abqjournal.

com/homestyle
local real estate , home builders ,
and design trends

home style
issue 33
33

december 30, 2016 january 5, 2017

pulte homes takes on santa fe

make the most of home appraisals
every open house this weekend
greater albuquerque & santa fe

AlbuquerqueJournal

AlbuquerqueJournal

hs 2

S
Stillbrooke

Happy New year from DiamoND Tail raNcH

HOME OF THE WEEK

Home

the

2821 Kiva View

Rio Rancho, 87124

Stillbrooke
1323213-01

fo
Holid r
a ys

4 Bed | 2.5 Bath | 3 Car Garage

Was $359,975 | Now $349,975

Your Green Builder since 1997

www.stillbrooke.com

Locally owned, nationally recognized, multi-award

winning home builder. License #60253. Prices and
availability subject to change without notice.

1323205-06

Happy
New Year
May your 2017 be filled with Joy,
Peace and Prosperity.
Thank you to all my past, present
and future clients for making this a
great 2016.
Sandy Levinson

www.HomesbySandyLevinson.com

Cell: 505.977.3373
sandy@aquitatravel.com

visit abqjournal.com/homestyle for interactive listings

1323960-01

homestyle december 30, 2016 january 5, 2017 hs 3

table of contents

make the most of home appraisals

about the cover

6-7

Tips to get the most value for your home

10940 Esmeralda Dr NW

pulte homes takes on santa fe

Feature Story

make the year ahead clutter-free

Start 2017 with a clean, organized home
Incentives Expire 12/31. See a Raylee Sales Professional for details.
1323625-05

10-11

3800 Spyglass Loop SE

Rio Rancho, NM 87124

open houses

$275,000
4 Bed / 2 Bath
2,342 Sq. Ft.

MLS #881004

homestyle is brought to you by the marketing and advertising departments

at the albuquerque journal.
We are proud to partner with The Greater
Albuquerque Association of Realtors (GAAR),
Commercial Association of Realtors New Mexico
(CARNM) and Home Builders Association of Central
New Mexico (HBACNM) and Santa Fe Association
of Realtors (SFAR). We welcome your comments and
opinions for publication in HomeStyle. Please send
them to HomeStyle@abqjournal.com.

for advertising, more information

or additional copies

Contact Jorge Lopez

505.823.3393
jalopez@abqjournal.com

editor
lauren rolls
business
development
jorge lopez
design
byron hughey
monica schwartz

Albuquerque Journal
7777 Jefferson St. NE
Albuquerque, NM 87109

teamsedorykproperties.com

505.823.7777
homestyle@abqjournal.com

500 Unser Blvd, Suite 101

Rio Rancho, NM 87124
1322574-01

cell: 505.321.4622
office: 505.892.1000
susansedoryk@gmail.com

AlbuquerqueJournal

hs 4

home appraisals

The appraiser gathers

information for the
appraisal report from a
number of sources, but
the process often begins
with a physical inspection
of the property, both
inside and out.

make the most of home appraisals

tips to garner the most value for your home

hen homeowners think

about renovating their

properties, many first need

to secure some funding to
finance such projects. Some may tap into
the equity of their homes by refinancing
an existing mortgage, while others may
apply for home equity loans. Taking the
latter approach may require certain steps,
including an assessment of how much the
home and property is worth.
Home appraisals compare your home to
neighboring properties to determine your
homes current market value. Homeowners can facilitate the process by having
certain information readily available for the
appraiser. When preparing for appraisers,
homeowners should consider and collect
important information.

gather information
Make sure the appraiser knows if your
home is built on the largest lot in the com-

munity or if you have made significant

upgrades since it was last appraised, such
as installing a new roof or siding. Dont
overlook smaller renovations, like extra
insulation added or sealing drafty windows,
which can increase a homes value. Also
provide proof that you have used sustainable resources or if you participated in any
energy-savings programs. Naturally, any
expansion projects, such as adding another
bedroom or extending the footprint of the
home, should be mentioned.
A real estate appraiser is a certified,
licensed professional who will do his or her
best to determine the value of your home.
The appraisal provides banks with information that can tell loan officers if the house is
worth the loan amount. Expect to pay a fee
for the appraisal, which is generally included
in your closing costs.
The appraiser gathers information for
the appraisal report from a number of
sources, but the process often begins with

a physical inspection of the property, both

inside and out. He or she also will compare your home against a few others in the
neighborhood, which are known as comparables, or comps. Appraisals will be based
on recent prices of comparable properties
as well as other factors.

other ways to increase value

Apart from the improvements done to
the home, there are other ways to get a
higher appraisal amount. The appraiser may
consider the overall maintenance of the
home and property. It is wise to consider
curb appeal and ensure the home is clean
and maintained when the appraiser arrives.
Minor repairs or common maintenance can
impress the appraiser. Removing clutter and
cleaning up the homes interior can make
the home appear larger, possibly increasing its value as a result. It may be worth it to
invest some more money into the property
before having an appraisal done. A study

sponsored by the National Association of

REALTORS says wood floors, landscaping
and an enclosed garage can lead to a more
favorable appraisal.
An appraiser will spend roughly 30
minutes in a home. Try to give that person
space to do his or her job. Following the
appraiser around during an inspection can
raise a red flag that something is wrong
with the house that you dont want to be
seen. Turn lights on throughout the house,
make sure the heating or cooling system is
functioning at full capacity and keep pets
locked away. Move items that can impede
access to basements or attics.
An accurate assessment of the value of
your home will give banks the information
they need to determine loan amounts for
future renovation projects. Providing background information on the home and having a well-maintained property can improve
the chances of a favorable appraisal.

visit abqjournal.com/homestyle for interactive listings

homestyle december 30, 2016 january 5, 2017 hs 5

10940 Esmeralda Dr NW
Albuquerque, NM 87114
$305,990

mls # 881165

1,961 sq. ft.

3 bed / 2 bath
Krystin Apodaca
505.205.3201
RayLee Realty

about the cover

W
10940 esmeralda
beautiful RayLee
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The home features tile backsplashes in

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AlbuquerqueJournal

hs 6

homestyle december 30, 2016 january 5, 2017 hs 7

feature story

feature story / pulte homes

The kitchen in the Series

series is a gathering place
for families.

The Journey model in

the Sierra series is 2,504
square feet and starts at
$357,990.

Top: The two-story Monza floor plan runs from 3,048 to

3,413 square feet with prices ranging from $356,990
to $364,990.
Bottom: The Darden floor plan in the Vistas series
ranges from 1,968 square feet for $308,990 to 2,115
square feet for $308,990.

pulte homes

takes on santa fe

homeowners are starting to move in, she

said.We have been very successful and we
will start closing homes by the end of the
year, so we will have our first homeowners moving in by the end of December,
Montoya said. As a matter of fact, sales have
been even better than anticipated thus far,
she said.

high demand

las soleras
promises to be
unique, multi-use
development with
homes made for
growing families,
empty nesters

By glen rosales / homestyle writer

homes are leaping from

as
a new Capitol City multi-use
development begins to take form.
Already underway in the area, Presbyterian Hospital prepares a gleaming 305,000
square foot, ultra-modern complex to the
tune of $135 million that is expected to
open for business by 2018. Other sites
such as McDonalds and Starbucks are
already serving customers in the new Las
Soleras Santa Fe complex.
And now Pulte Homes is setting the
ante fe

the ground at a furious pace

pace on the residential spectrum with two

series of homes; Vistas de Las Soleras is
aimed at move-up buyers with growing
families and Sierra de Las Soleras is geared
toward empty nesters looking to downsize
after sending their kids into the world.Its
big for Santa Fe,said Pulte New Mexico
spokesperson Jolene Montoya.

one of a kind
Its a new type of development for the
City Different, said Shawna Owens, sales
consultant for Pultes Las Soleras neighbor-

hood.Its the only community in Santa Fe

that will combine residence, medical, commercial, retail and a park into one area,she
said.Whereas most of the places in Santa
Fe, youre bouncing around on those things.
That strip is the only strip that encompasses
pretty much everything that you will need
to have for a small city. Thats what makes it
all unique.
Las Soleras itself will be spread across
some 550 acres, with Pulte utilizing 102
acres for 302 homes sites and a park. The
first closings occurred this week and new

visit abqjournal.com/homestyle for interactive listings

Were doing better than expected and

a lot of that has to do with the demand,
Montoya said.Theres just not this type of
construction here. Theres really not another
production builder in Santa Fe and there
hasnt been since Centex was here and they
closed out about two years ago. There are
some builders, but not to this level. The
original goal has been to build out the community in three years, but the way homes are
moving after just opening sales in July and
beginning home construction in August, the
neighborhood just may be completed sooner.
I just dont think Santa Feans have
seen this type of home in this price range,

"Its the only community in Santa Fe that will combine residence, medical,
commercial, retail and a park into one area. Whereas most of the places in Santa Fe,
jolene montoya, pulte nm spokesperson
youre bouncing around on those things."
Montoya said in explaining Las Soleras success.Because weve been so successful and
things are going faster than anticipated, our
goal had been to be here for three years, but
well see. Theres nothing like this in Santa
Fe. Its not dated the community feel, the
homes, the design.

pulte put in the work

Its no wonder the homes are already a
hit because Pulte did significant research
before any construction began.Because
we are a high-end builder, Pulte has a 12step process,Montoya said.Everything is
consumer-inspired. Weve done focus groups
to determine whats the best look, whats
best for livability. So when you walk into
Pultes homes, youll see that the livability is
so much different. Big, open gathering rooms
and indoor-outdoor living, which is great for
Santa Fe; plus nice-sized master bedrooms
and suites. The floor plans are extremely flexible so you can add bedrooms, dens and do
guest suites.
The development specifically targets two

areas of particular need in the city, she said.

We have a total of 10 floor plans in two
different series,Montoya said.One series is
smaller lots, two-story and single story. And
the other side, larger lots, one story and were
really trying to target empty nesters because
theres a huge, growing demographic of
empty nesters, 55-plus in Santa Fe.

new kid on the playground

Pulte began the process two years ago, so
things have moved fairly rapidly, particularly
considering the sometimes-contentious nature new development can face in Santa Fe.
We have had huge support from the mayor,
Javier Gonzales, and from the councilors in
our district,Montoya said.There were some
challenges, some municipality things. But
our people have been working well with the
city and they have been very supportive of
the project.
A bumps along the road to development
is not unusual, Owens said.I think any time
theres a new kid on the playground, it takes
a little bit,she said. And at this point, were

all starting to get along pretty well. Indeed,

even some little tweaks on the traditional
style have been accepted.Theyve embraced
our homes, our spec levels thats different,
Montoya said.Our pitched roofs, which they
dont normally allow in the city and theyve
done a great job of working with us. We
appreciate the citys support.It all led to an
easy decision to build, she said.
Its kind of no-brainer for us,Montoya
said.There was a lack of supply here. We
believe in our homes and I dont think there
is anybody in New Mexico that can build
a community and a master plan like we
do. From the entry, the entry monument,
the community feel. We just put so much
thought and time in planning and engineering into that, we knew that Santa Fe would
receive it well.
Homes in Vistas start at $239,990 for
1,776 square feet and go up to 3,413 square
feet for $364,990, while the Sierra line starts
at $328,990 for 2,017 square feet up to 2,504
square feet for $357,990.

AlbuquerqueJournal

hs 8

home improvement

Clutter can gradually

overtake a homes
interior, turning a once
pristine home into one
overwhelmed with
nonessential items.

make the year ahead clutter-free

tips to start 2017 with a clean, organized home

any people feel the dawn of

a new year provides an op-

portunity to clean the slate

and begin anew. That notion
can be applied in various ways, including
around the house. Cleaning the slate at
home may involve reducing clutter around
the house. Clutter can gradually overtake
a homes interior, turning a once pristine
home into one overwhelmed with nonessential items. Clearing a home of clutter
can seem like a monumental task, but the
following tips can help homeowners and
apartment dwellers make the year ahead
clutter-free.

scan important documents

Some documents cannot be discarded, but that does not mean they have to
be stored in bulky file cabinets or desk

drawers. Scan important documents

such as medical receipts or tax returns
and save them on your computer where
they wont take up any physical space.
Purchase an external hard drive as a
safety net where you can store backups
of important documents in case a computer crashes and cannot be rebooted.

thin out dvd and cd libraries

Thanks to streaming services and
digital music players, DVDs and compact
discs have become somewhat obsolete.
Discard or donate DVDs that you can
just as easily stream through your television, and convert compact discs to digital
files that you can play on your computer
and MP3 players, ultimately donating
the discs and clearing space.

purchase furniture that

doubles as storage
Storage ottomans and benches can
help clear common areas and bedrooms
of clutter such as blankets and bed
linens that can make rooms feel more
claustrophobic. Storage furniture might
not get excess items out of the house,
but such furnishings can create a more
comfortable, welcoming environment.

switch to e-statements
Paper is a big contributor to household clutter. Thats still the case even
though many adults now pay the majority of their bills online. When given the
chance to choose between paper or estatements, opt for the latter so bills and
bank statements dont pile up on your

desk or throughout your home office. If

you still want to keep important bills and
bank statements, download them to your
computer and keep them in a designated
folder on your desktop.

out with the old, in with

the new
Resolve to discard old items after purchasing new ones or receiving birthday or
holiday gifts. Hanging on to old items because they can still function and serve some
utility is a recipe for a cluttered home. Anytime you or a family member brings a new
item into your home, make sure the item
its replacing finds its way out the door.
Clearing clutter is a goal for many people at
the dawn of a new year. As intimidating as
clutter can seem, discarding it is easier than
it may appear.

visit abqjournal.com/homestyle for interactive listings

homestyle december 30, 2016 january 5, 2017 hs 9

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feature yourself or your houses here, every friday.

Contact Jorge Lopez
505.823.3393 or
jalopez@abqjournal.com

AlbuquerqueJournal

hs 10
southwest mls
southwest
mls

open houses

this friday - thursday

open house listing information was derived

from the southwest multiple listing service
properties (swmls) as of 5pm on tuesday.
information is accurate, but not guaranteed.

14 listings
feature story
low: 117.5k
high: 775m

Academy West
7544 Prairie NE
$117,500|1200 sq. ft.|2bdr|2ba
Coldwell Banker Legacy
(505) 292-8900
Carol L Radosevich
MLS # 876689
12/31 11:00AM-11:00PM

Academy West
4813 Downey Street
$215,000|1479 sq. ft.|3bdr|2ba
Coldwell Banker Legacy
(505) 292-8900
Cathleen A Kane
MLS # 881084
12/31 11:00AM-2:00PM

Corrales
517 Ranchitos Road
$369,000|2130 sq. ft.|4bdr|3ba
Coldwell Banker Legacy
(505) 892-1000
Andrew Hadcock
MLS # 880877
12/31 11:00AM-1:00PM

Downtown Area
2406 Edna Avenue NW
$186,500|1300 sq. ft.|3bdr|2ba
Keller Williams Realty
(505) 897-1100
Karsten & Associates
MLS # 881290
12/30 2:00PM-4:00PM

Far NE Heights
6565 Monte Serrano NE
$169,000|1146 sq. ft.|2bdr|2ba
Coldwell Banker Legacy
(505) 293-3700
Phylis L Thorson
MLS # 875618
12/30 2:30AM-5:30PM

Far NE Heights
4512 Bali Court NE
$278,700|1858 sq. ft.|4bdr|2ba
Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices
Allstar, REALTORS(r)
(505) 994-8585
Gregory J Riley
MLS # 878022
01/01 1:00PM-3:00PM

Far NE Heights
5709 Lost Dutchman Street NE
$299,900|2355 sq. ft.|3bdr|2ba
Keller Williams Realty
(505) 897-1100
Karsten & Associates
MLS # 881293
01/01 1:00PM-4:00PM

Four Hills Village

319 Narcissus Place SE
$240,000|1577 sq. ft.|3bdr|3ba
Realty One of New Mexico
(505) 883-9400
Laura L Witzel
MLS # 881185
12/31 11:00AM-5:00PM

Near North Valley

3939 Rio Grande Boulevard NW
$212,000|1210 sq. ft.|2bdr|1ba
Coldwell Banker Legacy
(505) 292-8900
Kimberly Beers
MLS # 872761
12/31 1:00PM-3:00PM

Northeast Heights
261 Burma Drive NE
$125,000|1260 sq. ft.|3bdr|2ba
Equity New Mexico
(505) 291-0050
Heather N Whiting
MLS # 879092
12/31 1:00PM-3:00PM

Northeast Heights
2909 La Camila Road NE
$298,900|2460 sq. ft.|4bdr|3ba
Re/Max Elite
(505) 798-1000
Ramona Biddle
MLS # 878906
12/31 12PM-3PM,01/01 12PM-3PM

Rio Rancho MiD

2900 8th Avenue NE
$180,000|1610 sq. ft.|3bdr|2ba
ERA Sellers & Buyers Real Estate
(505) 296-1500
Susan K Markin Ryerson
MLS # 878254
12/31 12:01PM-2:01PM

Rio Rancho Mid

6440 Matamoros Road NE
$354,000|2465 sq. ft.|4bdr|3ba
Coldwell Banker Legacy
(505) 898-2700
Mark Wingert
MLS # 870075
12/31 1:00PM-3:00PM

Sandia Heights
1423 San Rafael Avenue NE
$775,000|5430 sq. ft.|4bdr|4ba
Coldwell Banker Legacy
(505) 293-3700
Sandi Pressley
MLS # 862392
12/30 1:00PM-4:00PM

sante fe mls
continued on
page 11

5313 Queens Court

Albuquerque, NM 87109
$425,000
Academy West

9000 Alameda Blvd NE

Abuquerque, NM 87122
$1,195,000
north albuquerque acres

3 bed / 3 bath / 2,864 Sq. Ft.

Annette Ackerman
La Puerta Real Estate
office: 505.867.3388 / cell: 505.280.9557

4 bed / 4.5 bath / 4,350 Sq. Ft.

Robert Devine
Switch Realty
office: 505.596.0606 cell: 505.515.5800

MLS# 869195

MLS# 876458

6528 Metz Road NW

Albuquerque, Nm 87120
$399,900
Northwest Heights
3 bed / 2.5 bath / 2,410 Sq. Ft.
amy waterman
realty one of nm
office: 505.883.9400 office: 505.917.5084

feature yourself or your

houses here, every friday.
Contact Jorge Lopez
505.823.3393 or
jalopez@abqjournal.com

MLS# 880766
visit abqjournal.com/homestyle for interactive listings

homestyle december 30, 2016 january 5, 2017 hs 11

southwest fe
mls mls
santa

this friday - thursday

open houses
1 listings
price: 690k

look for

open house listing information was derived

from the santa fe multiple listing service
properties as of 5pm on tuesday. information is
accurate, but not guaranteed.

Re/Max Alliance Realtors

SF City Limits NE
322 Magdalena #7
$690,000|1200 sq. ft.|2bdr|2ba
Santa Fe Properties
505-982-4466
Team Bodelson and Spier
MLS # 201605791
01/01 2:00PM-4:00PM

Cottonwood Corners

$259,900

4008 Pasaje Place NW

Albuquerque, 87114
MLS #878701

4 Bedroom /3 Bath
2,460 sq. ft.

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1322557-04

4501 Summer Hill Lane NW

Albuquerque, Nm 87120
$429,500
Northwest Heights

11206 Anaheim Ave NE

Albuquerque, Nm 87122
$679,250
North Albuquerque Acres

5 bed / 3 bath / 3,129 Sq. Ft.

Annette Ackerman
La Puerta Real Estate
office: 505.867.3388 cell: 505.280.9557

5 bed / 4.5 bath / 3,822 Sq. Ft.

Phyllis and Robert Boverie
24K Real Estate Group
office: 505.292.2424 cell: 505.401.3881

MLS# 877968

MLS# 873867

65 Wind NW
Albuquerque, Nm 87120
$399,900
La Luz del Sol

4008 Pasaje Place NW

Albuquerque, Nm 87114
$259,900
Paradise east

3 bed / 3 bath / 1,954 Sq. Ft.

Missy Ashcraft
Keller Williams
office: 505.271.8200 cell: 505.362.6823

4 bed / 3 bath / 2,460 Sq. Ft.

Melissa Morenus
Remax Alliance Realtors
office: 505.298.9999 cell: 505.620.5504

MLS# 857823

MLS# 878701

AlbuquerqueJournal

hs 12

local real estate ,

home builders
and design

home style
thank you for welcoming homestyle
into your home. we look forward to an
even brighter year in 2017.
happy holidays from the homestyle team

abqjournal.com/homestyle
visit abqjournal.com/homestyle for interactive listings