Santa Fe Homes for Sale
Santa Fe is America’s quintessential southwestern city. Without question, this is one of the most exotic destination points in the country. If you are looking for an urban oasis with colorful scenery, colorful culture, and colorful history, your quest ends here.
The surrounding landscape and the unique architectural forms of Santa Fe homes served as a powerful catalyst for the great art of prominent American painter Georgia O’Keefe. The desert, rugged mountains, and crisp clean air of the Santa Fe area continue to inspire artisans of today. Life in this high desert under eternally blue skies will bring out the best creative impulses in anyone!
The Santa Fe real estate market is equally exhilarating. As a Realtor, Santa Fe real estate is a commodity that I truly believe in. Why? The perfect weather, amenities, culture, and exciting outdoor recreation create a permanent demand for Santa Fe homes. Visit this area, and you will see why. Purchase a home in Santa Fe, and begin your personal journey through the arts, and outdoor adventure. Cultural venues abound, and outdoor recreation opportunities are endless. Stay here for awhile, and you will discover that your Santa home was one of the best long-term investments you could ever have made.
A strong, local economy serves to protect and progress the value of real estate, and Santa Fe is a case in point. The community leaders understand the value of stimulating small business development. The The Santa Fe Small Business Development Program offers technical support for start-ups, and the nonprofit Santa Fe Business Incubator provides training and support. This is a city that is proactive about its economy and pro-business in attitude and actions. Invest in Santa Fe real estate, and you are investing in a city that is serious about maintaining a vibrant economy and a strong commercial tax base.
Home Styles in Santa Fe
The three main styles of architecture in Santa Fe are Pueblo, Territorial and Contemporary. Mixed in are some Northern New Mexico style (with pitched roofs), and a small sampling in the downtown area of Victorian and Arts and Crafts. Some people inadvertently refer to Pueblo as “Adobe” style, but that is a mistake. Adobe are the dried bricks that are an indigenous building material used in the construction of any of the above styles. Generally we see frame construction these days, but there are plenty of other materials that are or have been used – like Rastra, Pumice-crete, Concrete, Pen-tile (clay tiles manufactured at the old Penitentiary), straw bales and more. With Santa Fe as one of the leading city in the United States pushing the Green Building effort forward, we will see even more materials used in the building of homes in the Santa Fe style.
Then and Now
Perched at 7,000 feet in the mountains, Santa Fe is the highest elevation and is the oldest capital city in the United States. It is the fourth largest city in New Mexico, boasting a population of over 70,000. The real estate growth and history of Santa Fe are as unique as the people who live there.
In 1846, during the Mexican American War, the American army took Santa Fe and raised the American flag over the Plaza. Mexico signed the Treaty of Guadeloupe Hidalgo in 1848. This made New Mexico and California part of the Untied States. New Mexico became a state in 1912. Santa Fe was originally founded in the early 1600’s becoming the second oldest city in the US.
Early Native American adobe dwellings helped to form the historic architecture in Santa Fe. The Spanish first arrived in the 16th century. At this time there were thousands of Pueblo Indians living in several story high mountainside dwellings with hundreds of rooms. Many of these homes can still be seen today in the areas around Santa Fe.
As the Spanish began to build homes in Santa Fe they enhanced on what they called the Pueblo architecture. They created molds to help them erect their homes, in contrast the Pueblo Indians still formed their dwellings by hand. The combination of the two styles is called the Spanish Pueblo.
From 1880 to 1920 many people flocked to Santa Fe’s dry climate for its health benefits. The high altitude and sunny dry weather was a natural remedy against tuberculosis. People who suffer from allergies and various respiratory conditions are still attracted to this area.
New Mexico became a state in 1912. This attracted people from the East who brought with them the Victorian and red brick designed homes. To preserve the historic atmosphere, a group of archaeologists and artists worked to define a style unique to Santa Fe. This style kept with the traditional Spanish Pueblo architecture. New Santa Fe homes and business still follow this style today. The National Trust of Historic Preservations named Santa Fe one of its Dozen Distinctive Destinations in American for 2009.
Santa Fe also became a region widely known for its culture and art. In 1909, the Museum of New Mexico opened. The Museum of Fine Arts was built in 1917 and is known today as the New Mexico Museum of Art. In 2005, Santa Fe was chosen by UNESCO as a Creative City. It is the first U. S. City to be honored with this designation. There are only nine cities world-wide that boasts this honor.
Santa Fe’s location offers something for everyone. The warmer weather brings river rafting, horseback riding, fly fishing and hiking. From Thanksgiving though Easter many enjoy the ice skating rinks while the mountains welcome skiers. The broad and eclectic fine restaurant scene can satisfy epicureans of all types. Santa Fe has a mix of New Mexican, Southwestern, Italian, French, American and Asian cuisines. Own a home in Santa Fe, New Mexico, and you will have no shortage of excitement and things to do. “Boredom” is a word that is foreign to the Santa Fe lexicon!
Buying and Selling Homes in Santa Fe
Buyers first need to understand their options when it comes to the various areas in Santa Fe. Although a small town of 60,000 to 70,000 – these options need careful examination, and a qualified real estate professional to explain the subtle differences. With 25 years of experience selling real estate, I know what buyers are looking for when it comes to solid real estate information – whether it be statistical information or knowledge of building costs, buyers are comfortable working with me due to my extensive knowledge in all of these areas.
A solid understanding of sales and marketing, coupled with an attention for detail and a strong work ethic, Sellers always feel their property is continually being exposed to buyers through not only Sotheby’s strong web presence, but also the active networking with the other 900 brokers in Santa Fe. Partnering with Sotheby’s means utilizing the #1 network in upper bracket homes in Santa Fe. As the number one luxury brand in the world, Sotheby’s instantly attracts the top buyers and sellers who understand the importance of branding in the buying and selling of fine homes. Lastly with the help of my full time licensed assistant, we are better able to deliver of the day to day follow up then brokers who try to do it all themselves.
The new Santa Fe homes I represent in the market are of the highest quality, primarily due to realistic pricing strategies in the finest subdivisions in Santa Fe. No one else in Santa Fe has the presence in Las Campanas, Monte Sereno, and the High Summit. With location, location, location still driving residential real estate, these three subdivisions continue to attract the most exciting architects and builders in all of Santa Fe. This leads to both custom and spec homes of the highest caliber. And with the current economy many of these homes are being sold at prices that can’t be duplicated when started from scratch.
