Eco Lifestyle And Home News – October 2020
Eco Lifestyle And Home News – October 2020
Dear Friends, Clients, Business Associates and Neighbors,
October 2020 marks the forty-sixth 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:
- COVID-19 UPDATE
- Lifestyle: Harvest
- Real Estate Market Update
- Money Matters
- Santa Fe Real Estate News
- Taos County Real Estate News
- Home Decor Insights -Debbie DeMarais
- 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
Update on COVID-19
COVID-19 is not going away soon. All around the country, places that opened up are seeing spikes in those effected by the virus. While New Mexico has opened up many businesses, we still need to wear face masks, practice social distancing, and wash hands for at least 20 seconds. I also urge people to wear disposable gloves while grocery shopping and touching surfaces outside your homes. We can not become complacent and start relaxing. Even if you catch the virus and have only minor symptoms, people are reporting lung damage and other horrible side effects many months later. Some people have got the virus twice and are permanently effected.
City of Santa Fe Passes Law Requiring Face Coverings with Penalties
Public Health Emergency Order Clarifying that Current Guidance Documents, Advisories, and Emergency Public Health Orders Remain in Effect July 13, 2020
These sacrifices are the best contribution that each of us can individually make to protect the health and wellbeing of our fellow citizens and the State as a whole. In accordance with these purposes, this Order and its exceptions should be narrowly construed to encourage New Mexicans to stay in their homes for all but the most essential activities.
Face masks will be with us for the next year or more, so why not have several on hand. Some people are wearing face masks as part of a fashion statement, with coordinated face masks to work with their clothing. Others are buying very expensive tech face masks, which can look very hip. Our face masks are very simple. Recycled 2 layers of cotton fabric with 1 layer of non woven interfacing, a nose bridge, and adjustable/replaceable elastic around the ears.
Making Face Masks For Family, Friends & Clients
Since March 2020, my sister, Valarie McKenzie, and I (Dianne McKenzie) have been making face masks for family, friends, neighbors and clients to be worn during the COVID-19 pandemic. Valarie lives in Las Vegas, Nevada, working as a massage therapist extraordinaire at the Bellagio Spa and is an amazing healer. She, like most of us, is basically out of work, as the Spa is closed during the COVID-19 pandemic. While realtors are considered essential businesses (most buyers & sellers are on hold for now), massage therapists are not able to work on clients. So during our “down time”, we started making face masks to give away for free.
Valarie and I come from several generations of seamstresses. Our Nana, was a “select gown” dressmaker in New Zealand and taught me to sew at a very early age. Our mother sewed all our clothes until I was in middle school, when I learned to sew all my own clothes. I was 25 years old before I bought my first “store bought dress”. Valarie learned to sew on her own. While we now live several states away from each other, we talk on our cell phones (FaceTime) almost every day.
We decided that since we both had a stock pile of fabric on hand, and had extra time to volunteer, that we should start sewing face masks. We have experimented with several designs and we are now settled on our version 4 of our face mask project. We have had lots of delays in making the masks working on a part time basis, as supplies for fabric, interfacing, elastic and nose bridges have been on back order from all internet sources.
Our version 4 face mask is to be worn when one is around other people. The face masks are designed by Valarie & Dianne, made with love, and 3 layers of washable fabric, including internal interfacing, for added protection. Wear your mask when you are out in public and routinely wash/dry. Together and part time, we have made over 150 face masks & are giving them away for free to family, friends, neighbors & clients (and anyone who needs a face mask, please contact me).
The face mask in our version 4 has a metal nose bridge that should be adjusted to fit your face. Try not to bend the nose bridge back to flat, as it will break if molded too frequently. The adjustable ear loops can be tightened, loosened or replaced as needed. The face mask should be worn so that the ear loop seam is on the inside of the mask.
Sierra, our silver standard poodle, has also become involved in our face mask efforts, by participating in several talking videos where she explains the importance of wearing face masks when around other people, social distancing, washing your hands frequently and stay-at-home precautions during the COVID-19 pandemic. You can view her talking videos at: http://DianneMckenzie.com/sierra/
PayPal Donations Needed for Face Mask Making
I have run out of some basic materials for now, therefore, I am taking a break from face mask sewing until we can fund our face mask making project (about $200 is needed for basic supplies, more to purchase additional fabric, once we run out). We are not purchasing any more materials until we can raise the money to keep making face masks. Once we reach our goal, we will order supplies and we will continue to make face mask and give them away for free to anyone who needs a face mask. While we each have the time to make the face masks, we need our own personal financial resources to go to our living expenses during this pandemic, especially since we do not know how long the pandemic will last and what the outcome will be. If you want to contribute to the material costs of making face masks, you can donate supplies and/or funds by contacting us (artist@diannemckenzie.com) or donating funds to our Paypal Account:
We would like to hear from you.
What are your needs?
How can we help you?
Resources & Links:
CORONA VIRUS
| Santa Fe Information: | New Mexico Information: |
| Santa Fe Information » | https://nmhealth.org» |
| 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
Harvest
Harvest marks the end of the growing season and the social importance of this event makes it the focus of seasonal celebrations. Harvest time is a time of gathering, coming together, the reaping of the results of what we have sown.
Harvest, representing the culmination of the ongoing cultivation, is the final stage of accomplishment. During the harvest we gather up what we have cultivated and assess what has been actualized.
What have we accomplished this year, what has become of the seeds we sowed back in January when we were embracing our renewal, setting a path of awakening? What are the consequences of our monthly quests during this past 9 months?
COVID-19 has disrupted our lives significantly, and in the recent months of this year, we have all had to adapt to living radically different than before. Our harvest this year will then also be different from years past, but the quest for awakening is till the same.
For some of us we set goals to loose weight, eat more healthy foods, exercise more frequently, spend quality time with family, friends and our animal companions. We might have vowed to explore more metaphysical, philosophical or spiritual paths. We may have planned to spend more creative time, self nurture time or volunteer time.
Whatever the seeds we planted in early this year, how have we tended these seeds?
Are we ready to harvest the fruits of our labor or did we forget to tend our gardens of desire?
Cultivating a life of abundance, creativity, happiness, joy, ease of well-being will serve us all year long, if we tend to our thoughts and actions daily. It is often suggested that all we need to do is cultivate mental happiness, physical happiness and ease of well-being. If we tended this garden daily, we would reap the rewards at harvest time, celebrating the autumn harvest with abundance.
Harvest time for me is the start of the holiday season. Enjoy your autumn harvest!
Thank you for reading our newsletter & feel free to pass it on to other kindred spirits. ~ Dianne McKenzie
Real Estate Market Update
Local New Mexico Guidelines for Real Estate Showings
COVID-19 Guidelines for In-Person Open Houses
Please adhere to the following recommendations to minimize the exposure of REALTORS®, clients, and the public to COVID-19. These guidelines are for the protection of Sellers, Buyers, Realtors and the general public.
Prior to an Open House
- Virtual Tours for a property should be recommended before any in-person showings
- Discuss with seller the precautions that will be taken and adhere to any specific requirements requested
- Maintain one entry into a home
- Turn on lights, open closets, cabinet doors & window coverings
- Open doors and/or windows to allow outdoor ventilation
- Sanitize any possible touch points or common surfaces
- Create a log for visitor names and contact information
- Provide masks, sanitizer & disinfectant wipes
- Post sign at door with guidelines & include Broker contact info
During an Open House
- Require all visitors to complete the contact log
- Allow a max of 5 people (including broker) to tour at one time
- Allow only one group to tour at a time
- Require all visitors to sanitize hands and wear masks
- Require visitors to maintain 6 ft of social distancing
- Instruct visitors to avoid touching any surface in the home
- Restrict visitors from using the bathroom facilities
- Sanitize common surfaces after each visitor group
- Maintain the visitor log and request that visitors inform their Broker if they fall ill within 14 days of viewing the property
- An additional person in attendance should control entry and review guidelines with new arrivals
These guidelines are subject to change as the COVID-19 situation is changing how we do business and we all need to adapt to any new restrictions set forth by the New Mexico Real Estate Commission
For more information, visit NAR’s Showing Guidance Reopening »
Money Matters
Sent from Francis Phillips
by MMG Weekly
Fiscal stimulus refers to policy measures undertaken by a government that typically reduce taxes or regulations and increase government spending in order to boost economic activity. This past week, both Fed Chair Powell and Treasury Secretary Mnuchin called for more “fiscal stimulus” to help millions of Americans still in need. The Fed has injected plenty of “monetary stimulus” by holding short-term rates at zero and buying Bonds, like Mortgage Bonds, to help keep long-term rates low. One problem is that many Americans can’t benefit from taking out a business loan if they can’t pay it back — hence, why more fiscal stimulus is needed. Uncertainty Climbs
Congress can never seem to work together on behalf of the American people and when the Fed called out Congress for more at its Fed Meeting a little over a week ago, it seemed like something might happen.
But then the passing of Ruth Bader Ginsburg elevated political uncertainty to an extreme and seemingly removed any political will to see a new stimulus package prior to the election.
Adding to the uncertainty are renewed fears of another surge in coronavirus cases this fall and winter, like we are seeing in other parts of the globe, such as Europe.
Stocks and Rates Don’t Always Move in Tandem
September has been an awful month for Stocks with all market indices in a 10% correction or close. Normally, such a swift decline in Stocks would provide even better rates, but home loan rates actually ticked higher.
Supply and Inflation Fears
The Treasury sold $155 billion in securities this week, which weighed on the entire Bond market and limited the gains in price and rate. And ever since the Fed altered their approach towards inflation in late August, long-term rates like mortgages stopped improving and actually ticked higher.
Housing Continues to Shine
August New Home Sales came in at a 1.011 million annual rate — the best reading since 2006. The overwhelming demand for new homes, fueled by low rates, should continue for the foreseeable future.
Bottom line: Rates are at all-time lows and even though a fourth stimulus package doesn’t appear likely at the moment, sometimes Congress can surprise us. And if they come to an agreement, it will likely be good for Stocks and bad for Bonds as it brings even more supply and inflation fears. If you or someone you know would like to talk about the incredible opportunity for housing, please contact me.
Looking Ahead
In addition to several economic reports that can move the market and the ongoing political uncertainty surrounding the election, another stimulus package and coronavirus will continue to be the main drivers of the markets.
Mortgage Market Guide Candlestick Chart
The material contained in this newsletter has been prepared by an independent third-party provider. The content is provided for use by real estate, financial services and other professionals only and is not intended for consumer distribution. The material provided is for informational and educational purposes only and should not be construed as investment and/or mortgage advice. Although the material is deemed to be accurate and reliable, there is no guarantee it is without errors.
As your mortgage professional, I am sending you the MMG WEEKLY because I am committed to keeping you updated on the economic events that impact interest rates and how they may affect you.
Mortgage Market Guide, LLC is the copyright owner or licensee of the content and/or information in this email, unless otherwise indicated. Mortgage Market Guide, LLC does not grant to you a license to any content, features or materials in this email. You may not distribute, download, or save a copy of any of the content or screens except as otherwise provided in our Terms and Conditions of Membership, for any purpose.
Benchmark MortgageSanta Fe Real Estate News
Aldea Stats
2020 Stats: Sold, Pending, Listed
SOLD: 26 Homes, DOM 42 | 0 Lots, DOM 0
PENDING: 8 Homes | 2 Lots
LISTED: 8 Homes, Avg $572,187 | 1 Lots, Avg $65,000
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.
Current Listings September 30, 2020:
Tessera Real Estate Stats
2020 Stats: Sold, Pending, ListedSOLD: 9 Homes, DOM 6
PENDING: 2 Homes
LISTED: 2 Homes, Avg $572,950
Located in the hills of northwest Santa Fe and an adjacent neighbor to Aldea, Tessera features stunning mountain views, generous dedicated open space and an extensive trail system. Built to exacting standards and quality, the to-be-built homes at Tessera are ideal for those who enjoy customizing their home finishes to suit their personal taste.
I can take you on a model home tour and introduce you to the possibilities of personalizing your home. Let me be your Buyer Agent and represent you when you purchase a home in Tessera.
Las Campanas Real Estate News
2020 Stats: Sold, Pending, Listed
SOLD: 57 Homes, DOM 110 | 41 Lots, DOM 296
PENDING: 13 Homes | 7 Lots
LISTED: 45 Homes, Avg $1,985,708 | 55 Lots, Avg $217,853
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 45 homes for sale in Las Campanas
- 5 Homes under $1,000,000
- 40 Homes over $1,000,000
There are currently 55 Lots for sale in Las Campanas
- 14 Lots under $100,000
- 41 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
2020 Stats: Sold, Pending, Listed
*SOLD: 142 Homes, DOM 156 | 51 Lots, DOM 464
*PENDING: 69 Homes | 37 Lots
*LISTED: 88 Homes, Avg $751,892 | 195 Lots, Avg $223,441
* Areas tracked:
Lower North, Upper North, West North, Town of Taos, Taos Ski Valley, South West, South East
See map for areas »
I receive inquiries almost daily 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. They 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. The 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.
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.
Call our Taos Office: 575.776.7576
Home Decor Insights
Virtual vs Traditional Home Staging?
by Debbie DeMarais
From virtual happy hour to yoga Zoom meetings, everything is going virtual under the cloud of COVID-19 — including home staging. If you’ve never heard of virtual home staging, the concept is relatively simple. Instead of posting a real estate listing with photos of empty rooms, a graphic designer is hired to populate the photos with furniture, artwork, and decor. The cost is just a few hundred dollars and the “staging” can be done in an afternoon, by one person, who never has to set foot in the home.
But can a virtual home staging help sell a home the way a physically staged home can?
Probably not.
The fact is, we aren’t virtual creatures. We long for excitement, beauty, intimacy and comfort in the real world, and never more so than in the places we choose to call home.
Home staging is the art of celebrating a property’s potential in service of both the seller (who is looking to maximize their sale price) and the buyer (who wants to find a new home to meet their needs). Home staging continues to grow, and we now have a wealth of information showing just how much staging services impact home sales. According to a 2020 report by the International Association of Home Stagers Professionals®, about 20% of residential real estate transactions in the US use some form of staging service. And that same report showed that unstaged homes spend three to thirty times longer on the market than professionally staged homes.
Does the type of staging matter?
It’s estimated that 90% of potential home buyers begin their search online. It makes sense that the properties with more attractive online photos are likely to generate more interest. I’ve been called in numerous times to stage a vacant property after it languished on the market for too long. I stage the home, we get a great photographer in, and suddenly there’s interest.
Based on all this, virtual staging would seem to make sense, especially since the technology for virtual environments has improved so much. Considering that virtual staging is cheaper than traditional staging, wouldn’t it do just as good a job of appealing to those 90% of home buyers starting their searches online?
Only if they never go inside the home.
The decision to purchase a home is simply too large to trust to a virtual rendering. Even in the current pandemic people still need to see homes in person (with appropriate precautions). After a potential buyer sees a property they like online, the next step is to go see it. If they walk into a vacant house, there is bound to be a disconnect.
The buyer is forced to recall how the home looked online. This creates a feeling of disappointment as they struggle to find connections with the empty rooms. They feel a void, they see areas of deferred maintenance that are now exposed, and instead of feeling the inviting quality created by the virtual staging in the photos, the house feels abandoned.
Bottom line: virtual staging might capture a buyer’s attention, but it could actually inhibit capturing a buyer’s heart.
Traditional staging looks better in person — virtual staging does not
A traditionally staged home greets buyers with what they were already expecting and there’s a comfort in that. The staging invites them into the home. Rooms are filled with warmth and details designed to gracefully guide them from one space to the next. Because the real property matches the images that drew them there, more energy can be put to exploring the property, building on that initial connection.
I think that anybody who has worked in real estate for any period of time will attest that it is the emotional connection that sells a home. For many people, buying a home is among the biggest decisions of their life, and while practicalities like price, location, desirability, etc. will come into play, at the end of the day folks want to have a positive, loving, relationship with their home. That is real life.
As a home stager, I am excited by connecting people to places. I thrive on helping properties reach their potential so that buyers can dream their dreams. I like that I can help sellers maximize their home’s value and that I can simplify life for hard-working realtors.
Like so many others, I’ve had to add many new protocols into my working life, implementing measures established by leaders in the home staging industry, the CDC, and WHO to ensure everyone’s safety on a home staging project. I’ve also expanded the online consultancy services I offer. But in the end, my work is rooted in real places serving the needs of real people, and that is something that just can’t be easily replicated virtually.
Debbie DeMarais
505-699-4989 | homestagingsantafe.com
Stay safe everyone and let me know how I can help you. Thank you Debbie, for allowing me to post your articles! ~Dianne
For ideas on decorating with autumn 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 1 year+ old silver standard poodle
Sierra: September 1-30, 2020
Been busy these last few weeks with packing and sorting and more sorting and packing as we moved from an old antique adobe rental home to a rental on the Tarleton Ranch, where we are involved with the new development just minutes north of Taos. During this transition, we have had very little quality time to spend with Sierra, while all the packing was going on.
We are now living on the ranch where we can go for walks every day and she can be off leash, chasing her balls and having fun. We are loving this new transition and Sierra is loving her new surroundings. You can see the worried look on Sierra’s face during the move. I just took the other photo yesterday. Sierra is also eating more since the move. We discovered that the previous home had serious mold issues, which we did not realize it was causing my asthma to get worse these past 2+ years living with adobe walls…Sierra is loving the new location and I am not having any asthma symptoms! I will never live in an old moldy house again!
I weigh & measure Sierra once a month, so here are her stats as of September 27, 2020: 14″ collar, girth: 24″, height to shoulder: 24″ weight: 34lbs.
Sierra during the move and after the move:
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.
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
