Forest Re-Opens
July 3rd, 2008 categories: Community, Mountain Wildlife
In a previous post I mentioned that we would do our best to keep you updated on the latest forest conditions in the area. Though it was predicted that our monsoon season would start late this year, we had an increase in precipitation over the course of June. It’s not enough to take us out of Stage II fire restrictions (see below), but the forest re-opened Wednesday, July 2 and we are very grateful. The air is fresh and cool, the grass is finally turning green, and the hummingbirds are out in full force. Though the forest is open, there are still fire restrictions to which we must all adhere in order to keep our forest and surrounding communities safe from destruction:
“Prohibited: Building, maintaining, attending, or using a fire, campfire, charcoal, coal, or stove fire and smoking.
Allowed: Pressurized liquid gas or propane stoves, lanterns and heaters meeting safety specifications.
Open burning is still prohibited on non-federal, non-municipal lands at local county and city levels in southeastern New Mexico. Please check with local agencies and authorities before creating a fire.
As always, fireworks are always prohibited on all federal lands.”
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Ruidoso Real Estate - Market Update June 08
June 18th, 2008 categories: Ruidoso Market Trends, Ruidoso real estate
So you may be asking…what IS the real estate market doing in Ruidoso New Mexico? If you watch the evening news it sounds like real estate around the country is cratering, but in reality, there are only a few states (California, Florida, Michigan and to some extent Arizona) that are really having issues with lower prices, high inventory and foreclosures. In most Midwestern and Western states prices and inventory are holding steady although not making great gains. Here is a recent assessment from the National Association of REALTORS
You can see in the tables below that for site-built, single family homes in the Village of Ruidoso, the numbers have not changed drastically from 2007. The number of units sold in March & April were actually up, but the number of sales in May were down a bit. Most people in the area will agree that there are not as many people visiting Ruidoso in May and June as there usually are, and most of us attribute this to $4/gallon gas, not a deficiency in our market. I am convinced however, that as temperatures in TX and AZ rise, that the cost of being miserable and paying to air condition a home in 100+ degree temperatures will lose out to cool mountain air and gas that costs more than we like to pay.
Ruidoso residential units sold - Mar 2008 - May 2008 ( site built homes only )
Ruidoso residential units sold - Mar 2007 - May 2007 ( site built homes only )
There are currently 329 single family home listed in the Village of Ruidoso. The average number of homes sold per month over the last year is 21.5. This gives us a current inventory of approximately 15.3 months if no other homes come on the market. Conditions are right if you are looking to buy in Ruidoso. Interest rates are still relatively low, and contrary to what you might hear on the news, people with good credit can still get loans for second homes and investment properties.
I hope this is helpful information, and if you would like an analysis of a specific town or neighborhood in Lincoln County, just let me know and I will be happy to provide it.
If you would like more specific information on Ruidoso Real Estate, please contact me at mary@ruidoso-homes.com.
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Ruidoso June Community Events
June 13th, 2008 categories: Community, Food and Entertainment
What could be more fun than hanging out with friends and family in the cool mountain air of Ruidoso and being able to attend one of the awesome concerts taking place here? There are so many events scheduled for the summer. I wish I had the time and space to write an article on each, but for brevity’s sake I can only hit a few of the highlights each month. Keep checking back. We’ll do our best to keep you abreast of our biggest community events and concerts as we know about them.
June 14, 2008 - Esteban, a master guitarist and arranger, will be performing at the Spencer Theater on the evening of June 14. Esteban has topped the Billboard charts numerous times with his albums and dvd’s. Now is your chance to hear the legendary guitarist in person. Visit the Spencer Theater’s website for ticket information and show times.
June 14 - Spring Fling Car Show: Mountain Annie’s. Come join the fun. The car show runs from 10-4 on Saturday. Admission is free.
June 14 & 15 - Ruidoso Wine Festival: Inn of the Mountain Gods. The New Mexico Wine Growers Association will be hosting the event. The cost is $20 at the door and includes a souvenir wine glass. A picture ID will be required and a designated driver is strongly suggested. Wine will be available for tasting or for buying. Visit the Inn of the Mountain God’s site or www.nmwine.com for more information.
June 21 & 22 - Ron White, comic sensation. Have a ball with “Tater Salad” Ron White at the Inn of the Mountain Gods. A second night has been added to the schedule due to his popularity, so if you can’t make the first show, get tickets for the second. Visit ticketmaster for prices and availability.
June 28 - The Buckinghams: Spencer Theater. This group is one of the tightest bands I’ve ever heard. Several years ago, I went to one of their performances at the old Bingo Hall near the casino. I was blown away by the Buckingham’s beautifully honed sound. You’ll be pleasantly surprised. Head over to the Spencer Theater’s website for details.
That’s all for now. I’ll soon post an update for July’s events. With the fire restrictions still in Stage III, I hope you see something above that gets you off your rocker and up on the mountain. It’s summer! Have fun!
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Champion’s Run Condominiums - Ruidoso Downs, New Mexico
May 22nd, 2008 categories: Condominiums, Ruidoso real estate
Champion’s Run is one of the largest condominium complexes in the Ruidoso area with 104 units. Officially, this complex is located in Ruidoso Downs, and is right next to the Ruidoso Downs Racetrack. For this reason, this complex is very popular with the “horse people”. Some of the units actually overlook the barns and work areas of the racetrack, others have great views of the mountains, east & north.
Most of the units were completed in 1984, and were originally named “Triple Crown Condominiums”. The complex got off to a rocky start, as the oil bust and savings & loan debacle in the 1980s had a heavy impact on this area, but in the last 5 years, this complex has really started to shine, and values are appreciating rapidly. The entire complex has recently been stuccoed, re-roofed, and the water system has been re-piped to allow multiple cut-offs instead of the one cut-off originally installed in the complex. Attractive river rock accents have been applied to all the chimneys, and the grounds are nicely landscaped. This complex is one of the few in town that have on-site management, and a full-time maintenance staff. Read the rest of this entry »
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Alto Village - Real Estate Market Update
May 19th, 2008 categories: Alto New Mexico Property, Subdivisions
Alto Village is a private residential community and country club, located north of Ruidoso.
There are currently 107 homes for sale in Alto Lakes Golf and Country Club, with prices ranging from $ 219,999 to $ 1,975,000. The average home size measures 2764 sq. ft. while the median size is 2385 sq. ft.
Alto Village - Current Active Listings ( 107 )
( Site built - single family homes only )
The table below shows a summary of closed transactions during April. Two of these units were located in the Deer Park Woods Subdivision, and 2 were in the Deer Park Valley Subdivision.
Alto Village - Sold Stats Summary - April 2008
There are currently 107 single family homes on the market in Alto Village and 5 sold in the month of April, so the absorption rate for April was 4.6% and the current inventory at this rate (excluding new listings) could last for 21 months. That being said, real estate generally picks up after Memorial Day, as our most productive months are June-September.
To search all Alto Village properties currently for sale, go to this search page
Registration, login, email, & account are OPTIONAL.
1. Choose property type ( site built homes, town homes, lots, etc.).
2. Select area: Alto Lakes G&CC.
3. Other search criteria, such as price, bedrooms, baths are optional, but will make your search more specific if you use them.
4. Scroll down and click the Search button on the right.
If you would like more specific information on Alto Village Real Estate, please contact me at mary@ruidoso-homes.com.
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Ruidoso Events Calender - Racing, Shows, Art, Outdoors
May 16th, 2008 categories: Community
If you have been working on a summer escape to Ruidoso that includes camping, you have probably discovered that the Lincoln National Forest has been closed until we receive some precipitation to relieve the dry conditions in our area. Currently, within the village limits of Ruidoso and Ruidoso Downs, no outdoor open flame of any kind is allowed, including cigarette smoking and gas grills. For a more comprehensive look of what the fire restrictions are in town and within the rest of the county, please take a look at the list of the Lincoln County fire restrictions. Don’t let the fire danger prevent a trip to our beautiful area. There are still so many wonderful things to do here, and I’ve included a list below to help guide you in the right direction.
Not only will the racing season begin at the Ruidoso Downs Racetrack, but Memorial Day Weekend is the perfect time to jump-start your summer activities. I’m including just a few of our community calendar events in this article, but with a little ingenuity on your part, you and your family can still find plenty to do in this neck of the woods.
Horse-racing Season: Ruidoso Downs Racetrack and Casino opens May 23 and runs through Labor Day. The racetrack is home to the world’s richest Quarter Horse race, the All American Futurity. To start things off, Country Music artist Marty Stuart will be performing live at the racetrack on May 24. For times and information, visit the Ruidoso Downs Racetrack website.
Dinner Shows: The Flying J Ranch will open its doors for the season at 6:00 PM the evening of May 23 and will be open nightly (except Sundays) until September 3. From September 3 to October 14 the Flying J Ranch will be open on Saturdays only. Read the rest of this entry »
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Outdoor Dining in Ruidoso
May 13th, 2008 categories: Food and Entertainment
One of the benefits of living in Ruidoso is the fact that the summer temperatures are mild with little or no humidity, so you can really enjoy the great outdoors. Sadly, our national forest is being closed for an indeterminate amount of time beginning May 1, which is going to make having a picnic a little more difficult. However, there is one option that, (for me), offers the best of both worlds.
In the heart of Mid-town and just a slight walk down Eagle Drive, you can find an inviting little restaurant called Picnics Deli. They’ve been there for a few years now, making fresh deli sandwiches and soups. Everything is homemade - not an easy thing to come by in many restaurants these days. The ham is carved straight from the bone, the brisket is slow cooked, not barbecued, and 25 lb. turkeys are cooked right on the premises. Each morning, soups and pastas are made from scratch by Jeralyn, one of the owners.
Beginning in June, owner Larry Hess plans to extend their hours to include Friday and Saturday evenings serving up delicious plates of prime rib, plus a tasty nightly special. So later this summer, if you’re taking a stroll in Mid-town, make sure you turn the corner at Eagle Drive to see what Larry is preparing. Future plans are in the works to obtain a beer & wine license and to construct a deck for more outdoor dining space. Right now, outdoor dining is available in the courtyard overlooking the Ruidoso River. Read the rest of this entry »
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Consider these factors when buying a second home
May 5th, 2008 categories: Ruidoso FAQs, Ruidoso real estate
The trend of purchasing a second home has become very popular, not just in mountain resort areas, but with vacation property across the nation, especially with the retirement of baby boomers. When evaluating a second home there are a number of important factors to consider:
- Will the home be for vacation / retirement or purely a financial investment?
- How close will your vacation home be to your primary residence?
- Recreational activities are important to most buyers. Research several areas, & compare cost, before deciding. Golf, skiing, hiking are just a few outdoor pastimes that Ruidoso offers.
- Are you planning to rent out the property? Knowing when and how long it can be rented, vacancy / occupancy rates, & property management fees will factor into the purchase.
For more tips and discussion on buying second homes, visit this recent article on HGTV.com.
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Ranches of Sonterra - Acreage & Views near Alto, New Mexico
April 21st, 2008 categories: Alto New Mexico Property, Horse Properties
The Ranches of Sonterra is a premier acreage community located north of Ruidoso. The subdivision was completed in 1996, and consists of 497 tracts of land, ranging from 5 to 25 acre parcels. Utilities include electricity, telephone, and natural gas in some areas. Each 
property owner has to install their own well and septic system, but for people looking for a little elbow room without being too far from town, Ranches of Sonterra fits the bill.
Streets are paved, the views are gorgeous and horses are allowed. A minimum of 1,500 sq. ft. and architectural approval are required. The median price for homes sold in 2007 was $570,000. The range was from $339,000 - $765,000. Read the rest of this entry »
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Spring fun in New Mexico - Kite Festival in Ruidoso
April 20th, 2008 categories: Community
Spring in New Mexico is a kite flyer’s dream. Windy seems to be one of our official seasons in these parts. (”Fire” is another, but I’ll talk about that in a later post).
A local arts and crafts business, WeCree8, has graciously spent much time and energy developing a kite festival in Ruidoso. This year is their second annual event and it promises to be a fun-filled, spectacular time. UPDATE: See Photos from 2008 Kite Festival in Ruidoso - click here.
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