santa fe demographics (Pojoaque, Tesuque, Galisteo: sale, attorney, homes)

[newmover99]

Originally Posted by funkymonkey

Never been to Mexico then?

No I have not, lol. Although I lived within 150 miles of the Mexican border I felt that I had seen more than enough of "Mexican Culture". It is fair to say it scared us alot!

[Devin Bent]

Originally Posted by newmover99

Whenever I have been to Sante Fe, I felt like I was in Mexico; Which is not where I would want to be.As for the rest the economy is one where you have to bring your own wealth.

What was surprising to me is how few Mexicans there are in Santa Fe or New Mexico generally. New Mexico has not yet anyway had the influx of population characteristic of other southwestern states and part of that is a small influx from Mexico. In the 2000 census I think NM had about 2% Mexican origin population, which is considerably lower than Illinois. Of course, there are eight years since the census, but from the way people talk it sounds like Iowa has had a bigger infllux than NM.

The Hispanics here are Americans and they greeted Kearny when he came down the Santa Fe Trail.

I don't say this as a negative on Mexicans. I have been to Mexico a number of times and loved it.

[jsc23]

Originally Posted by newmover99

No I have not, lol. Although I lived within 150 miles of the Mexican border I felt that I had seen more than enough of "Mexican Culture". It is fair to say it scared us alot!

That's interesting. I've traveled all over Mexico by bus, train and foot. Lived in the country for a few of six month stints- and I was never as scared in Mexico as I was when I wandered with a black friend into a Boston bar frequented by Irish-American firemen....

[tecpatl]

Originally Posted by newmover99

No I have not, lol. Although I lived within 150 miles of the Mexican border I felt that I had seen more than enough of "Mexican Culture". It is fair to say it scared us alot!

So,,,, you've never been to Mexico, yet you presume to have knowledge of "Mexican" culture. LOL Maybe you just know from watching movies and TV?
Take a look at popular movies and tv programs set in the US of A and tell me that that gives you a realistic picture of life in this country.... Speaking for myself, I see far fewer gunfights, car chases, strip clubs, and general mayhem than appear in entertainment media.

Hint: People of Hispanic descent and/or culture aren't neccessarily from Mexico, or from any foreign country. A lot of New Mexican (American, that is) citizens prefer to speak Spanish in their homes and daily lives. Many, in fact, had family living and working in "Nuevo Mexico" about the time a louse infested group of poor European outcasts bumped into Plymouth Rock and decided that they owned whatever land they set foot on, begging food from the locals and generally causing trouble. Boy, talk about illegal immigration.

One of my neighbors traces her family back to before the Pueblo revolt of 1680 (her family fled from Sta. Fe to a ranch near Brazito) yet after more than 350 years of living here, she and her family still speak Spanish in their home, practice traditional culture and religion and, gracias a Dios, cook traditional New Mexico food like the pot of deelicious Green Chile stew she brought us during Christmas. Does all this make them "Mexican" to you? Sheesh.... they've been AMERICANS longer than there has been an America, and well before the United States invaded and captured most of the Southwest.

Spend a little more time out of the gated community or wherever, try not to be so judgemental about things you don't seem to understand or appreciate, and, while you're at it, also visit Mexico (and NOT the border towns, please)...it's a wonderful country, beautiful place with lots of very friendly people, a rich history and culture. It might broaden your painfully narrow horizons a bit.

This great-great-great-grandson of Scandinavian immigrants (1830s) is very happy living in and around the rich, diverse, and historic culture(s) of New Mexico. Try it, you might like it.

[Devin Bent]

Originally Posted by parteira

please help me understand the santa fe demographics (i'm in abq).
i agree with thoughts from another recent thread, that santa fe isn't the extrememly unobtainable place it's cracked up to be, but it is true that real estate there is not cheap. last time we looked, we couldn't find much in the <400,000 range, in town.

A very good newsletter based on statistics for Santa Fe (City and County combined) housing prices, inventory, trends, land prices, etc., is at Sante Fe Real Estate, Canyon Road Santa Fe, Las Campanas Home, Sante Fe Commercial Properties
(This is not an endorsement of this agency or broker. I have never met him, know nothing about him, and I am in no way involved in real estate other than owning a home. I am only recommending the newsletter as a source of information for interested parties. I entered the url and the name of the agency appeared when I posted.)

Interestingly the median price for 2007 was just about 400K, so half the sales approximately were at 400K or less. 294 homes sold for less than $250K. Whether any of these is the sort of place you are looking for is a very different question.

Santa Fe median prices continued to climb in 2007 but inventory increased. I don't think it is the sort of increase in inventory that will lead to big cuts, but rapid price increases also seem unlikely.

Also interesting, the median land sale price was $200K. I don't know the size of the properties -- city or county -- or anything. (I do know that some argue that the ultimate driver in real estate prices is land -- the supply is fixed.)

Anyway, take a look at the newsletter.

[eekwine]

if you don't mind saying, what area is that? i would be interested in a home on that amount of land for that price... don't want any neighborhood regs & it would need to be a horse friendly area... any suggestions? thanks in advance

Originally Posted by Devin Bent

Back to topic. But a great adobe place across the road from me on five acres with views of the Sangres went for about 400K recently. Well and septic -- good water. Perfectly maintained by a retired Marine. It sold quickly -- a bargain. 20 minutes -- honest -- to the plaza. Five minutes to an excellent wellness center and to the basics of shopping

[yukon]

It's been mentioned a couple of times in this discussion - what's a "sanctuary city"?

[Devin Bent]

Originally Posted by eekwine

if you don't mind saying, what area is that? i would be interested in a home on that amount of land for that price... don't want any neighborhood regs & it would need to be a horse friendly area... any suggestions? thanks in advance

I'm sorry -- I didn't notice this question until just today. The area is the Pojoaque Valley, sometimes called Nambe/Pojoaque which for the Santa Fe MLS is number 16. The house I mentioned was a very good deal that went quickly -- don't know if you could find something like it. Maybe if you persist. Maybe you find a motivated seller -- which is what we did.

The immediate neighborhood in question allows horses and several people have horses. The immediate neighborhood has covenants but they are pretty much unenforceable -- which is the way they were designed. Nothing for sale here right now in this immediate neighborhood.

As to the Pojoaque Valley in general all you have is Santa Fe County regs and a planning district in the process of being established. Generally if you have a few acres nobody objects to a few horses.

A previous owner of our house was a wild horse rescuer and had 16 wild horses on a one acre pasture and I think a few of the neighbors were a little upset.

[Devin Bent]

Originally Posted by yukon

It's been mentioned a couple of times in this discussion - what's a "sanctuary city"?

Sorry, I didn't see this question either. A sanctuary city has a don't ask policy toward illegal aliens. A recent list Sanctuary city, sanctuary, sanctuary city list, Ohio, jobs, OJJPAC, list, justice, soverignty, citizenship, illegal alien, immigration, amnesty, sanctuary cities, undocumented, ICE, NYC, Huston, Chicago, Phoenix, L.A. says that Santa Fe City, Albuquerque, and Rio Arriba County are all sanctuary cities. I live in Santa Fe County -- not a sanctuary city.

For this area anyway, it is largely symbolic since we don't actually have that many illegal aliens -- not like other states in the Southwest. I don't know about southern NM -- may be different there.

We should probably not discuss pros and cons or make strong statements -- in another thread the moderator has reminded us that politics don't belong here.

[lemon&lime]

Oh take it down a notch. The condescension is unbelievable.

Originally Posted by tecpatl

So,,,, you've never been to Mexico, yet you presume to have knowledge of "Mexican" culture. LOL Maybe you just know from watching movies and TV?
Take a look at popular movies and tv programs set in the US of A and tell me that that gives you a realistic picture of life in this country.... Speaking for myself, I see far fewer gunfights, car chases, strip clubs, and general mayhem than appear in entertainment media.

Hint: People of Hispanic descent and/or culture aren't neccessarily from Mexico, or from any foreign country. A lot of New Mexican (American, that is) citizens prefer to speak Spanish in their homes and daily lives. Many, in fact, had family living and working in "Nuevo Mexico" about the time a louse infested group of poor European outcasts bumped into Plymouth Rock and decided that they owned whatever land they set foot on, begging food from the locals and generally causing trouble. Boy, talk about illegal immigration.

One of my neighbors traces her family back to before the Pueblo revolt of 1680 (her family fled from Sta. Fe to a ranch near Brazito) yet after more than 350 years of living here, she and her family still speak Spanish in their home, practice traditional culture and religion and, gracias a Dios, cook traditional New Mexico food like the pot of deelicious Green Chile stew she brought us during Christmas. Does all this make them "Mexican" to you? Sheesh.... they've been AMERICANS longer than there has been an America, and well before the United States invaded and captured most of the Southwest.

Spend a little more time out of the gated community or wherever, try not to be so judgemental about things you don't seem to understand or appreciate, and, while you're at it, also visit Mexico (and NOT the border towns, please)...it's a wonderful country, beautiful place with lots of very friendly people, a rich history and culture. It might broaden your painfully narrow horizons a bit.

This great-great-great-grandson of Scandinavian immigrants (1830s) is very happy living in and around the rich, diverse, and historic culture(s) of New Mexico. Try it, you might like it.