As the end of the year approaches, it’s a good time to pause and reflect on the past year, taking note of all that I am grateful for in 2011. Although it was a difficult year for the economy, the real estate market and homeowners trying to sell their properties, this past year created many opportunities for The Ave, and for me, personally.

Here’s to a New Year filled with much joy, many blessings and opportunities for growth!

*I am grateful for another year of servicing New Mexico and the cities of Santa Fe, Albuquerque, Rio Rancho, and Cochiti Lake, Northern New Mexico and Southern Colorado.

*I am grateful for the friends we have made and the people we were able to help.

*I am grateful for prosperity and the creativity and creation process in business, as well as my personal life.

*I am grateful for the support of good team members and the ability to be in such a peaceful and safe place in the world.

*I am grateful for all the time I was able to spend working in Colorado in Pagosa Springs and Durango, the Four Corners, Eagle’s Nest, Carlsbad, and my time in Phoenix, Nevada.

*I am grateful for the time I spent in service to the charities I work with, and my time on the boards for the Center for Spiritual Living- High Desert and One World Peace Foundation.

*I am grateful for my time working with Orenda International.

*I am grateful for my time studying and playing at Bodhi in Lincoln Park and Chicago, Illinois.

*I am grateful for my health and body, and for my family, friends and loved ones. I am grateful for the blessing of the four-legged friends I have in my life.

*I am grateful for the ability to wake up and find a smile quickly in the mornings.

*I am grateful for the hope of a new and better day tomorrow.

*I am grateful to all of you, for your friendship, support and business!

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We’ve compiled a list of the 10 Top Reasons Why Your House is Still on the Market from information provided by a variety of real estate sources.

1. House Looks Too Lived In
Worn carpets, old paint, faded upholstery, dirty floors and other unattractive features will turn off any buyer, even if your house has a gorgeous design and mountain views. Buyers tend to be in the market for something in mint condition, so be sure everything’s in tip top shape to get the highest price and a fast sale.

2. Unappealing Photos
If your MLS photos are dark and unattractive, potential buyers will look right past them as they search online, as more and more people are doing these days. Be sure to have quality photos that show off the appeal of your home in every shot.

3. House is Too Cluttered
If your house is a jumble of stuff, from books and toys to magazines and newspapers, it’s time for a spring cleaning. It’s hard to imagine living in your house if it’s jammed with collectibles, trinkets and bric-a-brac, and this will prevent any sales from happening.

4. What’s On the Outside is Important, Too
Your front lawn and back yard are just as important to any buyer as the interior of your house. Get rid of weeds, toys, garden maintentance equipment and any other unsightly items laying around. Plant flowers to add color, and set up patio furniture to make the area look attractive and enticing.

5. Don’t Showcase Your Life
It’s hard to envision living in a house that’s filled with photographs, mementos, portraits and other items that belong to you. Make sure you remove those obvious traces of your personal life, so that potential buyers can see a house that reflects their lives, not yours. Consider hiring a home stager to showcase your house at its very best!

6. Take Advantage of an Array of Marketing Techniques
There are many ways you can advertise your house for sale, so be sure to maximize this resource. Advertising in newspapers and on craigslist, creating “For Sale” brochures and postcards, hosting Open Houses, joining Home Tours and creating a website are just some of the available ad tools.

7. Adjust the Price
If you’re trying to sell your house immediately, you may consider lowering the price so it better reflects current market conditions. This may be difficult if you’re trying to pay off a mortgage or you’re working off of neighborhood valuations, but it’s a sure fire way to increase offers if you need to sell now.

8. Be Flexible
If you’re not open and available to having potential buyers view your house at their convenience, you will lose potential sales.

9. Make Sure You’re Working with the Right Agent
An agent who doesn’t return phone calls, doesn’t explain how the process works, doesn’t use enough marketing tools or makes it hard for other agents to show your home isn’t an agent you want to be working with. You want them to have your best interests at heart. And, once you’ve chosen an agent, don’t leave it at that. You want to monitor their performance and keep in touch with what they are doing to sell your property.

10. If You’re in a Bad Location, Offer Incentives
Location, Location, Location! We’ve all heard that adage. Even If you have a mansion, if it’s located in an unattractive neighborhood, it’s going to be very hard to sell it for what you think it’s worth. You can use foliage to restrict the views of neighboring houses and to dampen the noise from nearby freeways and roads, but you might have to come up with other incentives to sell your house such as a lower price, a lease option with credit and seller financing.

For more information about real estate, visit www.theavesantafe.com

This lovely home of outstanding character and style is located off Old Pecos Trail, a gateway to Santa Fe. Fine details and unique finishes represent a pairing of East with Old World West, from Middle Eastern columns and antique doors and vanities to rustic hand-hewn barn beams and planks worked into the interior ceilings and exterior portal, a dramatic entry gallery, a stamped tin kitchen ceiling, custom cabinetry and slate and travertine tile floors.

This three bedroom, two bath custom home also features two custom hand-cut stone fireplaces, granite slab counters, hand trowel plaster walls, skylights, radiant heat, stainless appliances and an outdoor pool. Relax on the gorgeous outdoor portal and enjoy the beautifully landscaped yard and the sunset and mountain views. Sun and Moon Mountains are practically in your back yard.

The open floor plans offers a desirable layout of bedrooms, eat-in kitchen, formal dining area and private master bedroom with en suite bath, whirlpool tub, walk-in shower and closet. On the practical side, the oversized two-car garage contains built-in cabinets and workbench, laundry room and environmental water system.

For more information about the neighborhood where this property is located, visit theavesantafe.com/communities/santa-fe-communities-se-santa-fe.htm and http://theavesantafe.com/communities/santa-fe-communities-se-of-santa-fe.htm. Old Santa Fe Trail runs through both of these areas.

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The South Capitol neighborhood lies south of the Capitol Building, known as the Roundhouse. Building styles in this historic area were influenced by outside building supplies and tastes brought to Santa Fe via the railroad, including Territorial, Pueblo Revival, Craftsman and Victorian homes. Newer construction leans more toward Southwest contemporary. Homes are built of adobe, brick and framed stucco.

South Capitol is an art lover’s mecca, with the Center for Contemporary Arts, The Children’s Museum and the Armory for the Arts. It is within walking distance of most downtown Santa Fe neighborhoods, including the Railyard District, the Plaza and Canyon Road.

Many longtime restaurants are located in the South Capitol, including Back Street Bistro, the Santa Fe Baking Company, Sage Bakehouse and Vinaigrette. Grocery stores in the area include Kaune’s, a locally owned business, as well as Trader Joe’s and Whole Foods. There’s even a business devoted to wellness and fitness, Body, which includes a spa, excercise center and a cafe.

For more info about South Capitol, visit http://theavesantafe.com/communities/santa-fe-communities-south-capitol.htm.

To see listings of properties for sale in Santa Fe, go to http://theavesantafe.com/santa-fe-featured-properties-homes/listingIndexResidential1.htm.

We recently closed on a beautiful, Pueblo-style condo located at 501 Rio Grande, on Rosario Hill. This two-story property includes two bedrooms and three bathrooms, along with a kitchen filled with stainless steel appliances and granite counters. There’s also an outdoor deck with city and mountain views, a kiva fireplace in the living room, vigas and travertine tile.

This residence is exemplary of the kinds of houses that The Ave represents – full of quality, luxury, beauty and comfort. To see more, visit our list of featured properties at: www.theavesantafe.com

The Rio Grande condo lies in northeast Santa Fe, which begins on the north side of the Plaza and follows the arteries of Old Taos Highway, Bishop’s Lodge Road and Artist / Hyde Park Road. Northeast Santa Fe is a picturesque part of town, with scenic drives that take you up into the Sangre de Cristo mountains, the foothills of the Rockies.

In the fall, the ski basin fills up with golden aspen trees and in winter, it’s covered in snow. Ski Santa Fe is located 15 miles up Hyde Park Road, and Hyde Memorial State Park is at mile marker 7. Ten Thousand Waves, a Japanese-style spa that is perfect for après-ski relaxing, is at mile marker 1.

Back in town, Fort Marcy Park is where Zozobra burns every September, around the corner from North Dale Ball Trails and Ghost Ranch Santa Fe, a conference center. You can’t miss the Scottish Rite Temple at the corner of Paseo de Peralta and Bishop’s Lodge Road. Completed in 1911, the building was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1987.

For more information about northeast Santa Fe, go to http://www.theavesantafe.com/communities/santa-fe-communities-ne-santa-fe.htm.

Santa Fe’s Canyon Road is the heart of the city’s vibrant art scene. A mile-long stretch of art galleries, studios, shops, restaurants and private residences, Canyon Road is a favorite place for visitors and tourists alike.

Friday nights feature gallery openings, where you can meet the artists, view new works and enjoy food and beverages as well as live music. The galleries are world renowned, offering Southwestern and European as well as Native American, folk, abstract, expressionist and impressionist art. You’ll view sculpture, photography, ceramics, wearable art, jewelry and more. The diversity and abundance of art on Canyon Road, as well as in other parts of the city, make Santa Fe the third largest art market in the country.

Canyon Road also offers fine dining at Geronimo, The Compound, a James Beard- Award-winning restaurant, and The Teahouse, which serves more than 150 varieties of exotic tea and delicious entrees and baked goods. You’ll also find excellent shopping, with boutiques and one-of-a-kind shops full of unique items made only in Santa Fe.

Canyon Road is one of the city’s most desirable neighborhoods. Many of the houses are historic, made of adobe, and feature Santa Fe Style elements. This picturesque street is lined with farolitos on Christmas Eve for the famous Canyon Road Farolito Walk, one of Santa Fe’s most beloved holiday traditions. Thousands of holiday revelers walk Canyon Road, singing Christmas carols, greeting old friends and new, and ringing in the holiday with Christmas cheer.

For  more information about Canyon Road, visit http://www.theavesantafe.com/communities/santa-fe-communities-santa-fe-canyon-road.htm

Info about homes for less than $600,000:  http://www.theavesantafe.com/city-of-santa-fe-canyon-road-homes1/listingIndexResidential1.htm

Info about homes for $600,000 and higher: http://www.theavesantafe.com/city-of-santa-fe-canyon-road-homes2/listingIndexResidential1.htm

The community of Eldorado, located on Highway 285 about 10 miles southeast of Santa Fe, has nearly 6,000 residents and about 2,5000 homes. All lots have at least one acre, and some have as many as four acres.

The terrain is a mix of native grasses, junipers and pinons with stunning, surrounding views of the Jemez, Sandia and Ortiz mountains.

Eldorado contains a community center,with tennis courts, basketball courts, a chlorine-free swimming pool, a soccer field and a stable area. Residents also enjoy a public library, a fire station and two shopping centers offering a full grocery store, restaurants, a mail center, a gym, a pharmacy and more. Eldorado’s 4,000 acres of open space include biking and walking trails. Eldorado is also known for its excellent schools,

Eldorado occupies the Canada de Los Alamos Land Grant, a Spanish land grant dating back to 1785. Native Americans once lived and hunted in the area and established small homes and pueblos that lasted until about 1325, when a serious drought forced them to abandon the area. Pueblo Alamo once thrived here, but was destroyed by construction of I-25. Pueblo Walls remains undisturbed on private, undeveloped land.

The Eldorado Arts and Crafts Association hosts an annual studio tour in mid-May, featuring more than 100 artists who work in painting, photography, sculpture, jewelry, ceramics, wearable art and more.

For more info about Eldorado, visit http://theavesantafe.com/communities/santa-fe-communities-eldorado-at-santa-fe.htm

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Santa Fe’s newest downtown district, The Railyard presents a departure from the adobe buildings usually associated with the City Different, with contemporary buildings of steel and angles, galleries in warehouse style spaces, shops and restaurants and a sustainable public park and plaza that offer art, an amphitheater and a playground.

The Railyard also includes green live-work lofts, art studios, a permanent indoor/outdoor space for the Santa Fe Farmers’ Market, which now operates year round, and SITE Santa Fe, a contemporary art space that hosts an innovative biennial.

The Rail Runner terminus lies at the heart of the Railyard, and you can watch this colorful commuter train arrive and depart throughout the day as it makes its run between Santa Fe, Albuquerque and points south. The historic train depot is also here, where riders can board the Santa Fe Southern, a working freight train that runs between Santa Fe and Lamy and offers special holiday train rides throughout the year.

New restaurants include The Flying Star, which serves breakfast, lunch and dinner and offers amazing pies, cupcakes, cookies and other baked goods. Junction is a sports bar with an enticing menu of hamburgers, bahn mi, salads, soups and more. The Second Street Brewing Company opened its second location in The Railyard, offering locally brewed beers, burgers, enchiladas, fish and chips and other delicious fare.

The Railyard is a vibrant neighborhood, planned with input from the entire Santa Fe community. On any given day, you can join locals and visitors alike as they shop the neighborhood, dine indoors and out, and enjoy this beautiful new gem in the heart of the city.

For more info about The Railyard, visit http://theavesantafe.com/communities/santa-fe-communities-santa-fe-railyard.htm

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