I am very excited to be able to introduce you to the first e-edition of "Otero Breeze" at http://www.OteroBreeze.com  First, let me say thank you Khristena Morris for reallizing that our community needs a positive upbeat community paper that is by the community! What a wonderful idea you have that allows the community to submit articles about the community that can make others aware of our community. And even more thrilling is that you actually did it - Congratulations!  I am still reading my way thru the frst e-edition of "Otero Breeze", but so far everything I have seen and read is awsome! What a great first publication and I am looking forward to the future editions.  Again, thank you Khristena for making your dream a realality and even more thank you for allowing me to be a commu... 09/02/2010

Sold in Alamogordo, New Mexico - 20 August 2010   Congratulations to shaun and Kathryn on the purchase of their first home! I hope that the two of them enjoy the home and the neighborhood as much as Karen did. Karen it was my pleasure in working with you in getting your home sold. 08/23/2010

Day 55 of 365 . . .  17 August 2010     Have you stopped by the “Old Apple Barn” in Mountain Park, New Mexico? It is a great little place to stop by and get a glimpse of life in the past. The Old Apple Barn is a historic building that was built in 1941. It was originally used  as the stopping place for the Cloud-Climbing Railroad where they loaded up the freshly grown apples.    This is a great place to stop after you have walked or hiked one of the local trails and enjoy an ice cream or something from the menu of the Bistro Barn. Make sure to stop and enjoy the mountain views from their front porch while you are enjoying your snack. And the fudge is a must to try or take some home with to enjoy at a later date.          For more photos and/or more information check out the following w... 08/17/2010

Best Friends 08/11/2010

The City Commission has a tough job trying to please everybody.  Commissioners get calls from their constituents all the time complaining about things that are going on in the neighborhood.  Our City Commissioners work hard trying to please everybody especially when it comes to keeping our town beautiful.  This time though I think they may have "overstepped their authority".  One of our commissioners introduced an ordinance that would make REALTORS financially responsible for the maintenance and upkeep of their listed properties, especially the weeds and lawn.  We presently have an ordinance that allows the city to fine the owner or agent of the owner $200.00 plus the cost for maintaining the lawn and weeds if they do not respond within 15 days of being cited.  The new ordinance would i... 08/05/2010

Today is a great day for a hike/walk on the "Switchback Trail" or actually any days is! It is just a short drive from Alamogordo, less than 30 minutes. My family and I have gone up to this area several time in the past few years for walking, hiking and sledding. This is also one of the places that the New Mexico Rails-To-Trails meets for their monthly trail maintenance. Last weekend me and the boys (Rod, Derian, Mr. Mojo, and Captain Chaos) grabbed our back packs and packed a picnic lunch and off we went. It was a great family outing. We all appreciated the cooler weather, the exercise did is all good, and just getting out and enjoying the great outdoors, and creating some great family memories. So, if you are looking something to do I highly recommend the Switchback Trail. It is an eas... 08/01/2010

So Last night, the Alamogordo City Commission tries to pass ordinance 1380 to amend Chapters 14 and 26 to increase responsibility of the condition of vacant properties. This proposition reads in part as follows "Whereas, realtors or agents often offer vacant properties for sale or lease and are in a position to regularly inspect the properties they offer to determine whether the property needs cleaning to be in compliance with provisions of the code;" Yep, I am not kidding! Many local REALTORS would agree that Alamogordo Beautification is extremely important and would be happy to participate in any program the City of Alamogordo or anyone would like to implement. However, pointing fingers and ultimately making REALTORS responsible for vacant properties is absurd and definitely not the r... 07/28/2010

Why online social networking? By joining several different online social networking communities as your Alamogordo, New Mexico Associate Broker / REALTOR®, I am able to provide you with current up to date information about the real estate market in Alamogordo and Otero County. As well as, let you be the first to see what homes I have for sale, local events and information, etc. So, what exactly does that mean for you? You will have access to this information anytime day or night in the comfort of your own home or office, with no pressure from me. My goal is to give you access to an endless amount of real estate information, so you can make informed decisions in regard to buying or selling your home.  How does all this online social networking work? First let me say there are several sou... 06/29/2010

OPEN HOUSESUNDAY, 20 JUNE 20101 p.m. to 3 p.m. 873 Arroyo Seco Alamogordo, NM 88310 MLS# 139152 06/17/2010

06/16/2010

So the Ocotillos were blooming just recently and I couldn't resist pulling over to snap some pictures! Enjoy! 06/16/2010

Erna, Jenny, & Sueko opened "A Vintage Salon" in November 2009. . They are a full service salon to include haircuts, color, perms, artificial nails, and pedicures. They even have a pedicure chair!   Erna has been styling my hair since I relocated to Alamogordo back in January of 2006. And for those of you who know me, know that I am also a licensed cosmetologist, so I don't just let anyone style my hair. Jenny and Sueko are also very good stylist and Jenny does nails.  "A Vintage Flair Salon" is located at 1019 North Florida and you call either Erna, Jenny or Sueko at 575.434.4247 (HAIR). Currently the girls are collecting hair and sending it to help with the oil spill on the Gulf. Who knew that hair was a natural oil absorbent. I found the "Matter of Trust" online and learned about how... 05/27/2010

  Welcome to "Hermoso El Sol" Subdivision in Alamogordo, New Mexico. Hermoso El Sol  is located just south of Panorama off of South Florida. Hermoso El Sol was developed in 2004 by Tool Belt Land Development. The first phase of Hermoso El Sol is comprised of about 80 lots. Phase two should start sometime in the summer of 2011 and will have approximately 53 lots.  Doug & Donnette Nelson started Tool Belt Homes in 1996 and later established Tool Box, LLC. They are just one of the many builders who have built homes in the Hermoso El Sol Subdivision. Some of the other local builders who have built in the subdivision are Bolin Homes, Inc., B & R Homes, Riordan Homes, LLC, and R & V Construction.   You will find homes ranging from approximately 1300 square feet up to 2000 square feet. All the... 05/22/2010

UNDER CONTRACT 16 JULY 2010 873 Arroyo Seco Alamogordo, NM 88310 MLS# 139152 WOW! My listed price has just been reduced to $215,900! You really need to come by and take a look around and see what I have to offer. I am a 3 bedroom 2.25 bathroom home with approximately 1883 square feet built in 2005 by R & V Construction!!! I have a large great/living room with a formal dining room plus an eat-in kitchen. My kitchen is spacious with a pantry, gas stove, dishwasher, refrigerator, island, and a bay window in the eating area. There is easy access to the covered patio from my kitchen. My split floor plan provides privacy between the master bedroom and my 2nd and 3rd bedrooms. Master bathroom has two walk-in closets, double sinks, a jet tub, shower, and private toilet area! My laundry room com... 05/21/2010

A team of economists who created a variety of forecasting models concludes that predictions of further large housing price declines are greatly overblown.They point to the house price index of the Office of Federal Housing Enterprise as most reflective of reality. Its data reveals that only four states - Arizona, California, Florida, and Nevada - have had declines of more than 4 percent in home prices over the past year. How are we faring here in New Mexico, particularly in Otero County?  Records from the Otero County Association of REALTORS® (OCAOR) indicate that homes are selling for 95-97% of their asking price, which is usually based on a REALTORS® CMA (Comparative Market Analysis), or a home Appraisal.  New Mexico  ranks in the top 5 states in the United States where housing prices... 04/20/2010

What a great time for home buyers.  With the tax incentive, low interest rates and the abundance of homes on the market why would anyone qualified to buy a home sit on the fence. I know there are always going to be those who want to wait for the "right" time and those that always think there is a "better deal" just around the bend.  I was showing homes to a client recently and every day he would ask, "Is there anything new on the market that I might be interested in?"  He had already viewed 30 homes under $100k!  Come on, it's time to make a decision.  Then there are those that just don't want to be homeowners.  They like someone else doing the maintanance.  They just don't want the responsibility.  I understand that.  If they want to make my mortgage payment and build my equity, ok, I'... 03/03/2010

That saying is very popular, especially in motivational talks and seminars.  We sometimes forget the importance of the "team" concept, however, when commissions and money are involved.  Some offices work real well together and will help fellow agents when they are out-of-town or sick or otherwise not able to accommodate their clients.  Then there are those offices where anytime a favor is asked of a fellow agent the first thing out of the available agents mouth is "Do I get a referral fee?", or "Are you going to split the commission?" There is really more to this business than commissions and money.  Very early in my short career as a Real Estate Agent I learned that if you concentrate on helping people then the money will follow.  The same principle applies in the office.  If you are a... 02/18/2010

December 2009 was a very good month for selling real estate in Alamogordo, New Mexico and it looks like January 2010 may be following suit.  We have hardly any rentals available after the influx of new personnel at Holloman AFB the past several months.  Many of the folks that would have normally rented an apartment or a house, have decided to buy.  It would nice to have a great year instead of a just a good year! 01/18/2010

When dealing with sellers and buyers in todays market it can not be over emphasized enough to ask the right questions.  Sellers are anxious to sell their homes and sometimes will hold back information that would prevent or delay this process.  If we fail to ask if the mortgage is up to date, are taxes up to date, are their any liens on the home, and one of the most important questions to ask before closing, "Is there anyone else who has a say in the decision to sell your home?"  This question is sometimes forgotten by agents.  Then right before closing the other party decides that they do not want to sell the home or the price is not right or whatever may be the case.  How much better it is to ask the question at the listing appointment so that everyone is on board for selling the home ... 12/15/2009

It looks like we are slowly moving into the "Technology Age" here in Alamogordo, New Mexico.  We just implemented Paragon Mobile for accessing our MLS with our mobile devices.  We just started using ReInsight Mobile with our FNIS MLS and it appears to be working great.  We can access just about everything on our mobile phones that appears on the MLS.  This will be a great tool when with buyer clients showing homes and they notice the home across the street that is not on our showing list.  We can pull the information from our MLS right there and explain why it did not show up on the list.  This will also be a great listing presentation tool for showing our seller clients how their home can be marketed with agents cell phones and how important it is to have all the information correct wi... 12/11/2009