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PROTECT YOUR HOME AND DISCOVER WHY SO MANY NEW MEXICANS TRUST THEIR HOMES TO WANDA LUCERO

WELCOME FROM THE TAOS COUNTY CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

¡Bienvenidos!

The Taos community celebrates all that is natural! During our glorious, sunfilled days we extract energy on our solar panels to power our future! From our creative community we enjoy jewelry made from recycled items, tufa pots and tire pots for our landscaping and from our concerned community members the ability to recycle our household plastics and other refuse items. The entire community supports the Taos Farmer’s Market on Historic Taos Plaza every Saturday morning to source much of our food and flowers locally.

This Sustainability issue of Enchanted Homes will inspire home owners and business owners to explore how they can help sustain our environment and community!

There will be lots of human energy at upcoming events produced by the Taos County Chamber of Commerce. Join us for Taos Lilac Festival and Open Air Expo with all the traditional features of a stellar Arts & Crafts Show, Tio Vivo Carousel for the children, all manner of Lilac décor and celebration with music, food, beer and wine at Kit Carson Park May 18 – 20, 2018. And, all summer on Historic Taos Plaza! Join the Chamber each Thursday evening from May 31 – August 23 for Taos Plaza Live, our free community concert by local musicians. Bring your chairs or blankets and a picnic dinner to enjoy an evening on the plaza with friends and neighbors.

The Taos County Chamber of Commerce invites you to into the Enchanted Circle through the pages of this magazine and around the 87-mile loop that encompasses our communities of Questa, Red River, Eagle Nest, Angel Fire, Taos, Taos Pueblo and the Taos Ski Valley to see beautiful views of the mountains in summer.

The members of the Taos County Chamber of Commerce include our local shops, banks, service providers, hotels, B & B’s, restaurants, galleries and museums, medical and legal professionals, town and county employees and individuals all work together to “Keep Taos Local”. The Chamber supports these efforts with our “Keep Taos Local, put your money where your heart is! campaign that encompasses and expands on the national efforts to be mindful of your small, independent businesses. Please visit our stores, galleries, restaurants, museums to ensure this unique community is here for generations to come!

Wanda Lucero 211 Kit Carson Road 575-737-5433 wandalucero.com

The Taos County Chamber of Commerce is dedicated to creating a community of possibilities and opportunities for those new to Taos and lifelong Taoseños. Our slogan of “Taos County Chamber of Commerce Makes Business Better” is guiding our efforts to include all businesses and individuals in an enhanced life in Taos County.

Please feel free to contact us for more information. Please visit our website at www.taoschamber.com for member events and current information. Welcome and enjoy our wonderful Taos County!

Executive Director Taos County Chamber of Commerce ENCHANTEDHOMESELLER.COM

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THE TAOS NEWS

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LOTA REALTY, INC.

JUDY BUCK 575-758-8673 judy@cblotataos.com

GRACIOUS LIVING ON UPPER RANCHITOS ROAD Lovely old adobe surrounded by big cottonwoods, fruit trees and lawn with mature gardens plus frontage on the Rio Pueblo across the road from the main house. The house features a perfect office or extra bedroom, guest bedroom and master suite with remodeled bath en suite. The guest house is a studio with kitchen and bath and a bonus as a rental or for all your friends and family to visit. Located close to the center of Taos and very convenient to shopping or zipping north to Taos Ski Valley.

MLS #100630 $659,000 CALL JUDY BUCK

NEED PIC

EXCELLENT RENTAL INCOME PROPERTY This triplex, conveniently located just north of the Ranchos Plaza boasts three well appointed units with ample parking surrounded by a tall latilla fence for privacy and road noise reduction. Many possibilities for residential, gallery space, live/work or office usage.

Each unit has kitchen and bath and two are 1 bedroom---one is a studio. Lovely marble floors throughout. Tons of potential!

MLS #101228 $349,900 CALL JUDY BUCK View All Taos MLS Listings at www.cblotataos.com

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TURLEY MILL LOT A very special expansive view from this 11.9 acre parcel with easy access and outstanding building sites.

MLS #97761 $250,000 CALL JUDY BUCK

Corner of Paseo del Pueblo Norte & Civic Plaza Drive 800-829-8673

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JAN RADER, CRS, GRI 575-770-2012 jan@janrader.com

LOTA REALTY, INC.

JanRader.com TRES RITOS/SIPAPU

FAMILYGEIAWAY! Spacious2 BR/2BATHcabinnearSipapuSkiArea.

Offered fully furnished and equipped (includes snowmobiles); enjoy peace, privacy, hilting, fishing, skiing, snowmobiling. W:mderful gathering place for the extended family.

MIS 99412 $289,000 CALL JAN!

BRING THE FAMILY! Bright, spacious home in desirable Tres Ritos, near Sipapu Ski Area. 3 BR/2 BA, open floorplan, cooks kitchen, only steps from fishing, hilting, skiing, sledding. Ideal for entertaining, good year round access. Many special features.

MLS 100325 $274,000 CALL JAN!

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LIVE TINY, DREAM BIG! Three wooded acres near Carson National LIVE THE DREAM! Stunning solar oriented home on 10+ acres of Forest with amazing views. Trailer onsite with power, cistern, solar privacy. Two master suites, open floor plan, chef’s kitchen, panoramic pump, septic system. Live here while you make plans for the adjacent views, beautiful finishes throughout. This is a must-see! building pad.

MLS 100419 $375,00 CALL JAN! MLS 100557 $73,500 CALL JAN!

EXCEPTIONAL BUILDING SITES

TAOS COUNTRY CLUB

Beautiful gated community, panoramic views, underground utilities. Three 3-acre lots available MLS 94914, 98928, 98927 $99,500 TO $137,000

WEST OF COUNTRY CLUB

Panoramic views from this 2.5 acre lot, close to UNM, golfing, hiking, fishing. Only minutes from town.

MLS 101176 $40,000

DES MONTES

Fabulous 14+ acre view lot in desirable Mariposa Ranch, all utilities in place, intelligent covenants.

MLS 99367 $229,000

HONDO MESA

Two five acre homesites with big views, good access, underground utilities. Close to the Rio Grande!

MLS 99810 & 101077 $80,000

View All Taos MLS Listings at www.janrader.com Corner of Paseo del Pueblo Norte & Civic Plaza Drive 800-829-8673 ENCHANTEDHOMESELLER.COM

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GOT WATER RIGHTS?

83 acres near the historic Martinez Hacienda in Taos, 67.9ac irrigated for an impressive 169 ac ft of water rights. One of the last large parcels available near Taos Plaza. $3.5 million.

VIEWS

2.5 ac parcel at La Canada in Des Montes, easy access to Taos Ski Valley and Town of Taos. $275K

GEORGE J. CHAVEZ REALTY/505-250-3883

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AmandaTafoya CROSSROADS REALTY

BY CINDY BROWN PHOTO BY KATHARINE EGLI

One of the special pleasures of her work is helping firsttime homebuyers navigate the process. “It’s really rewarding for me to work with first time homebuyers, helping them understand the process, including lending and home inspection. We make sure they get a pre-qualification letter before we go out looking, so they know how much home they can afford.” She adds that although people may have specific ideas in mind, she works with them to explore the market and see what is available and find the best fit.

“I helped a family purchase their first home in Taos after they had moved here from another community. When I see one of the kids at Little League, he always says ‘Look, there is our Realtor!’ I have a strong sense of family and love being part of the happy memories of finding a home for the family,” says Tafoya. “There are ups and downs to maneuver, but if you have a positive experience with your Realtor that stays with you.”

Working with Realtor Amanda Tafoya is like having the home field advantage. She was born and raised in Taos and her kids have grown up here, too. She is familiar with the unique aspects of Taos. Her involvement with the community extends to serving on the board for Little League and two of her kids attend Taos Charter School. “I don’t see myself being anywhere else but here,” says Tafoya.

REALTOR PROFILE

Her work experience in Taos runs deep, too. After staying home to raise her kids, she worked as a nurse at Holy Cross Hospital. Wanting a different kind of experience, she was co-owner of a paint business and worked with home construction, including developing homes in the Las Olas and Monte Sagrado areas.

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Her focus was on helping people with the interior design aspects including colors, tiles, paint, and appliances. “I was always drawn to that part of the business,” she says.

It was the attraction to working with people to create a home they love that drew her to work in real estate. “Being a real estate agent really goes hand-in-hand with the work I did with being a nurse and helping people with the interior designs of their homes. All of it is helping people and I really like that part of it.”

Since getting her real estate license two years ago, she has been working with CrossRoads Realty and Management.

Qualifying Broker Mark Yaravitz has been part of Taos real estate for 30 years and was a partner with Tafoya when she worked with the construction business. “Yaravitz has been a great mentor. Learning from his expertise, I’ve been able to grow a lot,” says Tafoya.

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Asked about trends in the Taos real estate market, Tafoya observes that activity is up, but there is still a gap in the homes available with few being for sale in the $280,000 to $325,000 range. “There are high-end homes and then those that need remodeling, but very few in the middle. It is a tricky market and it is beneficial to have a Realtor who knows it well. Taos is very unique, people want vigas and other elements of southwest style, but those do come with a price tag.”

Spring can often be a time of increased activity in the market.

Tafoya recalls that it was quiet last winter, but the skiers who had visited Taos during the snowy times returned in the spring to come look at possible second homes. In addition, people who began new jobs here at the beginning of the year, seem to feel settled enough to begin to consider buying a home in the spring. As for visitors of all kinds, she says. “It is an inviting time to come to Taos and visit. There is good hiking and lots happening.”

Reflecting on her time as a Realtor, Tafoya says “I’m fairly new to it, but I love doing it. I’m vested in Taos and helping people becoming new homeowners. I plan to be doing this for a long while.”

FOR MORE INFORMATION: CONTACT TAFOYA AT (575) 770 -0830 OR VISIT HER ON FACEBOOK AND AT WWW.CROSSROADSTAOS.COM

Peter A. Lora

225 Kit Carson Road

575-758-3275 peter@theloraco.com

www.realestatetaos.com

Read our current Taos Real Estate Market Report with sales, price and inventory data, and prior year comparisons on our website.

4-BR/4.5-BA NEAR TAOS PLAZA - This beautifully remodeled 2,900-square foot home has 2 wings, each with its own kitchen and ample living space. Large groups or two families can comfortably share the home. It has accommodated up to 12 persons at one time. The home is situated behind a wall on a private 0.4-acre lot in a classic old Taos neighborhood, a short walk to the Historic District, shops, galleries, restaurants, museums, and more. Two separate side yards, gardens, trees, a covered porch, and a deck with hot tub offer nice outdoor living spaces. The home has in-floor radiant heat, two evaporative cooling systems, five fireplaces, and classic southwestern touches. There is a 600-square foot storage space under the second living room. The fine furnishings are available separately. $725,000 MLS #100548 See more photos and a virtual tour at http://view.paradym.com/4069668

3BR/3BA CLOSE TO TOWN – Less than a mile from Taos Plaza, this remodeled 1,967 sq. ft. home features cozy living room with vigas, coved plaster ceiling & fireplace.

Saltillo tile & hardwood floors. Air conditioning. Private back yard w/ deck & hot tub, trees, gardens. Walking distance to historic district, this home offers classic in-town living! $439,000 MLS #100635 http://view.paradym.com/4078434

BEAUTIFUL DES MONTES LAND - 4-acre home site, with quality surroundings, underground utilities, shared well. Fine views of sunsets and mountains. Surface water irrigation rights.

Sensible restrictions. In one of Taos’s most preferred areas, nearing charming Arroyo Seco, just 15 minutes from Town and 25 minutes to Taos Ski Valley. $275,000 MLS # 100317 http:// view.paradym.com/4046416

See All Taos MLS Listings At

INCOME PROPERTY – Excellent 3-unit property about 5 miles south of Taos center. All three units are 1BR/1BA, 640 sq. ft. with washer/dryer, deck with wonderful views.

Well-maintained. Stable occupancy. Attractive return on investment. $250,000 MLS #98471 http://view.paradym.com/3835972

CHARMING IN-TOWN CONDO - 2BR/2BA in prime location. Easy walk to Plaza, Public Library, restaurants, shops, galleries, museums, Historic District. Nice old neighborhood, overlooking valley, with access to Sunset Park. 1,436 square feet of classic Taos style. Light and bright, with lots of windows, skylights. Real fireplace completes the cozy ambiance. Deck off the master bedroom, covered porch in front provide pleasant outdoor seating areas. Common area hot tub. Short-term rentals are permitted.

Most furnishings are negotiable. $325,000 MLS #100123 http://view.paradym.com/4144161

www.realestatetaos.com ENCHANTEDHOMESELLER.COM

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Nick & Oliver Collignon of Collignon Roofing: 9 QUESTIONS

BY CINDY BROWN PHOTO BY KATHARINE EGLI

Collignon Roofing has been around since 1975. How did it come to be established?

Our dad Rick Collignon moved here from Grayslake, Illinois and got a job working on a roof. It went pretty well, so he thought he would do it again. He was known as “Rick the Roofer.” He got his start when the Angel Fire area was growing, so it was good timing. He retired three years ago.

Did you grow up in Taos?

We first lived north of Questa in El Rito where we were homeschooled.

We started school in Taos when we were in 6th grade. At Taos High, we played baseball and soccer. We’ve always been a big baseball family, my dad still pitches in the hardball league.

Since we were about eight years old, we’ve been on job sites, picking up nails. We worked on roofs every summer since we were 16. We went away to college to study education and media and returned to work here full time. We always knew in the back of our minds that we would take over the business.

What kinds of projects do you do?

We install new roofs and do repairs and replacements. About 70% of our work is done for homeowners and 30% for contractors.

For the Pueblo-style homes with low slope roofs, we use a surface known locally as Brai and officially called modified bitumen (a membrane-type roof that uses modifications to asphalt roofing to make it more durable). That’s about 90% of our work. We replace old roofs on Pueblo style buildings – some of them are more than a hundred years old and were insulated with dirt. An average Brai roof needs to be replaced every 20 to 25 years.

We also work with a variety of metal roofs, including Pro-Panel, standing seam and corrugated aluminum.

How can roofing help a home be more sustainable?

The majority of the heat loss in a home is through the roof, so if it is poorly insulated there is a replacement roof system out there that can increase R-value to keep utility costs down and also keep the home cooler in the summer.

Another sustainable approach is to utilize the roof space. Water catchment is a great idea for watering, especially in this dry climate. For every inch of rain, a 2,000 square foot roof can collect 1,200 gallons of water. The TPO is one of the cleanest roof materials and is great to use for water catchment, especially if you will be watering your vegetable garden with it. TPO is not petroleum-based like many of the other roofing products.

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Most of the homes in Taos have a low slope (flat) roof, which is a great place to add solar panels. We work with PPC Solar. A roof needs to be in good condition before you install solar panels.

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Another option that we are interested in but have not yet done is roof top gardens. There are full roof systems that allow vegetation to grow on the roof and collet the rain water for the plants. It’s popular in some European countries and is used in cities on skyscrapers, but I think it would be perfect for our pueblo style homes.

One sustainability feature of metal roofs is that about 95% of the metal from the old roof can be recycled which keeps it out of the landfill.

What are some memorable projects?

Nick Collignon with fire-proof cedar shingles. It included the restaurant at about 10,000 square feet and an office building of around 4,000 square feet. We installed the roof for a new hotel addition at Los Poblanos outside of Albuquerque.

What are you working on now?

We are doing a Pro-Panel roof for Lucas Construction on a territorial-style house with a pitched roof near Arroyo Seco and a new roof in El Salto. We are also working on the current phase of the Tewa Condos; we put roofs on the second phase a couple of years back.

Another current project is the temple at the Neem Karoli Baba Ashram in Taos. Its walls are circular, making for an interesting roofing challenge.

Are you revisiting any of the early projects you or your dad worked on?

Recently we were working on a roof in Angel Fire and came across a note from March, 1989 saying it was a cold and miserable day to be sitting on a roof and it was signed by our dad.

How has the business changed over the last 43 years?

Estimates and invoicing has become much more formalized than it was in the early years of the construction business around Taos, when things were done with a handshake and a hand-written invoice. We’ve computerized the process and most of the estimating and invoicing is done by email now.

We take insurance and safety requirements very seriously. We have a great safety record – only one accident in the last 25 years.

Trends for the future – what’s new for Collignon Roofing?

We moved into a new office a couple of months ago. Before that we were working out of our homes. We needed room for the trucks and to store material. Recently, we acquired an aerial drone that allows us to take photos of our projects.

We built a burial memorial structure at the Lama Foundation with copper shingles – each one was hand- made. That was one of our most interesting and unique projects.

Solar shingles are coming. We have not yet installed a solar roof system.

We are waiting for high quality materials to be available in New Mexico.

We also did the re-roofing of the Bavarian at Taos Ski Valley last summer

For more information, call (575) 758-1878 or visit www.collingnonroofing.com.

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Architectural antiques collected from world travels are featured in this custom-designed regal home with majestic views. Breathtaking details abound , from 15th century pillars to the many sets of antique doors and lustrous plaster walls. The kitchen, with it’s eight burner stove and reclaimed teak floors is built for a chef. A hand constructed wooden stairway leads up to a large master suite with its own covered portal and more magnificent views.

This estate like home has a very warm and welcoming ambiance. The inner courtyard is a tranquil retreat where you can relax or graciously entertain.

ENCHANTEDHOMESELLER.COM ENCHANTED HOMES VOL. CXX Enveloping the residence is a hand built stone-terraced garden that creates a private sanctuary in the Weimer area.

By appointment only, this is a very special property for those with a discerning eye.

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PHOTO: YVONNE PESQUERA

STORY BY: YVONNE PESQUERA PHOTOGRAPHY: KATHARINE EGLI

An earthship is a passive solar house made of natural and recycled materials. Many of these sustainable homes dot the Taos area.

But the earthship at 475 Tune Drive in Arroyo Hondo is a gathering place that makes it more than just a home.

This 4 bedroom / 3.5 baths is listed for $650,000 (MLS 101026). Mary Emery, associate broker at Century 21 Success, has the listing.

The 7,500 square-foot home sits on 25 acres –– sitting high up on a hill, overlooking the rim of the Rio Grande Gorge, and is just steps away from the Manby Hot Springs trail. The endless sky and openness of the surrounding land is breathtaking.

The earthship was built in 1993 by John and Joan Dobson.

For 20 years, they ran a successful bed-and-breakfast known as ‘The Dobson House,’ which was featured in numerous ski and travel magazines and then eventually on travel websites with the advent of the Internet Age. Whether for income use, entertaining guests, and/or housing a large family, this earthship is a marvelous

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residence to bring people together.

The great room of the house is a circular living room called the ‘round room.’ From here, one has sweeping panoramic views from Ute Mountain to the north, the dormant volcanoes in the west, and the southern Picuris mountain range.

While the home itself sits up on a hill, at the lower end of the driveway there is a 1,000 square foot studio/workspace. There is also additional parking.

Enchanted Homes sat down with John Dobson to learn more about the history of the construction.

Sitting among his original, hand-drawn building plans, he explained: “We wanted to have a bed and breakfast. We started with Mike Reynolds’ design, but it was much too elaborate. So we ended up building what I wanted.”

Dobson, now 78, was 61 at the time of construction. He and Joan hired on help crews from time to time, but for the most part, it was just the two of them largely responsible for the design and build.

“This was my first big build; the first complete house that I’ve built. This was the first one we built from scratch. It was an organic process. We had original plans, but then adjusted as we needed to,” said Dobson.

The house has an array of solar panels on the southside but the earthship is not totally off the grid.

“We can’t really catch rainwater here so we have a well. The groundwater here is down at the river level, about 600 feet. So we have a deep well pump and for that you need 220 volts. The solar array only puts out 110 volts which runs house okay, but not big loads. So we have a Kit Carson Electric Cooperative wire that ends down the hill,” said Dobson.

With an income-producing bed and breakfast, the idea was to

pay off the mortgage note. It was estimated that six guest bedrooms could accomplish that, but the Dobsons agreed that two was all they could handle. That conservative estimate probably spared them their sanity. That’s because for 20 years, they had continuous occupancy in those guest rooms.

“Joan, my wife, did all the work. She cooked breakfast for six people in the morning, then supper, and then cleaned up, I didn’t do any of that,” said Dobson.

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The earthship sits on a hill with a berm (for thermal mass) built against its east end. The home has two driveways that lead up to it. One driveway takes the home residents to the main quarters. The other driveway leads bed-and-breakfast guests to their own private entrance.

Guests are often delighted to see the exposed walls of recycled tires, cans, and glass bottles used for construction. More than 2,000 tires were used and the structure of the place is sound.

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The two guest bedrooms are fully en suite with sitting areas and pullout sofas for additional beds. The tile work is unique throughout the house and no two areas of the house are the same.

The guest bedrooms are located on the lower part of the hill. Guests access the main part of the house through a sweeping staircase hall that serves as an art gallery.

The main part of the house has a very large cook’s kitchen with a commercial

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CERRO

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ANGEL FIRE

GET TO KNOW THE ENCHANTED CIRCLE

The Enchanted Circle encompasses Taos, Angel Fire, Eagle Nest, Red River and Questa. Known for its magnificent scenery and outdoor activities, the Enchanted Circle makes an outstanding day trip. Drive time is approximately 3 1/2 hours, but make plans for frequent stops along the way. It’s worth the extra time to discover the hidden treasures of Northern New Mexico.

TOWN OF TAOS Taos Plaza rests at the heart of the historic district, surrounded by shops, galleries and restaurants within easy walking distance, in the midst of quiet residential areas. It has a relatively flat landscape filled with cottonwood trees.

Average home sale price: $254,896

BLUEBERRY HILL An area of sagebrush mesas, which is a popular area for houses.

Average home sale price: $288,125

UPPER LAS COLONIAS A varied area of sagebrush and juniper, with easy access to the town of Taos and affordable home options.

Average home sale price: $337,265

ARROYO HONDO, HONDO MESA A village of old adobes and other dwellings along the Río Hondo, with a rolling high desert mesa stretching toward the Río Grande Gorge. Includes popular fishing spots, as well as the historic John Dunn Bridge.

Average home sale price: $240,481

ARROYO SECO, EL SALTO, DES MONTES Arroyo Seco is a picturesque village of galleries, shops and cafes, surrounded by the beautiful landscape and gorgeous views of the mountains. El Salto and Des Montes have rolling terrain with orchards and ranches.

Arroyo Seco average home sale price: $375,181 El Salto average home sale price: $415,600 Des Montes average home sale price: $399,358

TAOS SKI VALLEY, VALDEZ Taos Ski Valley is world renowned with both national and international clientele. Most of the businesses are open year-round for outdoor enthusiasts of every season. Valdez sits at the foot of the canyon accessing Taos Ski Valley, providing high-altitude living amidst woodlands and valleys along the Río Hondo.

TSV average home sale price: $410,666 TSV average condo sale price: $315,620 Valdez average home sale price: $236,633

TAOS CANYON, CAÑÓN This area is replete with hiking trails and campgrounds.

Picturesque views of the mountainsides and the Río Fernando combine to form a lush, green landscape.

Taos Canyon average home sale price: $167,777 Cañón average home sale price: $287,200

TAOS COUNTRY CLUB, STAKEOUT AREA A relatively new area of development with broad expanses of land affording unbroken mountain views, as well as the piñon-and-juniper covered “Outlaw Hill,” where Old West outlaws hid out from the law.

Average home sale price: $342,444

RANCHOS DE TAOS, TALPA, LLANO QUEMADO Home of the most photographed church in the country (San Francisco de Asís), Ranchos de Taos is accented with quaint adobe structures, galleries and shops. High terrain and ridges afford views of the Río Grande Gorge and mountains.

Average home sale price: $199,684

WEIMER FOOTHILLS An upscale neighborhood of rolling hills, it is close to schools, Holy Cross Hospital and the Taos Youth and Family Center. Building restrictions keep mountain and foothill views relatively unbroken.

Average home sale price: $354,163

EL PRADO, RANCHITOS, CÓRDOVAS El Prado is comprised of meadows and ranch lands with small shops, cafes and other businesses along the highway. Ranchitos and Los Córdovas are similar but more residential. All have excellent views of Taos Mountain.

El Prado average home sale price: $256,666 Ranchitos average home sale price: $350,400 Los Córdovas average home sale price: $245,452

VALLE ESCONDIDO Nestled in the mountains only 20 minutes east of Taos, Valle Escondido offers spectacular views, USGA golf, stocked fishing lakes, swimming pool and playground and community social life at the historic log clubhouse, all enjoyed by full-and part-time homeowners, with community water and household trash removal included. Valle Escondido is surrounded by the Carson National Forest, offering year-round recreation: hiking, hunting, camping, mountain biking, ATV trails and winter sports.

A wide variety of homes can be found in Valle Escondido with an approximate starting price of $200,000.

ANGEL FIRE Cradled in the beautiful Moreno Valley, Angel Fire is a favorite destination for skiers in the winter and golfers, hikers and music lovers in the summer.

Average home sale price: $381,170

RED RIVER This historic ski town invites visitors to explore its Wild West history along with its many shops and restaurants.

Surrounded by the Carson National Forest, the village rests in a valley, with the Red River running through it.

Average home sale price: $310,350

QUESTA An agricultural town at the mouth of the Red River, with a compact downtown of shops and restaurants and a variety of rural housing tucked between the Sangre de Cristo Mountains and the Río Grande Gorge.

Average home sale price: $176,375

Joel Schantz, Berkshire Hathaway Home Services Taos Real Estate (www.BHHSTaosRealEstate.com), provided the information. DISCLAIMER: Statistics are based on MLS information for the period Jan. 1, 2014 through Dec. 31, 2014. Neither the REALTORS Association of New Mexico nor Taos County Association of REALTORS guarantees or is in any way responsible for its accuracy. Data is maintained by Taos County Association of REALTORS and may not reflect all real estate activity in the market.

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Keith Dowell Qualifying Broker

Your Taos Ski Valley Specialist!

ST. MORITZ CONDOMINIUMS LUXURIOUS NEW CONDOS IN TAOS SKI VALLEY!

Beautiful architecture featuring scenic balconies with OUTSTANDING VIEWS. GREAT LOCATION! Only two minutes from the slopes, shops, restaurants, and other establishments while at the same time TUCKED AWAY from the hustle and bustle. Quality construction with granite counter tops, beautiful stone-work, custom cabinets, and gas fireplaces.

Low HOA dues make this new project very attractive.

MLS# 99428 .......Unit 101 ..........$384,000 ...........1BR MLS# 99430 .......Unit 102 ..........$384,000 ...........1BR MLS# 99714 .......Unit 202 ..........$469,00 .............2BR MLS# 99431 .......Unit 302 .........$482,000 ............2BR MLS# 99429 .......Unit 402 .........$438,900 ............1BR

Engel & Völkers Taos Real Estate www.tsvrealty.com 5 Ernie Blake Road • Taos Ski Valley • NM, 87525 • USA Phone +1-575-776-0600 Keith Dowell, Qualifying Broker www.taos.evusa.com (575) 776.0600

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                        

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                           

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



                       

                         

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

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

                                                                     

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                               

                           

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 

                                                                                                 

                             





 





                         





                                                                                                             

                            

                          

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                          

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Sharon Dryflower Reyna, a member of Taos Pueblo, and a world-class ceramicist, told me she never takes from Mother Earth without giving back. The Pueblo people are taught, and now so are we, to respect Mother Earth and not take from her without giving back.

And isn’t that what sustainability is all about when you cut to the chase?

Consider the village within the Taos Pueblo and the materials used to create it. Folks here looked at what Mother Earth provided. They saw how blessed this land was, how rich it was, how much Mother Nature provided.

They also realized that they needed to make sure their children and grandchildren could also live off the land when their time came. So a respect for buffalo, aspens and ponderosa pine, and mud and straw was inevitable as those were building materials.

If we fast forward a few hundred years, and look to what is being built now with the same eye on sustainability, we might smack up against Mike Reynolds, a controversial chap who gets credit for the creation of earthships. Earthships are homes built using sustainable materials in a way as to leave the lightest footprints on the earth and to use what would otherwise be disposed of or be impossible to dispose of.

The basic construction materials for earthships are old tires, glass bottles and aluminum cans. (Think soda pop here or beer.) If you think about it, we create new old car tires each day and will for so long as anyone I know will live.

And no one has yet invented a better delivery system for beverages – soft or hard – than glass or aluminum. Nor are they likely to, at least not for a while yet.

Sustainability

thy name is Taos.

BY HARVEY BLAUSTEIN

MARKETSHARE

Or its nickname, anyway. The way I see it, this isolated part of northern New Mexico has always been a pioneer on the cutting edge of sustainability even if it didn’t know it.

Let’s go back and take a peak at life a few hundred years ago. In those days no one could think about sustainability when they were working their butts off merely to survive in an environment that was quite challenging. This part of the world was greatly influenced

by Native cultures where respect for Mother Earth was ingrained in people as much as not killing animals for fun but only for food or shelter or other need.

A peek at how that might work is the way Native Americans who needed mud treated Mother Earth. They used it for shelter in the form of adobe bricks, or function, which might be the bowls on that table that were coiled into shape, then fired and glazed.

And then there is our mud. Oh, how muddy our mud is. If there were a contest for the best mud in the world, our mud would win. Easy.

Take our mud, add a good dose of straw that is also plentiful around these parts, and one has one heck of a building material. And so adobe bricks were born.

And others took to using straw bale, which gave any wall an organic feel: no two ever the same. It sure isn’t for the jT-square type. But then Taos isn’t for the T-square type.

Now let’s consider that one person’s sustainable is another person’s not being sustainable enough. I know a couple that could afford to build what they wanted where they wanted in the Taos area.

Yet it was the feeling of both this woman and her partner that they didn’t want to add another structure to Mother Earth if there was a suitable one out there already. They were willing to accept what may be seen by others as design quirks in an existing home so as not to use more materials, be they sustainable or not.

I think we all need to accept and adopt sustainable principals in one form or another for our species to survive. We realize that we are filling landfills far too fast and losing precious land to merely store waste.

If we reduce our waste, if we try real hard to impact the Earth in the least possible way, we can insure the survival of our species. And I am all for that. Whatever it takes. Regrets won’t do us much good, nor will apologies, if we ignore sustainability.

Harvey Blaustein is a retired attorney and local real estate broker.

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603 Camino da la Placita Taos, NM 87571 575-737-5678 hblau4@gmail.com www.taospremierproperties.com

IF YOU TREASURE WIDE OPEN SPACES… and love the land-

THERE IS AN INTIMACY WITH THE MOUNTAINS... from the prestigious Mariposa Ranch subdivision that makes it so special, and so desired, and we can help you create your world there.We proudly represent the owners of lot 7, with its 360 degree views, where the parcels are large, the homes are grand, and the restrictions protective. Here is a premier location between the town of Taos and the Taos Ski Valley with easy access to the charming village of Arroyo Seco. $184,000 100582

scape that dominates around here, we have the perfect place to create your own special world.We proudly offer 1 sq mile of land between Taos and Tres Piedras. Run naked, build a commune, create a yoga retreat, or just sit and meditate - but privacy abounds for those that treasure it. And the views just can’t be beat. $480,000 MLS # 97934

PRIME COMMERCIAL LAND WITH HIGHWAY FRONTAGE… We proudly offer 11.28 acres of C-2 land along the highway that leads into Taos. Surrounding the Visitor’s Center, the traffic count at this location is high, the visibility great, and there is frontage on both State Highway 68 and Gusdorf Rd. $2,450,000 MLS# 99743

AN IMPORTANT COMMERCIAL CORNER…

If you do business with locals and are looking for the perfect location, we proudly offer the very prominent corner of Salazar and Ranchitos Roads. This is one of the most desirable commercial locations in town, which most residents drive by daily. It consists of .64 acres and is zoned CBD with more land possible. Owner/Broker $329,000 MLS #99026

“I AM A STRATEGIC THINKER, PAY ATTENTION TO DETAILS, AND GET THINGS DONE.” HARVEY BLAUSTEIN, QUALIFYING BROKER

PREMIUM R-4 SITE NEAR THE PLAZA… The most

important phrase in our residential real estate market is “in walking distance to the plaza” because that is what most folks want when they look for a home here. For those that want to meet this need, we proudly offer a 4.25 acre site, the largest undeveloped R-4 location close to the plaza in town, between Salazar and Santistevan Roads, with frontage on Ranchitos, and access off Santistevan. Owner/broker $399,000 MLS #99029 ENCHANTEDHOMESELLER.COM

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