10 Essential Home Security Tips

10 easy tips to keep your home from being a target this holiday season and all year long.

1. Beef up security systems

So you have set the alarm and have motion-activated lights outside, but there are some other things you need to consider doing to add more protection to your home. Try installing a heavy-duty lock strike plate on your door and adding sash pins to double-hung windows to make them more secure.

2. Look as though you live there when you're out of town

If your grass is still growing, be sure to mow it before you leave. If there is a big snow comming? Have someone to come by to shovel your walk and driveway and anything else to make it look like you are still there.

3. Windows + extension cords = bad

Holiday lights are fun? But, be sure you aren't running electrical extension cords through your windows. If you are unable to close and latch, you're sending burglars an invitation to invade.

4. Don't fall for door-to-door solicitations

A common way burglars see what goodies you have in your home is by posing as a charity workers asking for donations. If someone comes to your door, do not open it, or ask for an ID that verifies who they are and if they ask to come inside don't let them.

5. Use the latest technology

Take advantage of a device called FakeTV, which mimics the flickering light of a TV to make it look as though you are home. You can also use Wi-Fi-connected plug-in devices that will allow you to turn lights on and off remotely with your cellphone or mobile device.

6. Keep your tree out of sight

The Christmas tree in front of the window is nice and if there are presents under the tree for thieves to see it gives them a reason to break in. Either keep your tree away from prying eyes or wait until Christmas Eve to put your presents out.

7. Do your packing out of sight

Load up the vehicle in the garage or out of sight if possible or when there is a lot going on so thieves have a harder time tracking what and how much you are loading.

8. Be smart about boxes

After opening all of your gifts don't leave the empty boxes on the curb for everyone to see. Break them down , turn them inside out, and put them in your container on trash day or take them to a recycling center. The same goes all year long because you don't just want to leave a box out for a 62" flat screen TV, mail with important info, medication bottles or any other items that will give thieves a reason to strike.

9. Make a record of gifts

Got some expensive items coming this year? It's a good idea to take a picture and write down the serial number of anything pricey. Should the worst happen, you will have a record of what was taken and who should get a thank-you note.

10. Don't publicize your vacation plans

It's hard to fight the urge to post on Facebook and Instagram about all your plans. But it's probably not the best idea to share those plans with your 500 closest friends online. Your Facebook profile might not be as private as you think it is so it's better not to take the risk.

If your looking for privacy or a place to avoid people seeing your every move, let New Mexico Mountain Properties be your Real Estate destination for all your Real Estate needs. With offices in Taos and Angel Fire, our knowledgeable brokers can assist you with finding the home or property that's right for you. Our Earthships for sale in Taos will give you privacy and seclusion and our homes for sale in Angel Fire and Taos can offer peaceful mountain living . Perhaps you would like to build your dream home on the fabulous land for sale in Angel Fire and Taos. We also offer condos for sale in Taos Ski Valley and the Angel Fire Ski Mountain. Our dedicated and warm staff will go that extra mile to make sure you get exactly what you are looking for.....so give us a call at 575-377-2626 in Angel Fire, 575-758-5852 in Taos or speak to a Broker directly at 575-770-3306 we are here to serve and welcome you to this truly enchanted area.

8 Photos You Should Take At Every Open House

Look at what you love (or don't particularly like) about the houses you view.

The home-buying process can be stressful and after awhile, all the properties start to look the same. You try to remember what features you liked, didn't, & what was in which home. That's where taking pictures can be very beneficial. If the home is still occupied by the seller, be polite and ask the agent on duty whether it's OK for you to take some photos. If it is, here's a list of ideal areas to take photos that will come in handy, and help you decide to make an offer or not.

1. Heavy-use areas

Some areas of a house get more wear and tear and need more attention than others. For instance, in the front entrance as you walk in, the kitchen, the bathrooms, the backyard, And other areas you may need to photograph. You will want to know how much work needs to be done and if you are able and wanting to do the work. This is something that can affect your decision on making an offer or not. Taking photos of areas that need fixing is "a great way to avoid inspection problems later on in the buying process," It might also help if you get an inspection first to get a ballpark figure of how much the repairs might cost.

2. Specific rooms

If you're bringing furniture when you move, it helps to take photos of the layout of the rooms to see if you furniture will fit in the space.

3. Your "must-haves"

Certain home features are probably important to you, like walk-in closets, space in the kitchen, laundry room, etc. . Definitely take photos of the must-have areas so you'll remember which houses have them. If you are looking for a move-in-ready home that needs certain features make sure you take pictures of those same rooms in each home so you can compare them later on.

4. Problem areas

This category is generally overlooked when looking at homes, but you should take a picture under the sinks, the electrical panel, stains on the walls and ceilings if any, the roof from different angles, & the foundation of the home.

5. Appliance tags

Not every home includes appliances, if there are appliances take a photo of the make and model numbers of the ones that come as part of the deal. That way, You can estimate their value and life span later on.

6. Street views

You can't guarantee the listing photos will include the neighborhood, take a few shots facing away from the house and down each direction of the street, This will remind you of what you'll see every time you go outside.

7. The extra touches

Sometimes you fall in love with the little extras of a home so you Definitely want to snap some pics of those details. That way, when you're going through everything, the photos will remind you of your favorite features.

8. The address

No matter how great your photos are if you don't remember the address of the home you took them in they won't do you much good if you can't put them in order. So remember to take a photo of the address after each round of photos so you know what features go to what home.

When looking for a home or property look no further than New Mexico Mountain Properties for all your Real Estate needs. With two locations in both Angel Fire and Taos, NM and our dedicated staff, we will do everything we can to find you that perfect place. Our Angel Fire homes for sale offer stunning views of Moreno Valley combined with the land for sale in Angel Fire you get the best of both worlds. While our homes for sale in Taos give you glorious views of the mountains and the Taos land for sale lets you escape from the everyday. If your looking for smaller living we have our condos for sale in Angel Fire and Taos. We can help you find whatever Taos or Angel Fire real estate you are looking for. So give us a call at 575-377-2626 in Angel Fire, 575-758-5852 in Taos or 575-770-3306 to speak directly to n agent. We are here to serve and welcome your to our scenic area.

Snow Hits The Enchanted Circle

Time once again to grab your skies, boards, & winter gear and get ready to head to the Enchanted Circle. Right now the snow is covering the ski areas and more is being made and with our recent storm we have had snow accumulations of up 24" in places.

Taos Ski Valley will open November 25th and has received 24" of snow in the last 24 hrs and has a 20" base.

Red River Ski Resort will open November 26th and has received 17" of snow in the last 24 hrs.

Angel Fire Ski Resort will open on December 11th and has received 14" of snow in the last 48 hrs and has a 30" base.

So if you are looking for a great place to spend your Thanksgiving weekend head down to the Enchanted Circle for all your winter activity enjoyment.

If you enjoy the weekend here and decide to stay longer, let New Mexico Mountain Properties be your first stop for all your Taos and Angel Fire Real Estate Needs. We offer condos for sale in Angel Fire and the Taos Ski Valley that put you close to all the fun winter activities. The homes for sale in Taos and Angel Fire give you some of the best views around! If you prefer to build your own dream home then check out the beautiful land for sale in Angel Fire and Taos. With locations in both Taos and Angel Fire , our dedicated staff go above and beyond in order to find just what you are looking for , so give us a call at 575-377-2626 in Angel Fire, 575-758-5852 in Taos, or speak directly to an agent at 575-770-3306. Let us serve and welcome you to the Enchanted Circle, you'll be glad you did..

How Will The New Mortgage Rules Affect You?

The mortgage game might be the same, but the rules have changed to favor home buyers instead of lenders. The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) is pinch-hitting for HUD. Its mission: to make sure the housing crisis of 2008, never happens again. One goal is to make the buying process clearer to consumers, whether you're looking at homes for sale in Taos, NM or Angel Fire, NM

Starting October 3, when you apply for a new mortgage, you'll receive new disclosures that will make the loan process easier, help you save money, and ensures you know before you owe," This new mortgage process is more transparent to consumers and includes information that helps you, the home buyers, figure out what you can afford to buy. This new rule is called "Know Before You Owe".

Here's an overview of the changes and what they mean for you.

Some history

Before the new mortgage disclosures went into effect, homebuyers were presented with the TMI (too much information) version of mortgage documents. As you can imagine, it was a bit complicated. And lenders didn't even have to disclose everything. "The old Good Faith Estimate and the HUD-1 did not explain the two most important things to their consumers: like knowing what their new payment will be and how much cash will be required at closing,"

The change

The CFPB replaced the four documents with two simpler ones: the Loan Estimate and the Closing Disclosure. The new forms "help you shop for the best deals and avoid expensive surprises at closing," Home buyers now have "a better perspective of the true cost of their loan.

The three-day-wait rule

The new CFPB mortgage disclosure rules call for a three-day period to allow buyers to look over and become familiar with the Closing Disclosure before they get to the settlement table. The three-day period "gives you time to talk to your lender about questions you might have about the terms of your mortgage, as well as consult with your housing counselor or advisor," "Borrowers will know every tax, fee, risk, and if there are any penalties for paying off the loan early or whether there is payments at the end,"

The mulligan, or the do-over

If the loan product changes during the three-day review period, you must start over and take another three days to review the new changes.

Here is what triggers the additional three-day period:

1) If the annual percentage rate (APR) increases by more than ? of a percent for a fixed-rate loan and ¼ of a percent for an adjustable loan.

2) If a prepayment penalty is added.

3) If the basic loan changes, from a fixed rate to an adjustable one.

Minor changes such as a typo on a closing document the discovery of a bedroom window that won't open and wanting a credit from the buyer -- won't trigger the extra three-day wait. But even still, "Problems could arise with the three-day disclosure period, creating a domino effect," If a closing is delayed by the buyer, it will directly impact the closing of the house the seller is trying to buy."

The new normal: a 45-day closing?

A typical closing takes 30 days, but many lenders now assume they'll need more time to close. A consumer in a hurry is not going to have an easy time of it," Most of the waiting periods are mandatory and can not be waived. This three-day rule, although well-intentioned, could cause you to lose out. If you're in a hot market and it takes 45 days to close, a cash buyer who's ready to close might be a lot more attractive, leaving you to start over. But once the dust settles, the closing time frame should adjust.

Here are to tips to help you get through the closing period!

1) Ask for a rate lock longer than 30 days.

2) Avoid any loan that does not waive the per diem charge for late closings.

Here at New Mexico Mountain Properties we understand the stresses that go with being a homeowner and we are dedicated to helping you sell your home or acquire a new home. So whatever you fancy we've got you covered....a home in Taos.....or maybe a Taos Ski Valley condo is what you are looking for. We also have fabulous deals on Taos land for sale as well as small to large parcels of land for sale in Angel Fire. Looking for a home or condo in Angel Fire? We can assist you with that as well. Give us a call at 575-377-2626, in our Angel Fire office or 575-758-5852 , in our Taos office or speak directly to the broker at 575-770-3306. We are dedicated to going that extra mile to make sure you get exactly what your looking for! Let us serve and welcome you to the Enchanted