Archive for April, 2008
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 »
| Discussion: No Comments »
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.
| Discussion: No Comments »
New Mexico Wildlife - To Feed or Not to Feed…
April 15th, 2008 categories: Community, Mountain Wildlife
Here in the Sacramento Mountains and throughout the Lincoln National Forest, we are so blessed to have a glorious arid climate, over 300 species of wildlife, and a large diversity of habitats for the native animals. Our deer and turkey populations are thriving. I’ve seen more wild turkey this year than I have seen in all my years in the area. Seeing more and more of these magnificent creatures means that the temptation to put the feed out for them increases.
When it comes to mule deer and the cute little fawns wobbling behind their mothers, it’s tempting to want to leave out a snack thinking that surely the extra calories can’t hurt. And who doesn’t like to see beautiful bucks and speckled fawns just outside the front door? What many people don’t realize, however, is that their good intentions can be lethal for the animals they so love to watch.
All creatures are designed to live and die in their natural environments. When the delicate balance of nature is altered in any way, the animal population adjusts. When seasonal home owners in the Ruidoso area decide to add to the normal feeding process of animals in the wild by putting out alfalfa or corn, it can become more of a hazard than a help. Read the rest of this entry »
| Discussion: No Comments »
Septic or Sewer?
April 15th, 2008 categories: Building in Lincoln County, Ruidoso FAQs
Without a doubt, this is not a subject that most people enjoy discussing, but in a rural mountain community like Ruidoso, this IS an issue that every home owner must face sooner or later. When I work with a buyer who is considering purchasing a property, this issue always surfaces, so I thought it would be helpful to post the ins and outs of “liquid waste disposal in New Mexico”. In September of 2005, liquid waste disposal laws in New Mexico changed significantly. For detailed information, please refer to the New Mexico Environmental Department website.
Below are some basic facts which anyone purchasing a home or lot in Lincoln County should be aware: Read the rest of this entry »
| Discussion: No Comments »
No Boom No Gloom - Ruidoso Real Estate Trends
April 4th, 2008 categories: Ruidoso Market Trends, Ruidoso real estate
Lately, there has been a lot of interest in the Ruidoso real estate market, from those who have been considering a home purchase for some time.
I’m often asked questions like “Is this a buyers market” and “Are we seeing a bottom” ?
I can’t forecast the future of real estate in Ruidoso especially with the uncertainty of the national markets for both housing and stocks. The historical sales trend and current seasonal slowdown for Ruidoso, along with the market forecasts from the National Association of Realtors, reflect a lull from the overheated markets of 2005 and 2006. A window of buying opportunity may be present now and for several months to come - depending on how you view the data.
Lets look at some historical trends for our area, along with some regional and national factors that influence real estate in Lincoln County. Read the rest of this entry »
| Discussion: No Comments »
Ruidoso Get-away… Cabin or Condo ???
April 3rd, 2008 categories: Condominiums, Ruidoso real estate
As summer approaches, I’ve received an increasing number of calls from people planning to visit Ruidoso over the next few weeks with thoughts of purchasing a “summer get-away”. In most, but not all cases, these folks are coming from somewhere in Texas and their primary goal is to purchase a second home that they can use in the summer to escape the heat. Most are not wanting to spend over $150,000, and many have a secondary goal of renting their property out on a nightly basis, to help recoup some of the expense. Most people are picturing a rustic but updated log cabin located on at least an acre with a creek running through it. Oops…we’re talking about $150K here, so lets get back to reality….
| Discussion: No Comments »
New Airline Service to Ruidoso
April 1st, 2008 categories: Community, Real Estate News
Not so long ago, it would have been unheard of to have commercial flights from Texas or intrastate communities landing in Ruidoso. It was an understood fact that if you wanted to travel to Ruidoso you would strap yourself in the car and drive for hours to reach the beautiful Sacramento Mountains. Gone (almost), are the days of mapping out every rest stop or gas station between Ruidoso and Timbuktu.
What glorious new thing has made this happen, you ask? On February 11, 2008 New Mexico Airlines began service to Ruidoso from Albuquerque, Alamogordo, Hobbs, El Paso and Midland. Just a moment ago, I checked with the New Mexico Airlines website and located a round-trip flight from Midland to Ruidoso for $222.00 - not a bad price at all, considering high gas prices these days. Currently, New Mexico Airlines owns and operates three, 9 passenger Cessna Grand Caravans. I also located a flight from Ruidoso to Albuquerque for $220.85 which takes about 40 minutes. Check their timetable to find the best flight for yourself.
If your city isn’t one listed above, you might consider an American Eagle flight to/from Roswell to Dallas. By visiting the American Airlines site, you can make reservations for multiple destinations to or from Roswell, typically in a 50 passenger plane. I had the opportunity to take the American Eagle flight to Dallas last week, and it was a very easy and comfortable trip. The Roswell airport is small, but they were well organized, and the process went smoothly. The flights both in and out of Roswell were packed, so I recommend booking in advance if at all possible.
Happy flying!
To Subscribe to future Ruidoso Blog articles via email- click here:
| Discussion: No Comments »
