Question 1

How do I get an address?

Accepted Answer

You can request that the county assign an address once the deed is in your name. They call it a "911 address."  Once the deed is in your name, you can call the county and let them know you would like to assign an address and they will let you know what to do. Once the address is assigned, you can go to the local post office and request a free P.O. Box.

Question 2

Is composting allowed?

Accepted Answer

Yes, it is!

Question 3

What are my water options?

Accepted Answer

Cheapest option: Set up a tote or a cistern, and haul water to the property. Totes: You can find 275 gallon totes (called IBC totes) for a few hundred dollars on Facebook Marketplace or Tractor Supply. Local RV parks often let you fill them up for a small fee (usually around $15-$20). We recommend calling local places to see what options you have.Cisterns: You can buy a cistern of any size, but they are more expensive than totes. This is a good option if you want thousands of gallons instead of just a few hundred gallons.Second cheapest option: Water delivery.If you don't have a big truck, you can hire someone local to fill up a tote in the back of their truck and bring water to the property for you. (There are also water delivery companies that can bring huge truckload amounts of water, but this is going to cost a lot more, and they don't always service every area.) The best way to find someone to hire is to ask in local Facebook groups or local family-owned stores in the location where the property is located. Most people in rural areas have trucks, so networking and hiring locally is often the best bet.Most expensive, but most convenient: Drilling a well. Well Drillers charge by the foot, so it can get very expensive in desert climates because they have to drill deep. Wells are typically many tens of thousands of dollars in the Southwest. The best way to proceed with well drilling is to get several quotes from local companies, and ask them what the local average depth is. Keep in mind that well drillers typically travel a 2-3 hour radius, so you can Google well drilling companies in other nearby counties.

Question 4

Can I do rain catchment?

Accepted Answer

Yes, it's allowed! The rainy season here is usually July-September. You'll need a place to store rain water to get through the drier months.

Question 5

What does a septic cost?

Accepted Answer

Septic cost depends on several factors. If you have a small house with only one bathroom, then the septic system will be smaller than if you have 4 bathrooms. There are also other factors, such as the size or location of the particular lot. We recommend Googling "Septic companies in Taos County or Santa Fe County" and contacting a few local septic companies to get an accurate estimate based on your exact needs. If a company tells you a lot is too small, they probably are not used to working in rural areas and you should contact a company that does have experience in rural areas. This is very important, because some people are under the wrong impression that New Mexico prohibits septic systems on lots smaller than ¾ acre. But there are actually certain types of septic systems that are allowed even on small lots: these are sometimes called "non-discharging systems" or other similar things. A local septic company should be able to answer any questions you have about your plans for the property.

Question 6

How much does it cost to run power and/or solar?

Accepted Answer

Grid Power (power lines):Electric companies charge based on where the existing power lines are, and how far they have to run the lines to connect them to your property. We highly recommend you consider solar power - it will probably be a much cheaper option, and you can have someone install it for you if you're not sure how to install it yourself. In this county, kitcarson.com is the electric provider for most of the area and can answer any questions you have about connecting to grid power.Solar Power:There are many companies that will design, build, and install solar systems for you. Contrary to popular belief, you can run anything off solar with enough panels and batteries, including Air Conditioning, gaming computers, etc. Here are some companies we know about that service this area:https://eccsolar.com/https://www.selectsolarpower.com/off-grid-rpps

Question 7

Do I have to get a survey?

Accepted Answer

No, a property survey is not required by law, but there are certain times when it can be very useful. For example, if you would like to put up a fence along the border of your property, we recommend that you hire a surveyor first to make sure you're not encroaching on the neighbor's property. (A surveyor also puts stakes at all of the corners, which can be helpful for visualizing the boundary.)If you do not need to put up a fence immediately, then our GPS coordinates will give you a good idea of the property boundaries and can be sufficient for most general purposes.

Question 8

Do you offer financing?

Accepted Answer

We don't offer owner financing, but you can still finance it on your own by using a credit card.

Question 9

How do I pay?

Accepted Answer

Scroll down to the How To Purchase section just below these FAQs - we have a list of payment methods that we accept and details about how the purchase process works!