Mary Weaver

One of the benefits of living in Ruidoso is the fact that the summer temperatures are mild with little or no humidity, so you can really enjoy the great outdoors. Sadly, our national forest is being closed for an indeterminate amount of time beginning May 1, which is going to make having a picnic a little more difficult. However, there is one option that, (for me), offers the best of both worlds.

In the heart of Mid-town and just a slight walk down Eagle Drive, you can find an inviting little restaurant called Picnics Deli. They’ve been there for a few years now, making fresh deli sandwiches and soups. Everything is homemade - not an easy thing to come by in many restaurants these days. The ham is carved straight from the bone, the brisket is slow cooked, not barbecued, and 25 lb. turkeys are cooked right on the premises. Each morning, soups and pastas are made from scratch by Jeralyn, one of the owners.

To read more about Picnics Deli and Ruidoso dining, please visit: Outdoor Dining in Ruidoso

• Will the home be for vacation / retirement or purely a financial investment?
• How close will your vacation home be to your primary residence?
• Recreational activities are important to most buyers. Research several areas, & compare cost, before deciding. Golf, skiing, hiking are just a few outdoor pastimes that Ruidoso offers.
• Are you planning to rent out the property? Knowing when and how long it can be rented, vacancy / occupancy rates, & property management fees will factor into the purchase.

For more tips and discussion on buying second homes, visit this recent article on HGTV.com.

Original article source: The Ruidoso-blog.com

As summer approaches, I’ve received an increasing number of calls from people planning to visit Ruidoso over the next few weeks with thoughts of purchasing a “summer get-away”. In most, but not all cases, these folks are coming from somewhere in Texas and their primary goal is to purchase a second home that they can use in the summer to escape the heat. Most are not wanting to spend over $150,000, and many have a secondary goal of renting their property out on a nightly basis, to help recoup some of the expense. Most people are picturing a rustic but updated log cabin located on at least an acre with a creek running through it. Oops…we’re talking about $150K here, so lets get back to reality….

One of the questions I ask people in this situation is “are you willing to consider a condominium”. The reason I ask this, is that in this price range, you can often get a lot more “bang for your buck” with a condominium. Ruidoso has many nice condominium complexes… and a couple that are “not-so-nice”. Currently, there are 42 condos listed for under $150,000. Listing prices range from $59,900 for a 1 bdrm, 1 bth, 480 sq. ft. to $129,000 for a 2 bdrm, 1.5 bth, 1000 sq ft.

To read more of this entry. please visit:

Ruidoso Get-away… Cabin or Condo ???

Not so long ago, it would have been unheard of to have commercial flights from Texas or intrastate communities landing in Ruidoso. It was an understood fact that if you wanted to travel to Ruidoso you would strap yourself in the car and drive for hours to reach the beautiful Sacramento Mountains. Gone (almost), are the days of mapping out every rest stop or gas station between Ruidoso and Timbuktu.

What glorious new thing has made this happen, you ask? On February 11, 2008 New Mexico Airlines began service to Ruidoso from Albuquerque, Alamogordo, Hobbs, El Paso and Midland. Just a moment ago, I checked with the New Mexico Airlines website and located a round-trip flight from Midland to Ruidoso for $222.00 - not a bad price at all, considering high gas prices these days. Currently, New Mexico Airlines owns and operates three, 9 passenger Cessna Grand Caravans. I also located a flight from Ruidoso to Albuquerque for $220.85 which takes about 40 minutes. Check their timetable to find the best flight for yourself.

To read more of this entry, please visit:

New Airline Service to Ruidoso

Lately, there has been a lot of interest in the Ruidoso real estate market, from those who have been considering a home purchase for some time.

I’m often asked questions like “Is this a buyers market” and “Are we seeing a bottom” ?

I can’t forecast the future of real estate in Ruidoso especially with the uncertainty of the national markets for both housing and stocks. The historical sales trend and current seasonal slowdown for Ruidoso, along with the market forecasts from the National Association of Realtors, reflect a lull from the overheated markets of 2005 and 2006. A window of buying opportunity may be present now and for several months to come - depending on how you view the data.

Lets look at some historical trends for our area, along with some regional and national factors that influence real estate in Lincoln County.

Comparing the Annual sales numbers from 2004 through 2007, there has been an overall decrease in both residential units sold, and total dollar volume. The annual chart below indicates seasonal declines of 10 percent in units sold, and 14 percent drop in dollar volume, in 2006 vs. 2007 figures. Clearly, we are seeing a slowdown from the “boom” market of 2006, however, Ruidoso has not experienced the severe downturn or the real estate “gloom” often aired on the evening news.

To read more of this entry, please visit:

No Boom No Gloom - Ruidoso Real Estate Trends