs of those wanting to live, work & play in the Taos area.
Call our Taos Office: 575.776.7576
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
Sierra
CFO, (Chief Fun Officer)
Our 4.11 year old female silver standard poodle
February 1-29, 2024
We have had very little snow this winter, which means Sierra has not been able to wear her fleece jacket and purple Muttluk boots while running after her ball. Sierra loves the snow and never wants to come back inside when we have snow on the ground. This year the snow has been very light, inches only. In the past we have had “feet” of snow to play in.
Her purple boots are great for walks in the snow, but for running in the snow for longer periods, she needs the purple Muttluks boots that cover her carpal pads to keep them from bleeding.We have learned that the RuffWear jackets will really protect her underbelly and keep her warmer. We ordered new jackets & purple boots that arrived at the end of January. We took tons of pictures of her snow adventures.
I weigh & measure Sierra once a month, so here are her stats as of January 2024: 14″ collar, girth: 24″, height to shoulder: 25″ weight: 34 lbs.
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
Go Green:
Dianne & Sierra
