Today was the first day of winter in Santa Fe, New Mexico and mother nature decided to bring both snow and sunshine to make a difference in my day. These three bears can be found in the Gerald Peters Gallery. I usually pass by them once or twice a day as my office at Santa Fe Properties is across the street. Today, they were exceptional in the way they wore their new snow clothes. Somehow, just looking at them warmed my heart and made me smile. From Santa Fe, New Mexico... Happy Winter! _______________________________________________________________________________   12/22/2011

We want to provide you the best and most detailed search in the Santa Fe area. Below is a list of all the schools and the school districts in the Santa Fe area. Click on each one for a list of current real estate homes and residential listings near that school. Not sure where you may be going? Give Coldwell Banker in Santa Fe a call and they can let you know which school your child may be in and the schools to choose from. Acequia Madre School District Listings Agua Fria School District Listings Alameda School District Listings Alvord School District Listings Amy Biehl Community School District Listings Aspen School District Listings Atalaya School District Listings Capitol School District Listings Capshaw School District Listings Carlos Gilbert School District Listings Cessar Chavez Sc... 12/22/2011

One of the worst things about deciding to downsize your Santa Fe home is figuring out what to do with everything. You may have some valuable collections or heartwarming momentos that you absolutely want to hold onto. This is where self-storage comes in. It is the perfect solution for homeowners that want or need to downsize but can't come to terms with downsizing their special possessions as well.Is it affordable?Yes. Self-storage in Santa Fe has become very popular these days as more and more people turn to condominium living. There simply isn't enough room for storage in most Santa Fe condos so people are using these units as a solution. This, in turn, makes the market more competitive, which is better for you. You'll also find that most places offer a yearly package that is much less... 12/20/2011

Thinking of moving in the near future? Don't forget about your dog. As part of the family you'll not only want to find the best Santa Fe home for the humans in the family but the best one for the canine as well.Here are some things you should be on the outlook for when you are home shopping and want to keep your dog's best interests in mind as well.Dog parksTake a look around the area and see if there are any dog parks around. You can also ask your real estate agent where the local dog parks are. Some Santa Fe parks allow free running dogs while others require leashes. If you are used to taking your talk to a park it would be nice to find a home that is close to one so that your dog can continue to go on his outings after the move.StairsIf you have a very small dog that has a hard time ... 12/20/2011

The Santa Fe River is more of a stream often hidden in the trees as it makes its way from the Sangre de Cristo Mountain Range to the Rio Grande. It is actually a tributary of the Rio Grande and runs intermittently for nearly 46 miles. It is considered an endangered stream and one many in our community work tirelessly to protect and improve our watershed. These images were made on a Fall afternoon in early November and the other a few days ago along East Alameda on the bridge at Paseo de Peralta. It is one of our treasures and why I love Santa Fe...everyday! -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 12/19/2011

Do you have cracked or broken countertops and plan on selling your Santa Fe house? It's best to get them fixed beforehand. The kitchen and bathroom both act as major selling features for your home and you should do everything possible to keep them looking great.How visible is the problem?If your countertop is obviously damaged you're going to have to repair or replace it. If, however, you have a hard time seeing the problem, you really don't need to worry about it. Everything doesn't have to be absolutely perfect before selling your Santa Fe house, it is just the major things that stick out that will need to be handled.Can they be repaired?It depends on the damage. In many cases small cracks and chips can be fixed professionally without repairing the whole countertop. Before selling you... 12/19/2011

Looking for the best neighborhoods in Santa Fe? Do you want to live in an area with a low crime rate, is kept clean and where neighbors watch out for one another? The best way to get the lowdown on each and every neighborhood in Santa Fe is to talk to a real estate broker. He knows the ins and outs of all the parts of town and can give recommendations based on feedback from clients.What is a good neighborhood?A good neighborhood is one that makes you feel relatively safe to live there, has a lot of the amenities you'd like to have near you and has a generally uplifting community spirit.You can find out about the crime rate in the neighborhoods in Santa Fe from your real estate broker. Statistics are kept on every area in town. Don't assume that an area has less crime in it based on appe... 12/19/2011

Christmas In Santa Fe, New Mexico Posted on December 13, 2011 by Michael Umphrey Christmas In Santa Fe                       Tonia and I are planning again for Christmas In Santa Fe.  We have put together these ideas  for December the 22th, 23rd 24th, 25th and 26th.  I thought it might help you with your holiday planning. Here is our agenda and I hope to see you. I’d love to hear what you’re doing.   Thursday 22 6:30 – Santa Café 505.984.1788 8pm – Jazz Music with the Pat Malone Trio at  La Posada in the Staab House Salon Saturday 24rd Noon Lunch at Rancho de Chimayo 505.984.2100 5pm. start Farolito Walk downCanyon Rd. Dress warm! Dinner- Aqua Santa (451 W. Alameda 505.982.6297) for 7:00 pm. and lots of candlelight! Sunday 25, Christmas Day Xmas morning brunch: Bishop’s Lodge Pueblo dan... 12/19/2011

I love horses. There is nothing like seeing one that will stop us from just enjoying their company even when they are wandering free (this one got away from home) on a side dirt road along Santa Fe's Highway 14. Now we are always ready to rescue lost dogs and cats standing in our path... but horses, well that is different story. Fortunately, moments after we stopped to admire this one who was too busy eating and enjoying freedom to care about our horsepower, his owner appeared from around a nearby barn. This is just another reason why I love Santa Fe... ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 12/18/2011

The folks at Fiserv Case Shiller are extremely bullish on the Santa Fe, New Mexico real estate market according to their recent research data released in early December, 2011. If you are considering relocating to Santa Fe, now is the time to pay attention to our market given latest news. It is not the time to proscrastinate! Santa Fe, New Mexico was named one of the Top 15 Housing Markets for the next 5 years. Imagine that? These projections are for 5 years, not just an opportunity now or in 2012. Santa Fe came in as #11 with annualized growth from 2011 to 2016 to be +9.1%. This means anyone who has already taken advantage of our real estate market in 2011 choses to gain. Fiserv Case Shiller sees this positive trend upward due Santa Fe's current low unemployment rate of 5.4% and our me... 12/18/2011

When was the last time you did something for the first time? For me, it was just the other day before the first series of snow storms arrived and made travel on our numerous dirt roads more challenging than usual. We all know real estate can get boring going in and out of houses all day long.  On this day, it was worse. We (my real estate partner, Ulla Allyn and I) were on the road when we took an unexpected wrong turn into adventure rather than stopping at Harry's Roadhouse for lunch. I really can't remember how we got here given all the twists and turns as Ulla will tell you my navigation skills are borderline dangerous. She is thankful we are not flying a plane. Anyway, the next thing we see is this nest and not the house we expected to preview! Now, I will never forget this nest an... 12/18/2011

One of the reasons why I love real estate even in this new and at time beyond challenging landscape is the people we meet and help relocate to Santa Fe, New Mexico. These flowers arrived within a nanosecond of our Chicago clients remote closing on the purchase of their Santa Fe second home. The words were two - "thank you" yet the act was priceless and the flowers a heartfelt delight! These gems were delivered by one of Santa Fe's best florists - Amanda's Flowers  If ever you need to thank anyone in Santa Fe, think about the power and beauty of flowers and ask Amanda to help. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 12/18/2011

This fine home at 110 Calle Pinonero in Santa Fe, New Mexico is SOLD. Located in Sol Y Lomas, a subdivision community which was once a golf course, this home features included 3 bedrooms, 4 baths, 3395 sq feet, 2 car garage, mountain views, extensive xeriscaping and established landscape with room to grow on its 1 acre lot. A harvest of benefits made this Sol y Lomas custom solar sited multi-level home an enduring Santa Fe classic and an attractive option for people searching to relocate to Santa Fe. The Intimate gardens, mountain views and the privacy of a cul-de-sac offered indoor/outdoor pleasure. The new master suite on the main level was built for comfort with office and den area plus separate entry and several options for the over 55 buyer. Quite setting in Sol y Lomas with no roa... 12/18/2011

  There is nothing like discovering someone else's way to celebrate and pass their holiday spirit forward to others This tree grows on a road off Arroyo Hondo in Santa Fe, New Mexico just there to make us remember the magic of giving and holidays. I guess this is the reason why December in Santa Fe continues to be filled with celebration and surprise expressions of giving. This tree is not your typical pinon and given it had lost its leaves, it clearly became an inspiration for someone's imagination. I see it as the tree of life. Enjoy! --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 12/18/2011

Everynow and then I am blessed by what is standing in my path. On the way home from a day in Santa Fe's real estate trenches, I was stunned to see this 10 PT Buck standing right in front of my car as I gently turned off Bishops Lodge Road on to my road home. After our eyes met for a moment, he slowly walked back into the arroyo to catch up with is beautiful doe. I stopped traffic and let them get to safety. This is why I love Santa Fe! (By the way, this happened only a 2 minute drive from our Historic Plaza). ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 12/16/2011

If you are in a position where you are scrimping, saving and budgeting for a Santa Fe mortgage, here are a few tips to help you out. Nobody ever said that it would be easy to save up for a down payment for a home, but as you know, the rewards are priceless.Here are three simple tips that you can use to help you squeeze every penny you can out of your weekly budget to put towards your down payment.1. Write down every expenseMost people write down their expenses but don't take the time to list everything. This may take you a half-hour or more, but it must be done. A lot of money can be spent on small things like coffees or treats. When it's time to add up all the small things they can make a huge dent in a weekly budget. Write down all the time you stop and get a coffee. Think about all t... 12/14/2011

Have you ever wondered what a Santa Fe real estate broker really does to help you sell your home? If you have never purchased or sold a home before, you may be wondering what his role really is when it comes to selling your home. To help clear that up for you, here are some of the most important things your broker will do to get your house sold quickly.1. He will let you know how your home can be made more marketable so that it can sell at a good price.You will be told what absolutely needs to get fixed to sell your home at a good price, what would be best to fix and what can be ignored.2. He will advertise your home on the MLS.Unless you work through a qualified Santa Fe real estate broker, your home will not be seen or listed on the MLS. The MLS shows homes that brokers have listed an... 12/14/2011

When it comes to finding the perfect Santa Fe fixer-upper you'll have to have your senses in sharp tune to pick up what others may miss. You'll find that there are a lot of different homes in Santa Fe that will fall into the fixer-upper category quite easily. It is your job to find them along with the help of your real estate broker.Get your broker on the same trackThe first thing that you need to do is get on the same track with your Santa Fe real estate broker. Exactly what are you looking for? What do you consider to be the perfect fixer-upper? •    Is it a house that needs a complete overhaul?•    Do you want a Santa Fe home that is just dirty and needs a full cleanup?•    Are you interested in a home that needs some major work done but does not need to be completely redone?•    Wou... 12/13/2011

What types of people are looking for a townhouse in Santa Fe? Narrow down your selection and you'll be able to better market your home. You see, marketing can be done very precisely when you figure out who your target market is, and that leads to a quicker home sale in almost every case. If you don't know the kind of people that are actively searching for Santa Fe townhouses, how can you point out the exact things that they are looking for?But it's my broker's job to do the advertising.Technically yes, but he can't do it alone. There will be plenty of potential buyers that will want to speak to you directly about the Santa Fe townhome you are selling and you had better be ready to answer their questions.Families, families, familiesThere aren't too many single people that are looking for... 12/13/2011

Good question. You may have heard both good things and bad about Santa Fe real estate seminars. The truth is that there are some really good seminars presented from time to time and others that simply aren't worth your money. The trick is to find the good ones and ignore the bad.How to find real estate seminars in Santa Fe that are worth attending1. Who is running the seminar?Find out everything that you can about the person running the seminar. Look behind the advertisements that are promoting the Santa Fe real estate seminar and find out more about the person that will be presenting. There are some smooth talkers that don't have a lot of statistics to back up what they are talking about. There are, on the other hand, a lot of great speakers they can give you quite an education about r... 12/12/2011