Stopping in the town of Las Vegas, New Mexico can be one of the best experiences one could have in Northern New Mexico and I highly recommend this for both out-of-town people or local New Mexicans. There are unique shops, good food and the architecture alone is worth the drive as you travel though the downtown area of this Northern New Mexico town.

On I-25 just past Glorietta I had stopped to pick-up a couple that had just had car troubles and were stuck on the side of the road. It turns out this couple worked with the local Santa Fe Schools through their artistry. Ironically my wife Melanie was going into a local PTA meeting to discuss the very nature of their services and to petition the members to provide local services and products for school fundraising functions. We laughed at what a small world we live in and cherished the moment.

There are many opportunities to own your own beautiful land in this area from 60 acres to over 1,000 acres and I would be happy to assist in your efforts to find that right piece of land in my home state.

The Wind River Ranch is located in the beautiful Mora County amid abundant plant and wildlife. I was amazed at the epic views as I descended down the dirt road to the main facilities. The people that run and operate this ranch were friendly and open to my visit and I felt welcomed. I hope to bring my family to the Wind River Ranch this summer as it would be a great experience for all ages.

“There have been few things in my life which have had a more genial effect on my mind than the possession of a piece of land” - Harriet Marthineau, English social theorist and writer

I’m not sure if Marthineau ever visited New Mexico but I can only imagine that others who have bought land in New Mexico have the same feelings of piece of mind. In today’s complicated world and volatile economic market more and more people are reaching for something that has tangible value.  Leave the world behind for the serenity and seclusion of land in New Mexico.

So we get back to our original question, why buy land in New Mexico?

1) New Mexico is one of five states with the most powerful state incentives for conservation: the transferable tax credits. Such credits can be sold to an individual or corporation with high tax liability, generating immediate income for the donor.

2) Investing in New Mexico land as opposed to “paper”

•  A land purchase is simple and a typical layperson can understand as opposed to corporate reports that often require custodial fees and advice (or not) from high paid brokers.
• Rural land transactions in New Mexico are typically transparent with recorded surveys and general warranty deeds. Land of all types is a finite resource; however, good land with water and nearby power is even more finite.
• Demand for land grows due to increasing population and the latest 2010 census indicates migration to the West and Southwest.

3) Most people are under the assumption that they would not qualify for traditional financing to buy land, but there are options with funders as  New Mexico Farm Credit and some land sellers, including Great New Mexico Properties, offer owner financing.

4) This is a buyers’ market and New Mexico land is not immune to the real estate dips and peaks. For instance the Chimney Rock Ranch is a spectacular ranch featuring 17-80 acre parcels. These have been reduced by thousands of dollars and buyers have responded to reduced prices. The price reductions have resulted in sales of all nine of the 140 acre tracts of the Casamero Ranch in the past nine months.

5) Finally, the best reason to buy land in New Mexico would be the scenic quality and indescribable beauty. See for yourself…

Wild Mustang Horses on Angus Hills Ranch

This summer I attended the documentary Wild Horses & Renegades with my ten year old daughter Gaby at the Lensic Theater in downtown Santa Fe. I chose to take her to this documentary because I had heard of the plight of the wild horses on BLM land and the fact that my little girl has an affection for horses. What was not expected was to be exposed to the pure brutality and disturbing practices used by the Us Department of the Interiors’ Bureau of Land Management. Director James Anaquad Kleinert incorporates stunning footage of wild horses along with stomach turning images of horrific BLM roundups. The film further explains the massive amounts of taxpayer dollars estimated to board over 40,000 wild horses in “holding facilities” across the US. This documentary film will be shown this Saturday the 22nd at the Santa Fe FIlm Festival (CCA) at 3pm

A dedicated local Santa Fe woman with boundless energy has taken the Mustang Horse rescue mission to a whole new level that has, to say the least, become her life. Her name is Jackie Flemming and her project, Cimarron Sky-Dog Wild Horse Sanctuary is a non-profit that works to preserve as many of these majestic animals for years to come. Her horses (see images) are currently on the Angus Hills Ranch in Watrous, New Mexico where she leases for them to run, play, graze and frolic. I can tell you by personal experience that each one of these magnificent creatures each has it’s own unique personality from the extremely shy to the absolute mischievous.  These animals represent the history of our country and should not be relegated to live their lives in small holding-pins or to be sold and slaughtered for meat. The Wild Mustang Horses need the very animal that is killing them to save them, we has humans have an obligation to make this right and to send those in authority a message that this is not acceptable and must stop.

                  For more information on donating to the Cimarron Sky Dog Wild Horse Sanctuary click this link or call 473-9598. 

For more information on purchasing land for wild mustang horses click here or call Tom Rael 505 670 7299

No head shot, but a remarkable shot of the torso

Wild game has been part of New Mexico and the Land of Enchantment continues to be a destination for hunters and wildlife enthusiasts worldwide. It is rare to capture these incredible beasts with a camera and I have to study and adjust to their habits if I have any chance at all of coming home with pictures or videos of wild animals.

The bear footage above was captured by an I-phone camera while driving with one hand and filming with the other (let’s be clear, this is not safe). This area is north of the High West Ranch and due to the large number of elk I see in the area I decided to arm myself with the camera on video mode in the event I saw something;  I was not going to miss out again on taking images of these elk herds. As I rounded the corner on the dirt-road I saw something grey or white moving in the trees and immediately pressed video play. It turns out what I saw in the trees was a pack of coyotes waiting for the bear to leave the carcass as the smell of death was powerful and distinct (even to my human nose).  I surprised and startled this huge bear gnawing on the dead carcass and upon seeing me he sprinted across the field so quickly I never had a chance to catch-up. The footage I caught was brief but exciting. Once the bear left I set-up my game camera to capture the aftermath and feeding frenzy but when I returned to retrieve the camera a few days later the carcass was simply too far away for the camera to take images of the activity. The nearby ranch manager said he had seen a mama and cub in the area and I’m sure she did not return as there is plenty vegetation to eat and my “human element” was too dangerous for her to take a chance on coming back especially if she had a cub to protect. The coyotes and vultures took care of the rest of the carcass.

Not far from this bear sighting heading in the direction of the Angus Hills Ranch I had placed a game-camera at a nearby pond. The number of hoof prints certainly indicated this was a good place to capture some really great images of game activity and I was hopeful and enthusiastic about this location.

Approximately ten days after placing this camera I was stunned when I arrived at the pond as the size had increased by 50% and now the game camera was right on the very edge of this pond. Take a look at the sequence of photos here as this not only demonstrates the size of some of the elk in the area but the sheer magnitude of rain that falls in the area of the Willow Creek Ranch. 

If you are interested in pricing and details regarding hunting, ranching, or recreational properties at the Willow Creek Ranch feel free to call or write.

Tom Rael – Great New Mexico Properties, LLC

505-670-7299

Take a leisurely drive on State Road 97 and treasure the surrounding ranch environment that is seemingly manicured, you can easily sense the pride-of-ownership in this remarkable valley. Local landowners continue to uphold the highest of standards regarding private land ownership and the area is home to large prestigious and magnificent ranch properties. Located in this Watrous valley is the Willow Creek Ranch, a large historic ranch that rests in the heart of this valley and encompasses riverfront, cliff views, dense tree, rock-outcroppings and abundant plant and animal life.

   

Click for additional Mora River Ranch photos

The Willow Creek Ranch is home to the Mora River Ranch. This 1,000 acre ranch has some of the most diverse and interesting topography making this stunning piece of land a dream location for outdoor enthusiasts, ranchers, horse owners and those looking for that perfect ranch get-away. This ranch has incredible views of Taos and Angel Fire with snowcapped mountains clearly visible under a crystal-clear New Mexico sky. The grasslands encompasses a working windmill and stock-tank for cattle as the surrounding Grama grass is strong and plentiful for quality grazing in addition there some perimeter and cross fencing.  Down in the valley of the Mora River Ranch you find a lush and green landscape that is home to deer, elk and bear with many visible indicators demonstrate that this fertile valley remains a place for large and healthy game activity. With such an abundant supply of elk in the area the New Mexico Game and Fish have designated an “unlimited elk permit” zone for this area; it’s simple, if you have more than 280 contiguous acres you can pull as many elk tags as you would like).

I’ve looked at a lot of land in the area and in my experience most other ranches that offer “riverfront land” rarely have suitable ground and location for a home or cabin, therefore you have to enjoy the river at a distance. This is not the case with the Mora River Ranch as you can build on hard and well established land with nearby underground power and enjoy riverfront access at your doorstep.  The cliff-side of the Mora River Ranch is a grand view into Historic Valmora and of the nearby Turkey Mountains and on a clear day you can almost catch a glimpse of Historic Fort Union.

There is no way anyone can experience this property by means other than to physically tour the Mora River Ranch. Every time I set-out to hike this 1,000 acre ranch I start from a completely different point of origin and on each excursion I get a different perspective and a greater appreciation for this property.

If you are interested in learning more about the Mora River Ranch or other similar offerings on the Willow Creek Ranch please feel free to contact me for details or to set up a personal tour of the properties.

Tom Rael – Great New Mexico Properties, LLC

505-670-7299

A visit to the El Malpais National Monument was a well needed break as I was at the Chimney Rock Ranches all morning and this national monument is about 45 minutes from the Prewitt area or Red Canyon Ranch. The temperatures never got above 86 degrees and there was plenty of evidence of the recent rains that were well needed. I’m very grateful for the arrival of typical monsoon patterns in New Mexico. The area landscape was generated by volcanic forces over the past million years that have created interesting formations.  This was a great hike and I highly recommend checking out the area and if you would like more images click here for pics.

The family and I spent a weekend at the Blue Water Lake area about 25 miles east of Grants, NM.

The lake was absolutely beautiful and well managed with very little debris or other blemishes that I’ve seen at popular lakes. There were many private camp sites to choose from and most had great access to the lake side and trails into the cool valley. On day two we ran out of propane and the local Ranger actually went to his home and when he could not locate some of his own personal propane he stopped by the owner of a local store who gladly provided a bottle for us. This willingness to help others has not been lost or diluted as most people we me were very friendly and helpful. I will go back to this lake and highly recommend this to others.

For more information on pricing and details at the Red Canyon Ranches feel free to write or call.

Tom Rael – Great New Mexico Properties, LLC

505 670 7299