Kendra Ruminer's Two Cents of Real Estate

Take A Peek At Los Alamos, New Mexico

Tag: Los Alamos Real Estate Market (Page 10 of 12)

Swim Los Alamos!

March 27, 2021 /

Not only do residents of Los Alamos have an ice rink and a ski mountain nearby in winter, we have the Sportsman’s Club for shooting sports, the North Mesa Stables for equestrian pursuits, bike trails, hiking trails, dog parks, and summers filled with trips to one of our many outdoor pools. And don’t forget. If you’re a die hard swimmer, we’ve got you covered. Our indoor Aquatic Center boasts an Olympic sized pool with lane swimming, lessons, and a therapy pool for year round fun in the water.

If you haven’t had an opportunity to get acquainted with one of the local pool organizations here in Los Alamos County, let me give you some quick information and show you where you can check them out online.

Private Pool Associations

Barranca Mesa Pool has been around since 1969 when a group of water sport loving residents of the new Barranca Mesa subdivisions decided to undertake this labor of love. The pool itself was built on a bit of land leased from the Los Alamos Public Schools directly next to Barranca Mesa Elementary School. The original lease period was for fifty years, but the Barranca Mesa Pool is still going strong. The C shaped pool boasts lane swimming, a 12 ft section perfect for diving, and a 2 & 3 ft area for budding swimmers. There is also a separate wading pool. Getting a membership to the pool involves a “buy in” cost, plus the yearly fee. But if you contact the pool via the information on their website, it could be possible to lease a membership from another family and avoid some of the up front costs while enjoying the benefit of membership for the season.

East Park Pool is located near the Eastern Area right next to the building that houses Anytime Fitness. East Park is across the street and the pool has near access to the Canyon Rim Trail should you decide you’d like to jog before a nice cool swim. The East Park Pool Association has a reduced fee for single memberships. Just to sweeten the pot, they offer a babysitting service. For a monthly fee, members can utilize this helpful option which could be a lifesaver for moms looking for a chance to lane swim. Another bonus of East Park Pool is the choice to pay with Paypal. Check out their membership page for more information.

Mesa Meadow Pool is considered top secret. Why wouldn’t there be a secret pool in a town like Los Alamos? Actually, the secret isn’t secret. The association just values its privacy. If you drive to the end of 42nd Street in Western Area you will likely see the tennis courts first. To the left tucked into the trees is a small bathhouse and a pool with three lanes. The pool isn’t large at all, about the size of many subdivision pools scattered across the US. The purpose leans more toward lane swimming than family fun days. If you’re a hard core lane swimmer living in the Western Area and you’d love to connect with others like you, you might try this contact information to get involved.

Canyon Vista Pool Association serves the White Rock area with a handy location on Aragon Ave right between Donna and Kilby Avenues. Canyon Vista Pool is scheduled to open on May 29, 2021 which is fantastic news as it shows we are really moving toward being able to enjoy our favorite activities once again. Their website suggests there are likely a few memberships available for purchase or lease. Canyon Vista is a popular summer hangout for families. Memberships are sometimes advertised for lease or sale on Facebook so get out there and network to plan some fun for summer 2021!

Pinon Park Pool Association is located on Bryce Avenue not far from the Bryce Ave, Rover Blvd intersection. The pool has been serving White Rock for over fifty years! It sits pretty far back off the road, which really speaks to the general atmosphere of the pool. The staff at Pinon Park hope to offer their members fewer crowds, more space to lounge and relax, and enough quiet to enjoy good conversations with friends. If you really want to be part of the fabric at Pinon Park, you might consider joining the board. Their board privileges are pretty darned attractive and it could be a fantastic way to get involved in your local White Rock community.

Swimming Lessons!

Now, you can sign up and pay for summer swimming lessons from any pool association once you’re a member. But if you’re into year round immersion in swimming you might want to look into the Larry R Walkup Aquatic Center.

In the past, residents have referred to the Aquatic Center as everything from the Walkup Center to The Blue Whale. (The original roof was blue.) Now it is officially the Los Alamos County Aquatic Center. However, the incredible facility now undergoing expansion was the brainchild of Vietnam Veteran and former Green Beret, Larry R Walkup. Walkup served as the director of Los Alamos Parks & Recreation in 1984. He was instrumental in the planning and development of multiple outdoor facilities, but the need for an indoor pool was high on his list and in 1986 construction started on the Aquatic Center. The facility was named for Mr. Walkup after he died of a heart condition in November of 1986. The county council voted to memorialize Larry R Walkup’s contribution to the Los Alamos landscape more than eighteen months before the facility was completed in 1988.

The Aquatic Center

Offering a year round program of swimming lessons, lane swimming, and the popular therapy pool, the Aquatic Center is also the headquarters for the Los Alamos Parks, Recreation, & Open Spaces office. Passes and memberships to the Aquatic Center are available year round. Another popular feature is the Dive In Movie. An opportunity for families to lounge or swim in the pool while they watch a classic family friendly film projected on the wall. Lane swimming is currently available by appointment. Contact the Aquatic Center at (505) 662-8170 to schedule your slot or to ask about swimming lessons. You can also find more information online at the Los Alamos County website. The Aquatic Center is also the home of the Los Alamos Swim Teams. If you really want to improve your fitness, keep in mind that the US Olympic Swim Team is known to pop in for workouts (in non Covid years of course!) in order to increase their fitness level. Olympic size pool, 7240 ft elevation, it is currently the highest 50m pool in operation in the United States. Just another crazy amazing benefit of living in Los Alamos!

So whether you’re looking for a bit of summer sun by the pool or a way to fill that year round desire for swimming, Los Alamos County has you covered! And when you’re ready to become a resident, give me a call. I’d love to talk about life in Los Alamos with you.

The Myth of 37th Street & Other Tales

March 13, 2021 /

If you live in Los Alamos for very long… No. That’s not quite right. If you are IN Los Alamos for very long, you’re likely to notice that navigating the streets here isn’t like navigating anywhere else. Not that Los Alamos has super narrow streets like Boston or steep streets like San Francisco. Nope! Our streets are something else altogether and the story of that begins WAY back at the beginning. Yes. THE beginning. Back when Project Y was a secret and the roads were nothing but muddy tracks between buildings. Back in 1942 when the government decided the Ranch School was the perfect place for the Secret City on the Hill.

Meandering Streets with Buildings Set at an Angle

You know what I’m talking about! A tour around the residential streets of Los Alamos can feel just like a Sunday drive. There was no doubt in the beginning that Los Alamos was a “company town”. But there was a big push from the Atomic Energy Commission to make Los Alamos look like something else. This is why developers were asked to preserve as many of the trees as they could. Houses were set at various angles to the street to keep them from looking like orderly rows of Army tents in a military camp. Each dwelling included a yard and residents were urged to keep them green. Sure. It’s impossible today, but back then residents of the government owned housing weren’t charged for water to encourage them to water their grass.

The Myth of 37th Street

The southern end of 37th Street is a short street that connects Trinity Drive to Gold Street. Then it stops and picks up again on the other side of Acid Canyon in the Denver Steels area before hopping across Pueblo Canyon and continuing through North Community. Now. The myth comes in when or if you’ve ever been told that the reason 37th Street is in three distinct pieces is because some poor engineer sat in his office back in Washington D.C. and laid out the streets of Los Alamos without actually seeing the terrain. This myth is just that. A myth!

The truth was that the neighborhoods of Los Alamos were laid out in sections. The grid pattern was laid out in a manner that avoided the canyons, but the neighborhoods weren’t built at the same time. The three sections of 37th Street were part of three different periods of residential growth. And with military precision, the numbered streets were continued regardless of the canyons that might be “in the way”.

Names and Numbers that Aren’t Actually Random

The layout of Los Alamos was actually inspired by William Penn’s layout of Philadelphia. The north/south streets are numbered and east/west streets are lettered. This concept of uniformity was continued into the privatized neighborhoods of Barranca Mesa subdivisions #1, #2, #3 in the 1950’s without the numbers, but following a strict alphabetic pattern. Andanada, Barranca, Chamisa, Dos Brazos, El Viento, etc.

You might find it interesting to note that in the Group 12 neighborhood of modern day Alabama, Arizona, and Arkansas, the military deliberately used state names that began with A, but omitted Alaska because Alaska wasn’t a state in the early 1950’s when the streets were named.

In a good number of the privately developed neighborhoods in and around Los Alamos and White Rock the streets have names that follow a theme. Indian tribes, local animals and vegetation top the list. But in White Rock many of the streets were named for relatives and friends of the developers. Of course, there were certain interesting quirks attached to those as well. For example. Civil engineer and early developer of White Rock, John Mendius, named Catherine and Louise Avenues and Richard Court for three of his four children. Not that he intentionally left out his daughter Karen. But the land where the original Karen Avenue should have been, was purchased by a church and the street never happened. Mendius corrected his oversight in the 80’s when he developed Karen Circle on the other side of White Rock. Better late than never, right?

So the next time you cruise down the residential streets of Los Alamos, appreciate the unique flavor of this very special city. The navigational weirdness is actually an important part of our history. And if you’re ready to find your dream home in Los Alamos, give me a call. I’d love to show you around!

Chick, Chick, Chick!

March 3, 2021 /

In 2020 we saw the rise of chickens as more than just a popular backyard pet. When eggs were next to impossible to find, the value of laying hens skyrocketed and suddenly urbanites everywhere were carving out room in their backyards for these fascinating creatures who might as well have been laying golden eggs.

If you want to add chickens to YOUR urban landscape here in Los Alamos County, here are a few things to keep in mind.

The Coop

Here in Los Alamos County we are allowed to have up to 10 birds on our property. Now. Keep in mind that there are a few rules in place that govern how many birds you can actually house in your backyard.

According to LA County Code 6.2, there must be at least 10 sq ft of space in your backyard per chicken. In addition, you must have 2 sq ft of shelter space available again, per chicken. This means if you’ve got a pretty small lot, you’re not likely to have enough of what the county calls permeable land for ten chickens. Permeable land refers to the land’s ability to support a chicken’s instinctual need to forage. That’s all the scratching and pecking. They can’t live a healthy existence on xeriscaped rock, cement, or flagstone. You need grass, dirt, weeds, or even mulch. That means if you wanted to have ten birds, you need to have 100 sq ft of permeable land available for your birds to roam and a chicken coop that’s at least 20 sq ft.

In addition to restrictions on space, the county ordinance requires chickens to be kept in an area where they have access to sunlight during daylight hours. At night they must be kept inside a containment area that protects them from roaming animals. Keep in mind that if you don’t have a livestock guardian type of dog on duty 24/7, you’re likely to have coyotes sniffing around your property at night. Coyotes seem to enjoy taunting chickens and will happily steal your entire flock if given the opportunity. This doesn’t mean you can’t keep your birds safe. You just have to evaluate your shelter from the perspective of outsmarting Brother Coyote.

The Birds

While it’s possible to keep a huge variety of birds on your property here in Los Alamos, if you’re a first time bird keeping you might want to keep it simple. Ducks and Geese require a little more in the way of planning when it comes to housing. We live in a desert after all, and ducks are water fowl. If you’re not ready to landscape a pond into your backyard, you might want to stick to chickens.

If you’re feeling super ambitious you can try incubating eggs and hatching your own chicks. If you’re like most people, you’d rather get live chicks and brood them yourself. It’s possible to purchase mature laying hens as well. You can actually try Craig’s List for that.

I’m sure you’ve all seen the cute chicks available at stores like Tractor Supply or Big R. While they do tend to be inexpensive, I highly suggest going through a reputable hatchery such as Privett Hatchery in Portales, NM. Hatcheries provide high quality birds and can tell you the sex of your birds with scary accuracy considering the fact that many males and females look identical at that age. This is very important because here in Los Alamos we are NOT ALLOWED TO HAVE ROOSTERS. Unless you’ve got a lot at the North Mesa Stables or you live in Pajarito Acres or La Senda, you need hens. Plus, a hatchery goes through a rigorous health screening process with their adult birds that eliminates many of the issues with things like salmonella.

It’s often tempting to get a variety of birds. Chickens come in crazy combinations of colors and plumage. If you’re just starting out, you might want to try getting just a few chicks of a particular breed depending on what you want your chickens for. If you’re looking for excellent layers who are also easy keepers, you might try the Golden Comet, also known as the Golden Sex Link (don’t laugh, it’s a thing!). If you’re looking for a meat bird who is also a good layer, you could try an Orpington. Do your research and don’t be afraid to Google your eyes out.

What to Expect

Chickens mature very quickly. Hens under one year of age are called pullets. You’ll sometimes see them listed for sale. Pullets aren’t layers just yet. If they do lay eggs they’re typically quite small and are called “pullet eggs”. Different breeds begin laying at different times. But don’t worry! Most chickens start laying eggs between 16 and 24 wks old and continue laying for several years. As they age, the eggs become less frequent. Egg cycles are also governed by the length of the days. If you want to increase your egg yield during the winter months, you can add a light and a timer to the inside of your coop. However, keep in mind that some sources suggest the seasonal rest cycle is a necessary and healthy part of life for hens.

Typical hens lay a single egg every 22 hours or so. It doesn’t sound like a lot. And maybe if you have a teenage boy in your house who goes through a dozen eggs per day, it’s NOT a lot. However, the average family can do quite well and have plenty of eggs with six laying hens. Six eggs per day. 42 per week. That’s a lotta eggs!

Chickens – especially hand raised chickens – are quite friendly and can be more than just egg machines. They have personalities and quirks and will quickly come to recognize anyone who habitually brings them a nibble of something special. They’re intelligent, tough, and hardworking members of any urban family. With a 5-10 year lifespan that leans more toward the 5 year mark, they’re not going to be your longest lived pet. But they do provide a wonderful lesson to the kiddos about animal husbandry and even economics.

Don’t be afraid to dig in and get some chicks this spring! And if you’re looking for a backyard where you can build your coop and your urban farm, give me a call! I’d love to help you find the perfect place in Los Alamos to call home.

Los Alamos After Cerro Grande

February 27, 2021 /

It isn’t difficult to imagine that a wildland forest fire could have a deep and lasting impact on a town or an area. Anytime natural disaster strikes an area, residents feel displaced. There is a sense of vulnerability, of being out of control. And there is no doubt that the Cerro Grande fire had a huge impact on Los Alamos.

Friday, May 5, 2000 – It started with a small, prescribed fire by crews at Bandelier National Monument. By Sunday, the fire had jumped multiple fire lines and Los Alamos was filled with smoke. The spring winds whipped the blaze into a firestorm. If you’ve ever experienced some of the windy spring days here in Los Alamos, you might be able to understand why a fire could go from a few acres to thousands upon thousands of acres in such a short period of time.

When the fire was only two miles away from the outskirts of Los Alamos, Western Area and what is now the Elk Ridge Mobile Home Park, were evacuated. The wind seemed to calm and firefighters became hopeful that they could stop the blaze at Camp May Road above Los Alamos Canyon.

At 1:15 PM on Wednesday, May 10, 75 mph wind gusts made that an impossibility. Los Alamos was evacuated in four hours. By the time the residents managed to get down the hill, Western Area was already in flames.

“The fire blew around the western perimeter of town, into Pueblo Canyon and finally into the streets and houses of North Community… In less than 12 hours, fire destroyed Western Originals, Modified Westerns, units from Groups 11, 12, 13, 14A, 14B, 15, and 18B, and modern structures. Entire neighborhoods were leveled.” Craig Martin

Photo courtesy of SantaFeNewMexican

There were 400 families displaced by the fire. They lost their homes and everything they couldn’t pile into the car to take when them when they evacuated. It was a catastrophic number in a town where housing was already an issue and had BEEN an issue since the beginning.

After Cerro Grande, it wasn’t uncommon for locals to grumble that they wish the fire had gotten rid of ALL of the old government housing. You could really argue that from an aesthetics perspective, that MIGHT have been the best option. No more quads, duplexes, or fifties era flat roof dwellings. It was a chance to start over. Build modern structures with modern floorplans using the latest innovations in materials and methods. But there are distinct issues with trading old for new.

Affordability

Cerro Grande didn’t just decimate old housing. It took the most affordable housing. Dense residential sections of town that had been initially built to house multiple families in the least amount of space possible. The fact that these homes were some of the earliest available here in Los Alamos is a secondary point to affordability. Many families started out in the sort of homes that were lost in the fire. It was a way to get out of an apartment and into a house. Sure. You might be looking to get into something else later, but we all have to start somewhere. Right? So, what happens when a huge chunk of the starter homes are just GONE? Think the brand new replacements are going to be in the same affordable price range?

Photo courtesy of SantaFeNewMexican

Sheer # of Units

400 families lost their homes. According to Craig Martin’s detailed list of residential structures lost in the Cerro Grande fire, we’re talking approximately 203 buildings. Yes. Wrap your mind around what that means. 203 structures that housed 400 families. The Group 12 homes were hit hardest. 33 Quads and 40 Duplexes were burned to the gound. All of a sudden, homeowners who had once held a deed to one unit in a quad or a duplex had to agree on a floor plan, a builder, and a style. Let’s just say that it wasn’t unusual for some of those families to cash out, sell their portion to their former neighbors, and move out of Los Alamos altogether.

That means 203 structures were burned to the ground and only a fraction of that were rebuilt. The new homes were and still are beautiful. But they sit on land that used to provide shelter for twice as many families as it does now. In other places, that might not matter. In Los Alamos, we feel the pinch even twenty plus years later.

Our Connection to the Past

Yes. The old government housing wasn’t going to win a beauty contest. But in some ways, these homes were actually historic. As strange as it might be to look at a Group 11 Quadraplex and think historic building, they kind of are. They’re part of our town’s identity. As time goes on, we’re losing that connection to our past. To the Atomic Energy Commission and the early days of Los Alamos and the housing board. We no longer remember that it’s ALWAYS been tricky to find housing in Los Alamos. We start expecting our unique town to be like everywhere else. Anytown, USA.

And let’s not forget that the continuity of the structures in town has become even more hodgepodge than it used to be. Perhaps that’s one of the things that Cerro Grande only made MORE true than ever before. It’s possible to take a walk down a residential street here in Los Alamos and see custom homes, former government built homes, a modern duplex, a 1950’s quadraplex, and even modular homes placed lovingly on a firm foundation of concrete. Since the fire, stucco has become the number one choice for exteriors, and there’s no end to the creativity of what you can cover in a Southwestern palette of stucco.

In the end, we persevere. We survive. We thrive. And of course, we hunt for the home of our dreams. When you’re ready to make a move, give me a call. I love to talk Los Alamos, past, present, and future.

Ski Los Alamos

February 8, 2021 /

“Skiers of the hill, arise!”

The words sound like a parody of some epic movie like The Lord of the Rings, but in truth they come from a 1957 memo to members of the Los Alamos Ski Club. The purpose of the memo was to gather all willing and able members to the task of cutting trees, building tows, and essentially creating the Pajarito Ski Mountain as we think of it today. Since the mountain just opened for a limited season thanks in part to Covid and also the less than prolific winter we’ve been having, I thought it might be fun to look back at the history of one of Los Alamos’s coolest local amenities.

Skiing wasn’t originally part of the New Mexico landscape. In the beginning, members of the Ranch School staff and students made the trek up Sawyer’s Hill for their skiing activities. Sawyer Hill was located West of the NM-4 and 501 intersection. By 1943, the Los Alamos Ranch School had given way to the Laboratory and the European born scientists took Sawyer’s Hill in hand. Who better to clear cut trees in one fell swoop than a demolitions team also responsible for handling charges for one of the world’s first fission reaction weapons? Imagine C-4 strapped to trees and you might get a glimmer of the eccentric way that Sawyer’s Hill was expanded.

Sawyer’s Hill became the site of many incredible tales of DIY ingenuity. The first official “tow” was constructed from a circus rope and an old Chrysler engine and cost $400. Season passes were $7.50 and the “mountain” was more of a “slope”. A good portion of Sawyer Hill’s design was overseen by George Kistiakowski. The Ukrainian born physicist would later become the scientific advisor for President Eisenhower. Kistiakowski was an avid skier. So were other scientific heavy hitters such as Enrico Fermi, Hans Bethe, Neils Bohr, and Robert Oppenheimer, all charter members of the Los Alamos Ski Club which was created in 1944 with the purpose of bettering the available skiing at Los Alamos.

By 1957, the LASC was fed up with the unreliable snow and varying ski conditions at Sawyer’s Hill. A scouting party made the trek to Pajarito Mountain and chose the North face as the future home of the Los Alamos Ski Club. Club members felled trees, worked terrain, and created most of the runs still in use today. Pajarito Ski Mountain is unlike any other. If you’ve ever skied elsewhere, you’ve probably noticed. Even now that the mountain itself belongs to the Sipapu Group, there is still a visible presence of LASC members and old school ski enthusiasts. The sense of pride and ownership that these individuals take in their mountain is part of what makes skiing in Los Alamos unique in the industry.

If you grew up in Los Alamos, chances are that you’ve skied. In the eighties and nineties, missing a few Wednesday afternoons of school or work was a normal occurrence when the snow was good and the mountain was open. At one point the membership in the Los Alamos Ski Club included nearly 4,000 locals.

Regardless of your personal enjoyment of our local ski facilities, it’s important to realize that there has been a lot of Los Alamos blood, sweat, and tears involved in keeping that mountain open and operating. Having a ski mountain “in our backyard” is just one more item on a long list of incredible outdoor opportunities available here in Los Alamos County. In the off season there are plenty of hiking and mountain biking opportunities available as well as “Yoga on the Mountain”, a joint venture between Tribe Yoga & Wellness and the Sipapu Group. Nothing says awesome quite like donuts, friends, and yoga at ten thousand feet elevation!

So, when you’re looking for something to do here in Los Alamos, don’t forget to look up! Whether covered in snow or in varying shades of green, Pajarito Mountain is a vital piece of what makes our community such an amazing place to call home. And if you’re ready to talk housing in Los Alamos, give me a call.

The Los Alamos Home Market Today

February 4, 2021 /

When you think about the Los Alamos County housing market right now, terms like “seller’s market”, “bidding”, and multiple offers” often come to mind. But how do these concepts translate to actual data about home sales in our town? Let’s take a look at a couple of statistics that might provide a better picture.

Sales in a Month

The first thing you have to keep in mind when you’re looking at real estate sales, is that there are natural peaks and valleys in the market that correspond to seasonal factors like holidays or the beginning and end of the school year. Weather can also play a big part in determining the number of homes sold in a month. Nobody wants to move in or out if there are back to back snowstorms such as the ones we experienced several winters ago.

Here’s the surprising thing about the number of homes sold each month in the last few years. 2018 was a good year. The monthly average of homes sold in 2018 was 31.5. In August there were 41 home sales. That’s quite a big bump. And yet we saw nearly as many homes sell in December of 2019. That’s right, there were 38 home sales in December. Almost as many as there were in August. And December is typically the beginning of the seasonal slowdown.

Of course, you could suggest that this was just part of a continuous trend throughout last few years. Except that’s not necessarily true. The average number of homes sold per month in 2019 was 27.5. In 2020, that number dropped to 26.8. That might seem like a downward trend until you remember that we were selling 26.8 homes per month during a period when our kids weren’t allowed to attend school, we were all trapped in our homes “working”. And a good number of new home owners shopped online for homes they never physically visited until the closing date. Anyone else feel like 26.8 is spectacular given the circumstances? I certainly do!

It doesn’t look as though it’s slowing down either. If anything, the market is gaining momentum. There were 26 home sales just last month and I can’t wait to see what February brings!

Home Prices

This is a sticky topic no matter what market you’re talking about. Whether you’re looking at urban, suburban, or even acreage, price point is on the minds of both buyers and sellers. Here in Los Alamos, it’s all too easy to get caught up in this mindset that homes in our county are so much more expensive than homes in other places.

From the data shown above, you can see that most of the homes sold in 2020 were in the $400-$499K range. But only by three percent more than the $300-$399K range. And the price point below that, the $200-$299K range, is only another one percent drop. Taking into account the number of homes sold in 2020, you’re talking a difference of five or six homes. And while it really is incredible that there were 89 homes that sold for $500K and above in 2020, that also means there were 233 homes that sold for less than $500K.

Let’s also not forget that this isn’t happening only in Los Alamos. According to popular real estate experts, Norada Real Estate Investments, the median listing prices across the country grew 14.4% throughout 2020. That’s a huge amount of growth. In fact, Narada goes on to discuss the ways in which the real estate market, record low mortgage interest rates, and the demand for homes is actually helping to bolster the US Economy. Yes. You’re paying a higher listing price, but the lower interest on your mortgage still means you get more for your money whether you’re in Los Alamos or anywhere else in the United States. And here, you get the benefit of living in one of the safest, healthiest, and most beautiful places in the country. If you have to social distance, having a National Forest on hand is certainly a perk.

So the next time you want to ponder the state of our local real estate market, remind yourself of this important point. As always, Los Alamos isn’t all by itself in how the market is performing or what the trends are. However, we are by far and away doing it better and probably more efficiently than anyone else. And if you’re ready to talk about how YOU fit into our local real estate market, give me a call!

Does Curb Appeal Still Matter?

January 19, 2021 /

There is no doubt that the process of selling a house has changed here in Los Alamos. The number of days a house spends on the market has decreased drastically and in some price ranges it is almost nonexistent! But a “seller’s market” doesn’t necessarily mean “as is”.

Curb Appeal

These two words can mean so very much when it comes to selling your home. If your house has far more “curb” than “appeal”, you might look back to this post from last year to get ideas for making your home stand out. If you’re getting ready to sell and just want to put your best foot forward, this post is for you!

If you’re selling a home here is Los Alamos, it’s very likely that your house is going to sell. That means the devil is in the details. As a seller, you want to make your home as inviting as possible to every person who gets out of the car to come look at it. We all know Los Alamos is a unique place. The homes here can be as varied and unusual as it gets. While that’s really a part of the charm, it can also be jarring to those moving to our area from out of town. That means we need to welcome them as much as possible.

I’d start with these three things:

The Yard

Take a long, hard look at your yard and be honest with yourself. Are there bits and pieces of your home improvement projects hanging around? Car parts? A zoo like assortment of yard ornaments? Remember that you’re selling your home. Pack those things and put them out of sight. You’re moving. Might as well go ahead and get started on the process. Neat. Welcoming. Spacious. Those are the three words that need to describe your yard no matter what it normally looks like. If you have a lack of grass (because we live in a desert), then make sure there are no leaves gathered beside your bushes or littering your rock beds. And let’s talk about the bushes. Please trim them. Allowing the juniper to eat the future buyers on their way to the door is a bad idea!

The Front Door

Let’s be honest. How often do we actually look at our front door? Is it dirty, faded, paint chipping or door knob or knocker falling off? Does the knob work? If there is a “trick” to getting your door to unlock, get that fixed. A fresh coat of paint, (Metzger’s has tons of options) a new knocker, or a knob or latch and you’re set. Let’s face it. There is no doubt that a stranger will walk through your home and make a mental list of things that need some changing. Do not let that list start at the front door.

The Doorbell

Which brings me to the last item on every Realtor’s list. The doorbell. If it has multiple settings, then choose the most doorbell sounding option please. Don’t let your doorbell serenade future buyers with Brahm’s Lullaby. It’s just not in your best interest. And if it doesn’t work? That’s a big problem! And please don’t think the doorbell won’t get used. Any Realtor who walks up to your front door with their clients is going to push the doorbell, because they need to make sure you’re not in the house when they enter. I never want to walk-in on a homeowner by accident! The same goes for cracked or broken doorbell buttons. There are plenty of options these days to fix that issue that don’t even require electrical intervention. Bring your doorbell and your home into the modern age and welcome future buyers in the best way possible.

Now, this will help you put your best foot forward. If you have additional ideas for making a home as welcoming as possible, I’d love to hear them. Just add them in the comments below or feel free to drop a line on my Facebook Wall. And don’t forget. If you’re buying or selling in Los Alamos, give me a ring!

Fast Food Facts of Life in Los Alamos

January 11, 2021 /

I don’t know about anyone else, but I was more than a little excited when I heard that Wendy’s was considering building a store in Los Alamos. Before that could happen, 2020 stomped its way through our landscape and at this point there seems to be very little idea if or when that plan will come to fruition.

The eclectic blend of restaurants has always been a part of living here in Los Alamos. When I get frustrated by the lack of popular chain restaurants, I try to remind myself that our beautiful, unique community was meant to be isolated. That was kind of the purpose in the beginning, right? Our population is limited by the geography and availability of land. Corporate chains have strict guidelines on how large a population has to be before they consider building a store. Let’s face it, Los Alamos has never fit into these rules. Our town is a bit of a rebel in that way. After all, this community has two populations.

Population A: The number of people who live here.

Population B: the number of people who come here to work during the regular workweek (outside a pandemic work at home order of course!). And Population B can feel like triple the number of Population A if you’ve ever tried to find parking around lunchtime!

These numbers are so varied that it’s difficult for businesses and especially corporate run or franchise businesses to figure out things like hours and staffing. In fact, at one time there was a rumor that Panera Bread was going to put a location up here, but decided against it in the end. This population issue plays a big part in why we don’t have a lot of chain stores in Los Alamos, and unfortunately, it’s played a part in the fact that when we do, they often don’t last like we wish they would.

For those of you who are new to our community or perhaps even those who have been here for a long time, you might be surprised at some of the fast food franchises that have come and gone throughout the years. Here are a few:

Pizza Hut

At the moment, El Rigoberto’s occupies both of the old Pizza Hut locations. The White Rock location is distinctive. Who doesn’t remember that red topped, rectangular building style that defined the look of Pizza Hut starting in 1969 when the restaurant did a massive expansion and went from a small town pizzeria to a household name. The location at 166 Central Park Square underwent a refacing when the entire complex was renovated, but it originally had a red roof façade that identified it instantly as a Pizza Hut. Now, if you walk inside and take a look around, you can still see the outline of everyone’s favorite pizza chain in the floor plan, tile, and especially at the order counter.

McDonald’s

The White Rock McDonald’s PlayPlace even had a new fangled two window drive thru.

It isn’t difficult to identify our only recently vacated McDonald’s building on Trinity Drive. It’s just a hop, skip, and a jump from the brand new location with its modern double drive through lanes. But what you might not have immediately realized is that at one time there was a second location built in White Rock. It was popular with parents of tiny tots thanks to the ball pit and the enormous PlayPlace. In later years, Time Out Pizza operated out of that space and what was once the popular McDonald’s PlayPlace became their wonderful arcade.

Kentucky Fried Chicken

The old KFC building still has the drive thru lane complete with window.

Ever headed to Viola’s for a scrumptious Indian Taco or a Dallas Burrito and felt a vague sense of déjà vu? That’s because Viola’s is in the building once occupied by popular chain Kentucky Fried Chicken. Many of the booths are reminders of the building’s original start as the popular chicken franchise. The closest KFC these days is down in Española on North Riverside Dr. All things considered, some of us might not trade our local source for Stuffed Sopaipillas and Carne Adovada for buckets of fried chicken. Sometimes I wish we could have them all!

Baskin Robbins 31 Flavors

Oh yes. That’s right. Daniel’s Cafe & Mary’s Gelato used to be Baskin Robbins. And that was the second location. The first location was over behind Time Out Pizza’s new Los Alamos location, this space has been home to everything from a print shop to Quest Diagnostics. Back in the day, it was a rather handy place to grab an ice cream after Saturday soccer games at the field just across Nectar Street. If you’re curious as to why 31 Flavors is no more, you might try asking Daniel Sena of Daniel’s Cafe. On the other hand, if you’ve ever tasted some of the hand-dipped gelato or experienced the amazing breakfast burritos on offer at Daniel’s, you might be glad he made the choice he did.

Taco Bell

What?? You might be sifting through your mental inventory of buildings in Los Alamos and coming up blank. That’s because the old Taco Bell used to occupy a lot now hosting O’Reilly’s Auto Parts. If you’ve been in Los Alamos long enough to forget this building, it was a traditional Taco Bell that included the vintage style sign and design pictured above. When Taco Bell closed, the building eventually housed Hot Shots, owned and operated by Mike Smith who also operated Los Alamos favorite The Hill Diner (originally named Good Eats). Alas, when Taco Bell rebranded their look, our Taco Bell closed. For those of us who really enjoyed making a “run for the border”, it was sorely missed!

Now, that isn’t all of the fast food chains that have ghosted in and our of our fair city. Along with the Sonic, Starbucks, & Subway we currently enjoy, we’ve hosted Quizno’s and even an A&W (in the building where Pig & Fig is now). The good news is that we are growing. Not only that, but our county council is listening to the concerns and needs of members of our community. There are plans for more retail and more restaurants, and when this pandemic is behind us, we might even get that Wendy’s!

I hope you’ve enjoyed this trip back in time and remember, if you want to talk Los Alamos past, present, or future, give me a call! I love my hometown and I’d welcome any opportunity to help you find a place to call home in Los Alamos County.

Ready to Buy in 2021?

January 4, 2021 /

In spite of the 2020 pandemic, the uncertain times, and pretty much everything else that has happened recently, the one thing that seems to be on fire is the home market. Here in Los Alamos? Definitely. But also everywhere else! Homes are selling. Average Janes and Joes are leaping into home ownership. Are you ready to take that leap? Is 2021 the year for you?

If you answered yes, or even maybe, here are few things to get you started on the all important journey to owning your own castle:

Find Yourself a Lender

I often get blank looks when I suggest this to people long before they’ve actually started shopping for their dream house.

“What lender are you working with?” I ask.

Potential home owner looks confused. “I need to find a house I want to buy, then I’ll apply for the home loan.”

While that might have been the way things worked once upon a time, these days it’s in your best interest as a buyer to find a reputable lender to work with long before we’ve started scouring the MLS for the castle of your dreams. Your lender is an invaluable resource when it comes to the best way to shape your credit into a weapon that will get you the best rate on the best home for you and your family. Less than perfect credit? Your lender is a recipe book for the best way to repair that credit score and get you the house you never thought you’d qualify for.

But even if you’re just considering the idea of purchasing a home, there are some really important things you can be doing to prepare yourself for the buying process even a year or two in advance. So, if you’re in the process of saving for your down payment, here are some other things you’ll want to be doing at the same time to really put the finishing touches on your financial resume.

Pay Your Bills on Time & Frequently

This might sound obvious, but you’d be surprised how many times people get busy or distracted and pay the utility or cell phone bill a few days late. Or maybe its the credit cards. You were going to make a huge payment but you needed to wait an extra day or two. You’re far better off making minimum payments on the same day every month and then making an extra payment or two in between. That looks great on a credit report and really boosts your score.

Get Intimate With Your Credit Report

Credit reports aren’t that much fun. It’s not like reading a newspaper, or a magazine, or a blog. But if you’re going to be suggesting a lender read that report and use the information to give you a great rate on a new house, don’t you think you should know what they’re seeing? There’s nothing worse than having a lender send you an email asking about a credit account you’ve never even heard of or telling you that you’ve applied for dozens of store accounts and been denied when you hadn’t applied for any.

If you’re not actually keeping track of your credit report, there are lots of things you might not be aware of. From credit accounts you forgot you had to hackers applying for credit in your name and using a distant family member’s address, to credit accounts you cosigned for someone that they defaulted on. If there is an error or an issue with your credit report, you need to be the first one to find out. It might take a little bit of paperwork, but those errors can be fixed. And the time to do it is BEFORE you apply for your next big ticket item.

Credit Cards: Good VS Evil

The little plastic (and even sometimes metal) cards with their numbers, codes, and microchips are a part of our economic reality that we’re not likely to see the end of soon. Whether you like or dislike credit cards, the truth is that you cannot boost your credit score without them.

The older the better. No matter how you might be tempted to pay something off and close the account to keep yourself from spending again, don’t do it. Cut it up. Put it in a block of ice in your freezer for emergencies. Whatever it takes. But don’t close the account. The older your credit accounts, the better. That’s an established financial relationship and banks love to see old credit accounts when they look at your report.

Lower credit limits make good fiscal sense, but they don’t do much for that credit score. Make your payments regularly and keep your balances under control and then ask for a higher limit. Don’t USE the limit. Just ask for it. Having a higher credit limit boosts your available credit number. Banks want to give you credit when it looks like you don’t actually need it because everyone else wants to give you credit too.

Having trouble building your credit? Have a family member or close friend put you on their card as an authorized user. You’ll gain some much needed points on the credit score without the financial burden. Or if that’s not an option for you, try a secured credit card. A card that’s guaranteed by money you’ve already paid toward the credit limit. At that point you’re essentially borrowing your own cash and paying it back every month. But it still builds your score.

Whatever your credit situation, be informed and proactive. It’s YOUR credit score and it affects your future in so many ways. The important thing is to be comfortable in your financial choices. A home is a huge purchase decision. 2021 might be your year. Or, it could be 2022. That doesn’t mean you can’t get more information. And if you want to know what the real estate market looks like here in Los Alamos County, give me a call! I’d love to chat with you.

Get Outside in Los Alamos

December 23, 2020 /

You don’t have to be in our community for long to realize that outdoor activities are one of the things we do best! Miles and miles of county maintained trails, sports complexes, and ready access to the Santa Fe National Forest provide hours and hours of good, healthy entertainment. But there are more than a few fun things to do that are on the unusual side and some of those have rather historic beginnings.

North Mesa Stables

Though the stables is listed on the Los Alamos County Parks & Recreation website as a “park”, it’s a little more complicated than that. There have always been horses on the Pajarito Plateau. In fact, the original “stables” housed horses used by the Los Alamos Sheriff’s Posse to patrol the perimeter of Los Alamos back when the town was still closed. You can read more about the Sheriff’s Posse HERE.

What you might not realize is that the stables originally occupied what is now the practice field across the street from the high school. There was a golf course in that area as well. With the expansion of Los Alamos and the building of houses in the Western Area, the stables was moved to a spot at 35th Street and Diamond Drive which is right beside… The Los Alamos County Golf Course.

There has always been some contention between the residents of the town and this idea that the stables are a bit of an eyesore or a waste of land that could be used for building houses. For that reason, the stables moved to land that is now occupied by Hawk’s Landing, then across North Mesa to what is now Broadview, and finally in 1952 to their current location between the ball fields and the Kwage Mesa Trailhead.

Several of the buildings at the North Mesa Stables date back to the beginning of Los Alamos.

This land was eventually given to Los Alamos County in 1972 by way of a quit claim deed from the Atomic Energy Commission. What locals might not realize is that this deed from the AEC designates that this land be used for it’s current purpose. Horse Stables. The process of removing the stables would actually be quite complicated. Beyond that, it would remove a really unique part of Los Alamos History from the community landscape.

How it Works

Let’s unravel the mystery of how a Los Alamos resident becomes a resident of North Mesa Stables. First, you DO have to be a county resident. The land is held by the county and licensed on a yearly basis to a stable owner for a fee based on the size of the lot. The licensee is the owner of any improvements on the lot, (barns, fences, structures). The stable owner is entirely responsible for the purchase, maintenance, and cost of keeping any livestock on the premises. If a resident would like to inquire about purchasing the improvements on a stable lot and entering into a license agreement with the county for that lot, then the easiest way to do this is to contact the Parks & Rec office.

Visitors

If you’re not into the idea of heading out to North Mesa to care for your livestock multiple times per day in all weather, that’s okay. You can still enjoy the stables. Visitors are welcome to walk through and take a peek at the wide variety of animals. Everything from horses to peacocks and so much in between! In spring you can even see brand new lambs and kids and perhaps a few new baby horses as well.

Looking to enhance your garden? The manure in the disposal bins is FREE to the public. If you’re looking for something organic to add to that garden, then look no further. Take your pickup truck or your garden tubs up to the stables and find a pile that looks appealing to your botanical tastes. The county uses the manure for compost so they do ask that when you’re strolling the stables, you don’t place your dog poop bags or any other waste into those bins. And if the stable owners seem particularly concerned about this rule, it’s because the county passes the cost of filtering out that non compostable material to them.

Ettiquette

As you’re taking your stroll through the stables, enjoy more than a few historic buildings sprinkled throughout the barns. There are two original homesteader cabins and several former LASL buildings as well. Feel free to observe the goings on from a polite distance. However, please keep in mind that the alleyways between the barns are off limits to the general public. Sometimes the stable owners intentionally keep an animal at the back of their lot because that critter isn’t safe to be in the public spotlight. If you see a sign asking you not to pet the horses, it’s probably because they do bite. These are privately owned animals and they come with their own bad habits. In a way, walking up to someone’s stable lot and petting their horse is a bit like trying to pet a neighborhood dog behind the fence.

If you’re dying to get a little more interaction with the animals than a simple stroll down the gravel road, there are several organizations you might try contacting for a more close up experience. The Gifted Horse Therapeutic Riding, Los Alamos Pony Club, 4-H, and Lemonade Living all have stable lots and support outreach programs for animal lovers of all ages. Get out and volunteer or join a club and you just might find a way to satisfy the horse crazy kid in your life.

In non Covid years, there are several Stable Community Outreach programs too. Stroll the Stables is an educational walk through during Fair & Rodeo Week and the Luminaria Walk is a fun twilight tour at Christmastime. During these events, participating stable owners open their doors and welcome visitors and questions so look for the signs next year and get out and enjoy!

As the conclusion of the holiday season approaches and we prepare to say farewell to Year 2020, get outside and enjoy the sunshine and blue sky. Take a breath of fresh air and enjoy this beautiful community we call home. And if you’re ready to move from renting to home ownership, I’d love to share my hometown with you and help you find a place to call home here in Los Alamos County!

Happy Holidays!
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