Tierra Amarillo (Albuquerque, Santa Fe, Farmington: real estate, loft, homes)

[stella1971]

My first post. I googled this town in New Mexico (Tierra Amarillo) or TA they say it's called. That is how I found this site. Does anyone out there know anything about it or the surrounding area? My husbands uncle lives in Santa Fe and just bought a few lots of land in TA. He wants us to buy too. It is very reasonable and my husband is from NM and wants to move home eventually to be near his family. We live on the eastern shore and don't know too much about the area other than we probably would have to drive pretty far to find decent jobs. The uncle says there are beautiful views, lakes, TREES, and mountains. My husband and I want to build one of those log homes with a loft for views and we think we should scoop up on the land before the price goes up. Any past or present New Mexicans have any thoughts on this?

[Zoidberg]

Tierra Amarilla <- it ends with an A, not an O is in the middle of nowhere. If you are looking for middle of nowhere, then it fits that to a T.

Land values skyrocketing? I somehow doubt it. It's very remote, and it's not particularly unique as compared to other parts of northern NM.

Expect an hour drive to a small town (Taos, Española) and about 3 hours to Albuquerque.

And expect SNOW SNOW SNOW every winter. A 4WD would be a necessity even off a paved road.

[Towanda]

Remote is right! Yes, the middle of nowhere describes it EXACTLY!!!

We went to Tierra Amarilla several years ago. There is really nearly nothing there. I was interested in visiting the wool shop, and that is a very nice place for knitters/weavers, etc. to visit. The shop is very quaint and fun to go through. Their wool is wonderful, but very expensive. I could not afford to buy very much of it.

I think I remember a restaurant right next to the wool shop ..... and nothing else. Dusty, few trees, windy, desolate for miles around.

I cannot imagine that real estate values there could be thriving.

And yes....the drive for jobs, health care, groceries, restaurants, and any other amenities would be very very long.

Maybe some people would be interested in living some place this remote, but I wouldn't. It is a nice place to visit if you like to look at/buy excellent wool, but I am not sure I would say it has anything else to offer.

[stella1971]

Thank you for your response. I appreciate it!

[jazzlover]

There are two "TA's." There is an area east of TA up the Brazos River that is a recreational home area--some occupied year-round, most seasonal. Many are owned by affluent Texans who spend their summers there. They are very pricey. The village of Tierra Amarilla itself is a very impoverished town, populated by nearly 100% Hispanics, most multi-generational residents of the area. Outsiders, particularly suburban Anglos, might not find it very friendly. I don't say this to sound bigoted or snooty. I've been going down to that area for 40+ years and never had any problems with the locals in that time (but I have been a rural Westerner for most of my life). I have a number of friends in that area. But if you go there with a suburban yuppie chip on your shoulder, it may get knocked off. The residents around TA have been embroiled for over 40 years in a bitter dispute about the ownership and use rights of the Spanish Land Grants in the area. Whatever legal outcomes there have been or will be, it is still a source of bitterness among some of the locals.

I hear that there are more new developments planned around the area near TA. I think that will probably increase the friction, not lessen it. I personally liked the area more before all the development started, though--compared to most areas of similar natural beauty--the development pace around TA has lagged a lot of other places. That's one reason that I love it there so much. It is one of the most beautiful and relatively unspoiled areas of the mountain West.

[stella1971]

Thanks jazzlover, for the insight. Definitely a perspective we weren't aware of. My husband is Spanish/native American and was raised in Santa Fe and he didn't know much of this area. We will take this into consideration

[Nicholija_Supertramp]

I was looking through the forum for stuff about TA and came across this...I realize it is quite old but wanted to throw in a few things just in case anyone else is interested in the area...

First off I agree that there is next to nothing in TA. Most all of the buildings are quite old and many are run down. The wool store is pretty neat to see if you've never been somewhere like that...but I also agree that it is VERY expensive. If you are into photography you can get some cool pictures in that area.

As far as the location of the town/village it is only about 25-30 minutes to Chama. Chama has a Lowe's grocery store now, a few restaurants, etc. Chama is a small mountain town as well, but is not an hour or more away. You can get groceries, medical needs, etc. in Chama so the drive for groceries, health care, etc. would not be long at all actually. TA is in the valley of some of the mountains of that area, but not as ugly as described earlier in this post. The Brazos Bluffs are very near, the Brazos River is nearby...everything near Chama is also near TA. I think some people posting about this small village didn't realize how close to Chama they were...it is maybe 20 miles to downtown Chama from TA...My cabin which is near "Upper Brazos" up on the Brazos River is only about 10-15 minutes from TA. So anywase, just wanted to point those things out for anyone interested in visiting the area in the future. You can visit TA and then on to Chama in the same day very easily! Come see us in Chama!

[debbie at bouontiful]

I go to Chama every late September. I stay ar Corkins every year. I love Chama and would love to live there but have some worries about medical and acceptance too. Now, the writer about the wool company is right. I like the owner, met her several times at the Taos Wool Festival in late Sept too each year. They are expensive but then again I spin cheap wool for fun only. Now, I wanted to take some personal lessons at the Terra Wool company and found the lady who teaches "not very nice". She was at first but when I told her I was looking at land to buy off of 512 she became upset. Later found it to be a intense troubled area of Chama/Terra area. I was looking at land in the Ticondera area which is right in the heart of the land grant problems.

Anyway, I am sort of a beginner weaver and I'll take my lessons in Taos instead. I want someone who wants to teach me and not just take my money and show me nothing.

I would love to retire in Chama. Anyone out there that would be from a different State retired in Chama? I am not afraid of cold, lived in the mountains of Utah once and spent most my married life oversees where you never see summer much. I also am very rural now with a cattle ranch in Eastern OKlahoma. So, I know all about snakes and wild animals.

Another thing to those interested in the area. I personally found land expensive. How do the locals ever afford those land prices. 5 acres for 150 thousand is high in my book. Boy If only I could get that in OK for my 300 acres, I'd be a billionaire!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Towanda]

Nicholija -

So there is a grocery store in Chama again?

That will be a big plus for the area, I would think.

[Nicholija_Supertramp]

Towanda...they put in a very nice new Lowe's supermarket. I was pretty impressed really, especially compared the old supermarket! We used to get groceries in Santa Fe on our way up to Chama because the Chama Valley Supermarket was so expensive. Now that it is a branch of Lowe's, the prices are much more realistic and they have a much better selection!

Debbie...My parents are considering retiring up in Chama. We have over 3 acres up near the "Upper Brazos" that is waterfront property on the Brazos River. It is really pretty up there and I would recommend looking in that area. As far as locals...they are touchy when it comes to talking about anything to do with real estate around the Brazos area. There were some lawsuits at one time. I know Susan Mundy is on this forum somewhere and could probably give some insight. I don't want to spread rumors or give assumptions, but I think some people in the area do not want it to become a big tourist spot where land is sold to anyone that has the money and will throw in housing developments, etc. TA residents really have no income coming in however and it seems to me it would be beneficial to them if at least a little more tourism was brough into the TA/Chama area...I donno, I can see both sides.

Land in Chama is quite expensive. 5 acres for $150,000 is pretty high, but much cheaper than buying a .25 acre lot in Durango or Santa Fe. I have a home in Oklahoma too (NW OKC) and most of my family is in Oklahoma. My uncle has 1500 acres in Cromwell, Oklahoma and land in Oklahoma is just amazingly cheap compared to New Mexico/Colorado as well as much of the U.S. I love Eastern Oklahoma though, it is really pretty out there around the mountains and forests. You can find some decent deals on land around the Brazos/Chama area if you keep an eye out...you do have to be cautious thought that it is able to be developed and built on and that you can get water, electric, etc. to it easily. As far as builders in the area...just be cautious there too. The people that did most of the work on our place (this was 15 years ago) were very lazy and did not do good work. Now I believe there are more builders and trusted people in the area. P.R.E.C.O. plumbing is pretty good by the way for plumbing needs, but are pretty high priced. Just make sure you are there to see the work being done because some people will take advantage of you and will do VERY shotty work. At the time we were building our place we were at the mercy of the builders, etc. due to some family things and they took advantage of us and we've been spending money year after year repairing their horrible work.

The area is beautiful and very relaxing. If you can handle having to drive about an hour to an hour and a half to get to a more populated area (i.e. Taos, Pagosa Springs, Farmington, and Santa Fe) then it is a terrific area to retire in my opinion. There is everything you need in Chama and a hospital in Espanola which is about an hour or so away. Good Luck, and let me know if you have any other questions! I will be in Chama from about June through August or September and then will be down in Santa Fe.