Living in Santa Fe Blog

How to Buy a Home for Telecommuting

Forget the stereotype about working from home in your pajamas while you sip a leisurely coffee. Telecommuting is serious business. A growing number of homebuyers are basing their decision not on the best commuting route, but on the best location for working remotely.

U.S. Census Bureau data shows that 4.4 percent of residents in New Mexico are full-time telecommuters. Texas and New York rank a little lower at 4.1 percent and 4 percent, respectively. And of all 50 states, California comes in at #10 on the list with 5.2 percent of the population telecommuting full-time.

Telecommuting is a daily and global occurrence. A 2018 Swiss study found that 70 percent of professional workers in the world…

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Broker Spotlight: Stephanie Duran

“Truly listening to clients is absolutely crucial”

Blessed with a high level of discipline from an early age, Stephanie has excelled in many facets of her life and has enjoyed the ride immensely. Born and raised in Washington, D.C., Stephanie was a child athlete and competitive figure skater. “Every day I would wake up at 5:00, be on the ice at 6:00, skate for 2 hours, attend classes at elementary school, then back to the rink for 2 hours of skating before going home to do homework. When I was training for big competitions, I would be alone on the rink at 2:00 in the morning!”

In her 20s, Stephanie was a musical theatre actress living in New York City. “What a magical time that was in my life! I would train and audition all week, and to fund my…

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The Ultimate Empty Nester Homebuying Checklist

The kids are grown up, moved out, and successfully adulting. Your house is too big, too old, or in the wrong location—or climate. You’re ready for fewer stairs, a more walkable community, access to outdoor recreation, a unique selection of cultural amenities—pick one or all. Is this you?

If you’ve answered “yes” faster than a run down one of Santa Fe’s primo mountain bike trails, you may be among the many empty nesters looking for a new home.

The Santa Fe real estate market attracts empty nesters from around the country, as well as area residents who may be thinking about moving to a home better suited to their empty-nester needs. With that in mind, we put together a homebuying checklist with…

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Broker Spotlight: Stefan Lark

“After 30 years, I am still deeply in love with Santa Fe”

Real estate runs deep in Stefan’s veins. “Both of my parents were real estate brokers for 45 years and I lived it every day growing up!” In his 20s, Stefan began his real estate career with a developer in San Antonio, TX, for whom he managed commercial building projects for 9 years. In 1988, because of the S&L crisis, Stefan moved to Santa Fe. He explains, “One day the developer I worked for had projects and the very next day they didn’t because the banks weren’t financing any more.”

Stefan remembers his first year in Santa Fe as being so much fun! “Honestly, I said I would stay in Santa Fe for a year, and here I am 30 years later! While I was beginning my career in mortgage lending, I…

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Your Santa Fe Real Estate New Year’s Resolutions

The new year is just days away! In between wrapping presents and planning holiday activities, you may be thinking about resolutions for 2019. As Santa Fe’s home-grown realty, we think real estate 365 days a year—and with that in mind, it’s a great time to offer some New Year’s resolutions you might want to adopt to help you achieve your real estate goals. For instance:

Save for a Down Payment

If you’re in the market for buying real estate in the near future, make it a top priority to start saving for a down payment. Whether it’s your first foray into home buying or not, it’s always a good idea to save in advance.

Get Pre-Qualified for a Mortgage

It’s the first step in the mortgage…

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Four Stunning Christmas Events In & Around Santa Fe

Fireworks at Taos Ski Valley

Just taking in the sights of a magical desert city in the winter, you could get a lifetime of Instagram posts from an afternoon spent downtown. But you might miss something if you just head out and start walking, so here are some suggestions for planning your Christmas week in the Land of Enchantment.

Take in the Lights

Every major city has a sort of a signature visual. You can take a picture and crop it down to the size of a postage stamp, and if we see neon lights against the night sky, we’ll know we’re looking at Las Vegas. If we see yellow with a checkered pattern, we’ll think New York City. London has its fog and Philadelphia has its beautiful old brick…

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Broker Spotlight: Natalie Rivera Benavent

“What drives me is to be the best I can possibly be”

From Merchant Marine ship captain to a successful career in real estate, Natalie’s life has most definitely been interesting! Born and raised in Puerto Rico, Natalie enrolled at the Texas Maritime Academy aged 17, and spent the next 18 years sailing the world. She advanced from the lowest ship’s officer rank to becoming Captain of her own ship. “I’ve done stuff,” Natalie laughs. “As Master I managed multicultural crews, people from different ethnicities, religions, and customs — literally a tinderbox, and my job was to make sure no fuses were lit …while making money for the company of course.”

Natalie’s interest in real estate came from buying and selling properties in various locales while…

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Skiing in Santa Fe: Looking to be a Great Season!

Tis the Season to Shred!

While the mountain and the fun hasn’t changed from last year the most important ingredient decided to show up for the 2018/2019 season: SNOW!

Opening day for 2018 has more terrain open than all of the season last year. That’s great news and not just for powder-chasers: our beautiful forest and aquifer depend on it. Currently, 76% of the trails are open and conditions have been great.

With more than a half-foot more snow expected this weekend, it’s looking to be a great year!

See you on the slopes!

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Top 10 What We’re Thankful for in Santa Fe

Thanksgiving is a time for being with family and friends—and for being grateful for the blessings each day brings. The nature lover and essayist Henry David Thoreau once wrote, “I am grateful for what I am and have. My thanksgiving is perpetual.” Surrounded by the beauty of the mountains and populated by a welcoming and creative community, Santa Fe inspires a spirit of everlasting thankfulness.

As we celebrate the Thanksgiving holiday, we’re sharing our Top Ten list of what we’re thankful for—today and always. Happy Thanksgiving to you and your family!

1. Our Real Estate Community and Clients.

We’re thankful and proud to serve the Santa Fe community. The Barker family has roots in Santa Fe that…

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See a Play in Santa Fe

The theater scene in Santa Fe is one of our best-kept secrets. The City Different is home to stage productions that attract local residents on opening night and at every performance. Along with great cuisine and a spectacular natural setting, Santa Fe arts and culture count as another reason people look for homes here.

Theatre Santa Fe, the city’s theater board, is a clearing house where you can find venues and a calendar for terrific performances all year round. They also host an annual theater walk in September. This consists of about 20 theaters staging scenes across multiple venues all on the same day. Like going to a beer tasting, it’s a fun way to sample theater without seeing an entire…

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