The adventure begins....Three months ago I began the search for my first casa with the assistance of an oustanding real estate agent, Mariessa Sanchez. (This exciting project wouldn't have been possible without help from my Aunt Lucia and mis padres.)
My goals for the property investment were informed by my interests in urban and historic redevelopement and green design, as well as a desire to do remodeling myself. And so I set out looking in the older parts of Albuquerque: Hunning Highlands/ EDo, Martineztown (my current location), Wells Park (former location), Barrelas, Downtown and Old Town. I didn't want a "stick frame" house. Rather, I preferred original adobe for its intrinsic environmental friendliness of thermal mass qualities for energy efficiency, and because mud is a simple, local material that will be completely recycled back to the earth.
After seeing dozens of various types of houses in a range conditions (from substandard/ condemned to newly renovated), I was ready to make an offer on my ideal house within my price range: a pre-1920s original adobe bungalow with a pitched roof, vaulted ceilings, old hardwood floors, southern-orientation, full length front porch and a decent sized lot of agriculture soils in the historic downtown 
neighborhood of Wells Park off of Mountain Road NW.
neighborhood of Wells Park off of Mountain Road NW. The property might be an eyesore for most, but with an artist's / idealist's eye, it's a jewel! It was condemned and listed as substandard for six years due to numerous violations including pests, water damage, roof and structural problems, outdated MEP systems, and general neglect. Demolition and rebuilding had been begun by the sellers, including about 80% of mechanical, electrical, plumbing; framing, a new roof and windows, and structural repairs. The current 
condition of the 980sf (+230sf porch) space is essentially a core and shell - a blank slate for building out.
condition of the 980sf (+230sf porch) space is essentially a core and shell - a blank slate for building out.And so here I go on my adventure/ project... aiming to move in in two-three months and complete work in 4 to 6 months, in time to put it on the NM Green Built Tour of 2009... !!!
