Snow Is Painting Santa Fe - 01/31/11 09:52 PM

I treasure the first hour of falling snow in Santa Fe. Everyone is usually rushing to the supermarket or gas station and missing the moments of how nature paints with snow. This scene caught my attention across the street from the main post office as the storm moved into town just before dusk today. While the image staying in my camera for the drive home, I wondered what would the scene have looking like in black and white. I remembered how long it used to take to see an image made on film. Often, days would pass before either I … (8 comments)

Ouch! FDIC Acquires New Mexico Bank - 01/29/11 02:08 PM

First Community Bank in New Mexico was acquiried by U.S. Bancorp operating as U.S. Bank after being seized by FDIC regulators on another one of their FDIC Friday actions on January 28, 2011. This lender was the 11th taken over this year making it a busy January for the FDIC. Of course, now Santa Fe has one less community bank in town and a new BIG bank overnight.
What makes the news confusing is that Santa Fe has two banking institutions with Community Bank in their name. Only First Community Bank is now U.S. Bank and the four Santa Fe branches to … (5 comments)

I Confess, I Woolgather When... - 01/28/11 08:05 PM

Woolgathering is often what I do when I want to access my imagination. At times I wonder if I have sheep DNA or a past life relationship. Most people think woolgathering is actually gathering wool. And that is quite logical as it turns out the word originated in 1553. In those pre-internet centuries there may have been more time or freedom to indulge in daydreaming which is the more official definition today. Now I'm finding I woolgather before I blog or even before I create a marketing brochure for a new listing. I find the daydreaming experience is like taking … (13 comments)

They Break Every Rule... - 01/27/11 09:03 PM

They break every rule at the end of every day or so it seems. No matter where I am or what I am doing there is some trigger that goes off in my mind to make me take notice of the sun setting over Santa Fe. On some evenings, it is as if the clouds and sky want to move west in a bright blaze of glory. On other evenings, the sun quietly sinks below the Jemez Mountain range as if going to dinner alone. On this occasion, it was a full dress formal Oscar-like event in the sky. Fortunately, I'm … (10 comments)

Goodbye Google Base - 01/27/11 09:31 AM
Now it appears the online landscape of real estate is shifting too. The recent announcement of Google's shift in management followed by their end of Google Base tells me there is more to this story. This blog by Maureen McCabe in Ohio raises some food for thought.
Via Maureen McCabe (Real Living HER (HER Realtors) Columbus OH. ):
Good Bye Google Base
Just yesterdayI was whining about how horrible Google Base (real estate on Google Maps ) is on a Columbus Ohio real estate post written for consumers. 
Yesterday or Tuesday Google announced real estate on Google Maps was going away...
Or perhaps I … (4 comments)

She Did What? - 01/26/11 12:56 PM

She Did What? I know, I really have to pay attention to those talking lizards on my desk. My partner has a tendency to move them around creating surprises. Today is no exception. This 100K journey has been a turning point in my discovery of so many terrific people on Active Rain. Without their thoughtful advice, generous comments, awesome encouragement, tons of support and lots of humor, this goal would still be one. I am thankful to all of them, my family of lizards who keep my imagination alive and all of you who make ActiveRain the place to be everyday!
… (17 comments)

Does This Happen To You? - 01/25/11 03:29 PM

Do things like this happen to you? I know this image is not a thing. It is a cat and one who appeared on the top of my car roof as if to hitch a ride. I was simply checking on one of my listings when I heard a loud meow. And there she was sitting on my car, not in a tree or on her car, but on my car. As always in real estate, time tends to be of the essence and frankly I had no time for cat games this morning. After two meetings I was already behind. However, I learned … (12 comments)

Somewhere Someone Is... - 01/24/11 10:58 PM

Somewhere someone is swinging a golf club near you. As you drive by a Country Club course like this one in Santa Fe, New Mexico, know anywhere between the first green and the 19th hole someone swinging a golf club. Or they may be in the in the Clubhouse for lunch or at the 19th hole celebrating what happened. Given the odds of this happening in your community, this is another one of my ideas for a green network experience. There is nothing like doing something truly different in a New Year. Instead of looking at the golf ball on my desk, … (4 comments)

Has Real Estate Stopped Your Imagination? - 01/23/11 10:30 PM
Has real estate stopped your imagination? Are you making time to smell the flowers in this new landscape of real estate? I confess, I have an imagination addiction. I am tethered to a camera and I love flowers. I am curious as to what they are suggesting when they catch my eye. Frequently, it is all about stopping my mind from thinking logically to then engage my imagination. Real estate tends to make imagination a low priority. Most of us create pictures of homes in neat and tidy rectangular boxes per industry norms as if that is the only visual language we speak. Flowers … (13 comments)

10 Reasons Your House Is Not Selling - 01/23/11 05:55 PM
When it comes to explaining why a house is not selling, there is no longer a need to re-invent the wheel. Dave Conners in Prescott, Arizona has some good visual reasons to consider and put into action in this new landscape of real estate.
Via Dave Conners (Keller Williams Check Realty / Stephanie Woods Team):
10 Reasons Your House Is Not Selling.  A few days ago I wrote about how price and condition will determine whether your house sells or not. Here is a follow up that focuses on many other ways home owners sabotage the process of selling their home.

 1. … (2 comments)

In Santa Fe... Who Rules? - 01/21/11 08:26 PM

If you ever asked me who ruled Santa Fe, I would answer "it's the clouds, of course". We have no tall buildings for Superman to fly down from and land on the Plaza or King Kong to grab and star in another movie made in New Mexico. Frankly, I think Santa Fe is blessed by clouds simply because our cityscape is still horizontal in nature after 400 years of development. What everyone sees everyday is a new cast of character clouds. In winter, they gently drop snow. In spring, they bring wind and move ever so quickly. By summer, they … (11 comments)

This Tale Wags More Than The Dog - 01/20/11 01:06 PM

In my experience, a dog tail can create more than a tale especially when the dog is out for a walk. Here is another of my ideas for social networking with a leash. And again, there is nothing like doing something truly different in a New Year. Here is another of one of my forgotten things to do off line to develop local referral paths for new business. My 2011 business strategy is about bringing to life those referral ideas which have been sitting on my desk for a good part of 2010. It is my own call to action tip to generate another referral.
… (21 comments)

Imagine that... - 01/19/11 07:39 PM

Imagine that... "it snows here" said my prospective buyer when they called to tell me they cancelled "their dream" to live in Santa Fe, New Mexico. Snow is a "nightmare" for us they went on to explain. I told them our winter snow is dependable as the Sangre de Cristo Mountains cradles our community. I wished them well and decided it was time to talk about snow.
It is important to remember that mountains are built for snow!  We are blessed with Ski Santa Fe an hour away from our Historic Plaza. In fact, one of the Ski Santa Fe lifts brings skiers to an elevation just over 12,000 … (6 comments)

Live From El Cerritto, New Mexico - 01/17/11 08:48 AM

This is a camera report from the Village of El Cerrito, in San Miguel Country, outside of Santa Fe. People made a living from livestock. Instead of owning a computer, iphone or car, every family owned a horse, a cow or two, maybe a pig and a plot of land. Thousands of acres of ranch land surrounded this icon of a typical thriving Hispanic community in New Mexico prior to the coming of the railroads and the court voiding of Spanish and Mexican land grants. Altough settled in the in the early 19th century and still a working village in the 1940's, today … (10 comments)

Missed Exits Are Opportunities - 01/16/11 09:14 AM

One of the magical things about our cars is the rear view mirror. Unlike humans, it is always looking backwards even when we are looking ahead. At the same time, the mirror is a safety device when we want to move around on the road in the present. This image happened shortly after I missed the exit to the Santo Domingo Pueblo off the southbound lane on I-25. Fortunately, the next exit was less than 10 miles away. On the road to or from Santa Fe to Albuquerque, highway exits can be few and far between. The good news is the the landscape … (12 comments)

If a Home Looks "Staged" the Staging Has Failed - 01/16/11 12:51 AM
Do you ever wonder why staging does not work? Well, here is the answer. It is all about being authentically still a home without that "staged" look and feel. The more homeowners understand how to prepare a home for sale, the more homes will sell. It's that simple in this excellent blog by Karen Bernetti, Real Estate Stager.
Via Karen Bernetti (North Star Real Estate):
Women don't want to hear, "what nice eye makeup you're wearing today" the purpose of the makeup they apply is to hear, "what beautiful eyes you have."  Staged homes are no different.
We want buyers to view … (7 comments)

113 Michelle Drive, Santa Fe, New Mexico 87501 SOLD! - 01/15/11 06:54 PM

Contrary to the national media, homes which are not bank owned or short sales are selling in Santa Fe, New Mexico. This Pentastar subdivision townhome located at 113 Michelle Drive on the Northwest side of Santa Fe not far from DeVargas Mall and the Historic Plaza has been sold. This is one of my residential listings which sold in 62 days and closed on the 2nd to last day of 2010! The asking price was $425,000. New Mexico is a non-disclosure sate and the sale price can not be disclosed here or on Zillow.
Its many features included: knock out mountain and city … (1 comments)

Why I Love Santa Fe... - 01/15/11 05:20 PM

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 … (4 comments)

Top 10 Posts In 2010 On Active Rain Emily Medvec - 01/15/11 04:03 PM
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 … (4 comments)

Portrait Of A Canale - 01/12/11 09:24 PM

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 … (11 comments)

4 Escondido Mountain, Santa Fe, New Mexico 87508 SOLD - 01/10/11 03:57 PM

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: … (4 comments)

Buyers – Does This House Have a Record? - 01/10/11 02:02 PM

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 … (5 comments)

What The Cat Dragged In... To Santa Fe NM - 01/09/11 05:20 PM

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 … (4 comments)

You thought that piece of information was private? Think again! - 01/07/11 08:23 AM
This is an extraordinary post on what has happened to privacy and information online. It is beyond worth the read. Information like this will hopefully generate a new look at CLUE reports and other documents which track our behavior and actions.
Via Virginia Gardner, Realtor Charlottesville and Earlysville VA Homes (Roy Wheeler Realty Co.):
I started this post with the intention of writing about CLUE reports, and I will be writing about CLUE, but I will also be writing about much more than CLUE.  As I started researching CLUE reports, I discovered a whole lot about a lot of “special reports” that are … (1 comments)

Snowed... by Santa Fe! - 01/05/11 10:47 PM

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 … (6 comments)

Real Estate Is Like the Weather - 01/02/11 03:40 PM
Sangre De Cristo Mountains Over Santa Fe, New Mexico

Looking back on real estate in Santa Fe in 2010 brings one thought to mind. Real estate, like the weather is local and frequently unpredictable despite all the forecasts. The three year collapse of the housing sector has continued to create unprecedented opportunities for home ownership in Santa Fe, New Mexico. Even though I can expect it to snow in the winter, I can not predict when the snow will fall. The same holds true for our local Santa Fe real estate market when I reflect about the behavior of buyers and sellers.
… (6 comments)

Susana Martinez First Latina Governor In USA - 01/02/11 01:00 PM
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.

… (3 comments)

 
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Emily Medvec Realtor®| Santa Fe NM |CNE CRS RSPS |505-660-4541

Santa Fe, NM

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Santa Fe Properties | Luxury Portfolio

Address: 1000 Paseo de Peralta, Santa Fe, NM, 87501

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Emily Medvec Realtor® Santa Fe Real Estate solutions and opportunities for buyers and sellers in all price ranges. This blog is on Santa Fe Real Estate and why I love Santa Fe, New Mexico.
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