Migration Markets

At the Cynthia Froid Group, we carefully track the cities where new clients are relocating from, and cities where our clients are transferring to for new employment, or purchasing second homes, vacation or investment properties. In the business, we call these cities “Migration Markets.” In this blog post series, we will be highlighting some of the most notable Migration Markets across the country.

State of the market

Thinking of relocating or taking a trip to Santa Fe in the future? As New Mexico’s capital, it sits in the Sangre de Cristo foothills. It’s renowned for its Pueblo-style architecture and as a creative arts hotbed. Santa Fe is 400+ years of cultural fusion with echoes of the past alive in the present. While history is an ever-powerful presence, there is also a thriving contemporary and progressive sophistication. Santa Fe is stimulating yet relaxing, playful but educational, centuries old with modern touches.

Homebuying is hot in Santa Fe, evidently undeterred by the coronavirus pandemic. From apartments and duplexes, to single family homes, there is undoubtedly something here for everyone.

There will be no diminishment of out of state buyers coming into Santa Fe; as they are seeing a younger demographic moving here and a higher percentage of them making Santa Fe their permanent residence as opposed to a second or third home. All this bodes quite well for owners of a residential property. Some of the best neighborhoods in or around Santa Fe, New Mexico are Arroyo Chamisa-Sol y Lomas, Sante Fe Historic District and Historic Guadalupe.

Whether you’re planning on relocating to Santa Fe long-term, or to simply explore and catch the drift of the city - we’ve provided some hot spots that are worth checking out! See below for our Santa Fe guide.

Contact us for an excellent referral for the Santa Fe area.

“I love Santa Fe. Some of my favorite activities are visiting the Georgia O’Keefe Museum and walking through the square, and of course shopping on Canyon Road! The drive to Taos is breathtaking, and the Taos Pueblo is like going back in time. Santa Fe is a must-see!”

- CINDY

to eat:

Sazón

The signature mole negro is subtle and balanced; the pork belly tacos are divine; and the sweeter-than-normal chiles en nogada, made with a jalapeno balsamic, offer a new take on a classic. It’s cooking like this — which rivals anything you might find on a white tablecloth in Mexico City — that keeps tables at the adobe-walled restaurant in high demand.

Angelina's Restaurant

Just 20 miles north of Santa Fe, Española is the original capital of New Mexico and the second-oldest continually inhabited, European-established settlement in the United States (St. Augustine, Florida, is the oldest). For a pure, unadulterated taste of traditional New Mexican cooking, you can hardly do better than Angelina’s. The atmosphere is homey and unadorned, as is the food, which includes classics like red chile (made with local, northern New Mexican native chiles), costillas (lamb ribs), and chicos (stewed dried corn). If you find your way here from out of town, prepare to be one of the only non-locals in the often-packed dining room.

Dolina Bakery & Cafe

Since it opened its doors a little over a year ago, this airy breakfast and lunch spot has become one of Santa Fe’s best daytime options. The small kitchen serves Slovakian-inspired food in a casual and relaxed atmosphere. The Hungarian goulash, made with locally sourced lamb bone broth, is worth the trip, and the house-made cakes, pies, and other pastries are equally unmissable. For a treat to go, pick up some of the fresh gingerbread and a jar of lemonade mixed with turmeric, ginger, honey, and cayenne.

Radish & Rye

With its chummy staff, snug dining space, and largest selection of whiskey in town, this intimate restaurant and bar will warm you up on even the chilliest of Santa Fe nights. Ingredients are thoughtfully and often locally sourced, and dishes run the gamut from Southern-inspired gumbo to New Mexican favorites like the lamb T-bone and the green chile corn bake.

to drink:

Kakawa Chocolate House

This quiet alternative to the coffeehouse provides a wide selection of hot brews inspired by chocolate traditions from around the world. For those averse to sugar, the small but intense Aztec Warrior elixir — an unsweetened cup of chocolate mixed with chile, flowers, herbs, and nuts — is uniquely satisfying. For those who aren’t, there’s plenty more to drink, as well as a number of truffles, bars, caramels, and even chocolate-dipped chiles sold to go.

Arroyo Vino

Over the last several years, this off-the-beaten-path restaurant and wine shop eight miles northwest of Santa Fe’s main plaza has become known for serving some of the state’s most creative cuisine. Kaleidoscopic edible flowers and a wide variety of vegetables from the on-site garden accent chef Allison Jenkins’ rigorously seasonal menu. If you are looking for an extensive wine list and a meal that incorporates the flavors of the state in innovative ways, this is your spot.

Rowley Farmhouse Ales

This low-key gastropub features a wide selection of sour beer and farmhouse ales alongside a varied slate of bar bites that range from sandwiches to risotto to a particularly impressive clam chowder for a high-desert bar menu.

Second Street Brewery - Rufina Taproom

With three locations around town, Second Street Brewery is a locals’ standby for burgers, beers, and live music.The company’s newest outpost is the spacious Rufina Taproom, conveniently located near the popular immersive art space Meow Wolf for pre- or post-visit refreshment. Here, you’ll find the brewery’s bread-and-butter staples alongside Cajun-inspired dishes by chef Milton Villarubia.

to do:

Canyon Road

Canyon Road was once a trade route leading to the community of Pecos on the eastern slope of the mountains. Today, it hosts numerous artists' studios, galleries, and craft workshops, as well as cafes, tea-houses, and restaurants. All kinds of art, from sculptures and paintings to jewelry and pottery, are for show and sale along the road - most of it with a Southwestern flair. When you are done strolling around, there are also plenty of restaurants and places to relax.

Santa Fe Opera House

The Santa Fe Opera House is the state's top performing arts center, presenting a wide variety of operatic works that range from traditional favorites like Madame Butterfly to contemporary performances like Doctor Atomic. One of the most endearing traditions here in Santa Fe is tailgating - a unique sight indeed as throngs of theatergoers in formal wear mingle in the parking lot while nibbling on upscale finger-food. In addition to seasonal performances, the opera house provides apprenticeship programs for all aspects of production, and backstage tours are available to visitors year-round.

Georgia O'Keeffe Museum

The Georgia O'Keeffe Museum in Santa Fe has the world's largest collection of O'Keeffe's work with more than 3,000 of her paintings, drawings, and assorted works. Different parts of the collection are available to the public throughout the year, making every visit a unique experience. The museum also hosts special exhibitions of O'Keeffe's work or that of other modernists such as Pollock, Warhol, and Levine. Year-round activities include lectures, workshops, and kids' activities. It is also responsible for the maintenance of O'Keeffe's former home in Abiquiu, a National Historic Landmark that can be toured by appointment.

San Miguel Mission Chapel

One of the oldest religious buildings in the United States, and the oldest of its kind in Santa Fe, the chapel of San Miguel was originally built in 1636. It was later burned and rebuilt at the start of the 18th century. It contains a number of fine statues and a high altar from 1798, with the likeness of St. Gertrude. The adobe structure, which seems to change color throughout the day when the sun strikes it at different angles, features an open bell tower with a cross jutting from the top. The interior has white walls and wood beams on the ceiling and is decorated with unique works of art.

City Spotlight Series Volume 6: Santa Fe, New Mexico