Buying a mountain home in Angel Fire or a Taos vacation property could be a wise hedge against coming inflation.

Perhaps you have considered purchasing your dream mountain home, but economic and market conditions are eroding your confidence. If you have heard speculation that the next few years will bring inflation, you should realize that with rising inflation your dollars will buy less.

You may be waiting for your stock market portfolio to come back before you purchase, but while you are waiting the price of Taos real estate and homes for sale in Angel Fire as well as the interest rates will be rising. Some economists are recommending residential real estate financing as a hedge against inflation.

Take advantage of the slow recovery of homes for sale in Taos and real estate in Angel Fire during the window of opportunity to finance with low interest fixed rate loans.

Higher inflation is a benefit to borrowers because you are paying back the loan with money that is worth less than when you borrowed. A 5% increase in the price of a Taos home for sale coupled with a 1% increase in the interest rate on your home loan could result in you paying over $20,000 more for your home over the next 10 years.

Currently, it is a buyer's market for real estate in Taos and Angel Fire with a large inventory of mountain vacation homes and properties on the market and many motivated sellers. Therefore, if you are thinking of buying a Taos or Angel Fire home....don't hesitate....buy NOW!

Another consideration is to purchase a ski condo or golf patio home in the Taos Ski Valley, Angel Fire Ski and Golf Resort, or in Red River. Enjoy your mountain vacation home, and take advantage of the tax savings of owning a rental property.

Our Taos property or Angel Fire real estate specialists can assist you in finding your dream mountain log home in Angel FirE, a ski chalet in the Taos Ski Valley or an authentic Taos adobe home.

Come visit us for the Best in Taos Real Estate or Real Estate in Angel Fire. We have offices in both Taos and Angel Fire for your convenience. Allow us to assist you in making your dream of vacation, retirement or investment property come true.

Even though interest rates are relatively low, obtaining financing to buy a home or land can be a daunting process.

These days, lenders have more restrictive guidelines and the process can be quite lengthy. A more creative financing technique in which an owner sells property to a buyer is called "seller financing".

Seller financing can be used as a vehicle to sell a home or land if the potential buyer does not qualify for a loon under the more strict guidelines or when interest rates are too high. This can be extremely beneficial to both parties.

Of course, this is only an option if a seller does not require principal from the sale.

Seller financing is most common in the sale of larger parcels of bare land that conventional lenders have traditionally not financed.

The benefits of seller financing include substantial savings in closing costs for both buyer and seller. The parties can also negotiate the interest rate and the repayment schedule as well as other conditions of the loan.

The seller can benefit by getting a higher yield on his/her investment by receiving their equity with interest. A seller could also negotiate a higher interest rate than could be obtained otherwise as a compensation for assisting the buyer with financing.

Seller financing in New Mexico is accomplished via a Real Estate Contract. The negotiation of the financing is done as part of the purchase agreement. An outside escrow company usually handles the transaction after the sale. In most cases the buyer pays for the set-up fees and the escrow company collects the payment and passes it on to the seller. That way there is a clear record of payments and the seller cannot foreclose on the buyer stating that he has not received a payment. Therefore, using an independent escrow company protects both buyer and seller.

As long as it is good for both parties, seller financing can be a win-win situation.

New Mexico Mountain Properties has several larger parcels of land at both Taos Pines Ranch and Hidden Lake, two 10-20 acre communities in the Angel Fire area, where sellers are willing to entertain seller financing. If land in Taos is what you are looking for, we also have a fabulous 6 acre parcel which borders Carson National Forest which is available for seller financing.

If you think seller fining could work for you, just give us a call and let us know... whether you are looking for a home in Taos, an Angel Fire vacation home, an investment condo in Taos Ski Valley or the Angel Fire Resort, or land to build your dream home, seller fining could work for you. We will gladly assist you in the process. For the best in Real Estate in Taos or Angel Fire Real Estate, give us a call today. We are here to serve you.

Ever want to get away from it all? I have a perfect property which allows you to live perched on a mountain top where you can have total privacy, peace and seclusion yet still be close to civilizations pleasures. This 1500 SF "AirLock Log Homes" cathedral style log cabin sits on 43 alpine acres offering 3 bedrooms, 2 baths, and is located across from Coyote Creek State Park in Guadulapita, NM.

A radio phone, which works just like a regular phone, offers communication with the outside world and can also provide DSL!! A 10X10 foot "power house" contains batteries and all electrical for the off-the-grid 2.5 kilowatt electrical system.

A water catchment system can store a total of 3800 gallons of natual, healthy rain water which is also filtered of any sediment. A Jotel brand wood stove provides plenty of heat in the winter.

Water heating is done by a flash (propane) on demand water heater which is very efficient and fast. The stove, oven and refrigerator are all fueled by propane. The 8-10 inch rock and concrete floor keeps the home cool in the summer.

Large windows that face south provide passive solar heat in the winter, and the large "ship-like" overhang of the roof provides plenty of shade in the summer.

There is also a 2-car garage on the property.

Live "far from the madding crowd" in this fabulous Off-The-Grid Getaway only 1 hour from Taos and 1/2 hour from the resort town of Angel Fire. The home on 43 acres is priced at $339,000.

For more homes in Taos or in Angel Fire, check out the entire Taos, Angel Fire and Red River multiple listings on my website or feel free to call New Mexico Mountain Properties at 888-687-5253. We are here to serve you whether you are looking for a condo in the Taos Ski Valley or in the Angel Fire area or a authentic Taos home full of adobe charm. Perhaps a log home in Angel Fire is more to your liking or perhaps land in Taos or land in Angel Fire to build your dream home suits you best. Whatever your dream, allow the friendly and experienced agents at New Mexico Mountain Properties to be of service to you.

Music from Angel Fire is celebrating its 26th year of bringing fabulous chamber music to Northern New Mexico.

Performances by world renouned artists will be held in Angel Fire, Taos, Las Vegas and Raton beginning August 18 through Septeber 6, 2009.

This season honors the 200th Anniversary of two great masters, Mendelssohn and Hayden.

For a schedule of performances contact www.musicfromangelfire.org or call 575-377-3233

Enjoy the awesome natural beauty of the Sangre de Cristo Mountains and the splender and beauty of chamber music offered by extraordinary musicians.

Just in case you fall in love with our spectacular vistas and the refreshing mountain air, don't hesitate to contact us. We will gladly assist you in finding a home in Taos, land in Angel Fire or perhaps an Angel Fire condo or Taos Ski Valley condo. Check out all Angel Fire and Taos MLS listings on my website.

New Mexico Mountain Properties can offer you the Best in Real Estate throughout the Enchanted Circle.

Whether you are looking for a charming log cabin or a fabulous Taos adobe home we have access to all listings in the Taos, Angel Fire and Red River areas. Allow us to assist you in finding that perfect vacation or retirement property. Stop by our offices in Taos (502 Camino Cortez) or in Angel Fire ( the log home at the juction of Highway 434 and 64) or give us a call 1-888-687-5253.

There is nothing quite like life in the mountains!

Things are getting heated up in Angel Fire, but NOT the temperature! Enjoy cool mornings and evenigns with pleasant sunny days.

So what's to do in Angel Fire in the summer?

Well... Friday July 3 starts MOVIES UNDER THE STARS! Bring your chairs, blankets, picnic baskets and watch FREE movies. Movies begin at dark at the Angel Fire Golf Course Driving Range.

The lineup of upcoming movies is: July 3 - Surf's Up (PG) July 10th - Iron Man (PG13) July 17th - Paul Blart: Mall Cop (PG) July 24th - The Dark Knight (PG13) July 31st - Yes Man (PG13)

What happens at the Angel Fire Ski Mountain when there isn't snow?

NEW DISC GOLF COURSE ia open at the Summit You can play nine holes at the highest elevation course in New Mexico at the Angel Fire Resort's Ski Mountain using the terrrain of the ski mountain for the hazards. Disc golf is FREE to play, but it requires a lift ticket or season pass to access the chair up.

More at the Summit of the Angel Fire Ski Mountain - New Summit Horseshoes and BBQ. Two new horseshoe pits have been added. Up to 4 people per pit may play at a time. If you are feeling hungry after all this activity, you can enjoy a great BBQ.

For just $40.00 for 2 adults and up to 4 children 12 or younger you can ride the Chile Express to the Summit and experience Angel Fire from 10,650 feet!

Come and escape the heat...you just may want to stay forever! New Mexico Mountain Properties has a fabulous selection of Angel Fire Land or well-priced Angel Fire Homes for sale. If a codo in Angel Fire suits you requirements more, we have access to condos to fit everyone's budget. Our experienced and friendly agents are here to assist you with all your Angel Fire Real Estate requirements. Our office is located in the log home with the Indain tepee at the "one and only" Blinking Light in Angel Fire. Come see us....you will be glad you did!

Planning a vacation with the dual purpose of looking at real estate in Angel Fire or for a home in Taos, New Mexico? While you are travelling or looking for mountain property, great food with relaxing dining ambience is a must.

Taos offers a variety of dining experiences. For one of the best upscale gourmet dining experiences in Taos, visit Joseph's Table in the Hotel La Fonda on the Plaza. If you want the great food, but don't want to pay a large tab sit at the bar and order from the grill menu. Enjoy a sunset over the Rio Grande Gorge while gourmet dining in a hacienda-like setting at The Stakeout located a few miles south of Taos (you can't miss the lit-up sign). Outback Pizza in El Prado is a popular local hang-out with the best pizza in town. Dine inside or out under the trees, enjoying one of their unique pizza creations or choosing your own toppings. Doc Martin's at the Taos Inn, within walking distance of the Plaza, has great gourmet or Mexican food, spirits to lift your spirits, and live music several nights of the week. Also just off the Plaza on Bent Street are the Bent Street Deli and the Apple Tree, both popular establishments. You're in New Mexico and you want to eat Mexican food? Of course you do! Orlando's and the Guadalajara Grill are two restaurants where you can't go wrong.

If you are looking for more of a mountaintop experience, cool off in Angel Fire which sits above 8400 feet in elevation (bring a sweater). Angel Fire offers a variety of dining choices. Angel Fired Pizza has excellent views of the Angel Fire Ski Mountain while providing tasty pizza creations or choices of your own toppings with a nice glass of wine or refreshing beer. Craving veggies? Yu Garden uses fresh ingredients in their extensive menu of Chinese food with no added MSG. For one of the best dining experiences in the Enchanted Circle visit the Roasted Clove. The gourmet meals ranging from seafood, to elk medallions or wild boar chile rellenos with all fresh ingredients, exotic desserts and an extensive wine list will make this the dining experience you will remember. Dos Amigos has great Mexican food with a very extensive menu. For breakfast, lunch or dinner, Avalon's has it all from bakery items, to a full breakfast, fresh tasty sandwiches and roll-ups, or a full dinner menu.

You don't have to rough it for dining while you're vacationing, and you don't have to rough it for service while you are looking for a mountain home in Angel Fire or a condo in Taos. If you are planning to build your own vacation home in Taos we can locate the perfect piece of land in Taos or the surrounding area. Our Taos property or Angel Fire land specialists can also assist you in finding property in Angel Fire as well as putting you in touch with builders for log homes, mountain chalet-style cedar homes or a variety of custom or modular building options.

Come visit us for the Best in Taos Real Estate or Real Estate in Angel Fire. We have offices in both Taos and Angel Fire for your convenience. Allow us to assist you in making your dream of vacation, retirement or investment property come true.

The buying/selling season in the Taos and Angel Fire, NM area has begun. Spring brings many new homes on the market. This is the best time to list your home for sale or to begin looking for the home of your dreams in Taos or that vacation home in Angel Fire.

Although we do not have many foreclosures in the Taos or Angel Fire areas, there are some fabulous bargains on the market for those who want to take advantage of this "buyer's market". This is a great time to buy real estate. Interest rates are at the lowest they have been in 60 years!

First time buyer's .... take avantage of the $8,000 credit!

Feel free to call New Mexico Mountain Properties to discuss your plans to buy or sell your home in Taos or Angel Fire. Our experienced agents are happy to assist you in any way we can.

For the best in Taos real estate and real estate in Angel Fire... NOW is the time to ACT!

Angel Fire property owners have voted to create a Public Improvement District (PID) to oversee financing and installation of improvements to 847 undeveloped lots with the Angel Fire Resort. Formation of the PID required a supermajority of 75 percent approval, but when the results of the vote were announced Wednesday, April 23, over 84 percent of the voters had voted to approve the PID. With the voter's approval to move forward, the next step will be to form a PID Board to oversee the construction process.

Some property owners have expressed their intention to protest the voting process through procedures established by the State of New Mexico for contesting elections.

Angel Fire's Village Council and administrators are aware that some voters have issues with the election process. Angel Fire's Village Administrator has stated that upon advice by legal counsel, the Village Council feels the issues are of insufficient magnitude to overturn the election results and will proceed forward with the PID project as planned.

PID lot owners have been given the opportunity of paying the cost to install infrastructure up-front or to pay an assessment over the period of 30 years. Many owners of PID lots are willing to sell at bargain prices to avoid paying the assessment. Potential buyers who are content to postpone building for a few years, may find some great deals on property within the Angel Fire Resort if they are willing to do the math to determine whether buying a PID lot makes wise money sense.

Give our agents at New Mexico Mountain Properties a call today to determine whether a buying a PID lot in Angel Fire makes sense for you. There are some fabulous deals on the market on lots in Angel Fire with or without utilities. It is a buyer's market for Angel Fire Real Estate....the best kept secret in the Rockies. Don't miss this opportunity to buy real estate in Angel Fire while prices are still affordable. We are here to serve you whether you are buying a lot in Angel Fire, larger Angel Fire acreage, or the Angel Fire mountain home of your dreams.

Spring is here and the selling season is upon us. For those of you interested in selling your home...here are a few things to avoid:

When selling your home try to model your home decorating after Martha Stewart not good ole Aunt Martha with all of her collectibles. The following common mistakes are often enough to cause the potential buyers to take one look and walk right back out the door:

1. Failure to thoroughly clean the house -- particularly the kitchen and bathrooms. Sure it's clean enough for you, but potential buyers are giving your home the white glove treatment. Deep clean all countertops and tile surfaces. Replace or steam-clean carpets. Get into all of the corners and make those floors gleam. Refinish any wood floors that are scratched or scuffed.

2. Failure to remove clutter. Your clutter, whether inside or outside, stands in the way of the buyer's ability to focus on the home and its best features. Clutter also makes the rooms appear smaller.

3. Leaving the home full of personal items. You want potential buyers to visualize themselves in your home. Those photographs lining the stairways may prevent them from feeling ready to move into the home.

4. Brightly painted rooms. So your daughter chose vivid purple, and your son chose army green for the walls of their rooms. Paint those walls a neutral color! If it always made you feel happy to drive up to your bright blue home, you need to realize that most people will not feel that way and will probably tell the Realtor to drive on by. Soft shades and hues allow buyers to see the room without being turned off by someone else's color choice.

5. Dirty windows and window coverings. Your awesome views will lack luster if the buyer is looking through a dirty or streaked window.

6. Leaving evidence of pets. You love your pets, but a stranger could easily find their food dish or litter box a turnoff. Dog or cat hair on the sofa means it is also on all of the carpets as well. Remove all traces of your pet, and especially get rid of any lingering pet odors. You may need an outside "sniffer" to identify odors.

7. Failure to make a good first impression. The exterior of your home and landscaping or lack thereof may be your only chance to make an impression. A little effort in this area goes a long way to making your home appealing. Plant some flowers to brighten up your home and get buyers through the front door.

Whether you are trying to sell a home elsewhere so that you can buy a vacation home in Angel Fire, or you are selling your present home in Taos to buy that special Taos property to build your dream home, you need to look at the home you are selling from a fresh perspective. Sure your ski condo has special mementos from every ski vacation you have ever taken, but remember that those memories are yours and not the buyer's. Get rid of the clutter, personal items and other distractions and sell that condo or vacation home.

For a FREE comparitive market anaysis of your home or for more helpul hints on the best way to get your Taos home or Angel Fire condo on the market, give our agents at New Mexico Mountain Properties a call today. We are here to serve your real estate requirements throughout the Enchanted Circle with offices in Taos and Angel Fire.

Thanks for viewing our blog

Sunday April 6th marked the close of a nearly perfect ski season at Taos Ski Valley. Alpine skiers, telemarkers and snowboarders (yes,snowboarders!) turned out in force to celebrate the finale. The pilgrimage to the top of 12,500 ft. Kachina Peak on closing day is a local tradition. The hike takes about an hour and the ski down about 3 minutes but anyone will tell you, it's usually not about the skiing. This year the roughly 200 hikers (nobody's really counting) to reach the summit ranged in age from 8 to 78 and all were rewarded with the magnificent views that extend north into Colorado and south to the Rio Grande Gorge (the second largest rift valley in the world!) and of the surrounding Sangre de Cristo Mountains including 13,161 ft. Wheeler Peak, New Mexico's highest.

However, the skiers and boarders weren't the only ones taking in the view from the summit on Sunday. Three full-curl Rocky Mountain Bighorn rams were lounging on the ridge between Kachina and Lake Fork Peaks soaking up the sun, a testament to the success of the bighorn sheep transplant program begun in these mountains several years ago. Now on any given day hikers may thrill at a sighting of these noble beasts. This day was made extra special because of their presence and everyone witnessing it seemed to know that. After lingering long and basking in the sun and splendor, hunger will begin to over take even the hardiest hiker and knowledge that the Bavarian Restaurant is a mere 3,000 vertical feet away compels one to mount up and point 'em down. The snow is firm, but not too firm to get an edge to hold, and the coverage is excellent. These turns were earned so each one is savored, soaring gracefully toward the valley floor.

The deck of the Bavarian is the obvious next stop. It's crowded with familiar faces and warm with the afternoon sun. What better place to rest and re-fuel? Then on to the annual pond skimming championship where contestants dress in the most bizarre outfits they can muster and attempt to ski or ride across a 150 foot man made "pond" filled with water direct from the Rio Hondo. The most impressive athletes will not only make it all the way across the pond but will throw in a 360 degree turn before touching solid snow on the opposite side. Several participants never make it to the other side and end up getting fished out of the 38 degree water. Fortunately,"Wolfgang Spa Works" is kind enough to set up a hot tub at the finish line for the less than successful, soaked and freezing contestants.

The addition of snowboarders to the mountain has proved to be a welcome one. Even the die hard ski elite seem to be embracing the change. The youthful exuberance and enthusiasm is palpable and certainly the increased revenue is welcome in the community. New life is being breathed into an old establishment and there is more than enough room for everyone!

No doubt we will see another snowstorm in the mountains of Taos before spring really settles in and certainly there will be good back-country skiing well into May, but the "official" 2007/2008 Taos ski season has come to a close. This year's phenomenal snow pack will soon melt into run-off to fill rivers and acequias that nourish the valley below and winter white will give way to the lush green of summer.

Although the mountain is closed for skiing, there is still time to take advantage of the fabulous deals on Taos Ski Valley condos. Our agents can find you a condo to fit your price range. Or, if you prefer a home in Taos or a bit of Taos land to call your own, just give us your requirements and we will be happy to assist you in your search. For the best in Taos real estate, give us a call today. We love to make your dreams for owning real estate in Taos a reality.