Each year, the American Southwest Theater Company at New Mexico State University puts on a production during the holiday season (on top of their several other productions each year), and as of the last few years, the ASTC has switched off between the classic yuletide tale of ‘A Christmas Year’ and a different, non-holiday production. This year, the ASTC is proud to present “Seussical the Musical” from November 20th through December 6th at the Hershel Zohn Theater on the NMSU campus.
Seussical entwines the favorites of the Dr. Seuss world, including Horton and the Whos, the Cat in the Hat, the Grinch, and more, and creates a magical, fantastical world in which all of Dr. Seuss’s characters interact and live among each other. The show is rated PG, and provides greatly quality fun for every member of the family. We saw it when the ASTC did the show a few years ago and loved it - we will definitely be back this time around too.
Leading a cast of talented locals is director Tim Pinnow, choreographer Jennifer Lemon, and musical director Robert Randall. The cast features a number of talented local artists & NMSU students including Matt Jones (Horton), Carrie Oliver (Cat in the Hat), Mandy Guitar (JoJo), Ida Holguin (Gertrude), Francesca Tharpe (Mazy), and La Sasha Aldridge (Sour Kangaroo), including many other dancers and vocalists (not to mention all the back stage and production crew).
To see show times, dates, and ticket availability, visit Ticketmaster by CLICKING HERE.
For more information, call the NMSU Theatre/ASTC box office at 646-4515 or 1-800-646-ASTC.
To see www.BroadwayWorld.com’s impressive write up on the Las Cruces show, CLICK HERE.
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Evelyn Bruder: CRS, GRI, ABR, E-PRO, Las Cruces Cyberstar
For me, it’s strange to sit and remember the last time I had to really search for the answer to something, whether it be a recipe, a phone number, or a movie. And by ‘really search,’ I don’t mean sifting through the first four pages of Google’s search before I find the site I’m looking for; do you remember how difficult it used to be to find a new business’s phone number or location before the phone book was updated? It’s almost unfathomable to think about planning a trip itinerary without the help of the Internet… How did we even book hotels 10 years ago? It boggles my mind!
On that same note, the information at our fingertips is endless. Particularly, real estate marketing has drastically changed over the last five years. Remember when one of the best ways to get your face out there was a billboard? A full page ad in a phone directory? Newspapers? Magazines? Networking with real people? Granted, we still use some of these, but if you sit and think about all the money you’ve saved since you pulled those costly ads and started utilizing websites and blogs to deliver your message. That thought hadn’t really occurred to me until I was reminiscing with colleagues recently, and the amount that all of us have saved is in the thousands now.
I know that some agents and professionals are still a little reluctant to dive head-first into social media marketing world, but I cannot stress enough how easy and cheap it is; even if you have to pay to host your website or blog, the average $5-15 dollars per month (or year) is a huge difference from the hundreds (to thousands) it costs to rent and put up a billboard space. Listed below are some links to blog entries, website posts, and the like that I have found helpful and informative:
-About.com article about the basics to utilizing social media: CLICK HERE
-My blog post about Twitter: In Plain English: CLICK HERE
-My blog post about social media marketing tactics: CLICK HERE
-Another blog post about social media marketing, how it works, and a video on the scope of technology: CLICK HERE
I hope some of these links are helpful for you and your business and that this post was a little thought provoking, because really… Where were we BG? (Before Google)
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Evelyn Bruder: CRS, GRI, ABR, E-PRO, Las Cruces Cyberstar
As of Thursday of last week, legislation passed extending ‘first time home buyer tax credit’ to May of 2010, and adding a $6,500 tax credit to repeat home buyers if they’ve lived in their current home for five of the past eight years, with a cap on home prices at $800,000. Other stipulations have changed slightly, but here are the highlights below:
* Extended to May 1, 2010 * $8000 for first time buyers * $6500 to repeat buyers with limitations on time of residence * Home price capped at $800,000 * Income limits now $125k individuals and $225k joint filers * Reduced credits for $145k individuals and $245k income joint filers * Contracts in place by April 30 will get 60 days to close
When the first tax credit was put into effect, I think almost all agents saw a surge of activity from all different types of demographics, though it was mostly young professionals who had been on the fence about purchasing a home. The amount of traffic to our offices increased by a decent percentage, and since then activity has leveled out a comfortable pace. As a slight workaholic, I’m always prepared to be busier than I am, but I can definitely appreciate the better attitude towards real estate as opposed to this time last year.
People should no longer feel afraid of buying real estate, despite the “gloom” of the last few years, and I think the first tax credit gave hope to young professionals and families that their dream of buying their first home is actually attainable.
Me and my team will keep you updated on changes and additions to this tax credit extension; good news is on the horizon, I can feel it!
Edit: Sorry for the confusion - the extension/expansion went through on Thursday, and this blog had been sitting in draft for a while. My assistant finished it and posted it while I was away, and I’ve made the necessary changes to keep you up to date and ready for market changes.
To see a PDF of all the home buyer tax credit changes, please CLICK HERE.
To see a PDF of FAQ’s, which is very helpful, please CLICK HERE.
To see our comprehensive website about buying your first home in the Las Cruces area,CLICK HERE.
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Evelyn Bruder: CRS, GRI, ABR, E-PRO, Las Cruces Cyberstar
To keep you informed about the Las Cruces Real Estate market and other important area information and happenings, we are providing you with informative articles and information that our team thinks will be of interest to you. If you have any questions, feel free to call or email us by CLICKING HERE.
Don’t miss: Over 160 artisans, live entertainment, singer-songwriter Tom Russell, Merry Court of Sherwood Oak, The Children’s Realm, The Society for Creative Anachronism encampment featuring battles and demonstrations, food treats, and more.
How much: $5, free for kids 12 and under
Info & to volunteer: (575) 523-6403, infodaac@daarts.org, www.las-cruces-arts.org
This year 25,000-30,000 visitors are gather for the event at Young Park. We hope to see you there!
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Evelyn Bruder: CRS, GRI, ABR, E-PRO, Las Cruces Cyberstar
Any Las Cruces native or resident will tell you that if there’s any football game to see, it’s Mayfield versus Las Cruces High. For nearly 30 years, the two high schools were the only secondary education schools in the city, and as a result, a deep-rooted rivalry was born. Even with the arrival of Onate High School in 1993, the competition between Mayfield and Las Cruces has remained untouched. Each year, thousands of teenagers, parents, football fans, and Las Cruces residents show up to take sides at Aggie Stadium, since the game has reached a magnitude that surpasses the usual high school stomping grounds, the Field of Dreams.
Last year, officials estimated some 30,000 spectators came out for the game (that’s three times the usual amount at Aggies games, if that’s any indication). Las Cruces High are the reigning 5A state champions in football, with a remarkable 13-0 record. Rival.computs Las Cruces High on their RivalsHigh 100 List of 2008 out of all the schools in the country. Both Mayfield and Las Cruces High have had rocky seasons so far, so the question is: will Las Cruces’s track record as state champs play in their favor, or could this game serve as Mayfield’s stepping stone to the state championship this year?
This is a fantastic Las Cruces event for people of all ages, alumni or not. Come out and eat stadium food and watch some good old fashioned football on Friday, Nov. 6 at 7pm at Aggie Memorial Stadium on the NMSU Campus. Admission is $10 for adults, $5 for students, and kids 6 and under are free. We hope to see you there!
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Evelyn Bruder: CRS, GRI, ABR, E-PRO, Las Cruces Cyberstar
Most people looking to sell live in homes that are a little dated. Trends come and go, and over time, we all do the best we can to keep our homes exactly how we want them. It’s tough to compete against the brand new, never lived in, built to sell houses; the only downside to those is that they’re priced much higher than homes that have been previously lived in. So, if a cost-conscious and trendy couple or family is looking to buy, there’s a small market available to them.
Nowadays, there’s a full-fledged portion of the workforce dedicated to improving your home and essentially redesigning it to make it as desirable as possible to the demanding market. These people are called stagers, and if you’ve read my blog before, you may have seen THIS ONE in which I talked about the benefits of having someone professionally stage your home. I always suggest going with a staging professional, but if there are some home repairs you know you need to do before putting it on the market, there are some that generate more of a return.
Changing your flooring might be expensive, but that’s a huge decision maker for buyers. Flooring trends have changed somewhat randomly over the years (remember the 70’s shag carpeting?), but one timeless style that remains constant is hardwood. Installing hardwood post-carpeting can be really expensive, so investing in a classic beige or sand colored carpet in replacement of wilder colors is a huge benefit; not only does it open up the space of a room, but when a buyer hears ‘brand new carpeting,’ they feel positive. Obviously trends change from market to market, and since we live in the southwest, saltillo tile is widely popular and a big benefit to buyers if they’re looking to purchase a southwestern home. If you, the seller, have tile, it’s imperative to replaced cracked or chipped tiles and clean or replace the grout. Replacing tile completely can be extremely costly, so focus on the specifics that need alterations.
Painting ceilings and walls is something any home staging professional will suggest, usually in creams or nudes in order to start with a blank canvas and brighten up a room. Wallpaper is generally a no-no in selling a home; it’s not that people don’t like wallpaper, it’s that they don’t like your wallpaper, since tastes in such designs tend to be very specific. That rain forest themed room you loved so much might seem quirky and fun to you, but to a buyer that’s a lot of primer, paint, and money they don’t really want to spend. In terms of ceilings, older ‘popcorn’ ceilings (the ones that sparkle) usually have asbestos, and most buyers are aware of that. They really need to be replaced, regardless of the cost.
Those are the two big things I address with sellers of older homes. Smaller things like re-finishing cabinets (much cheaper than replacing), and clean and sparkling sinks and faucets are much easier to take care of. Buyers really don’t want a leaky faucet or stained sinks, and usually those can be fixed with the turn of a wrench and heavy duty bleach. If not, look into buying at warehouse or sample sales at designer department stores; the name is impressive, especially if you know you secretly spent a fourth of the cost as usual.
Outdoors, there are simple things anyone can do to create a pleasant ambiance. Planting flowers, sealing cracks in cement, replacing doorknobs and locks, and painting fences can all be done for under $60 dollars and in less than a day. Curb appeal is the first of the first impressions.
Overall, the two big home repairs that generate a return are the floors and walls/ceilings. Fixing these gives a professional home stager a great canvas to start with to get your home ready to sell. Or, if you prefer to do it yourself, you can find some easy preparing to sell tips by CLICKING HERE.
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Evelyn Bruder: CRS, GRI, ABR, E-PRO, Las Cruces Cyberstar
I have to admit, I love these videos; they’re to-the-point, easy to understand, short, and helpful. The sad truth about this particular video is that there is a need for it; people fall victim to Internet scams all the time. Even worse, the phishing perpetrators are the most difficult to catch, since most often they perform their scams at public Internet Service Providers, which makes them difficult to trace.
A woman in our office recently spent hours and hours on the phone with her bank, credit card companies, social security offices, and more dealing with the repercussions of her daughter responding to a phishing scam. Most people already have a sort of safety net set up within their emails with junk filters and such, but we have to reiterate this to our children and friends so that they can protect themselves from the dishonest, dirty e-thiefs.
Take just a few minutes to watch this helpful video on phishing and how to protect yourself from it; maybe even forward it to your friends and colleagues, because no one likes to deal with this stuff.
Today, Las Cruces truly felt like fall. The colors in the sky had an opaqueness to them, and all of the leaves looked a little more yellow. In the shade, it actually felt cold; for Las Cruces, this is a big deal. Our seasons here are very mild, so even in late October our days can get up into the mid-70’s.
But even more than the temperature change, we started to feel the pressures of winter since we started winterizing our home. Our fireplace is used frequently in the cold months, so we hired a chimney sweep to come over and get rid of the soot and creosote that had collected over the months. We also had a screen placed on top to limit rodent and bird access to our chimney. After all this was said and done, I got to thinking about the different things we can do to save money and protect our belongings during the winter.
1. Get Your Furnace Ready Lucky for me, my husband does this already. Usually in early November, he calls an HVAC inspector to come over and clean out the ducts, change the filters, and make sure our furnace is in working order. We always buy an extra stash of filters as well, since they tend to become filthy in the winter months and can run up your electricity bill as a result. Some friends of ours recently replaced their ‘ON/OFF’ thermostat with a programmable one, and they said their bill dropped by $40 a month; that’s a huge decrease, especially since all utility rates tend to escalate from October to March. Of course, it’s important to remove all flammable materials from around the furnace.
2. Get The Fireplace Ready Like I mentioned earlier, cleaning out your chimney (with you do it yourself or hire a sweep) will help reduce the chance of the smoke entering your home and staining your walls; this happens over periods of time, so you don’t usually notice it until it’s too late. We live in an area where there is a lot of wildlife, so placing a screen over the top of the chimney is crucial. Pretty soon, firewood stands will be up here in Las Cruces, and I’m sure in most places, firewood is already selling like crazy. We tend to stock up for a few months’ supply.
3. Check Exterior Windows & Doors It really is amazing how much heat escapes through the cracks of windows and doors. A friend of mine lives in an older home that she’s renovated throughout the years, and last summer she finally got around to replacing her windows; she said that the following winter, it felt like she was in a different house. If replacing your windows isn’t an option, it’s important to caulk and seal all windows and door frames, as well as placing weatherstripping around doors to prevent cold air from getting in. If you have a basement or garage, it’s always smart to use plastic sheeting to prevent cold air from getting in there too. If you live in an area with harsh winters, it’s important to replace your summer/spring windows with storm windows.
4. Clean Out the Gutters My least favorite, but worth it in the end. Las Cruces doesn’t really get snow during the winter, but we do get rain, and if we don’t clean out our gutters bi-annually the shingles nearest them on our roof begin to deteriorate. Rather than replaced 50 shingles once a year, my husband and I climb up a ladder and hose down the gunk until our gutters and drain pipes are free and clear. If you do decide to get up on the roof and inspect, it’s always a good idea to check roof tiles and shingles to make sure none are missing or rotted; if you go too long without checking, you may need a whole new roof sooner than later.
There are a few other things that need to be taken care of before winter officially arrives in Las Cruces (and by officially arrives, I mean we get our first frost). The lawn mower needs to be drained and stored safely in the garage - along with most of the gardening tools - and the evaporative coolers should be be shut off and drained until April. We also double check that all of our smoke and carbon monoxide detectors are working properly; with the fireplace in use and the furnace programmed to run automatically, you can never be too safe.
It’s during seasonal transitions that I feel so lucky to live here in Las Cruces; there’s never a lot of work or preparation that goes with winter or summer. There’s a part of me that misses the snowy landscapes of back East, but that’s what vacations are for. I hope maybe you found some helpful ideas for your home in the winter.
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Evelyn Bruder: CRS, GRI, ABR, E-PRO, Las Cruces Cyberstar
Buying and selling is a confusing process; that much is true for everyone, even second time buyers/sellers. It’s up to me to make the process as easy for you as possible, but there’s one area that seems to be more perplexing than others: buyer’s agents. Who pays them, and how much do they get paid? Do you have to sign a buyer broker agreement? Are they even necessary?
The last few years, the real estate scene has witnessed a surge of buyer’s agents; agents that are strictly on the side of the buyer, ensuring they get a fair price and negotiation hassles are kept to a minimum. However, a couple of weeks ago a friend of mine forwarded me an MSN article called ‘10 Things Your Real Estate Broker Won’t Tell You,’ and while the writer made some fair points regarding the ethics of some agents, number 5 struck me as particularly thought-provoking. The headline read:
“Sometimes I forget who’s side I’m on.”
The sad truth is that may be the case for some buyer’s agents, but in defining the position of the buyer’s agent, they should be on your side, the buyer’s side. On the other hand, in terms of payment and commission, it’s normally the selling agent that pays the buyer (yeah, you read that right). Normally, a listing agreement between the selling agent and the seller specifies how much the listing brokerage will pay the selling brokerage for bringing a buyer. It does seem a little backward for the selling agent to pay the buyer’s agent to act on your behalf, and I think that’s where some buying agents forget who they’re working for.
Since most buyer’s agents don’t work for free (who does?!) and so many people are confused to how a buyer’s agent works, some agents request for their clients to sign a buyer broker agreement. There are three different types, but the most common is exclusive; it basically states that no matter what, you (the buyer) cannot buy a property without owing a commission to the agent. At first glance, that statement might seem harsh to clients, but it’s a way for buyer’s agents to protect themselves against people who want to take advantage of their services. I know a lot of buyer’s agents won’t work with people who hesitate to sign a buyer broker agreement, since it essentially means that the client doesn’t care if the broker gets paid. If you, as a client, feel uncomfortable signing something like that until you fully understand it, most brokers won’t mind if you ask to look at it over a weekend, so long as you approach it respectfully and seriously. You must also remember that this agreement does not stipulate that you have to buy a home, it only states that if you buy a home, you will work with the buyer’s agent. It can also stipulate that the seller is responsible for the commission and that you the buyer are not responsible.
With all of this in mind, what are the benefits of a buyer’s agent? Well, if you’re working with someone you trust and live a busy lifestyle, buyer’s agents cut out a lot of stress on your behalf. I know that it feels good to have someone working on your side with you as a priority; sellers receive that treatment, so why shouldn’t a buyer? But how do you know you can trust your agent? That’s where the internet comes in handy - look them up on ActiveRain, LinkedIn, Facebook, Yelp, and spend some time reading testimonials and websites. These websites are incredible resources for all clients; they can tell you a lot about your potential agent.
I hope this blog helped clear up some confusion regarding buyer’s agents and what they do. You know that if you have any questions, feel free to call us or visit our website by CLICKING HERE.
Just yesterday I was informed of an upcoming event here in Las Cruces: The US Army Field Band is performing at the Las Cruces High School Gymnasium on Thursday, October 15th, at 7pm.
I’ve never had the opportunity to hear the President’s Field Band perform live before, only the Marine Corps Band a few years ago and that was spectacular. If you’re a fan of live music, this is a great opportunity to hear some of our country’s finest musicians showcase their talents alongside students from Mayfield High School and Las Cruces High School. What a cool event!
In order to reserve a seat, you must order tickets and pick them up from any of the following places. The tickets themselves are free, but seating is limited and only if the people who have tickets don’t show up will the general public be let in. All locations are open during the 8-5 business day and are requesting no phone calls to reserve tickets to keep their lines open for normal business; just pop in and pick up your tickets on your lunch break.
Las Cruces Public Schools Instruction Office Las Cruces Bulletin 840 N. Telshor, Suite E Doña Ana Arts Council Office 211 N. Downtown Mall White’s Music Box 200 S. Downtown Mall Hubbard’s Music & More 108 Wyatt Drive Mesilla Valley Pro Music 919 N. Valley Drive
Tickets must be obtained by the end of the day on Oct. 14th, and all ticket holders must be seated by 6:45pm the day of the concert or the seats will be open to the public.
Again, here’s the info: US Army Field Band Performance with participating students from MHS and LCHS Thursday Oct. 15th - 7:00pm (ticket holders seated by 6:45) LCHS Gym, 1755 El Paseo Rd Playing the works of John Philips Sousa, Giacomo Puccini, and more!
We hope to see you there!
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Evelyn Bruder: CRS, GRI, ABR, E-PRO, Las Cruces Cyberstar
I will provide information about the Las Cruces area Real Estate Market, and in addition, general information on Real Estate related topics. This blog should be a resource for both those already living here, as well as anyone considering relocating or retiring in Las Cruces so I will also add any new and current community Information that I know. This blog's ability to provide day to day information is intended to supplement all of the many Real Estate resources that are to be found on my WEBSTITE: www.HomesForSaleInLasCruces.com I am proud of this Website and I encourage you to visit.
Disclaimer: ActiveRain Corp. does not necessarily endorse the real estate agents, loan officers and brokers listed on this site. These real estate profiles, blogs and blog entries are provided here as a courtesy to our visitors to help them make an informed decision when buying or selling a house. ActiveRain Corp. takes no responsibility for the content in these profiles, that are written by the members of this community.
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