Community Building

The New Mexico Association of REALTORS® has been awarded a $500,000 grant from the REALTORS® Relief Foundation to be distributed to victims of the Wildfires that are affecting New Mexico, destroying more than 800 residential properties to date.

Funded through donations from REALTORS® and REALTOR® organizations and administered by the New Mexico Association of REALTORS® and the REALTOR® Relief Foundation, the grant will provide eligible applicants up to $2,000 of assistance per household impacted by the recent fires. Funding is available on a first-come, first-served basis to qualified applicants, victims of the New Mexico wildfires who have been displaced from their primary residence, based upon certain qualifications.

The funds must be

Save time and money while adding touches of awesomeness to your yard.

We're all about indulging in Starbucks' latest seasonal concoction or this season's "it" bag. (OK, maybe a knockoff version of this season's "it" bag.) Trends are just plain fun — and they keep things interesting. But they also, by definition, are hip today and potentially worthless tomorrow.

And that's not exactly a recipe for success when it comes to your home and the first impression it gives. While a green lawn might be a safe bet to keep your home's value intact, let's face it: It's boring. 

For a little outdoor drama that won't cost much (and actually saves money and time instead), try these landscaping trends:

#1 Build a Rain Garden for Colorful Blooms

What's not

No-water and low-water ideas for a drought-friendly yard.

Drought happens everywhere, not just in arid climates. So, how do you get to have a beautiful, lush, low-maintenance yard that doesn't need watering when the temps approach triple digits with no rain in sight? 

Take a cue from homeowners in those arid climates. They know how to survive heat waves. And they're experts on drought-resistant plants. You'd be surprised how well some of those low-water plants work in less dry conditions. Here's how to have a yard you need to water less.

Plant Hardy, Drought-Tolerant Plants

Cacti and succulents — the camels of the plant world — are synonymous with Southwest gardening but turn out to be pretty hardy elsewhere as well. They can add color,

REALTOR® Belinda Franco was selected as a Good Neighbor recipient because of her contributions to Luggage for Kids, a non-profit administered by Red Mountain Family Services.

 
Red Mountain Family Services provides Treatment Foster Care and Home Placement for emotionally and behaviorally disturbed children. Luggage for Kids provides new luggage to foster children with the hope that this small kind act will provide a sense of being cared for and respected. 

Belinda was an older foster child and understands the indignity a child feels when provided a trash bag for their belongings. Her determination to bring awareness to this issue by holding suitcase drives has inspired other brokers to pitch in. This effort has resulted in

Don’t open the windows. That spring breeze is no help at all.

Once there's even a glimmer of spring, you're ready to throw open your windows and let the breeze blow away the winter funk. Well, you might want to rethink that spring cleaning ritual this year.

If you're an allergy sufferer (and who isn't?), that's the last thing you want to do, says Dr. Neeta Ogden, a spokesperson for the American College of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology. "It will allow pollen to settle in your home."

If you really can't skip that spring breeze, avoid opening windows in the morning, when pollen counts are highest. They decrease late in the day and at night.

That's not the only common spring-cleaning mistake homeowners make. Here are eight more to avoid:

#1

In New Mexico, 1 in 10 children will experience the death of a parent or sibling before they reach 18. Unaddressed grief is likely to result in negative outcomes in a child’s life.

The Children’s Grief Center provides free grief support services for families after the death of a loved one and each year they serve about 700 New Mexicans.

Mark Rickert is a Good Neighbor

REALTOR® Mark Rickert was named a Good Neighbor recipient for his contributions to the Children’s Grief Center of New Mexico. At the age of 15, Mark experienced the death of his mother and understands the feelings of a grieving child.

For the past six years, Mark has volunteered for the Grief Center by serving on the Board of Directors and the Building Committee. In

Gavin Bigger is a REALTOR in Ruidoso, New Mexico. Gavin organized volunteers and donations to help local residents affected by the McBride and surrounding fires in the small community of Ruidoso, New Mexico. Watch the video below to hear his story.

Deborah Duran was recognized as a GAAR Good Neighbor for her contributions to Maskup New Mexico in 2020. Maskup New Mexico, a sewing group born out of the COVID-19 crisis when the supply of masks and materials was scarce.

Deborah created masks for First Responders, Native American communities, and the homeless. She personally donated funds and made over 2,000 masks at the beginning of the pandemic. 

Recognizing those who go above and beyond for the community, the Good Neighbor Award recognizes local REALTORS® for their charitable impact on the community. Good Neighbors are REALTORS® and Affiliates that dedicate themselves to volunteer service. They donate gifts, money, and – most importantly –  a lot of time to their charity. 

MaskUpNM

Sometimes trying to save will actually cost you more. Here’s when that happens.

You've got all the loyalty apps (free burrito after you buy 10!), you shopped around for the lowest rate on your mortgage, and you never go to the grocery store when you're hungry. You're frugal, and the rising amount in your savings account is a testament to that.

Since saving cash is never a bad thing, you've got nothing to worry about, right?

Unless, of course, you venture so far past frugality you enter the world of cheap. And cheap homeowners always end up paying more in the end when quick fixes and half-solved issues become big, pricey problems. 

Here are six things homeowners do when they're trying to be frugal, but instead they're really being cheap

The Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta is a world-renowned attraction and destination for kids of all ages. For more than four decades, the first week in October brings the smell of roasting chiles and the beautiful, magical moving picture show of hot air balloons sailing silently through the crisp fall air.

Guests from all over the world come to Albuquerque to celebrate ballooning. Literally, hundreds of balloons will be taking flight from the Balloon Fiesta Park this year October 7-15, 2017.

From its modest beginnings in 1972 with 13 balloons launching from a shopping mall parking lot, the Balloon Fiesta has grown to multiple events launching year-round at the custom-designed, 365-acre Balloon Fiesta Park. Our signature event remains Balloon