Blog | Amigo Realty LLC

First Time Home Sales Tips

May 9, 2013 in Blog

When it comes to home sales, there are plenty of tips for first time buyers, especially in a down market. But what about first-time sellers? When you’ve outgrown your first home, have to move for a job, or decide a mortgage’s commitment is not suited for your rambling lifestyle, it’s time to put your house up for sale. Of course, though the recession has gotten better over the past couple years, real estate is still a buyer’s market. Since buyers have lots of options right now, your best bet is to make your house as attractive to thrift-minded buyers as possible.

Some of the sales tricks a first-time seller (or a second, third, fourth, etc.) can use are as simple as giving the outside trim a fresh coat of paint. You want to do anything that will make your house more attractive from the street; re-stain the door, weed the flower beds, spruce up the lawn, power wash the exterior—whatever improves your home’s curb appeal can make the difference between a buyer saying “let’s see what’s down the block” and “let’s see what the inside looks like.”

As for the inside of your home, whatever you can afford to fix, fix it. Got scuffed or peeling/bubbling linoleum? Deep clean or replace it. Are there dings or scratches on the walls? Touch up the paint. Keep your home vacuumed and clean, and keep the clutter to an absolute minimum if people are coming by regularly to take a look at your home. You want them to imagine living in your home, so put your personal effects (photos, papers, family-specific décor) in storage and replace them with neutral wall art.

In addition, you can turn your social network into a sales network. Facebook, Twitter, and Craigslist are all great places to spread the word about your house, and sites like Zillow.com or trulia.com are great places to list, and you can even get your own URL, like 4100Elmstreetforsale.com. The more you get the word out, the more people will come looking.

Tags: first time homeowner, home, Real Estate, selling, selling tips
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Spruce Cabins

April 29, 2013 in Blog

When you come to Cloudcroft, you have lots of options for accommodations, from renting one of our houses, to staying at the Lodge or another hotel in town, and even camping. However, if you’re looking for a little bit of a rustic experience without having to chop wood or shake pine needles out of your clothes in the morning, you ought to stay in the Spruce Cabins.

Found behind the Chamber of Commerce, the Spruce Cabins have been a fixture in Cloudcroft since the mid-20th century; not too long ago, Amigo Realty acquired the properties, and we’ve recently finished “sprucing” them up. They’re now ready for guests, and for a quaint, affordable place to stay on your southern New Mexico vacation, they’re perfect. Whether you’re visiting the town or traveling to places like Carlsbad, Alamogordo, or exploring the Lincoln National Forest, our Spruce Cabins make a great place for launching your day trips. And with close, walking-distance proximity to Cloudcroft’s main drag, you’ll have access to our village’s main hangouts, shops, and eateries.

The Spruce Cabins are ideal for families looking to see the outdoors on their vacation, and we have units that sleep from two to six people, and each cabin has a bathroom, with the larger ones coming equipped with fireplaces and kitchens. Cloudcroft’s plethora of outdoor activities await you, so come stay at a place that’s close to them all!

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The Checkerspot Butterfly in Cloudcroft

April 12, 2013 in Blog

Even though the weather isn’t exactly shorts-and-t-shirt temps yet, spring is definitely in the air, as the wildlife (particularly the birds and bugs) have awakened from winter and are busily doing what they do. Combined with the spectacular scenery of southern New Mexico, the local critters make hiking the Sacramento Mountain trails a key activity, should you vacation in Cloudcroft in the spring and summer.

From a variety of over 200 different birds (like the pygmy nuthatch robin and several types of finches) to deer, raccoons, skunks, and even bears, you’re likely to encounter many furry and feathered acquaintances. While you should never feed the wildlife (they’re pretty good at finding their own food, despite what they might try to get you to believe), keep your distance and take a picture.

One particular creature you’ll want to capture on film or digital memory is wildlife. The checkerspot is endemic to a single patch of forest, about 30 miles square; this is the only place in the world where this butterfly lives. Like most butterflies, this one feeds on and pollinates plants, and it’s partial to sneezeweed. However, it only lays eggs on the New Mexico penstemon, which only grows in the Sacramento and Capitan mountains. In other words, Cloudcroft is basically the only place where you can see these rare insects.

As you may imagine, these butterflies are in danger of extinction, and Otero County has created a conservation program with the Fish and Wildlife Service to help the species continue and thrive. As such, you should be aware while you’re tramping through the meadows and forests around Cloudcroft that you could encounter an endangered species. Be careful not to harm them, but should you find one landing on your shoulder or resting on a flower (the checkerspot has a beautiful orange, brown, and white pattern on its wings), be sure to snap a pic. If you use Instagram, tag it with #checkerspotbutterfly and #cloudcroft—we love seeing pictures of the things that make living here really special!

Tags: birds, Cloudcroft, New Mexico, spring
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Easter Weekend in Cloudcroft New Mexico

March 28, 2013 in Blog

Do you ever drive through small, one-stoplight towns and wonder what it’s like to be a kid in those places? Cloudcroft, New Mexico might be a one of those little spots off the road, but there’s no doubt about it—we have plenty of kids who live here, and there’s plenty for them to do, especially on Easter weekend.

This Easter weekend, for example, is the annual Kiwanis Club Easter Egg Hunt held at Zenith Park. The Kiwanis will be laying a thousand eggs all over Zenith park, waiting for eager little ones to find them. The event kicks off at 10am, and there will be lots of goodies from the Easter Bunny—even Smokey the Bear is going to be there! If the kiddos don’t get their fill of scrambling for Easter eggs on Saturday at the Kiwanis’ event, the Lodge has its own Easter egg hunt on Sunday, starting with Easter brunch at the resort’s restaurant, Rebecca’s, where the Easter Bunny will make a special appearance. Then at 1:30, the Easter egg hunt kicks off, and there will prizes awarded to the kids who find secret, special eggs.

All in all, Easter weekend is just one of the many fun things for children in our little mountain village. Cloudcroft might be a small town, but growing up here offers lots of rich experiences—if you and your family want to check it out, please get in touch with us. We’ll be happy to show you around, and hopefully find a place for you to set down some roots!

Tags: Cloudcroft, holiday, New Mexico, spring
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Explore Frontier History in Southern New Mexico

March 14, 2013 in Blog

One great thing about living in the Southwest—you get to be familiar with plenty of frontier history. While Cloudcroft itself might be known for its past (and present) as a southern New Mexico vacation destination, if you drive about two hours to the north, you’ll find a piece of history that’s a little wilder.

Up in Lincoln County, there’s a place called White Oaks. While a few people live and operate businesses there, it’s kind of a ghost town; at one time, White Oaks had a population of around 5,000 people and was the second-largest city in the state, but then the gold mines dried up, it fell into decline. Nowadays you’ll find some arts and crafts, the famous “No Scum Allowed” Saloon, plus historical sites like a miner’s house, historic grave sites, and some old mansions. As for the wild part of White Oaks, the town is associated with none other than legendary outlaw Billy the Kid.

According to historic sources, Billy the Kid spent the latter part of his short life rustling cattle, and he would sell his haul at White Oaks, no doubt attracted to the town’s brothels and casinos. Pat Garret, bought the lumber to make Billy’s gallows from a lumber mill in White Oak, right as the gunman made his famed escape through the chimney of the Lincoln County jail, shooting a Deputy named Bell in the process. Deputy Bell is buried in White Oak’s Cedvale Cemetery.

More than the graveyard, however, you’ll want to visit White Oaks for a drink at the No Scum Saloon. It’s one of the last truly great cowboy bars in the state, even making American Cowboy Magazine’s Top Cowboys Bars in the West list. Stop in for a beer and make friends before heading back to Cloudcroft. They’ll probably remember you the next time you visit!

Tags: frontier, history, New Mexico, southern New Mexico
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Cloudcroft, New Mexico, a Quaint Mountain Village

March 1, 2013 in Blog

Whether you’re a local or just spending some badly needed vacation time in Cloudcroft, Cloudcroft offers a quaint mountain village experience that’s great for unwinding from the grind and pressure of a bigger city. From the trading posts and restaurants on Burro Avenue to the hiking trails of the surrounding Sacramento Mountains, there’s lots of ways to recharge your mental, physical, and spiritual batteries.

If you’re visiting Cloudcroft for the first time, you’ll definitely want to make a stop at the Sacramento Mountains Historical Museum and Pioneer Village. Here you’ll find how our little town got its start as a projected lumber source that quickly turned into a vacation spot. That was in the late 19th century, and we’ve been attracting people looking for a mountain getaway ever since. The museum’s historical exhibits contain a startling collection of early Cloudcroft artifacts, and you can stroll through the pioneer village to get a feel of what life was like for the founders of our town. You can even hold events at the chapel; if you are looking for a unique and beautiful site for a wedding, the chapel is a wonderful venue.

Along with fantastic natural scenery and friendly locals, the Historical Museum is just one of many attractions that make a stay in Cloudcroft a nice break from your daily routine. If you’re looking for a spring or summer getaway in southern New Mexico, put Cloudcroft on your radar!

Tags: Cloudcroft, Mountains, New Mexico, vacation
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The Beauty of Cloudcroft in the Winter

February 16, 2013 in Blog

Right now, the shops on northeast side of Burro Ave are framed by a swath of bright blue sky and a border of pine trees. ’This was the latest image of Cloudcroft Webcam. Looking at the picture, you wouldn’t know that the temp is in the low 50s, because it’s showing such a beautiful day. Even when the snow is scarce, winter in Cloudcroft is still pretty gorgeous.

Watching the scene change every 30 seconds is kind of fun, because it’s like watching a painting that changes subtly, with people walking in and out of the storefronts and the parking spaces filling and emptying. Oddly enough, you get a window (if you pardon the expression) to what life in Cloudcroft is like—slow paced, gorgeous scenery, a charming lack of traffic; it might sound silly, but since Cloudcroft is so small, the webcam is a great microcosm of what a little weekend trip to the village is like—in short, it’s relaxing.

Certainly, there is plenty to do in Cloudcroft outdoors, but if you’re just wanting a change of scenery in a peaceful environment, renting a cabin in Cloudcroft for a few days is a perfect way to recharge your batteries. Imagine a nice little stroll through the shops on Burro, stopping into the Western Bar for a beer, maybe getting a nice dinner at the Lodge—if you need a break from too much excitement, some mountain therapy could be just what you need. Just remember to wave at the webcam when you head downtown!

Tags: Cloudcroft, New Mexico, vacation, winter
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New Mexico’s Natural Beauty

February 1, 2013 in Blog

As much as we love winter here in Cloudcroft, we’re always glad to see spring when it finally starts to come alive in March. If you’re a nature lover, Cloudcroft and the surrounding Sacramento Mountains area of Southern New Mexico are simply spectacular in spring, exploding in a riot of birdsong and color. It’s part of why all of us at Amigo Realty love our job—getting folks closer to New Mexico’s natural beauty is one of our passions.

One of the most beautiful places near Cloudcroft is the waterfall at Bluff Springs. Found amid the meadows surrounding Willie White Spur Trail, the Bluff Spring waterfall’s natural appeal is only matched by the serenity you experience from soaking in the sun and listening to the water rush over the bluff. Fed by mountain snow runoff, the Bluff Springs waterfall runs all summer long. It’s a great spot for a break from your hiking adventure, and there are picnic benches overlooking the falls if you’ve brought a lunch (just please please please remember to leave the little park area the way you found it).

Is it too early to be thinking about the spring and summer? Maybe it just depends on how much you like winter. Regardless of the season, Bluff Springs is just one of many natural treasures hidden in Southern New Mexico. If you’d like to spend some time hunting for them, talk to us about a place to stay!

Tags: Cloudcroft, New Mexico, spring, vacation
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In 2013 Get into a Mountain Getaway Home

January 11, 2013 in Blog

Well, how’s your 2013 coming along? Here in Cloudcroft, we’ve been busy wishing for snow and showing properties, with a little bit of wishing for snow in between. If you couldn’t tell, we’re all looking forward to a good snowpack. If only weather trends were easier to predict! Luckily, when you’re in the real estate business, market trends are a lot easier to spot; of course, what of those trends? While the economy has picked up over the past few months, we’re still not out of the woods quite yet. However, there are signs of improvement everywhere, chiefly in the housing market.

In September, for the first time in almost six years, home prices have finally started to rise. Depending on who you ask, (see the second paragraph of this Kiplinger.com article), the gains could be modest or substantial. While that’s great news for sellers, if you’re in the market as a buyer, you don’t want to wait around too long. Part of the gain has to do with increased buying last year, and if the last quarter of 2012 is any indication, the number of home buyers will increase this year.

Of course, every region’s market is a little different, so the type of house increasing in value in Alpharetta, Georgia might not be selling as readily in Tacoma. Down here in Southern New Mexico, prices are still within the range of the buyer’s market—home values in Cloudcroft and nearby are getting better, but you still have a lot of great opportunities to get a good price. After all, the sooner you get into a mountain getaway, the sooner you can get to the slopes, or the deer lease, or see a gorgeous mountain sunset!

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New Mexico Ski Vacation

December 17, 2012 in Blog

Now that the winter weather has finally made an appearance, the holidays finally feel like they’re in full swing. Christmas is about a week away, and it could very well be a white one; hopefully the snow cooperates and the sky dumps a ton of great powder on the slopes. After all, while I appreciate the snow in Cloudcroft because it’s beautiful, I also appreciate it because it’s fun.

Winter vacations in Cloudcroft are great when there’s a lot of powder on the mountain because we have access to several nearby ski resorts and we’re not too far from Ruidoso. Skiers and boarders are in for a treat—“America’s southernmost ski resort”, Ski Cloudcroft, is about a 10 minute drive from town, and it offers several great slopes for quick runs, making it perfect for half-day lift-tickets if you happen to sleep in. Ski Apache, about an hour up the road in Mescalero, is one of the top resorts in the country, with a wide variety of runs for all skill levels. While all the resorts have rentals available, you can also rent equipment from a number of outfitters in Cloudcroft, advantageous if you plan on skiing for a week.

Taking a week to enjoy winter sports in Cloudcroft is a fantastic way to spend some vacation time, and while there are plenty of great hotels and motels (and a Holiday Inn in Alamorgordo), you should really do it right and rent a cabin. Renting a cabin for your New Mexico ski vacation lets you live here for a little bit, rather than the compartmentalized short-term stay in a hotel room. Imagine coming home from a day of snowboarding and digging into the chili you’ve had simmering in the crockpot all day, maybe uncorking a bottle of wine or cracking open a few ice-cold beers, perhaps putting an ice cold beer on a swollen ankle or knee! When you and your family or a group of friends have a cabin for a week, you get a chance to really relax and hang out, rather than merely cramming into a room with two double beds and watching hotel cable until it’s time to get up and ski again.

The ski season in Cloudcroft, like anywhere else, is dependent on what the weather does, so when the snow arrives, you might as well live it up in a cabin, and enjoy the season to the max. Have a great Christmas and New Year! We hope to see you soon!

Tags: Cloudcroft, holiday, Mountains, New Mexico, snow, vacation, winter
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