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FROM THE
HEART OF TAOS, NM
TAOS’
UNCOMMON CONDOS
Creative
housing with a Southwest flair
By
Diane Enright
Throughout
the U.S., condo sales are making headlines – “Condo Mania”
– the “Condo Craze” as condominium sales, and prices,
eclipse single-family residences in many areas.
Even
today most of us think of “condos” as high rise complexes
offering ownership of studios to penthouses, but Taos has always
offered something a little different, a little more creative in
housing. Visit Taos
Pueblo at the base of the sacred Taos Mountain and you’ll
appreciate the term “Pueblo” style as it relates to our
architecture and see the concept of clustered living – even one
atop another is nothing new.
Taos Pueblo is the oldest continuously inhabited Native
American pueblo in the U.S. and has been called our first
condominium. New
condo complexes like the Residencias de la Rio Pueblo on Upper
Ranchitos and Pueblo de los Sueňos on Kit Carson Road are two
newer complexes that reflect the Pueblo style and offer kiva
fireplaces, vigas, nichos, bancos and other traditional Taos
touches. On
tree-lined Burch Street, the new Villas de las Flores compound
boasts true adobe construction, vibrant colored plaster,
fireplaces and fountains all set amidst an artist’s palette of
flowers and trees.
Taoseňos
have long been protectors of the environment and two, new,
in-town, developments are cutting edge.
Zuni 630 utilizes RASTRA® construction – a recycled
material with high R-value, water catchment for maintaining
xeriscaping in a village setting.
609 Zuni is more contemporary and features photovoltaic
grid tie-back power, grey water irrigation and European on-demand
hot water heaters. Both
are highly energy efficient and user friendly.
Other
condo developments look more like homes; Los Arboles on Los Pandos
and Carabajal Point both provide condos homestyle (no common
walls) with a feeling of space and style.
Even Taos Ski Valley is seeing new development.
Wheeler Peak Condos will sit on-top-of-the-world in the
Kachina Village and offer ski-in/ski-out abodes.
These
new condos are well built and most feature southwest touches,
along with sub-floor radiant heat, thermopane windows, wiring for
Internet access and low-maintenance so association fees are very
reasonable. In town
complexes with as few as 3 to 4 units are common and those with
over 20 are more rare. Each
has its own unique flair.
We
are also seeing conversions like The Sonterra Condominiums on
Siler which were once popular short-term rentals and now modestly
priced condos. Look for more conversions in the near future.
With
prices ranging from just $32,000 for a studio at Quail Ridge Inn
to $650,000 for a 4BR/3BR home-style condo, there really is
something for everyone here in Taos.
Nationwide,
the demand for resort properties and second homes has continued to
grow. One of the
catalysts for our strong market is the demographics of the 77
million baby boomers entering the real estate market.
Many “boomers” are taking early retirement; many are
buying now for retirement later, and many because of the Internet,
Fed Ex, etc. can continue to work anywhere.
Small towns are “in” again.
A lot of our buyers are mobile.
They want to be carefree.
They don’t want maintenance, they do want to pick up and
leave at will. They
are buying condos. The
condo market is hotter than ever and nationally, the sales of
existing condos rose 13% in the first 3 quarters of 2003 according
to the National Association of Homebuilders and they’re
projecting that this trend will continue.
According to the Real Estate Journal of The Wall Street
Journal, on a national basis condos have appreciated about 33%
since 2001 compared with 15% for single-family homes.
Condos tend to be more affordable and even first-time home
buyers are condo hunting.
With
prices ranging from just $90,000 at Quail Ridge Inn to $650,000
for a 3 to 4-bedroom, home-style condo, there really is something
for everyone her in Taos. Construction
costs are going up. The
availability of land is dwindling.
Prices are going up. Can
you afford to wait?
Diane
Enright is an Associate Broker with Prudential Schantz Realty
in Taos, New Mexico. She
can be reached at 800-530-8899
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