Deming Ranchettes, Deming, NM (sale, apartment complex, rental)

[RainforestTV]

I am writing to you to share some ideas in regards to new ordinances that Luna County has enacted as of July 2006.

Recently I discovered that the property I had purchased in Deming Ranchettes was no longer buildable due to the change in Ordinance 37 which Luna County approved in July 2006. This ordinance requires a minimum of 2 acres for development. This leaves hundreds, if not thousands, of land owners with properties that they cannot develop without greatly increased costs. As a lower income woman I was naturally upset, but I am the type of person who looks for solutions instead of getting stuck as a victim.

The only solution is for property owners to work together on this so that it is a win-win situation for everybody. Please feel free to share your ideas or comments. My property is located in Unit 30 on Acoma street.

Property owners have the following options:

1) sell to the owners next to them so they acquire the two acres;

2) buy from the owners next to them to acquire the two acres;

3) join forces with neighbors to build a duplex, triplex, or a quadriplex which opens up into everyone's backyard respectively. Well drilling costs and septic tank costs can be shared;

4) create an intentional community, or an ecovillage, with shared housing, transportation, work duties, organic gardens, etc;

5) build an apartment complex or house on the cental lot and split the profits of the sale or rental income between all owners.

Land can be swapped between neighbors who do not share the same goals, property development ideas, or lifestyle choices.


christine from california

[Crackerjack]

RainforestTV, thank you so much for your vital post! I have warned people not to buy land sight unseen from unscrupulous dealers. Thanks for another insight into knowing thoroughly what you are getting yourself into before buying. Just make sure you REALLY investigate the land you buy. I seriously urge people to consult an independent qualified inspector to check the land out. Never buy from impulse. Never buy because a realtor says it is great or is hot property. Knowledge is power!

[greatdanes]

You may have another option, but it is an unplesant one. Ordinances are legal only until they are challenged in court, i.e. any government entity can pass any law they want, but that doesn't make it "legal", it just means there hasn't been a protest yet.
If you can get enough property owners together to fund a legal/lawyer investigation you may be able to overturn this ordinance or "grandfather" everyone's property in under the previous law. You just need patience, a united front and some cash.

[Koolibri_Rantšo]

You might want to check out the Luna county web page.

http://lunacountynm.us/index.html (broken link)

Apparently, they are going to visit/revisit ordinance number 37 on December 1, when a public hearing is scheduled. You can download the ordinance in a PDF file from the county site.

Bob

[Koolibri_Rantšo]

Originally Posted by Crackerjack

RainforestTV, thank you so much for your vital post! I have warned people not to buy land sight unseen from unscrupulous dealers. Thanks for another insight into knowing thoroughly what you are getting yourself into before buying. Just make sure you REALLY investigate the land you buy. I seriously urge people to consult an independent qualified inspector to check the land out. Never buy from impulse. Never buy because a realtor says it is great or is hot property. Knowledge is power!

There's been a lot of restrictive ordinances and regulations passed in New Mexico as to what you can and can not do on your own land, even if you've owned it for years. For instance, lots of people that own land in the mountains near here are discovering that if they want to build on it NOW, they will be required to install an "advanced" septic system that costs more than they paid for the piece of land.

Now that Governor Richardson has been re-elected for his lame duck term, you can expect to see all the laws, rules and regulations that you would find in a heavily regulated state such as California. He has said as much himself.

Bob

[RainforestTV]

Hey, thanks for the update. I'll keep my eye on that DEc 1(Ordinance 37) hearing. I hope the property owners win. I guess Gov. Richardson doesn't want growth?

[Koolibri_Rantšo]

"I guess Gov. Richardson doesn't want growth?"

Sure he wants growth but only wealthy liberals need apply. You have to be able to appreciate and AFFORD all the nonsensical regulations.

Bob

[Crackerjack]

Koolibri_Rantšo, why has New Mexico in the last few years started changing the regulations to make it harder for people? Any sense to it? What do they hope to gain by doing so?

[greatdanes]

Originally Posted by Crackerjack

Koolibri_Rantšo, why has New Mexico in the last few years started changing the regulations to make it harder for people? Any sense to it? What do they hope to gain by doing so?

I believe that the guv hopes to gain a strong political base of voters who like a extremely regulated society and think just like the party in power does. When you want more of something, in this case "like thinking people" you subsidize it. That is why, at a time that regulations are imposing state wide, we the tax payers subsidize the Hollywood movie industry with tax exemptions and loans, $23 mill this year alone, that will never be paid back.
We, the taxpayers even bought the guv a $6 mill corporate jet, (far better then the guv's in much larger states like Texas, Co and Az have for their use), so he can hobnoob with the hollywood jet set.
but people who maybe want to retire in NM and (god forbid) maybe have fixed budgets/incomes even, need not apply - just stay away from NM. Why! you might even start voting down some of the tax initiatives and voting out the crooks. That would never do!!!!
Remmber this, NM is one of only 7 remaining states that does not allow referendum and initiative by the voters. There is nothing, under any circumstances that you can get signatures an place an item on the ballot for a vote by the people. All must go to your legislature and he/she can take it to the legislature - if you can afford to.
Think about this - all regulations help some groupe and hurt others. When you look at a new regulation which side are you on?

[Crackerjack]

Thanks Greatdanes for the very helpful statement into NM's politics. It has been that way since I can remember. The old Spanish laws are still in place to a good degree. Many people don't realize that the Spanish spoken today in isolated towns in Northern New Mexico, has an old Castillian accent that disappeared in Spain over 400 years ago. The old west has never really left New Mexico!