About Dona Ana County, NM

"Old Fashioned Service with Today's Technology"

"Old Fashioned Service with Today's Technology" is much more than a slogan. In the coming issues we will visit the different aspects of Old Fashioned Service and how it is related to real estate.

Honesty: fairness and straight forwardness of conduct

Courtesy of Merriam-Webster Online Dictionary.

Unfortunately, honesty takes a back seat to money when some realtors are involved.

Connie and Zane strive to hold themselves to a much higher level. "If we say we are going to do something, we do it," emphasizes Zane. Many realtors will promise a higher price to prospects so that they may get a listing. Instead, Zane and Connie work vigorously to make sure the listing price is the most accurate valuation sellers can expect to obtain. And they make sure that clients understand how and why they believe the listing price to be best.

"We don't make false promises. That doesn't do us any good or the client any good," responds Zane.

"We want to be your Realtor for life so the only thing that matters is doing the best for our clients. We don't take short cuts and we will not provide any information that is not completely honest," Connie reiterates.

The way we conduct our business may be "old-fashioned," but you can rest assured that we have the modern knowledge and technology to make your real estate experience a success. In addition to providing access to the Multiple Listing Service (MLS), Connie and Zane access the best in current technology to make your sale or purchase a rewarding experience.

A Little About Connie

Born in Kittery, Maine, I lived in various parts of the state until 1977 when my mother and I move to Anchorage, Alaska. There I worked at a variety of jobs until 1981 when I joined the Anchorage Police Department. Most of my 20 years of service was spent with the Emergency Communications Center, the last 10 years as a Supervisor. I was an Accredited Training Instructor and taught in the Police Dispatch Academy as well as the Field Training Program. I served as the President of the State Chapters of the National Emergency Number Association and the Accredited Public Safety Communications Officers. This is also where I met my husband Keith. We were married in 1996. Keith encouraged me to go to Real Estate school in 1997. This was 4 years before I retired from the Police Dept, but it soon became a full time job. Keith was born in New Mexico, so in 2002 we moved to Las Cruces to be close to family. I had been with Coldwell Banker in Alaska, so it was natural for me to come to Coldwell Banker in Las Cruces. We love living here and have enjoyed making this our home with our cat & dog, Bert & Ernie. We love to ride motorcycles and spending time outside. We have two daughters and three grand children, that live in Seattle, WA.

Connie Hettinga

(575) 640-7279

Connie@LasCrucesNMProperties.com

A Little About Zane

I was born and raised in the small community of Fort Sumner, New Mexico. My mother is a school teacher while my father was a well respected businessman where I learned from a young age how to close a deal. I left the shadows of my family to continue my education at New Mexico State University. With an eye towards real estate for as long as long as I can remember. I began to study business with an emphasis on finance and marketing. Instead of walking at graduation with my friends I spent my day taking real estate classes. I soon became licensed in the state of New Mexico as a real estate agent. I chose to come to Coldwell Banker deWetter Hovious, Inc. because of the great national presence that comes with a company like ours. I have worked very hard at becoming the best real estate agent I could be. I work at continuing to improve my skills whether it is from watching others, reading books or gaining vital hands on experience. I will always thrive to become better and I have big plans and aspirations in real estate. I enjoy helping people reach their dreams in real estate. I am very confident that I bring all the skills necessary to help you reach your goals.

Zane Fikany

(575) 640-4374

Zane@LasCrucesNMProperties.com

Growing up on a farm outside of Las Cruces, I have to admit that I yearned to leave the first chance I could. Having spent years in various parts of the United States, many touched a nerve but none captured my soul like the Desert Southwest. Tucson is my home now and I love "The Old Pueblo" however my soul remains in The Mesilla Valley. Appreciating Las Cruces and its people for what it was, is and can be, is very satisfying.

My family has owned this farm north of Fairacres since 1932. Bordered on the east by the Rio Grande River, the western side is bounded by mesa and BLM land.

Last September our family threw a 75th Anniversary Party for Simpson Farm. The idea was to pay homage to the farming heritage of Las Cruces in addition to that of our ancestors. The payoff was to feel good about it & having a great time, seeing old friends, touching base with family and stirring the desire to someday come back to live where my roots are. As August speeds by, the memories of last year's celebration are still vivid.

My father announced his retirement from farming at the celebration...with the support of my mother.

A constant factor in farming, as in most of life is change. From horse-drawn plows to steel wheeled tractors and the wonders of laser-leveling and drip irrigation. Dad's retirement was another change: his father and grandfather farmed until the day they died - he is still young enough to enjoy what retirement brings and experience new adventures!

Despite his retirement, the heritage of farming remains as another farmer has leased the land...he used to work for Simpson Farm when he was in college. My father is still fulfilling his role as steward of the land his forefathers nurtured.

I hope you enjoyed these few pictures, perhaps they will awaken feelings of your own heritage. Though Las Cruces is ever-growing and evolving, it retains the sense of community and special character that touch new residents and visitors alike. Perhaps it has something to do with the best enchiladas the world has to offer! Tom Wolfe...you were wrong, sir: you CAN go home again.

Kent Simpson

This photo is the perfect example of that! This is GARBAGE! And it's wonderful!

I ran into an acquaintance who hasn't seen me for more than six months.

She looked sort of sorrowful as she asked "Oh. How have you been doing in this awful market? I know it must be a struggle. Everything I read is SO bad!"

"I am SO glad to be in the lending business right now!" I replied. "You know what they say about making lemonade if all you have is lemons? That's what it's like right now. And the lemonade that I have is selling. People must be real thirsty."

Every time I close a loan, people are happy. Agents, title officers, my appraiser, not to mention the buyer and the seller. I'm doing important work, and my clients appreciate it.

This roadrunner stands sentinel along a stretch of I-10 coming into Las Cruces, NM. He stands on the south side of the highway, facing east. I don't know how many times I've passed him in the last ten years, but two weeks ago, I decided to pull off the highway and photograph him.

I got the surprise of my life. What looks like a beautiful sculpture from the highway is a bunch of junk tied around a steel re-bar frame with chicken wire. It stands about 18 feet high.

It's garbage! Isn't it great? I know I'd like the sculptor. I'll bet he or she has not a negative bone in their body!

It's not what you have. It's what you DO with what you have. In this market, there's a big life lesson for every one of us in the real estate world.

Chin up!

I'm Mike in Tucson, your preferred Tucson, Arizona mortgage lender.

Think of me as your local expert.

We recently completed our 2007 Market Report for Las Cruces, New Mexico. Should you wish to read an objective assessment of our local market, click this link:

http://www.steinbornmgt.com/uploaded_documents/BUY_NOW.pdf

The report reiterates the fact that all real estate is local. It covers inventory levels, pricing trends and commentary of the strength of our market compared to other regions in the united states. I would welcome any and all comments on this report format and quality of analysis. Our goal is to perform this report annually and are welcome to any and all critiques.