Taos

Taos – A Popular Choice for Retirees
In an article in the March 13, 2006 issue of U.S. News & World Report, Brookings Institution demographer William Frey stated that "a growing number of retirees are choosing small towns over big cities, as they look to escape high home prices, smog, congestion, and crime." Frey's examination of U.S. Census Bureau data from 2000 to 2004 revealed that Taos, New Mexico was among the top ten most popular small towns among retirees.

EcoRealty^TM presents Taos, New Mexico the soul of the Southwest to you. Taos is home to world-class artists and musicians; it provides skiing and year round recreational activities. A world heritage site, the Taos Pueblo, is nearby, and the area is home to a rich Hispanic tradition.

This magnificent place has long escaped many people's attention. Nestled in the Sangre de Christo Mountains, it is part of the beginning of the Rocky Mountain West.

Taos fulfills the needs of those looking for a new adventure in living, a prudent investment, and a legacy property to pass on to their children. According to ULI's report, Emerging Trends in Real Estate 2006, niche investment properties in resort areas such as the Rocky Mountain West enjoy growing value.

Taos Privacy And Natural Amenities Inventory Shrinking
Taos County land is divided among various local, state, federal, tribal and private owners. There are 1,444,480 acres in Taos County: 50% federally controlled, 6.7% state owned, 4.3% Native American owned, and 38.2% privately owned.

Out of the privately owned portion, fewer and fewer places remain where one can enjoy privacy and the amenities that will provide peace of mind and relative freedom from the effects of global climate change. The opportunities for acquiring undeveloped conservation-grade properties are diminishing.

Nolan Rosall is president of Colorado-based RRC Associates, an economic consulting firm specializing in the mountain resort industry. He writes, "Because many mountain communities are surrounded by U.S. Forest Service lands that restrict their development boundaries, there will be a limited supply of developable land in communities that have a short supply of privately held property. Those places could become built out in a very short time." Taos is one such area; it is virtually surrounded by BLM and U.S. Forest Service land, which limits the opportunity for development.

Although improved land is increasing in price, EcoRealty can guide you in your search for affordable land, or for quality homes.

EcoRealty can provide consulting services to find appropriate locations and properties in Northern New Mexico, and to maximize your investment opportunities. Conservation strategies can be used to mitigate future environmental changes and to help you to cope with these increasing risks..

Taos Area: One of America's Safest Places
Taos, situated in north central New Mexico and bordering Colorado, is just a short drive from Santa Fe. Increasingly, all areas in the country are now vulnerable to natural disasters and many experts attribute these to the effects of global climate change. Sperling's Best Places partnered with Forbes in a recent study (August, 2005) to create a list of the safest to least safe areas in which to live. The information gathered was based on climate, hail, tornado, wind, hurricane, and brush fire information to determine the safest place studied in the country for ecological safety. Honolulu, Hawaii ranked number one followed by Boise, Idaho. Because of Taos's size it was not included in this study. However, Santa Fe was the third safest location among 331 metropolitan areas. One can argue that Taos is safer and in many ways more desirable than Santa Fe. It enjoys a higher elevation, cooler summers, milder winters, greener pastures and is much more affordable than Santa Fe. Most people wrongly suppose that Taos is in the scorching Southwest desert, but that is incorrect: it is in the high mountain area. Temperatures are moderate; for example, in July 2006, temperatures averaged 70 degrees.

We are confronted with the probability of major climate changes worldwide, and their adverse effect on the environment and on our communities. That compels us to consider our decisions more carefully. Global climate change is real. Environmental changes will have substantial impacts regionally in areas where we now live, within most our lifetimes.

The combined threats of global climate change and the unparalleled movement of Baby Boomers to retirement destinations will overwhelm many areas.

One of real estate's most durable maxims states that location is one of the prime ingredients in purchasing a property. Today, this quest for finding "the right place" has been modified by safety concerns triggered by national and global weather related disasters (see Safest article). Increasingly, all areas in the country are now vulnerable to natural disasters which experts attribute to the effects of global warming. A consumer can no longer decide solely on the basis of amenities offered and financial considerations. Ecological and environmental factors must now also be seriously considered in determining whether your property choice is sustainable both for you and those that you leave it to.

EcoRealty can now help you find your next real estate investment to insure maximum amenities for the minimum price. Today's conservation movement has matured into an economic force that allows it to compete with commercial development for open space acquisition. Private and public organizations have acquired the investment tools needed to slow down the "paving of America." Many Wall Street investors now screen their investments looking for green companies.

EcoRealty has developed the expertise to identify ecologically appropriate properties that give a buyer a wider selection to choose from, both in price and type.

• EcoRealty can provide you with various strategies that will allow you to leverage your funds and substantially increase your buying capacity through the use of conservation easements.
  
  
• EcoRealty can share with you strategies that will allow for more informed decisions whose positive effects will continue long after your real estate purchase.
  
  
• EcoRealty can also show you how to use your individual retirement accounts to get further mileage for your real estate investments through the use of "Self Directed IRAs."

Taos Resources
Temperatures (°F) & Precipitation

Month	High	Low	Inches
January	40	10	0.83
February	45	15	0.72
March	53	22	0.79
April	64	29	0.92
May	73	37	1.21
June	83	44	0.75
July	87	50	1.58
August	88	55	1.77
September	79	42	1.11
October	67	32	1.13
November	52	18	0.71
December	43	12	0.57
Average	64.5	30.5	1.00

Environment
The Taos environment is classified as a "semi-arid continental" climate. The town of Taos has an annual precipitation of 12 inches, with 70% sunshine during daylight hours throughout the year. The daytime temperature during the warmest month averages in the 80s; low winter temperatures average near 10°F. The average winter snowfall is 321 inches at Taos Ski Valley; 35 inches in Taos; and 140 inches at Angel Fire.

Taos County
The county covers 1,444,480 acres (22,257 square miles), of which 50% is federally administered; 6.7% is owned by the state; 4.3% is Native American land; and 38.2% is privately owned.

Transportation
The town of Taos is supported by two public transit systems. The Chili Line operates on two routes in Taos seven days a week: a) north-south between the Ranchos de Taos Post office and Taos Pueblo; and b) east-west serving public facilities on demand. Fares are 50 cents per person or $1/day, 25 cents seniors, and free for students enroute to town-owned facilities. Call 505-751-4459 for further information.

The TNM&O Bus line connects with national destinations and provides shuttle service between Taos, Santa Fe, and the Albuquerque International Sunport.

Labor
As of 2004, the civilian labor force numbered 13,967; of which 12,355 were employed, and 1,612 were unemployed, for an 11.5% rate of unemployment. The labor force is 79.4% privately employed, and 20.6% government employed. The average annual salary is $24,832.