Living in Santa Fe Blog

Broker Spotlight: Stefan Lark

“After 30 years, I am still deeply in love with Santa Fe”

Real estate runs deep in Stefan’s veins. “Both of my parents were real estate brokers for 45 years and I lived it every day growing up!” In his 20s, Stefan began his real estate career with a developer in San Antonio, TX, for whom he managed commercial building projects for 9 years. In 1988, because of the S&L crisis, Stefan moved to Santa Fe. He explains, “One day the developer I worked for had projects and the very next day they didn’t because the banks weren’t financing any more.”

Stefan remembers his first year in Santa Fe as being so much fun! “Honestly, I said I would stay in Santa Fe for a year, and here I am 30 years later! While I was beginning my career in mortgage lending, I…

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Your Santa Fe Real Estate New Year’s Resolutions

The new year is just days away! In between wrapping presents and planning holiday activities, you may be thinking about resolutions for 2019. As Santa Fe’s home-grown realty, we think real estate 365 days a year—and with that in mind, it’s a great time to offer some New Year’s resolutions you might want to adopt to help you achieve your real estate goals. For instance:

Save for a Down Payment

If you’re in the market for buying real estate in the near future, make it a top priority to start saving for a down payment. Whether it’s your first foray into home buying or not, it’s always a good idea to save in advance.

Get Pre-Qualified for a Mortgage

It’s the first step in the mortgage…

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Four Stunning Christmas Events In & Around Santa Fe

Fireworks at Taos Ski Valley

Just taking in the sights of a magical desert city in the winter, you could get a lifetime of Instagram posts from an afternoon spent downtown. But you might miss something if you just head out and start walking, so here are some suggestions for planning your Christmas week in the Land of Enchantment.

Take in the Lights

Every major city has a sort of a signature visual. You can take a picture and crop it down to the size of a postage stamp, and if we see neon lights against the night sky, we’ll know we’re looking at Las Vegas. If we see yellow with a checkered pattern, we’ll think New York City. London has its fog and Philadelphia has its beautiful old brick…

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Broker Spotlight: Natalie Rivera Benavent

“What drives me is to be the best I can possibly be”

From Merchant Marine ship captain to a successful career in real estate, Natalie’s life has most definitely been interesting! Born and raised in Puerto Rico, Natalie enrolled at the Texas Maritime Academy aged 17, and spent the next 18 years sailing the world. She advanced from the lowest ship’s officer rank to becoming Captain of her own ship. “I’ve done stuff,” Natalie laughs. “As Master I managed multicultural crews, people from different ethnicities, religions, and customs — literally a tinderbox, and my job was to make sure no fuses were lit …while making money for the company of course.”

Natalie’s interest in real estate came from buying and selling properties in various locales while…

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Skiing in Santa Fe: Looking to be a Great Season!

Tis the Season to Shred!

While the mountain and the fun hasn’t changed from last year the most important ingredient decided to show up for the 2018/2019 season: SNOW!

Opening day for 2018 has more terrain open than all of the season last year. That’s great news and not just for powder-chasers: our beautiful forest and aquifer depend on it. Currently, 76% of the trails are open and conditions have been great.

With more than a half-foot more snow expected this weekend, it’s looking to be a great year!

See you on the slopes!

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Top 10 What We’re Thankful for in Santa Fe

Thanksgiving is a time for being with family and friends—and for being grateful for the blessings each day brings. The nature lover and essayist Henry David Thoreau once wrote, “I am grateful for what I am and have. My thanksgiving is perpetual.” Surrounded by the beauty of the mountains and populated by a welcoming and creative community, Santa Fe inspires a spirit of everlasting thankfulness.

As we celebrate the Thanksgiving holiday, we’re sharing our Top Ten list of what we’re thankful for—today and always. Happy Thanksgiving to you and your family!

1. Our Real Estate Community and Clients.

We’re thankful and proud to serve the Santa Fe community. The Barker family has roots in Santa Fe that…

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See a Play in Santa Fe

The theater scene in Santa Fe is one of our best-kept secrets. The City Different is home to stage productions that attract local residents on opening night and at every performance. Along with great cuisine and a spectacular natural setting, Santa Fe arts and culture count as another reason people look for homes here.

Theatre Santa Fe, the city’s theater board, is a clearing house where you can find venues and a calendar for terrific performances all year round. They also host an annual theater walk in September. This consists of about 20 theaters staging scenes across multiple venues all on the same day. Like going to a beer tasting, it’s a fun way to sample theater without seeing an entire…

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Outdoors or the Arts? The Great Santa Fe Debate

Santa Fe seems to exist in its own little universe. When you’re here, the rest of the world seems to fade away.

And we’re not just talking about the enchanting vibe of New Mexico culture, this is scientifically provable: The elevation in Santa Fe is high enough so that gravity is actually lighter here than it would be in a coastal city. Okay, maybe not by much, but that may be part of the reason why New Mexico can feel like its own cozy little planet whether you’re an indoorsy or outdoorsy type. Of course, the question remains—are the cultural landmarks or outdoor attractions the bigger draw in Santa Fe?

Some Of Our Favorite Outdoor Attractions

Ski Santa Fe

Of course we had to…

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Broker Spotlight: Peter Van Ness

“Santa Fe and I have evolved and matured together”

Peter’s eyes shine when he says, “I love that every day I wake up, life is an adventure. It’s exciting to me!” From growing up in Lake Forest, Illinois, a suburb of Chicago, to adventuring through Europe, Mexico and Guatemala, Peter’s zest for life is apparent.

After a brief stint living in San Francisco, Peter decided he was definitely not a ‘city boy’ and moved to Santa Fe 45 years ago. “I simply love everything about living in Santa Fe! I have evolved as the town has evolved over these many years. Santa Fe has become more sophisticated, and I have matured along with it — you might say the town and I have grown up together!” Peter and his wife Mary have lived in Tesuque for the past 31 years…

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Detour to Santa Fe at the Albuquerque Balloon Fiesta

Hot-air balloons are a charming oddity in the modern world. Once upon a time, balloons filled with hot air were used by the Chinese military to signal the troops with a small airborne lantern. In 1700s France, pre-airplane “aeronauts” took to ballooning as an early means of flight.

The balloon was never the most practical means of transport, of course. And yet, balloons persist as a hobby and a tradition, especially here in Santa Fe, where fall just doesn’t feel like fall without the Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta. This year’s Balloon Fiesta will take place October 6 through 14.

If You’re Going to Albuquerque

Ballooning is leisurely, Zen-like. You don’t take a balloon up when you’re…

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