If you get there early, you get the best pick of the freshest food from Mesilla Valley farmers. But you don't only find fresh food from the farmers at our market. Crafts, landscaping, fresh bread, and other tasty treats line the sides of the Las Cruces Downtown from sunrise until 1pm.

Our market is so wonderful that it was recently ranked number 9 among other large markets across the county. Take a look at the America's Favorite Farmer's Market Contest put on by the American Farmland Trust. In 2010 Las Cruces ranked with the best!

http://action.farmland.org/site/PageServer?pagename=winners2010

Some of my favorite things to pick up at the Las Cruces Farmers & Crafts Market include: kettle corn, fresh bread, veggies, candles, fresh honey, and jam. But I occasionally pick up special things for myself or friends like: local art, photography, wood work, cloths, and other home decorations. You also get to enjoy multiple local musicians who move around to different parts of the market throughout the morning.

A final note to make is that the market is pet friendly so take the opportunity to get exercise for yourself and your pet. You will find that the Animal Service Center of the Mesilla Valley is there every weekend walking some of the animals that are up for adoption, and they even have a booth at the south end of market where you can adopt a new pet.

If you've never been to the Las Cruces Farmers & Crafts Market then you really are missing out. Don't wait another weekend. Go this Saturday and maybe we'll see each other there.

Learn more at their website: http://lascrucesfarmersmarket.org/

Every year I am surprised how fast our summers go by. I can't believe that it is already time for the new school year to get started! It just doesn't seem right to have school starting when it's still 100 degrees out.

This year, Las Cruces Public School students and Las Cruces Catholic School students return Aug. 15. Mesilla Valley School students hit the classrooms even earlier, on Aug. 9

So it's time to put the swim suits away and get your school supplies together. Here are a few links if you're looking for school supply lists:

K-5

Middle Schools

High Schools

If you don't have children in your home, but enjoy buying school supplies, you can always donate! It's estimated that nearly 60 percent of students won't have adequate supplies. Here's a list of items that LCPS accepts:

• Wide-ruled notebook paper

• Glue sticks

• 70-page spirals notebooks

• Highlighters

• #2 pencils

• Backpacks

• Pens with blue or black ink

• Rulers

• Folders with pockets and prongs

• Scissors

• Crayons

• Erasers

• Markers

• Pad locks

• Graph paper

I would like to wish all of our students, teachers, and parents good luck in the coming school year. Let's make it the best year ever!

Las Cruces has been recognized as a great place to start a small business and retire, but we love it because it offers families outdoor and indoor activities to help them spend time together and stay active. Here are a few of best ways for families to spend time in Las Cruces.

Las Cruces Ciclovias

Las Cruces starting holding ciclovias on the last Sunday of each month in March 2008. For those of you who do not know, Ciclovias are celebrations that were started in Colombia as a way to encourage people to be active. In Colombia, every Sunday streets are blocked off for runners, skaters and bicyclists. At the same time, stages are set up in city parks for aerobics, yoga and music.

In Las Cruces your family can attend ciclovias on the last Sunday of every month at Young Park. The activities, which start at 10am and end at 2pm, include bike riding, jogging, dancing, gymnastics, and more.

Las Cruces Ciclovias are put on by a partnership of the New Mexico Department of Health, New Mexico State University's Southern Area Health Education Center, the Cooperative Extension Service from NMSU's College of Agriculture and Home Economics, the City of Las Cruces, Southern New Mexico Diabetes Outreach, and the Doña Ana County Diabetes Action Coalition.

Las Cruces Aquatic Center

In 2010, the City of Las Cruces opened the Las Cruces Aquatic Center.

The indoor aquatic center is located in the Hadley Sports Complex. It is 35,000 square feet with 5,000 square feet of water surface at 82 degrees.

The waterslide, and other playful features like cascades, bubblers, dumping buckets and fan sprays, make it a great place for kids or to pretend you are a kid again. When your energy runs low there is a lazy river to float around in. A zero-depth entry for the recreational pool allows for everyone to easily enter the big pool.

For those interested in aquatic exercise, the 25-meter rectangular lap pool has year-round lap swimming, and an activity pool was designed with a built-in bench for swimming instruction for younger swimmers.

The center is open year-round and has swim lessons, lap swimming, water safety classes, exercise classes and private rentals. The costs are $5 for adults, $3 for youth ages 3-17, and $2 for children under 3 years

Las Cruces Museum of Natural History

The Las Cruces Museum of Natural History is located in the Mesilla Valley Mall. It offers a variety of exhibits that are of interest to people of all ages. The exhibits are changed periodically, but will often include live animal displays, educational programs, and events relating to the sciences and the natural environment of southern New Mexico. There are often interactive exhibits that children (and adults) of all ages just love to try. The museum is open Monday-Saturday at 10AM, Sunday at 1PM, and closes at 5PM every day except Friday, at 8PM. Admission is free but donations are requested. (Information compliments of City of Las Cruces Website).

Farm and Ranch Heritage Museum

This is an interactive museum with both indoor and outdoor activities. The history of farming and ranching in New Mexico is the overall theme of the museum, but varying exhibits in the main building offer glimpses into all aspects of southwestern culture. It is great fun to stroll the grounds to observe the livestock and gardens. There are live demonstrations, such as actual blacksmithing and cow milking, that are entertaining and interesting for the entire family. This is a fun-filled location that families can return to time and again.

The museum is part of the New Mexico Department of Cultural Affairs and is located at 4100 Dripping Springs Road in Las Cruces, N.M. Admission is $5 for adults, $3 for senior citizens (60 and over) and $2 for children ages 5 to 17. Children under 5 and museum members are admitted free of charge. The museum is open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Saturday and from noon to 5 p.m. on Sunday. (Information compliments of Farm and Ranch Heritage Museum Web Site).

These are just a sampling of many wonderful ways to enjoy leisure time in Las Cruces, NM. If you decide that you would like to relocate here with your family, please contact me. I would be happy to assist you with your relocation process.

Last week I was pleased to finally meet a couple after several months of long distance planning for their first visit to Las Cruces. They just got to town and needed a restaurant recommendation. Many great places raced through my mind, but I narrowed it down to three.

La Posta de Mesilla
La Posta de Mesilla has great tasting Mexican food, but there are lots of excellent Mexican restaurants in Las Cruces and the surrounding areas. (See Chopes below). La Posta's location in the Historic Mesilla Plaza and its circa 1840 building combine with good food to make this a must-visit restaurant. You can sense the Southwest history when you sit in La Posta. Sam and Roy Bean operated a passenger and freight service from here, and after the Civil War, La Posta was an important stop for the Butterfield Stage. The plaza in Mesilla is full of history and culture. A stroll around the plaza before or after dinner to take in the historical markers and visit the shops is thoroughly enjoyable. La Posta's food combined with its location make it a great place for people relocating to Las Cruces as well as for locals. La Posta de Mesilla is an event, not just dinner.

Double Eagle
I could not put La Posta on this list and leave off Double Eagle. Double Eagle is an upscale dining experience featuring classic aged steaks, chicken and seafood, and New Mexican cuisine. Reservations are recommended. It has excellent food and renowned service, but like La Posta, the history that surrounds it makes it more than dinner. Double Eagle is also located in the Mesilla Plaza. The Double Eagle building has many antiques from the post-Civil Period. Make sure you stroll through the bar to admire the magnificent décor and artwork. Request seating in the Maximilian Room, where you can gaze at a solid gold, hand-gilded ceiling, huge French baccarat chandeliers, each containing more than 1000 hand-cut crystals, and ornate gold-leaf mirrors. At Double Eagle you get excellent food in a historic building, an elegant atmosphere...and ghosts! There are many stories about the ghosts in Double Eagle. Ask your server next time you are there.

Chopes
Some of our clients relocating to Las Cruces want to experience local dining traditions, not just the popular restaurants that tourists go to. In these situations I send them to Chopes. Chopes has excellent Mexican food. Located in La Mesa, the scenic 25 minute drive to Chopes takes you through the valley where you are surrounded by pecan orchards. When you get there, don't doubt this choice because of the simple appearance. Remember, this isn't about a fancy experience. Chopes is about really great food (especially the chile rellenos) and local tradition.

What's your favorite place to eat around Las Cruces? 

Searching for a home in Las Cruces does not need to be difficult. It should be one of the most exciting experiences of your life, but not a stressful one. I have put together the following list to help you make sure that your home search is a great experience.

Make a List
Prioritize the things that you are looking for in your new home. This can be fun if you allow your imagination to take control. Ask your family members to make lists, too. Then, together, you can organize the lists based on the amenities that you cannot live without, the ones that are negotiable and those that would be in your "dream home". You can then use your amenities list while shopping and negotiating with the sellers, as well as using it for a to-do list of future ideas for your newly purchased home.

 Speak to a Loan Specialist

If you are planning on financing your home, speak to one or more loan specialists and get pre-approved.  This will help you to know how much you can afford to spend on a home, so that, as you search, you will not look at homes that are beyond your means.

 Search On the Internet

The internet is a great way to get a preliminary idea of what's on the market in Las Cruces.  There are dozens of search sites for real estate.  Realtor.com, RE/MAX.com and Trulia.com are 3 examples.  Also, at my website, www.HomesSouthwest.com, you can search my listings as well as link to Realtor.com to search for all homes in Las Cruces.  But, remember that what you see online is only part of the picture.  Often the home you think is perfect on the internet may not pass muster when you actually see it.  Consider the internet as your initial research.

Drive around

If you are located locally to the area where you are interested in buying, and you have some free time, drive around the neighborhoods where you are interested in living, and do it at various times of the day.  You can learn a great deal about a neighborhood by taking a first-hand look, such as traffic patterns, neighborhood demographics, and even the way the homes are positioned in relation to the sun- a very important aspect here in the desert.

Search With Your Phone
Some internet sites have great apps for phones.  With today's technology you can stop, open an internet App, and get information right there in your car. So whether you are out looking with the family or driving by while running errands, you can access all sorts of real estate information straight from your phone.

Work With a Realtor
Finally, make your life easy by working with a Realtor. Having a professional by your side will make your experience much better. As an experienced realtor, I live and breathe the real estate market on a daily basis. I monitor the local market several times daily to stay abreast of what homes are new to the market and what has recently sold.  I also monitor the national market for sales and financing trends that are important for my buyers to know. After you make me aware of your needs and desires in a home, I have the experience and tools to hone down a search quickly.  My membership in the Las Cruces Multiple Listing and Information Service affords instant information on every property available in Las Cruces. With over 27 years of experience in Las Cruces real estate, I am familiar with neighborhoods, builders, local architecture, local contractors, and many other details that allow me to differentiate between the homes that may be suitable for you, and the ones that "may not pass muster."  When we find your "perfect" home, I can also help you to negotiate based on actual market statistics.

 When you are ready to shop for a home, I'm here for you.

2 Months Before

Start the process about 2 months before your actual moving day. Here are the things to consider doing:

Get rid of useless stuff. It's time to throw it out.

Clean out your closet. I know you love those shoes, but the truth is that if you haven't worn them in the last two years, it's time for them to go. The same goes for clothes that do not fit anymore.

Have a garage sale. Take the clothes and things that you are ready to get rid of and sell them. You may be surprised at how much money you can make.

Let your friends and family know about your move. When you have made your decision, let everyone know. You may want to make a list of everyone to make sure that you don't forget to tell your aunt who gets mad when she's the last one to know.

6 Weeks Before

As you get closer to moving day, these get more important:

Contact a moving company or the truck rental. If you wait until the last minute, you will rush through a lot of important questions that the moving company will have.

Go to the post office and get a moving kit. This will give you everything you need to make sure that you don't lose any mail. Follow the instructions regarding how and when to transfer your mail to your new address.

Contact your children's schools to have their records sent to their new schools.
Arrange for cleaning your home once you have moved out of it.
Stop shopping for food and start eating what you have in your refrigerator, freezer, and pantry.

Talk to your doctors to get references for new doctors and get new prescriptions written.

3 Weeks Before

Organize all the important papers for your move. This includes your personal records, moving contracts, new mortgage agreement, health documents, address book, bills, etc.

Start packing your off-season items and clothes.

Start packing your knick-knacks, collectibles, books, family photos, decorative items, cds, dvds, and anything you will be taking with you that is unnecessary for your day-to-day living.

If you're working with movers, start organizing things for them. If there are items that they need to avoid, move those items into their own location and label them.

If it is near time for service, consider getting your cars serviced. You will have peace of mind knowing that your cars are in top condition when you begin your moving-day drive.

2 Weeks Before

Check with utility providers at your current home to inquire about scheduling final readings and other guidelines.

Check with utility providers at your new location regarding turn-on or transfer of utility services to your name.

Start organizing and packing your suitcases. Your kids, yourself, your spouse, each of you needs to start organizing and thinking about moving day (or days) and what you will need.

Start packing the kitchen and bathroom items that you don't need for the next two weeks.

Start contacting friends and say goodbye.

1 Week Before

Wash all your clothes and do all your dishes.

Switch to paper plates.

Start moving your extra furniture.

Pack up everything except your basics.

2 Days Before

You should be done packing most things by the end of the day.

Start packing your car.

Find a place for your new keys and tell everyone where they are so you don't lose them.

Get cash for your trip.

Moving Day

Put first aid kits in your car.

Make sure you have DVDs, books, magazines and snacks.

Fill up your car with gas.

Take a final photo of the house for memories.

Hit the road!

1. Only Looking at Listing Prices

Sometimes sellers look online at other homes for sale in their neighborhood or at homes with the same square footage, and guess that their home is worth about the same. Knowing the prices of your competition is important, but listing prices alone are not a good indicator of what your home will actually sell for.

What you need is a comparative market analysis. As your Realtor, I will do a comparative market analysis to show you research on the actual sales prices for similar homes that have recently sold in your area.

2. Hiring the Agent Who Lists Your House for the Highest Price

If you interview several Realtors and one proposes a higher price than the others, be cautious. Ask each Realtor to provide research that backs up their quotes. An ethical Realtor will tell you the truth about pricing. It is unethical to over-price a home for the purpose of obtaining the listing.

Some sellers want to price their home high so that they can negotiate. I understand that negotiation is an important part of a real estate transaction, but we need to take care with this pricing concept and not over-price your home. At the right price point, you will generate a lot of activity in the early days of your listing. If your price is too high, many potential buyers will overlook your home during this important period. Rather than generating an offer with negotiating room, a price that is too high will reduce buyer traffic through your home.
As your Realtor, I will work with you to help you understand the current real estate market so that you can decide upon a price for your home that makes sense in terms of your own needs and the current market conditions.

3. Getting Emotionally Invested

Naturally, you have an emotional tie with your home. After all, it was you who spent hours of labor upgrading, landscaping and decorating. Your time and life experiences throughout the years have translated into emotional investments in your home, but not necessarily increased value.

Keep in mind that buyers don't have the same emotional investment. The cost of upgrades may not equal equity in your home. Don't base your price on what you think your home is worth, base it on actual research. Also, try to avoid thinking that your home is "nicer" than the others in the research. As a Realtor, I have been trained to be objective and to evaluate price based on the current market conditions. When your home gets an offer, don't be offended if it is low. Look at low offers as starting points in negotiations.

Contact me if you are interested in more information on how to sell your home.

1. Start With Your Credit
Since you probably need to get a mortgage to buy a house, you must make sure your credit history is good. Get copies of your credit report a few months before you start the search for your new Las Cruces home. Make sure everything is correct, and fix any problems you discover.

2. Get Professional Help
Even though the Internet helps buyers by giving you a wide variety of information, including access to home listings, most home buyers are better off using a professional Realtor. A Realtor will have your interests at heart and can help you with strategies during the bidding process.

3. Get Pre-Approved
Getting pre-approved will you save you the grief of looking at houses you can't afford and put you in a better position to make a serious offer when you do find the right house. Pre-approval from a lender is based on your actual income, debt and credit history. Pre-approval isn't the same as pre-qualification.

4. Look For a Home You Can Afford
As a rule, you can buy a home in Las Cruces that runs about two-and-one-half times your annual salary.

5. You Usually Put Down 20%, But Not Always
There are a variety of public and private lenders who, if you qualify, offer low-interest mortgages that require a smaller down payment.

6. Look at Schools
This advice applies even if you don't have school-age children because when it comes time to sell, many other home buyers will be looking for good schools.

7. Your Opening Bid
Your opening bid should be based on the sales trend of similar homes in the neighborhood. Your Realtor can help you get the information on the sales of similar homes in the last three months.

8. Hire a Home Inspector
Your lender will require a home appraisal, but that's just the bank's way of determining whether the house is worth the price you've agreed to pay. You should hire your own home inspector to point out potential problems.

The truth is that it's not too late. Take action now rather than wait until spring.

Here are 10 reasons to list your home during the holidays.

1. 90 percent of home buyers begin their home shopping online. Less people are out driving around looking at neighborhoods.

2. People who look for a home during the holidays seem to be serious buyers. If they are out there looking now, it means they are looking to buy.

3. Buyers have fewer homes to choose from during the holiday months and less competition, which means more potential for your home to be viewed and more money for you.

4. Since the supply of new listings dramatically increase in January, there will be less demand for your particular home. Less demand means less money for you.

5. Some people must buy before the end of the year for tax purposes.

6. Buyers may be more emotional during the holidays, so they are more likely to pay closer to your price.

7. Homes feel and show better when they are decorated for the holidays (though don't over decorate).

8. You can still be on the market, but you have the option to restrict showing during the six or seven days of the holidays.

9. You can sell now for more money and we will provide for a delayed closing or extended occupancy until early next year.

10. By selling now, you may have a opportunity to be a non-contingent buyer during the spring when many more houses are on the market for less money! This will allow you to sell high and buy low!"