I confess, I love Santa Fe, New Mexico. This image of a classic Native American ladder reaching to touch the clouds in the sky is just of of the many ways this 400 year old community inspires me to dream, make a difference and look up at the clouds when I'm searching for answers. I relocated here from Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C. nearly two decades ago. There, the landmark of the Washington Monument reached through the horizon line in a more vertical way. Santa Fe is truly a horizontal community. Elevators are not common as our buildings do not interfere or attempt to over power the landscape. It is as if all our earliest inhabitants wanted to make certain we could see the clouds, protect the land and always... dream. 01/15/2011

In early 2011, David Popoff, a Realtor in CT asked "What were your 10 Best Active Rain posts in 2010." I confess, I was curious since I grew up in Connecticut. Afterall, this was my first year blogging on Active Rain in between practicing real estate in Santa Fe, New Mexico.  After looking at the details of the stats organized by comments, views and clicks, I decided to rank by clicks as each one would have represented a viewer who clicked on the title. I was going to rank by comments, but everyone that commented would have clicked. Here is my top 10 repay for 2010 ranked by click-throughs. #1   - 4316 Cloud Dance, Santa Fe, NM 87507   (410 clicks, 1 comment)                  #2   - 3248 Nizhoni, Santa Fe, NM 87507  (390 clicks, 2 comments)  #3   - Speechless Sunday - Pecos, New Mexico ... 01/15/2011

This portrait of a canale is a different way to talk about Santa Fe, New Mexico and some of the mysterious elements of our Southwestern architecture. I found this canale looking at me on the old Santa Fe Trail near our Historic Plaza as if waiting for a portrait. The blue sky added just the right amount of light to capture this elegant creation used to take water from a flat roof. You see, 'canale' is a Spanish word for a watersprout. In Santa Fe, canales and flat roofs go together both as design elements and the structural necessities of Santa Fe Pueblo architectural style. They are the technology of how all the water moves off a flat roof after a rain or snow storm. If they do not work, the roof leaks. It is that simple. Today, they remain a distinctive feature of Santa Fe style and ... 01/12/2011

One of my residential listings, a nearly new home located at 4 Escondido Mountain in the Rancho Viejo subdivision of Santa Fe, New Mexico has been sold. Location, condition and price were keys in making this sale happen in less than 90 days. The home was NOT a short sale or bank owned or about to be a foreclosure. It had been on the market with another agent/brokerage for 208 days, prior to the seller seeking my services. The asking price was $332,000. New Mexico is a non-disclosure state and the sale price can not be disclosed. Its many features included: open concept with separation of bedrooms, eat-in kitchen, living room with kiva fireplace and dining area, media or den or formal dining area; spacious master suite with walk-in closet and jetted tub, kitchen with high end appliances... 01/10/2011

We all know by now it is good idea to keep track of your credit record, especially if you are buying a home. Now, there is more to do. Did you know if the house you are about to buy has a record? It may have had mold issues or water damage not disclosed by the seller or not discovered in an inspection. Any insurance past issues could create unexpected costs in the future as well negatively impact your ability to obtain hazard insurance or increase your premiums. It is best to be informed rather than out of the loop when it comes to buying a home. Afterall, this new real estate landscape is muddled enough by short sales and foreclosures to proceed forward without a clue. Fortunately, there is a nationwide database of property claims which can produce a report on a house showing its dama... 01/10/2011

Are you curious about what on earth "The Cat Dragged In" to Santa Fe, NM? You can find out by going to one of Santa Fe's newest ReSale stores - "What The Cat Dragged In" run by the Santa Fe Animal Shelter and Humane Society. Not quite a year old, the store is becoming one of Santa Fe's hottest resale destinations to both donate and shop and network by "talking" animals. Imagine shopping to help save animals and discovering many real treasures at the same time. My latest discovery was a Kodak circa 1935 Six-16 Folding Camera! Gosh, did it get well sniffed by my feline four on the floors when it arrived home! Next time you get the urge to shop and stimulate Santa Fe's local economy, set your GPS system to 2570 Camino Entrada, between Kohl's and the Outback Restaurant and get going. The s... 01/09/2011

I continue to be snowed by Santa Fe, New Mexico. This photograph tells you the story of the Vista Encantada neighborhood and all the magic that happens when our dirt roads are covered by snow and the neighboring Sangre de Cristo Mountains reveal their inner winter beauty. This image was made from Old Taos Highway (a road today in Santa Fe and no longer a highway) looking East. Even in winter our sky is blue. As for the snow on the dirt roads, mother nature tends to take it away faster than the City plows. The wonder of this beauty makes our short winter months welcome. By the way, the Governor's Mansion is in this northside neighborhood although it is not in this photograph. 01/05/2011

This morning's Santa Fe New Mexican headline "Limitless New Mexico" captured the spirit of our State's first Latina Governor, Susana Martinez and our endless possibilities. Our Historic Santa Fe Plaza witnessed the first inauguration of New Mexico's first Woman Governor and our country's first elected Latina Governor. The headline sparked my imagination on this very chilly Santa Fe morning and reminded me of our endless blue sky and optimism in our community in spite of the challenges. It is all about vision and how we respond to the challenges change brings in every community this new year. 01/02/2011

I can't close the deal for you!!  I can't contact the lead and help them down the real estate path. I can't show them homes or offer a listing presentation. I cannot pick up that phone and call that perfect lead that just dropped into YOUR Email.ONLY YOU CAN! Why don't you?? I am not a licensed agent anymore. I push others forward now. I like this much better. I can get you in front of any client, but it's up to you to follow through. When I was an agent, I would take the office leads because no one else wanted them.  ARE YOU SERIOUS? No one WANTS a lead? My husband was the IT Director and said, no one followed up on them! WHAT? Don't people WANT to work? I was shocked. I took over the leads and yes, of course, got a lot of dead end emails, foul language .com's and 999-999-9999 phone nu... 12/08/2010

The Native Americans often say light is a gift of spirit. Fortunately, no money is needed to buy it. Every morning we have a sunrise. This Thanksgiving morning in on the northside of Santa Fe along the gentle slopes of the Sangre de Cristo Mountains, I first encounted an early dusting of snow along my walk with the pup. The pinons, our pine trees, were quiet as if waiting for the light to arrive from the East over the mountains. Waiting to see what would happen next, a magical gift of light and color filled the sky as if to move the mountain. On this Thanksgiving, I am thankful for the gift of light. 11/25/2010

Yesterday, I had a Frito Pie lunch with Santa Fe Mayor Dave Coss and a group of our Santa Fe Fire Fighters in front of City Hall, just a few steps from the Plaza. They were all working to help the many Santa Feans who live below the poverty level by offering a traditional Santa Fe home-made Frito Pie lunch with all proceeds going to the "Mayor's Holiday Giving" campaign to help feed these families. It is great to see our Santa Fe Fire Fighters with one of their trucks giving back to our community in so many new ways. 11/06/2010

One of the amazing events Mother Nature creates for us every day is a sun rise. This morning she out did herself with a truly majestic event bringing the sun and the blue sky to Santa Fe in such a glorious way. Take a minute and experience the awe I did a few minutes ago. This is why I love Santa Fe so much! 11/04/2010

On November 2, 2010, ninety-eight years after becoming a State, New Mexico voters elected their first Woman Governor, Susana Martinez. The race, between two women was another first and certain to produce this historic outcome. Yet, there was one more "first" to happen next. It turns out our new Governor is the first Hispanic Woman Governor in all of the United States. Today was a very different day in New Mexico!  I made this image this morning by photographing the top front page of our local newspaper minutes after my walking pal retrieved it from the driveway. By then, the sky and my view of the Sangre de Cristo Mountains was ready to show off too!   11/03/2010

       I was fortunate to be in my office at Santa Fe Realty Partners this afternoon when all of sudden our front desk team annouced there was a "fire truck" in front of our office. Within seconds, another annoucement said the fire fighters were inside the building. Immediately, I shut my computer down and raced for an exit. When I got downstairs I discovered these fire fighters were here to raise money for the 10th Annual Susan G. Komen Central New Mexico Race for the Cure. Yes, there were not only selling T-shirts. They were wearing them!  Our Santa Fe fire fighters are clearly tough enough to wear pink! Here they are in front of our Santa Fe main office this afternoon. This is why I love Santa Fe! Join many of us in Albuquerque, New Mexico on October 10th, 2010 at Isotopes Park on a ... 10/07/2010

I usually like to reserve my blog for original content, but once in awhile I come across something unoriginal that I want to share on my blog. New Mexico is a diverse and unique place. Tonight was the burning of Zozobra in the city different (That's Santa Fe for those of you who don't know).  Before you see the video, here's a little background information from Wikipedia  Zozobra ("Old Man Gloom") is the name of a giant marionette effigy which is built and burned every autumn during Fiestas de Santa Fe in Santa Fe, New Mexico, usually during the second week of September. As his name suggests, he embodies gloom; by burning him, people destroy the worries and troubles of the previous year in the flames. Anyone with gloom that they need to get rid of can come by the offices of the Santa Fe... 09/09/2010

The Fiesta de Santa Fe began with a City Council Proclamation of 1712 made to commemorate the peaceful resettlement of Santa Fe, New Mexico in 1692.  The document proclaimed the Fiesta was to be celebrated in perpetuity. Fiesta begins at Noon on Friday, September 10th and is opened officially by the State and City on our Historic Plaza.  Now after nearly 300 years, the cultural traditions of music, dance and song are about to come alive for three days to celebrate our 298th year of hospitality and acceptance of our rich and diverse cultural and spiritual heritage. When Fiesta begins, everything else stops. The Fiesta ends with a Mass of Thanksgiving and Candlelight Procession on Sunday evening, September 12th. To learn more about this extraordinary event, click here. 09/08/2010

By Saturday my real estate brain usually has quit functioning. Why? Isn't the market supposed to be dead? Isn't it true all buyers have disappeared given the lack of financing and the end of the first time home buyers credit? Or isn't it true sellers are no longer realistic? My experience is just the opposite thanks to finding my feet and letting my imagination rule. For example, this past week for me was like running a real estate marathon. It began with three new listings, opening one home for inspection, another for an appraisal, another for three for agent present showings.  In between, I wrote a column for our local Real Estate Home Magazine, closed one property, created tons of marketing copy for print and online, delivered several Pop-Bys and negotiated an offer into a contract t... 09/04/2010

Get out your crystal ball and see if you see what Fiserv is predicting: Home prices in Santa Fe to rise by more than 25% in the next four years! According to an article published on www.realtor.org, and originated by Vanessa Wong of Bloomberg Business Week on October 9, 2010, the financial services technology firm Fiserv is predicting significant increases in home prices beginning next year for 10 metropolitan areas, including Santa Fe, New Mexico. David Stiff, the chief economist at Fiserv, says that by 2014 homes prices all over the country will have rebounded by an average of over 7% over 2010 prices, but foresees skyrocketing price increases of more than 20% for ten specific areas, including Santa Fe. The ten lucky housing markets? 1. Washington State: Bremerton-Silverdale, +44.7 pe... 08/17/2010

This is your one stop place for the best in Santa Fe Homes!   I specialize in historic, east-side, downtown Santa Fe Properties, and I am devoting this blog to the best listings in Santa Fe, New Mexico!   I will be featuring one of our amazing and historic properties from this site weekly, so keep your eyes peeled for the newest listings and information!   You can catch me here or at www.santafehomesolutions.com   Solange Mena -Santa Fe's Choice for Real Estate 505-470-888 solange@santafeproperties.com www.santafehomesolutions.com 06/14/2010

Imagine 37,000 flags quietly greeting the sunrise over Santa Fe this morning. Perhaps you can take a walk with me for a moment at the Santa Fe National Cemetery. I went there this morning to quietly listen, meditate and pay my respects to those buried there since 1870. The cemetery was just beginning to come to life as cars with beaming headlights filled with people entered this place on the northside of Santa Fe not far from our Historic Plaza. I walked alone thanking the graves of everyone I passed for their service and my freedoms. I watched children bring flowers and others have private conversations. I watched veterans in uniform nod to each other. I saw no barbeques or parades; only flags. What do you see on this Memorial Day? 05/31/2010