The following are real estate sales statistics for Canon and Canon Foothhills for single family residences.
Homes actively on the market: 13
Average price: $754,838.00
Average days on the market: 248
Homes sold this year in this area: 2
Average sale price: $833,500.00
Average days on the market: 732
If you have questions about your neighborhood, please contact me.
This is a great opportunity for us to send something fun for our troops overseas. It would be great if you participated. For specific information see information below:
Join in our effortsTreats for Troops
The Taos County 4-H Council would like to Treat our Troops to some of the comforts of home while serving in the War on Terrorism. This is an amazing opportunity for us to show our troops a little support. The troops are already aware that they are missed by their friends and family, but let’s try to improve their morale just a little more by showing that we care too. Don’t miss out on your chance to show appreciation.
Anything is appreciated: Word Puzzle books
Art Supplies (crayons, colored pencils, etc)
Card Games - Board games
Fruit Cups - JELLO Cups
Jelly beans- Sunflower seeds
Rice Crispy treats - Beef jerky-Snack mixes
Chewing gum - Nuts-Gatorade - Jaw breakers
Pringles chips - Cereal bars/granola
Footbag/hacky-sac Newspapers – Magazines -Paperback books
DVD's-Music CD's - Disposable camera
Drop Off Locations:
Taos County REALTORS Association Taos Title Land America
1210 H Salazar Rd 710 Paseo delPueblo Sur
Contact:
Cherry Montano Mae Lucero
575-758-7411 575-758-2393
I found this interesting and helpful. Hope you enjoy it.
These days, a clean credit record isn't just important if you're shopping for a loan: It could even affect your career. Potential employers, landlords and insurers routinely examine credit reports. "Having a good credit score is far more important now than it ever has been," says Ken McEldowney, executive director of Consumer Action, an education and advocacy group based in San Francisco.
Yet many consumers battling to improve their credit score have found the fight frustrating, costly and even futile. Some pay hundreds of dollars to credit-repair services or adopt strict credit regimens, only to find that their scores won't budge.
That doesn't discourage people like Simon Hernandez, who spends hours each quarter studying his credit report as part of his quest for a score of 750. The 34-year-old Denver respiratory therapist plans to buy a house sometime next year and fears his score in the mid-600s won't get him the best rates. He has two credit cards that he uses for gas and groceries and has sworn off applying for any other type of credit. Despite his diligence, he occasionally sees his score drop for no apparent reason. "I've spent hours looking to see if I'm missing something on my report," he says.
The basic steps to build and maintain a good credit score haven't changed: Pay your bills on time and don't max out your available credit. Payment history accounts for about 35% of the FICO score, while the amounts you owe -- including the number of accounts with balances and the fraction of available credit used on credit cards -- accounts for another 30%. Other factors include the length of credit history and the types of credit used.
Another key step: Get a copy of your credit report. At annualcreditreport.com, you can get a free report from Equifax Inc., Experian Group Ltd. and TransUnion LLC, the main credit-reporting companies that provide records to lenders. (Consumers generally must pay to get their actual FICO scores.) Search reports for mistakes -- more than a quarter of reports contain errors, according to a survey by the U.S. Public Interest Research Group, a Washington-based advocacy group. Dispute errors with the credit bureau as well as the lender. If the lender can't verify the information within 30 days, it will typically be removed from the report.
Also note whether credit-card issuers are reporting a credit limit for your account. Issuers don't always report these limits, and that omission may cause your highest balance on the card to be treated as your limit. That can make it appear as if you're using most of your available credit, dragging down your score.
Consumers shopping for a loan can protect their credit score by moving fast. The FICO system, aiming to distinguish between a search for lots of new credit and comparison shopping for a single loan, ignores all mortgage and auto-loan inquiries made in the 30 days before scoring. If you find a loan within that period, the inquiries won't drag down your score while you're rate shopping.
Some popular strategies to boost credit ratings can actually backfire. While some consumers assume that applying for new credit will raise their available credit and boost their score, "You don't want to increase your limits in a short period of time because that can be a great sign of risk," says Rod Griffin, senior manager of public education at Experian. And though it may seem prudent to close old credit-card accounts that you're not using, that can also sink your score.
New credit-scoring models, meanwhile, are putting new wrinkles into the credit-repair game. Fair Isaac's new FICO 08 scoring model, for example, disregards "authorized user" records when calculating scores. Bottom line: People's credit scores will be affected by cards on which they're named as account holders, not authorized users. Experian and TransUnion plan to offer lenders the new scores in coming months.
Fair Isaac took this action after concerns were raised about credit-repair companies charging consumers to be listed as an authorized user on a credit card of a stranger. The new FICO model means people who have little credit history aside from their authorized-user status should apply for their own cards or get listed as a joint account holder.
Relative to older versions of FICO, the new model also generally places more emphasis on having a variety of credit types, such as installment loans and revolving accounts like credit cards, while increasingly penalizing people who use a big chunk of their available credit. Since the credit bureaus have developed their own scores to compete with FICO, consumers should know which one they are getting when they order their credit score. FICO scores from the three main credit-reporting companies are available at myfico.com.
Some consumers are discovering that all their tinkering is having little effect. Darrell Booker, 30, a database administrator in Richmond, Va., has tried all sorts of strategies to boost his score. Over the past year or so, he has tried to get some late payments removed from his credit report, disputed a paid account that showed up on his credit report as unpaid and paid hundreds of dollars to a company that promised to help him clean up his credit. But the only real boost to his score came when he focused on paying off his credit cards.
"Let me focus on things I know I can totally control," he says, "and that's reducing my debt."
I just read a funny article by Paul Pastore who is a Realtor and a writer for Real Estate journals. He makes an analogy about sellers chasing the real estate market the same way dogs chase a car: in other words they never catch it. He also poses the questions "do sellers think that theirs is the only castle for sale?" Or will the "smell of lilac bushes sway a buyer so much that it will temporarily cause the buyer to forget the competition?"
It is Mr Pastore's opinion that seller must price their property 10% below market value in order to sell promptly and avoid being left in the long line of expired listings. He cautions about getting a property stuck in yesterday's price market.
Taos has currently 270 plus expired listings! Let's stay out of that rut.
The real estate market has slowed across the country. This is not news Homes are still selling- How and Why?
The Top percentage principle states that only a certain number of percentage of homes will sell each month within a specific neighborhood. A house will not sell until it enters into the top percentage of real or perceived "deals". This means that sellers need to price their homes within that "deal" price range in order for it to sell. If a seller does not need to sell right now, he/she may want to get out of the current market.
The homes in the top percentage of good deals should be priced according to what comparable homes have sold for in the last month. Despite what the healines read, the best deals on the market are selling and often selling fast.
If Home shoppers want to become home owners by finding a good deal, they need three things- good help, reasonable expectations and the ability to move quickly.
Visit me on line at Taoshomepage.com or call me at 866-229-7890
Isn't this a great idea!
Celebrate TV Turnoff Week -- Taos Youth & Family Center will host a two-day event filled with activities and games in conjunction with TV-Turnoff Week. This two-day event will take place on Tuesday, April 22nd and Wednesday, April 23rd from 3:00 PM to 5:00 PM at the Taos Youth & Family Center. A banner will be placed on the Taos Youth & Family Center television informing kids about TV-Turnoff and about the activities and games planned for those days. The TV will be turned off the week of April 21st – April 25th. The Youth & Family Center staff is focused on helping children discover other means of entertainment instead of the television. Some of the activities and games that will be offered include: board games, make paper airplanes, drawing, hoola-hoops, jump rope, design your own kaleidoscope and kite. Turn off the TV… lets think, read, create, and do. For more information call Judy Esquibel at 758-4160.
These statistics are for single family homes in the Vista Linda neighborhood.
Actively on the market:19 homes on the market. The average price for these homes is:$453,084.00. The average days on the market are 303.
The number of single family homes sold from 1/1/08 through 4/15/08 was: 3. The average price for the sold properties was: $353,667.00 and the average days on the market was 176.
If you have questions about your home value or your neighborhood, please contact me.
575-758-7890
taoshomepage.com
Understanding how much you can afford is one of the most important steps in home buying. Depending on your individual situation, your budget can affect everything from the neighborhood where you look, to the size of the house and, even what type of financing you choose.
Bear in mind, however, that lenders will look at more than just your income to determine the size of the loan. Likewise, you may find that there are some financing options that can help boost your purchasing power.
What factors are most important to Lenders? Banks and lending institutions will use several criteria to determine how much money they'll agree to lend. These include: Your gross monthly income. Your credit history, the amount of your outstanding debts, your savings or the amount of money you have available for a down payment and closing costs, your choice of mortage, and current interest rates.
Lenders will have many programs to offer you. FHA loans have changed and are a good option for many people. If you don't know how to find a lender, call me and I will help you with your financing search.
If you have more questions, my office number is 575-758-7890 or visit me at taoshomepage.com
Taos is filled with talented and artistic people. Our HIgh School has produced many talented artists. Please note the following request for young artists to submit original art work.
UDALL: DEADLINE FOR CONGRESSIONAL ART COMPETITION APPROACHING
Santa Fe, N.M. - U.S. Representative Tom Udall, D-N.M., today reminded students that the deadline to enter the 2008 Congressional Art Competition -- April 25, 2008 -- is quickly approaching.
Each year high school students from across the nation are invited to submit their original works of art to their Member of Congress for the competition. Student's submissions must be original in concept, and can be in the form of paintings, drawings, collages, prints, photographs or mixed media or computer generated pieces.
"The Congressional Art Competition provides students with an excellent opportunity to show off their artistic abilities," Rep. Udall said. "Each year brings out our state's promising young artists, and the winning artist will have the honor of exhibiting their art for all members of Congress and visitors to the Capitol. I am always amazed at the quality of art our youth produce."
Artwork must be delivered to Rep. Udall's Santa Fe office no later than 4:00 p.m. on Friday, April 25, 2008. The office is located at 811 St. Michaels Drive, Suite 104 in Santa Fe.
The competition is professionally juried and prizes are awarded by local businesses. The first place artwork is transported to Washington, D.C. and hangs in the United States Capitol tunnel for one year. The winning artist is invited to Washington, D.C. in June to be honored at an event with winning artists from all over the country; airfare is provided. The winner will also receive a $5,000 scholarship to the Savannah college of Art and Design.
The judging of the pieces will be held on Saturday, May 3. A formal awards ceremony will be held at 1 p.m., Saturday May 10, 2008 at the Santa Fe Place Mall (formerly Villa Linda Mall) in Santa Fe.
For more information call Michael Lopez or Emily Lynn at (505) 984-8950 or visit Rep. Udall's website at <file://www.tomudall.house.gov> www.tomudall.house.gov and look under Services.
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There are currently 18 active single family listings in the Weimer neighborhood. The average price for these homes is $527,528.00 and the average number of days they have been on the market is 277.
Three homes have sold since January 1, 2008 in this neighborhood. The average price was $457,000.00 and the average days on the market was 447.
If you have questions about your neighborhood, please contact me at: page@taoshomepage.com or call
575-758-7890
A lot of new houses in Taos are constructed with building materials that are not so well known in other parts of the country. I thought it would be helpful to describe some of these materials.
Adobe: Brick made of mud, sand and straw are stacked like regular bricks. This material is great at keeping temperature on an even keel. The use of adobe is labor intensive but does add value to a home.
Pumice: A low density concrete made with a pumice aggregate. Insulates well and is pured wet into a form. When the material dries it offered good strength and insulation.
Rastra: Is a lightweight recylcled polystyrene material. It is formed into building blocks that are clamped together and filled with concret. It is great for insulatin, soundproofing and fire protection. Rastra is also easy to install.
Strawbale: Bales of Straw are stacked and held together with rebar. The walls are thick and have good insulation.
Recycled tires, bottles and cans: Many "earthships are made from recycled materials such as tires which are packed with dirt to create a wall. The walls are created and then plastered. Insulation is good because of the thickness of the wall.
A farmer (or any land owner) in Taos County can make a charitable contribution of a conservation easement to Taos Land Trust, still use or sell the land and still get a state income tax credit of up to $250,000. There are some restrictions on development of the land. Check out Andy Dennison's article in the latest Taos News. This is a huge benefit to those who want or need to participate. It also limits development in Taos County and saves some open spaces.
The following are statistics for single family homes in the Upper Colonias area of Taos.
Active on market: 15 homes on the market
Average list price of these 15 homes: $582,700
Average days on the market to date: 322
Sold from January 1, 2008 through April 10, 2008:
One home sold at a price of $587,000. This home was on the market for 463 days.
If you would like information about your neighborhood or what your home is worth, please contact me.
Page Sullivan
575-758-7890
taoshomepage.com
Neighborhood real estate statistics for single-family homes in El Salto, New Mexico:
Active listings: 8
Average list price: $1,710,250
Average days on the market to date: 395
Sold between 1/1/08 and 4/8/08: 0
Number of pending sales in El Salto: 1
To find the value of your home in El Salto, please contact me:
Page Sullivan
575-758-7890
taoshomepage.com
Taos Realtors rely heavily on the internet and on our web pages to present properties that are for sale to the public. As one web "guru" says, " A pretty website is just not going to get the attention of the web viewers." Websites have to have important content and be user friendly. It is hard to get all the facets of Taos incorporated into one website. Many Realtors will focus their websites on a particular aspect that is of interest to them.
There are sites that specialize in the art community or in outdoor activities. Some real estate sites have school information or community calendars. Some agents want to work with first-time home buyers, and their websites will have information that is useful for those buyers. You can get almost any information about Taos and Taos real estate by searching the internet for topics related to Taos. What you can't get is a really personal experience of the beautiful blue skies and the amazing mountains. For that you will have to come out and see for yourself.