This article is syndicated from The New Mexican, click here for the original article.

By Bob Quick | The New Mexican
Posted: Wednesday, July 14, 2010

Lower prices and even lower mortgage rates propelled Santa Fe home sales in the second quarter of 2010, increasing 40 percent from depressed levels a year ago.

“It’s a nice little perfect storm for anyone who wants to get into the real estate market,” said Lois Sury, president of the Santa Fe Association of Realtors.

Sury spoke at Santa Fe Association of Realtors’ quarterly news conference to discuss residential and commercial real estate sales in the second quarter of 2010.

“Santa Fe homes are selling across all price ranges during the second quarter of 2010,” Sury said. “During April, homebuyers were still taking advantage of the federal fax credits, but sales remained strong in May and June.”

Alan Ball, a title company executive who publishes a newsletter about Santa Fe real estate, agrees the real estate market got a boost from the federal homebuyer tax credit, but it was not as popular here as elsewhere, where home prices are lower.

Ball’s concern is inventory. “We’re not making much progress. That’s because there’s so much inventory combined with very difficult conditions for lending approvals these days.”

At the same time the number of Santa Fe home sales was up, the median sales price of houses sold in the city dropped from $307,500 to $288,000 in the second quarter of 2010.

In Santa Fe County at the same time period, the median price of a home fell to $411,250 from $450,000.

In addition, the 2010 second-quarter home sales volume rose by $36 million when compared to the home-sales volume in 2009.

Total city/county condo/townhome sales numbered 58 in the second quarter of 2009, compared with 57 last year in the same time period.

And total city/county land sales showed some sluggishness, with 27 lots sold in the second quarter of 2010 compared with 32 for same period in 2009.

Overall, “everything appears to be selling,” Sury said, “The signs are all positive.”

For her part, Judy Balch, vice president and mortgage lending manager at First National Bank of Santa Fe, confirmed that residential rates are low, with a 30-year mortgage fixed at 4.5 percent with no points.

“That’s excellent,” Balch said, adding that the rate for a jumbo mortgage ($427,000) was just over 5 percent.

Balch said the bank expects rates to remain low for the rest of 2010.

Ball agrees that low rates are helpful, but he points out that buyers are nevertheless lethargic because they’re afraid homes they buy might drop in value.

“It doesn’t matter what a house is worth a year after they buy it,” Ball said. “They need to hold the house for seven to 12 years. It will be worth more then, but not six months or a year.”

Ball has some expectations as Santa Fe moves through the prime real estate season, which runs through October, that sales could pick up.

“It’s not just the three summer months” when the most Santa Fe residential real estate is bought and sold, he said. “It’s too early to pass judgment on the year, but I don’t see any big leaps forward. There will be some very small steps.”

As for commercial real estate, John Shepler, who has his own real estate firm, said sales and leasing “are still fairly slow. We’ve seen some small movement in the downtown corridor.”

Shepler expects the rest of the year to be much the same.

Retire in Santa Fe!

The real estate downturn has turned some very popular retirement destinations into bargains. To determine where the prices are most attractive, U.S. News & World Report examined price-to-income data for 384 metropolitan statistical areas. This expresses the relationship between owner income and home values.

Here are 10 retirement havens where homes are most affordable by this measure:
1. Bend, Ore.
2. Napa, Calif.
3. Fort Meyers, Fla.
4. Fayetteville, Ark.
5. Las Vegas
6. Santa Fe, N.M.
7. Punta Gorda, Fla.
8. Phoenix
9. Santa Cruz, Calif.
10. Burlington, Vt.

Source: U.S. News & World Report, Luke Mullins (07/08/2010)

Camino Del Monte Sol -The Neighborhoods of Santa Fe, New Mexico – Michael’s Blog

As the morning spreads over the city you decide to take a stroll on one of the most picturesque streets on the East side of Santa Fe. It’s a short walk from the downtown Plaza, up Canyon road or Palace Avenue or along the river up East Alameda. You’ve arrived at the Camino Del Monte Sol Historic District. In this neighborhood are 106 homes and buildings listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The architecture is described as Pueblo Revival, Spanish Revival, Territorial Revival and New Mexico Vernacular. Luxury estates and world-class art galleries nestle beside adobe shepherd’s huts dating back to the 1800’s and earlier. In 1921, five painters know as the Cinco Pintores built their homes on the Camino and became the foundation of the Santa Fe art movement. A string of legends are woven around the image of the burning of Zozobra, first celebrated here on the grounds of Will Schuster’s home.  

While you’re here, be sure take a look at Homes For Sale On Camino Del Monte Sol

Michael’s Minute of Real Estate

It’s always trendy to stage your home like a pro. Here are 10 inexpensive ways to freshen up your home:

1. Buy new towels for the bathroom

2. Upgrade outdoor lighting

3. Install new doorknobs and cabinet handles

4. Make a centerpiece for your dining room table

5. Buy a new mailbox

6. Polish or replace your house numbers

7. Place fresh flowers or houseplants around your home

8. Buy color-coordinated pillows for the sofa and bed

9. Replace your worn out doormat

10. Eliminate, don’t mask any odors

My Business to Business Referral

Each week I let you know about an outstanding business in Santa Fe. Let me introduce David Mueller, the owner of Mueller Landscaping. David earned three Master’s Degrees from the University of Michigan in Landscaping, Horticulture and Regional Planning. David and his team can perform any installation of plantings, irrigation systems, brick work, adobe wall construction, entry gates and any type of outside architecture. My clients are always delighted with his exceptional work and David is a person I can put my name to. He can be reached at 505.699.9313. Let him know I referred you and he will take extra special care of you. If you need anything feel free to call my cell at 505.470.4180

I’ll see you in the neighborhood.

Michael Umphrey

121 Rito Guicu, Santa Fe, New Mexico

Price: $480,000

Just entering Las Lagunitas can evoke a powerful emotional resonance. This home succeeds in so may ways it’s hard to know where to begin. There are custom Knotty Alder cabinetry and doors throughout, hand trowelled plaster walls, in-floor radiant heat, granite countertops in the Kitchen and both Bathrooms, tongue and groove vigas, tile flooring. The home is sited on secluded lot, not visible from road, on a cul-de-sac, with a fenced in backyard. 17′ vaulted ceilings and there are no steps!

Morianni Plaza – Video Tour

Agua Fria – The Neighborhoods of Santa Fe, New Mexico

“To the town of Agua Fria rode a stranger one fine day…………with a big iron on his hip”              

                                                                                                            ~ Marty Robbins

If you’ve ever listened to this gunfighter ballad you may have wondered where this town might be or if it even exists.  It’s a traditional village just 3 miles west of downtown Santa Fe.  Agua Fria Street, (awa  freeah), meaning cold water, runs parallel to the Santa Fe River. This pleasant drive will take you from town almost to the Santa Fe Airport. Here, you can find such diversity as my office on the corner of Agua Fria and Guadalupe Streets, The International Institute of Chinese Medicine and  the spiritually-resourced graduate school, Southwestern College.

 While you’re here be sure to take a look at Homes For Sale On Agua Fria

Give me a call at 505.470.4180 and I’ll play “Big Iron” for you, live.  I’ll see you in the neighborhood.

Continued success,

Michael

By: Luke Mullins, Posted May 25, 2010

This article is syndicated from U.S. News & World Report, click here for the original article.

Although the financial crisis has hammered retirement accounts, it has also converted a number of popular retirement destinations into bargains for home buyers. Indeed, the very states that took the brunt of the housing bust—like Florida, California, Nevada, and Arizona—also contain some of the nation’s most enviable markets in which to retire. This development has handed today’s seniors a chance to scoop up properties in many top-notch retirement spots at attractive prices.

To get a sense of which retirement markets offer the most compelling valuations, we obtained price-to-income data for 384 metropolitan statistical areas from Moody’s Analytics. The price-to-income ratio—a key yardstick of housing affordability—expresses the relationship between home values and earnings. For example, in a market with a price-to-income ratio of 2.5, median-priced homes sell for 2.5 times average household incomes. By comparing a market’s most recent price-to-income ratio with its longer-term averages, we can pinpoint areas that have become particularly affordable. Here is a look at 10 cities that are currently offering retirement property steals:

1. Bend, Ore.:   Stiff demand from second-home buyers helped nearly double median home prices in lovely Bend, Ore., between 1999 and 2006. But the subsequent real estate collapse has dragged the area’s price-to-income ratio from 3.4 in the third quarter of 2006 to 1.7 in the fourth quarter of 2009. That’s below Bend’s average price-to-income ratio of 2 for the 15 years ending in 2003. This increased affordability makes retirement property in Bend particularly attractive today, says Lester Friedman, president-elect of the Central Oregon Association of Realtors. “Central Oregon has always been a place where people came to get away,” Friedman says. “And, of course, that is kind of the definition of retirement.” Friedman points to a number of activities that can keep seniors busy in Bend year round, including hiking, mountain biking, skiing, fishing, boating, and volunteering. “We have wonderful college facilities, so continuing education is easy,” he says. “You name it, we’ve got it.”

2. Las Vegas:  After speculation and risky loans juiced Las Vegas home prices by more than 141 percent from 1999 to 2006, the housing bust hit this desert playground with tremendous force. But the steep price declines have pulled down the area’s price-to-income ratio from 3.2 in the fourth quarter of 2005 to 1.4 in the fourth quarter of 2009. For the 15 years ending in 2003, the average price-to-income ratio in Las Vegas was 1.9. SalesTraq President Larry Murphy says the return of affordability has created a great opportunity for seniors looking to spend their golden years in a sunny, low-tax community surrounded by golfing, gaming, fine dining, and entertainment. “There hasn’t been a better time [to buy residential property in Las Vegas] in the last 12 years,” he says.

3. Phoenix:  From 1999 to 2006, home prices in Phoenix more than doubled, sending the area’s price-to-income ratio to an inflated peak of just under 3. The subsequent meltdown in the residential real estate sector has dragged the price-to-income ratio in Phoenix to 1.5, which is below its 1.7 average for the 15 years ending in 2003, and has created opportunities for retiring seniors who are looking for bargains. “[In Phoenix] you have fairly good medical care, you don’t have the snow and the cold and dangerous weather here, and you have a lot of nearby shopping centers and other things that make it easier for people to sort of carry out what they want to do,” says Jay Butler, an Arizona State University associate real estate professor.

4. Napa, Calif.:  Home prices in Napa, Calif., exploded during the housing boom, more than doubling from 1999 to 2006. But the real estate crash has reduced the sky-high price-to-income ratio of 3.9 it reached in the third quarter of 2005 to just 1.7 in the fourth quarter of 2009. For the 15 years ending in 2003, the average price-to-income ratio in Napa was 2.6. DataQuick President John Walsh says Napa’s beautiful wine country offers “an extraordinary quality of life.” And with home prices having retuned to 2002 levels, the area is ripe for seniors hunting for deals on retirement property, he said.

5. Fayetteville, Ark.:  After a 40 percent increase from 1999 to 2006, median home prices in Fayetteville, Ark., have slipped about 21 percent through 2009. The recent decline has dragged Fayetteville’s price-to-income ratio from 1.8 in the third quarter of 2005 to 1.2 in the fourth quarter of 2009. For the 15 years ending in 2003, the average price-to-income ratio in Fayetteville was 1.6. While the area may not have a reputation as a retirement hot spot, Fayetteville’s low real estate taxes, natural splendor, and university affiliation make it a compelling option for retiring seniors, says Steve Clark, president and CEO of the Fayetteville Chamber of Commerce. “What we are finding is that the retirees that are beginning to focus on us are people who have done that first career for 25 or 30 years,” Clark says. “They are not ready to really quit, they’re just ready to quit what they are doing.” In addition to its plentiful arts and outdoor offerings, Fayetteville is home to the University of Arkansas, which provides seniors an additional outlet to challenge themselves, he says. “If you are over the age of 60 in the state of Arkansas, you can attend our public institutions of higher learning at no charge,” Clark says. “And that’s graduate programs as well as undergraduate.”

6. Punta Gorda, Fla.:  Home prices in the quiet community of Punta Gorda, Fla., dropped more than 50 percent from 2006 to 2009, dragging the city’s price-to-income ratio down to 1.4 by the end of last year. The area’s average price-to-income ratio was 1.7 for the 15 years ending in 2003. The small town on Florida’s southwest coast has long been a popular spot for boating and fishing. The recent price declines have provided seniors the opportunity to buy into this pleasant community at a discount, says Jack McCabe of McCabe Research & Consulting. Punta Gorda is “very nice, very laid back, very quiet, [and has] excellent fishing,” he says.

7. Burlington, Vt.:  Home prices in this tiny city increased significantly during the first part of the previous decade, which pushed the area’s price-to-income ratio to 2.3 for the fourth quarter of 2005. A modest home-price decline since then has helped drag Burlington’s price-to-income ratio to 1.7 for the fourth quarter of 2009, below its 1.9 average for the 15 years ending in 2003. Although the winters are long, Burlington provides retirees with “small-town comforts and small town values in [a] community where [they] can also enjoy arts, fine food, [and] performances that you wouldn’t expect in a community of 39,000 people,” says Yves Bradley of Pomerleau Real Estate. “There is also, I have to say, a very strong outreach to retirees to be engaged as volunteers, and that is pretty important here.”

8. Fort Myers, Fla.:  Home prices in the Fort Myers, Fla., area surged more than 180 percent from 1999 to 2005, thanks to investors and easy lending practices. But because of the market crash, area real estate prices have lost about two thirds of their peak value. Meanwhile, the price-to-income ratio of Fort Myers-area houses has declined from 3.2 in the fourth quarter of 2005 to 1 in the fourth quarter of 2009. For the 15 years ending in 2003, the average price-to-income ratio in the Fort Myers area was 1.5. McCabe says the Fort Myers area has a great deal to offer retiring seniors. The area has “more of a relaxed, laid-back, slower-paced environment with Midwestern values [that would be] very appealing to that kind of core of the country—Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Iowa, Minnesota,” he says.

9. Santa Fe:  A 24 percent decrease in median home prices over the past two years has helped drag the price-to-income ratio in Santa Fe to 1.8 for the fourth quarter of 2009, which is below its 2.5 average for the 15 years ending in 2003. Lois Sury, president of the Santa Fe Association of Realtors, ticks off a number of reasons why seniors should consider taking advantage of this increased affordability and buy property in the area. Attractions include great skiing, hiking, medical facilities, arts, as well as a rich cultural history. “Here we have this beautiful, sometimes cobalt-blue sky that sits on your shoulders,” Sury says. “That’s what people come here for—it’s the sun sets and the mild climate, [and] the friendly people.”

10. Santa Cruz, Calif.:   Median home prices in the California costal community of Santa Cruz have plummeted more than 57 percent since 2007, reducing its price-to-income ratio to 2.8 for the fourth quarter of 2009. The average price-to-income ratio for Santa Cruz was 4.3 for the 15 years ending in 2003. Like Napa, Santa Cruz offers seniors a pleasant environment from which to launch their golden years, and the recent home price declines make it all the more attractive, Walsh says. “Santa Cruz [and Napa]…are trading at the exact same price they were eight years ago,” he says. “That’s a heck of a deal.”

Price: $625,000

It will “Feel” right the moment you pull up in front. It was the model home for good reason. Wait until you see the views. This beautiful home has 2788 dazzling square feet that includes four bedrooms, and a cornucopia of delicious extras. What is so compelling about this residence is its continuity of appeal-the sensation that washes over you here is the total balance of scale, palette, textures and setting. Right house, right lot.  Priced $30,000 below the new appraisal.

By Bob Quick | The New Mexican
Posted: Monday, May 31, 2010 -

This article was syndicated from The New Mexican, click here for the original article.

The new Charter Bank is not going out of business and is not about to be liquidated, the president of the bank said Thursday in an interview in Santa Fe.

On the contrary, the bank is anxious to lend money for both residential and commercial building.

“We’ve got so much money to lend it hurts,” said Robert Bonnet, president and chief executive officer of the new Charter Bank. “We’re one of the few banks in town that can say we have money to lend.”

The original Charter Bank, with branches in Albuquerque, Santa Fe and Rio Rancho, was closed by the Office of Thrift Supervision in late January.

Among other problems the OTS cited was that Charter failed to classify assets and establish allowances in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles and failed to properly administer commercial real estate loans. The bank also was instructed to raise additional capital.

The Federal Deposit Insurance Corp., which was appointed receiver of the bank, subsequently sold the institution to Charter Bank of Albuquerque, a newly chartered federal savings bank and a subsidiary of Beal Financial Corp. of Plano, Texas.

The new Charter Bank is a sister bank of Beal banks in Plano, Texas, and Las Vegas, Nev.

Banks often are given new names after a takeover, but that’s not the case with Charter Bank.

“We kept the Charter Bank name because we like the name, but more importantly we like the franchise — where it’s located, the range of services Charter Bank offers and the customers it attracts. We want to build on those strengths,” said Beal chief operating officer Rick Koretz, in a statement.

After the takeover, Beal Financial put $97 million in new capital into the new bank, Bonnet said, raising the total amount of Charter Bank’s capital to more than $166 million.

“That’s an 18 percent ratio,” Bonnet said. “The minimum ratio is 8 percent. That puts us in the position to lend.”

Charter Bank’s total assets are now $920.2 million, according to a call report issued for the first quarter of 2010. And the bank’s earnings in the first quarter were more than $1 million.

In other comments, Bonnet said the bank has heard from customers who bought certificates of deposit from Charter Bank at certain rates, only to have those rates adjusted downward after the new Charter Bank took over.

The FDIC required a lower rate because of the terms of the FDIC take over, Bonnet said.

The new Charter Bank offers CDs at competitive rates in an attempt to grow its deposit base, Bonnet said, but the overall state of the economy is keeping interest rates very low.

In other remarks, Bonnet said Charter Bank has no intention of closing either of its two Santa Fe branches. The two banks, one on St. Michael’s Drive, the other on Washington Avenue, employ 12 people.

At all six bank branches, there are now 120 employees, down from 200 at the original Charter Bank.

As for Santa Fe’s real-estate market, Bonnet said it is in the process of stabilizing, with a further drop in local real-estate prices unlikely.

By Fred A. Bernstein
Published: May 23, 2010
This article was syndicated from The New York Times, click here for the original article.

THE Plaza, the heart of old Santa Fe, hasn’t changed much since the Spanish settled here 400 years ago. But surrounding the Plaza is an increasingly cosmopolitan city. Sure, it’s possible to focus entirely just on the historic center, where Native American handicrafts are for sale on every corner.

A Weekend in Santa Fe

But the rest of Santa Fe now offers groovy contemporary art spaces, hot Asian restaurants and a park by a pair of trailblazing architects. Accept that Santa Fe isn’t just tacos and turquoise anymore, and you’ll find yourself loving the New Mexico capital not for what it was, but what it is.

Friday

5 p.m.
1) PUBLIC SPACE

For a beautifully curated introduction to Santa Fe, visit the New Mexico History Museum (113 Lincoln Avenue; 505-476-5200; which opened in 2009 and includes a gripping display about Los Alamos, where the Manhattan Project was conducted in secret during World War II. A large courtyard with ancient walls and shady trees separates the museum from the Palace of the Governors, the Spanish seat of government in the early 1600s and now a small museum of Colonial and Native American history. The two-museum complex is free on Fridays from 5 to 8 p.m.

7 p.m.
2) WHITE WALLS AND WINE

You’d have to be crazy to pay for a glass of white wine on Fridays. Canyon Road, which angles up from the center of town, has more than 100 galleries, and there are openings every Friday night. According to canyonroadarts.com, the largest category is contemporary representational (think brightly colored paintings of the desert). Check out Eight Modern (231 Delgado Street; 505-995-0231; where you’ll find the geometric scrap-metal constructions of the Santa Fe artist Ted Larsen. The backyard sculpture garden is a great place to marvel at New Mexico’s amazingly clear sky and savor its piñon-infused air before heading to dinner.

9 p.m.
3) AHI MOMENT

Martín Rios is a hometown boy made good: Born in Mexico and raised in Santa Fe, he apprenticed at the Eldorado Hotel and the Inn of the Anasazi — two local stalwarts — and made a brief appearance on “Iron Chef” before opening his own place, Restaurant Martín (526 Galisteo Street; 505-820-0919)  in 2009. The main draw is the food — dishes like ahi tuna tartare ($14) and duck breast with smoked bacon polenta and Marcona almonds ($25) offer hints of the Southwest, with a dash of global aspiration. But the homey décor makes you want to stick around even after finishing the bittersweet chocolate truffle cake ($8).

Saturday

10 a.m.
4) SPICE MARKET

The Santa Fe Farmers’ Market (1607 Paseo de Peralta; 505-983-4098; dates back a half-century, but it stepped up a notch when it moved to a permanent building in 2008. Everything sold here, including dried chilies, yogurt and grass-fed meats, is produced in northern New Mexico. The market is part of a bustling district that includes the new Railyard Park by the architect Frederic Schwartz and the landscape architect Ken Smith, both Manhattanites whose taste is anything but quaint. As you wander around, be on the lookout for the Rail Runner, a gleaming new passenger train scheduled to pull in from Albuquerque at 11:08 a.m.

Noon
5) SUSTAINABLE SALADS

Santa Fe residents — as you learned roaming the Farmers’ Market — care where their food comes from. No wonder Vinaigrette (709 Don Cubero Alley; 505-820-9205) was an immediate hit when it opened in 2008. The brightly colored cafe has a menu based on organic greens grown in the nearby town of Nambé. Choose a base — Caesar, Cobb and Greek are possibilities (around $10) — then add diver scallops or hibiscus-cured duck confit ($7) for a satisfying meal. Wines by the glass start at a very friendly $6.

2 p.m.
6) RIDING THE SPUR

Thanks to Santa Fe’s sometimes depressing sprawl, it’s getting harder and harder to find wide-open spaces. But drive (or bike) to the corner of Galisteo Street and West Rodeo Road, where there’s a small parking lot — then begin pedaling due south, in the direction of Lamy (about 12 miles away). What starts as an asphalt path morphs into a dirt bike trail that swerves around a 19th-century rail spur. There are some pretty steep hills, but they’re short, and the momentum from a downhill is usually enough to handle the next uphill. (If only life were like that!) The scenery is always gorgeous, especially in late afternoon, when the sun is low in the sky. Mellow Velo (638 Old Santa Fe Trail; 505-995-8356; rents mountain bikes starting at $35 a day.

7 p.m.
7) TAPAS WITH STRANGERS

La Boca (72 West Marcy Street; 505-982-3433) is one of downtown Santa Fe’s most popular new restaurants — thanks to its contemporary tapas, plus larger dishes like cannelloni filled with crab, scallop and Manchego ($11). You’ll find yourself sharing tips on what to order — and even forkfuls of delicious eats — with strangers.

10 p.m.
REGGAE FOR ALL AGES

Santa Fe isn’t a night-life town, but Milagro 139 (139 West San Francisco Street; 505-995-0139) is helping to change that. A building that had housed a coffee shop was recently converted to a restaurant that becomes a club on Friday and Saturday nights. There’s no cover, and the drinks, including a house margarita called Beginner’s Luck ($5), are delicious. A recent visit coincided with performances by Rubixzu, a local band that performed a blend of reggae and Latin hip-hop to a diverse crowd, aged 9 to 90. For a trendier vibe, head to Meow Wolf (1800 Second Street; 505-204-4651) an alternative art space, or check its Web site for other parties hosted by Meow Wolf artists.

Sunday

10 a.m.
9) FREE-RANGE PEACOCKS

For a big breakfast and an early start, drive south on Cerrillos Road about 10 miles past the Interstate, until you see a handwritten cardboard sign that reads, “Pine wood stove pellets sold here.” You’ve arrived at the San Marcos Café (3877 State Road 14; 505-471-9298). Dozens of peacocks, turkeys and hens roam the property (which also houses a feed store), providing an Old McDonald-like backdrop for crowd-pleasers like eggs San Marcos, a cheese omelet in a bath of guacamole, beans and salsa ($12).

Noon
10) KITSCH TO CONTEMPORARY

If you ever thought that item you found at a roadside stand was one of a kind, Jackalope (2820 Cerrillos Road; 505-471-8539) a sprawling, indoor-outdoor flea market, will disabuse you of that notion. There are hundreds of everything, including punched-copper switch plates and tote bags that depict Michelle Obama smiling on a swing. If you need to shake off the kitsch, head to SITE Santa Fe (1606 Paseo De Peralta; 505-989-1199) a contemporary art space where the 2010 biennale, focused on moving image technologies in contemporary art, will run from June 20 to Jan. 2, 2011.

1 p.m.
11) YOUR OWN ADOBE

It’s difficult to spend time in Santa Fe without thinking about buying a home (or second home) here. So check out Zocalo (Avenida Rincon; 505-986-0667) a striking development by the Mexican architect Ricardo Legorreta. He is known for crisp geometry and super-bright colors — a welcome sight in this city of browns and terra cottas. Consider it real estate voyeurism, combined with a crash course in contemporary architecture.

IF YOU GO

Santa Fe has a tiny airport, which offers nonstop service to and from Dallas and Los Angeles on American Eagle. Most visitors fly into the larger Albuquerque airport, about an hour south. A recent Web search found round-trip fares from Kennedy Airport on Delta, from about $260 for travel in June. Sadly, the Rail Runner doesn’t run to the Albuquerque airport.

The Hotel St. Francis (210 Don Gaspar Avenue; 505-983-5700) billed as the oldest hotel in Santa Fe, completed a top-to-bottom renovation in 2009, and it looks spectacular. Doubles from $120.

The El Rey Inn (1862 Cerrillos Road, 505-982-1931) is a retro-chic 1930s-style motel, with nicely furnished rooms and beautifully landscaped grounds to go along with the kitschy Native American-themed architecture. Doubles from $99.

Hilton Santa Fe Golf Resort & Spa (30 Buffalo Thunder Trail; 505-455-5555) is part of a new casino complex, about 15 minutes north of town. Doubles from $159. Hilton also built a less-expensive Homewood Suites nearby (10 Buffalo Thunder Trail; 505-455-9100), with doubles from $109.