Sailing on Cochiti Lake

Sailing on Cochiti lake this week was wonderful.  We over knighted on our friends big sail boat.  The night skies were beautiful and the morning was cool and calm.  This lake is 30 minutes from our house in Placitas.

Gail McGough-Maduena, Associate Broker

Young Buck Still in Velvet

Thanks to Tom Ashe for these extraordinary photos taken at his house in Ranchos de Placitas -- with his iPhone!  WOW!!

Pepi Strahl, Associate Broker

Air Quality -- Santa Fe, Albuquerque and Placitas

The annual “State of the Air” report published by MSNBC this week on the best and worst places to live in terms of air quality, stated that both Santa Fe and Albuquerque were among the top 25 cleanest U.S.  cities for long-term particle pollution.  In fact, Santa Fe was second best in the nation and Albuquerque placed 17^th.  Since Placitas is in between and a bit higher in elevation than Albuquerque, we don’t get the pollution they get when there is an air inversion.  And according to the American Lung Association, Sandoval County, which includes Placitas got an A rating for air quality.  So I surmise from all this that Placitas is among the top communities in America with excellent air quality, which makes it a terrific place to live.  We who are here already knew that but it’s wonderful to be verified nationally!

Sandy Poling, Associate Broker

The Yucca - New Mexico's State Flower

This Yucca is now blooming in our front yard; the birds love to nest in this yucca. The yucca was adopted as the State Flower of New Mexico on March 14, 1927. The yucca is a member of the lily family and a symbol of sturdiness as well as beauty. In the early summer, pale ivory flowers bloom at the tips of its long, fibrous stalks. At the base of the plant are broad, sharp-edged leaves that look like stilettos. The yucca sometimes grows to the height of a small tree.

Randall Phillips, Associate Broker

Good News About Placitas Home Sales

We have some Good News! Home sales in Placitas in February were up 300% from the previous year. Lawrence Yun, National Association of Realtors chief economist, said we’re seeing the continuation of an uneven but higher sales pattern. “The spring home buying season looks bright because of an elevated level of contract offers so far this year,” he said. “If activity is sustained near present levels, existing-home sales will see their best performance in five years. Based on all of the factors in the current market, that’s what we’re expecting with sales rising 7 to 10 percent in 2012.” Good News Indeed!

Sandy Poling, Associate Broker

I am truly blessed to live and work here in Placitas Each time I walk out of my work place I marvel at my beautiful view of the Sandias. Sometimes I just go out to see what pleasure awaits me.

Gail McGough-Maduena, Associate Broker

You know it is spring when the bees are bringing several different shades of pollen. I tried to get a picture of them coming back to the hive showing their pollen sacks filled but they don't stop and pose for me. I will have to work on that. The colors range from white to almost a chartreuse green and it is a combination of the elm trees, juniper and wild mustard, I am sure there are other things opening too but these are the ones I know. There are lots of fruit trees that will be opening soon and they will be getting the pollen from those too. That old saying "busy as a bee" is really true!

Julie Denison, Associate Broker