Real Estate Information Archive

A perfectly pleasant trip to the Artist Market at the Santa Fe Plaza.

First a little shopping...

A stop to listen to some good street musicians...

And then tacos...

Another wonderful day in Santa Fe! Not a cloud in the sky, a light breeze, good art, and a vibrant atmosphere. Interested in Santa Fe Real Estate? Give me a call.

Susan Orth
Certified Residential Specialist (CRS)
City Different Realty

Phone: 505-310-4133
Email: SantaFe@SusanOrth.com

SantaFeHomeStore.com
Santa Fe Homes
Santa Fe Real Estate Podcast

When looking to move to a new place, you often think to look for qualities like recreation, education, transportation, vocation, etc. Santa Fe Real Estate has all of these qualities, in spades. But not often does the mind wander to the air quality of a place. Well in case you were curious, Santa Fe has got that quality in the bag too.

Santa Fe was rated number 2 in the Top 25 Cleanest U.S. Cities for Year Round Particle Pollution by the American Lung Association. Most cities are polluted with a noxious mix of chemicals and particles that can damage your lungs and even shorten your life.

The average adult takes 15 to 20 breaths a minute. Your nose, throat, windpipe and lungs brings air into the body with every breath. Once in the lungs, the oxygen from each breath is taken into the bloodstream and sent to all of your body's cells. So it goes without saying how important it is to keep these breaths of air as clean as possible.

Bad Air = Bad Health = Short Life.

World-renowned art, museums, attractions, breathtaking beauty - Santa Fe Real Estate has a lot of great qualities. But when all is said and done, breaths of fresh air might be one of its most valuable assets.

If you are looking to move to a "City Different" that offers a breath of fresh air, please give me a call. I can help you find a beautiful Santa Fe home, in the midst of the mountains, where you can breath in nothing but clean, chemical-free air.

Susan Orth
Certified Residential Specialist (CRS)
City Different Realty

Phone: 505-310-4133
Email: SantaFe@SusanOrth.com
SantaFeHomeStore.com
My Featured Properties
Santa Fe Real Estate Podcast

When somebody sees Santa Fe for the first time, they are often enthralled with its steep desert canyons, soaring mountains, broad mesas and colorful vistas. Nobody can deny Santa Fe's beauty. Which gives Santa Fe's residents even more reason to keep it beautiful.

Keep Santa Fe Beautiful is a nonprofit volunteer program dedicated to environmental education, litter awareness and prevention programs. This Saturday, August 21st, Keep Santa Fe Beautiful is joining forces with The City of Santa Fe and Albuquerque Recycling Inc. to host E-Waste Recycling Drop Off Day. The event will be held from 9 am - 1 pm.

This one day only event is your chance to finally get rid of all of the electrical equipment that no longer works or you no longer use, but you can't bring yourself to throw away.

The following items are accepted:

•    Televisions ($10 disposal fee per TV)
•    Computers, servers and laptops
•    Computer components and equipment such as keyboards, mice, wires, cables
•    Flat screen monitors
•    Old-style CRT computer monitors ($5 disposal fee per CRT Monitor)
•    Printers and scanners
•    Fax machines
•    Telephones and cell phones
•    Palm Pilots and hand-held electronic devices
•    Lead Acid Batteries, computer back-up batteries, UPS batteries
•    TV satellite equipment
•    VCRs and CD players
•    Stereo equipment
•    Computer and TV game assemblies
•    Cameras and video cameras

The event will be held at 1142 Siler Road. Call 505-955-2215 for more information of email sfbeauful@santafenm.gov.

Keep Santa Fe Beautiful is just one of many organizations that encourage environmental awareness. A few other notable ones include Concerned Citizens for Nuclear Safety, the New Mexico Environmental Law Center, the Quivira Coalition, and the Earth Works Institute. Its hard not to notice or care for your environment when you are surrounded by such beauty all the time. A home in the midst of the soaring mountains and colorful vistas is not impossible. If you are interested in Santa Fe Real Estate, please visit my website or give me a call.

Susan Orth
Certified Residential Specialist (CRS)
City Different Realty

Phone: 505-310-4133
Email: SantaFe@SusanOrth.com
SantaFeHomeStore.com
My Featured Properties
Santa Fe Real Estate Podcast

It's a pretty amazing feeling to live in a place that is consistently ranked in Travel magazines as "The Best" or the "The Top." Santa Fe's most recent notoriety made it to not just one U.S. News and World Report list, but two.

Ranked #3 in Best Relaxing Getaways in the USA 2010

Noted for its abundance of outdoor and indoor activities, specifically art gallery hopping, boutique shopping and spa treatments. This is a picture of Eldorado Hotel & Spa. In true Santa Fe form, this spa reflrects the Southwestern heritage through the use of essential earth elements and ancient healing techniques.

Ranked #10 in Best U.S. Luxury Destinations 2010

With Santa Fe's arts and culture scene being one of the biggest in the country, luxury is inevitable. Museums, galleries and fine dining all come together to create one magnificent destination. This photo is of Terra Restaurant at Encantado Resort. One of the best culinary experiences in Santa Fe, and definitely one of the most luxurious.

Just because other people view the City Different as a vacation destination, doesn't mean that it isn't also an amazing place to live. Relaxation and luxury should be qualities that enter your every day life. If you are interested in exploring Santa Fe Real Estate, I would love to be the one to introduce you to it.

Susan Orth
Certified Residential Specialist (CRS)
City Different Realty

Phone: 505-310-4133
Email: SantaFe@SusanOrth.com
SantaFeHomeStore.com
My Featured Properties
Santa Fe Real Estate Podcast

Living in Santa Fe means embracing its "market" culture.  From farmers' markets to art markets, Santa Fe was made for these kinds of cultural exchanges. The Santa Fe Farmers' Market is proud to be New Mexico's largest farmers' market and of the most widely recognized markets in the United States. With its unique offerings, community dedication and year-round availability, it is truly unlike any other farmers' market in the country.

Santa Fe holds some very high standards for its Farmers' Market, which may be what contributes to its success. Rule #1 - 100% products sold by its vendors are locally grown. Rule #2 - Craft items must use at least 80% of local ingredients and materials. Rule #3 - Only the people who grow and produce the products may sell the products.

If you're not convinced yet that Santa Fe has the very best Farmers' Market around, then maybe this will drive it home. CNN rated the Santa Fe Farmers Market in the top 10 in America's Best Farmers' Markets.

According to CNN, every region's farmers' market is known for that one distinctive food. For Santa Fe, it's our chili peppers. We boast the country's most diverse collection of chilies - which proves very important once we bring our loot from New Mexico market to New Mexico kitchen for some real southwestern cooking.

Tuesday and Saturday Farmers' Markets
Place: The Railyard
Time: 7 am - Noon

New Mexico Artisans Market
Place: The Railyard
Day: Every Sunday
Time: 10 am - 4 pm

New Thursday Farmers' Markets
Place: The Railyard
Time: 3 pm - 7 pm

New Tuesday Southside Market
Place: San Ysidro Plaza
Time: 3 pm - 6:30 pm

Also check out the Upcoming Special Event...

Cook with the Chef
Event: Area chefs feature their signature dishes, emphasizing the season and ingredients that are available locally (like at your Farmers Market!) and perform cooking demonstrations for the public.
Place: The Railyard
Day: Every Thursday
Time: 5:30 - 6:30 pm

Santa Fe Indian Market
August 21-22
This may not be a Farmers' Market, but it is the ultimate art market - not just for Santa Fe, but for the entire nation of Native artists. 80 years going strong, the Santa Fe Indian Market has become the world's largest and most highly acclaimed Native American arts show and New Mexico's largest attended annual event. These great artists come from all sides of the country to gather in Santa Fe's Plaza, which often becomes the setting for getting "discovered."

Santa Fe is the perfect place for a Market of any kind - food, craft or otherwise. When one thinks of a market, they envision an open atmosphere, neighbors conversing, fresh local produce, and an inviting environment. This is essentially what Santa Fe is all about. If you are interested in Santa Fe Real Estate, please give me a call today. I would love help you discover what life could be like.

Susan Orth
Certified Residential Specialist (CRS)
City Different Realty

Phone: 505-310-4133
Email: SantaFe@SusanOrth.com
SantaFeHomeStore.com
My Featured Properties
Santa Fe Real Estate Podcast

Whether you realize it or not, New Mexico is well respected for its wine and has a deep-rooted history in wine making. While many people associate California as wine country, it is actually New Mexico that is the oldest wine-producing state in the nation. 140 years before California's first vineyards were even planted, Spanish monks smuggled vine cuttings into New Mexico.

By 1804, wine was one of New Mexico's top three exports. Vineyards stretched from Bernalillo to Socorro. Unfortunately, the turn of the century brought repeated flooding to the Rio Grande, destroying vineyards. Prohibition only further drove the fall of New Mexico's wine industry.

1978 was another turning point, but this time in the right direction. Today, New Mexico is home to 42 wineries and tasting rooms and produces 700,000 gallons of wine a year.

Maybe you are just considering Santa Fe Real Estate, or maybe you have lived in New Mexico all your life. Either way, experiencing its wine is like re-visiting its history. The following are a few of Santa Fe's best wine vendors:

Vino Del Corazon Wine Room
235 Don Gaspar Ave, Santa Fe, New Mexico 87501
At the center of Santa Fe's Historic shopping and Arts District, the Vino Del Corazon tasting room offers a charming and comfortable atmosphere. Try their spicy "Santa Fe Siesta Red" or their soft and fruity "Beso Blush."

La Boca
72 W. Marcy Street, Santa Fe, NM 87503
It may be a tapas bar, but it has an extensive wine selection. From Spanish, to Argentinia, Italy, to France - they have wines from all different regions that perfectly pair with their amazing tapas.

Estrella Del Norte Vineyard
106 N Shining Sun, Santa Fe, NM 87506
Located about 20 minutes north of Santa Fe, this small vineyard offers a wide variety of wine that they grow, make and sell. The wine tasting room is set in a European style garden and orchard, completing the tasting experience.

For more information on all of the amazing amenities, events, and discoveries of Santa Fe, don't hesitate to contact me. It's impossible to run out of things to do and places to go in this fantastic city I call home. If you contact me, I can help you call Santa Fe home too.

Susan Orth
Certified Residential Specialist (CRS)
City Different Realty

Phone: 505-310-4133
Email: SantaFe@SusanOrth.com
SantaFeHomeStore.com
My Featured Properties
Santa Fe Real Estate Podcast

Santa Fe, New Mexico proudly ranked in the top ten most popular and affordable places in America to retire!  Climate, recreation and hobbies, cost of living, and convenience strongly influence the decisions of most later-life moves.  So what are the most popular locations?

     1. Bend, Ore.
     2. Napa, Calif.
     3. Fort Meyers, Fla.
     4. Fayetteville, Ark.
     5. Las Vegas
     6. Sante Fe, N.M.**
     7. Punta Gorda, Fla.
     8. Phoenix
     9. Santa Cruz, Calif.
     10.Burlington, Vt.

The best place for you to retire, however, and the order of priorities will completely unique.  While this list provides an idea of where the greater retirement population is settling, you’ll want to evaluate your own personal preferences and rank each item’s importance level. Coming in at number 6 on the list with 20% growth in the 50+ population is our own Sante Fe!

So why are retirees choosing the Land of Enchantment?  Artistic foundations, world-class dining, shopping, high air quality, gorgeous views, and warm temperatures are strong enough arguments to entice anyone!  Santa Fe is very popular among active members of the retirement community, with vibrant culture, friendly people, and outdoor activities year-round. In addition to the quality of life, the average list price range is an affordable $350,000- $415,000.  

Safely in the middle, Sante Fe may not be the most affordable, but gladly it has so much more to offer!  Justified by sunshine, recreation, art, fine Santa Fe real estate, and an overall fine quality of life, more and more retirees are finding Sante Fe worth the move!  If you’re thinking of relocating to Santa Fe, contact me today for more information on the ‘City Different’ and Santa Fe real estate!

Susan Orth
Certified Residential Specialist (CRS)
City Different Realty

Phone: 505-310-4133
Email: SantaFe@SusanOrth.com
SantaFeHomeStore.com
My Featured Properties
Santa Fe Real Estate Podcast

The beauty of living in a city like Santa Fe, New Mexico, is the availability of arts, theater, and culture right at your fingertips. While most people would die for a trip to a world-class opera house, Santa Fe has one right in their backyard.

The Santa Fe Opera is recognized as one of the world's leading cultural festivals. Imagine a state-of-the-art adobe theater set against a backdrop of the high desert landscape - a beautiful fusion of nature and art - and you have the Santa Fe Opera House. Located just five minutes north of downtown Santa Fe, the Opera is housed on a 99 acre property with sweeping views of the Sangre de Cristo and Jemez Mountains.

More than 1,600 performances of nearly 140 different operas, 9 world premiers and 40 American premieres - all held at this one-of-a-kind theater. Conductor John Crosby's vision was to provide American singers with an opportunity to perform in a setting that allowed ample time to prepare each and every production. With its laid back personality, tranquil setting and passion for the arts, Santa Fe was the perfect city for such a novel concept.

Open for the months of July and August, it is one of the best places to spend your time in Santa Fe. Here are a few more things to add to your list of things to do this summer in Santa Fe…

The Santa Fe Opera Backstage Tours
Available: May 31-August 28
When: 9 a.m., Monday - Saturday
A docent-led, hour long sneak peak of what goes on behind the scenes of one or Santa Fe's world-class productions. Its open air stage requires hundreds of behind-the-scenes visionaries and stage hands to create the magic of the opera. Along with that, there are no curtains on the stage, so all scenery and cast changes must be built in to the production. Find out all the little secrets of the Santa Fe Opera, which is sure to lead you to an even greater appreciation for this theater.

The Tales of Hoffman
An Offenback masterpiece and never before seen in Santa Fe, this production is a must see. A poet duels with the deceitful Councilor Lindorf over the opera star Stella. Starring Tenor Paul Groves, conducted by Stephen Lord, and directed by Chirtopher Alden.

Madame Butterfly
Even the most unseasoned Opera-goer has heard of the highly regarded Madame Butterfly. There is no better time to catch this classic than at the Santa Fe Opera. Kelly Kaduce stars as Puccini's heroine Cio-Cio-San, while Antony Walker and Lee Blakely debut as conductor and stage director.

The Magic Flute
The romantic story of how the powers of music and love trump evil, this is Mozart's ultimate opera. Enough said. Sold out in 2006, you will want to get your tickets for this one now. Joshua Hopkins and Andrea Silvestrelli star as Papgeno and Sarastro, while Lawrence Renes serves as the valiant conductor.

An avid Opera-goer myself, I look forward to the opera season in Santa Fe.  Did I mention tailgating?  You need to get there early for a spot in the upper parking lot.  Fine food, wine, champagne and watch as the sun sets in the gorgeous skies.   With Madame Butterfly checked off my list, my next stop is the Magic Flute.   I can't help but appreciate living in Santa Fe when I attend productions at this fantastic opera house. You too can live in such a place. Just give me a call if you'd like to look at some Santa Fe real estate. Always happy to answer any questions, even if it's just  my review of the Opera.

Susan Orth
Certified Residential Specialist (CRS)
City Different Realty

Phone: 505-310-4133
Email: SantaFe@SusanOrth.com
SantaFeHomeStore.com
My Featured Properties
Santa Fe Real Estate Podcast

Aldea, New Mexico is a special community that deserves to be called to attention. For those of you thinking about Santa Fe Real Estate, a home in Aldea may be just what you are looking for…

Aldea translates to "small village" and, in the truest sense of the word, it is. A village is defined as a small group of dwellings in a rural area, and is often thought of as an older, historical town. When people think "village" they think community, pedestrian, natural environment. In all actuality, it is a modern residential community that took strategic planning to create the rustic exterior that it emits, but the result was something incredible.

The community layout was based on traditional Colonial towns. Designed by world renowned architect, Andres Duany, Aldea was inspired by a movement called New Urbanism. The intention of New Urbanism is to create communities that are designed to encourage human interaction in an inviting public realm, all while incorporating the traditions and habits of communities throughout history that have proven successful in the past.

Living in Aldea means not being dependent on automobiles, and instead depending on your bicycle or your feet to get you from home to store to work - which are never too far apart. It is located within close enough reach of the amenities and city life of Santa Fe, but far enough so that when you are there, its as though you are miles from civilization. The landscape is rugged, the air is fresh, and the signs of nature are all around.

Living in Aldea means not keeping your neighbors at a distance, but easily within reach, to encourage a closer knit community. Community meetings, neighborhood gatherings, exercise classes and conferences are all held at the Community Building.

Living in Aldea means not calling attention to trophy houses, but instead to the breathtaking streetscapes, open spaces, numerous pocket parks, and rolling foothills. Homes surround a central commercial and civic plaza, and the town itself was built on a series of dramatic ridges. This gives way for breathtaking views of the surrounding mountains.

Living in Aldea may not be for everybody. But I can guarantee you that if you desire to live a stress-free lifestyle, where mountain views and rugged landscape are not just something that you see on a postcard, but a scene regularly available from your backyard, then Aldea is for you. If I have piqued your interest in Aldea New Mexico Real Estate, then give me a call. Even if it's just to see for yourself this seemingly imaginary village that is fast becoming one of Santa Fe's hidden gems.

Susan Orth
Certified Residential Specialist (CRS)
City Different Realty

Phone: 505-310-4133
Email: SantaFe@SusanOrth.com
SantaFeHomeStore.com
My Featured Properties
Santa Fe Real Estate Podcast

And it keeps snowing in Santa Fe...I love it... if it is going to be winter we might as well get the whole package! The scent of burnt pinon floating in the air, birds crowding the feeder out in the garden, the hot tub working over time under crisp, starry skies.

Isabella Luconi

City Different Realty

Phone: 505-670-2224
Email: Isabella@IsabellaLuconi.com
SantaFeHomeStore.com
My Featured Properties
Santa Fe Real Estate Podcast