Las Cruces, NM

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.

I have been working with a buyer who is set on finding a home with a view of our BEAUTIFUL Organ Mountains. I can't blame her. One of the highlights of living in Las Cruces is watching the Organs daily. This mountain range is so unique and alive.

My most favorite look of the Organs is when the sun is setting in the West and reflecting it's reds and oranges off of the front of the mountain (which sit in the East). They seem to just glow.

The other look that I just love to see is when the full moon rises over the Organs. They can look so perfect and be so bold and sharp that it seems if you were to reach out you could knock them over as if they were the sceanary on stage in a play.

I love the organs! I love their ever changing look! I love that you can see them from almost anywhere in Las Cruces and even Dona Ana! I love that I can help my buyer find a home from which she will get to enjoy these beautiful mountains daily.

Unfortunately, I do not know the name of the photographer for the photos.

The Real Estate Market is prime for home buyers to take advantage of low interest rates and huge inventory, but where are they? What is it that they are hearing that has kept them from purchasing? I want to change the message they are receiveing whatever that message may be.

This is the perfect time to buy a new home or make an investment in real estate. There is a huge inventory of homes here in the Las Cruces market (and I would guess elsewhere too, but I only know my market). For instance, if you want a home in the $100-200,000 price range, you have 671 homes from which to choose. Move to the $200-300,000 price range and there are 580. That is a lot of choices folks. And we aren't talking all resale, some are brand new, never lived in, with all the latest bells and whistles. The competition is hot for sellers to get a buyer to come take a look.

So some sellers are offering incentives. I've seen sellers offering to pay buyer's closing costs and there's a builder in town offering six months no payments. Imagine living in a house and making no payments for six months!?!

I know that the lending world has tightened up it's strings, but most have just gone back to the normal lending requirements. The crazy "anyone can have a loan" days are gone and for good reason. People with decent credit can still buy a home and they won't lose it to forclosure due to out of control ARMS. So again I ask, Home Buyers.....where are you?