Good Day Santa Fe: Changing Lives Through Real Estate

How can you start protecting your Santa Fe home from wildfire? Porfirio Chavarria explains why the first five feet around the house deserve attention, alongside home maintenance and evacuation planning.

Lise Knouse, an associate broker with Keller Williams Realty Santa Fe, joins the Santa Fe Fire Department specialist to discuss embers, home assessments and preparing the whole household to leave.

They also discuss a Lamy buyer’s difficulty securing insurance and why coverage needs attention early in a home purchase.

In this episode you will learn

• Why Porfirio prioritizes a noncombustible zone in the first five feet around a home.

• How vents, gutters, stored items and attached fences can create ignition risks.

• Why wildfire risk is not limited to mountain neighborhoods.

• How a home wildfire hazard assessment can help identify property-specific concerns.

• Why buyers should investigate insurance before leaving it until closing.

• What Ready, Set, Go means for routes, a go-kit and a household meeting place.

• Why pets, large animals and mobility needs require transportation planning ahead of time.

Key questions answered

• Is wildfire only a concern for homes near the mountains?Porfirio Chavarria explains that fuels, terrain and weather influence wildfire risk across Santa Fe. Different neighborhoods face different conditions.

• Can I get help assessing my Santa Fe home for wildfire hazards?Porfirio encourages residents to contact the Santa Fe Fire Department for a home wildfire hazard assessment and advice specific to their property.

• Why does forest thinning matter for wildfire risk?Porfirio explains how crowded trees and accumulated fuels can contribute to more destructive fires, and discusses thinning as part of forest management.

About Porfirio Chavarria

Porfirio Chavarria is the Santa Fe Fire Department’s Wildland-Urban Interface Specialist. He has worked with the department since 2005, helping residents assess wildfire hazards around their homes.

Chapters

00:00 Introduction

01:17 Wildfire Risk Across Santa Fe

03:57 Neighborhoods and Watershed Risks

06:42 The Five-Foot Zone and Embers

11:47 Landscaping, Vents and Gutters

21:12 Home Insurance and Buying

25:17 Wildfire-Prepared Home

30:08 Fire Hydrants and Water Supply

32:41 Ready, Set, Go Evacuation Planning

36:55 Pets and Mobility Needs

41:09 Watch Duty and AirNow

42:39 Forest Thinning and Future Risks

47:10 Final Advice for Homeowners

50:03 Resources and Closing

Connect with Porfirio Chavarria

• Home assessments: https://santafenm.gov/fire-department/wildland-fire-preparedness

• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/porfirio-chavarria-4b1918b

• Email: [email protected]

Connect with Lise Knouse

• Website: https://liseknouseandassociates.kw.com/

• Brokerage profile: https://www.kellerwilliamsrealtysantafe.com/agent/liseknouse/

• Email: [email protected]

• Team Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/liseknouseandassociates/

Resources mentioned

• Wildfire Prepared Home: https://wildfireprepared.org/

• Alert Santa Fe: https://santafenm.gov/emergency-management/alertsantafe

• Watch Duty: https://www.watchduty.org/

• AirNow: https://www.airnow.gov/

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Produced by: https://iconsofrealestate.com/

#GoodDaySantaFe #LiseKnouse #SantaFeRealEstate #LivingInSantaFe #NewMexicoRealEstate

Why work with your own broker when buying a Santa Fe home? Arthur Knouse shares why he favors separate advice for buyers and sellers, whose priorities on price and repairs may differ.

Lise Knouse, an associate broker with Keller Williams Realty Santa Fe, sits down with her son and buyer specialist to discuss pricing, negotiation and understanding inspection reports.

Hear the bird-letter story behind an offer that won despite being about $50,000 lower than the highest bid. Arthur also describes a Tesuque property bought for about $375,000 that became worth over $1 million after extensive renovation and market appreciation.

In this episode you will learn

• What to ask a broker about who they represent.

• How to balance a home’s price with your own priorities.

• Why the seller’s priorities can matter alongside the offer amount.

• How to put inspection findings into perspective.

• What distinguishes adobe construction from a stucco finish.

• Why flat roofs and stucco need attention in Santa Fe.

• What to consider before taking on a major renovation.

Key questions answered

• Why have a separate buyer’s broker?Arthur Knouse explains that buyers and sellers can have competing interests. He shares why independent advice can help buyers understand their options on price and repairs.

• Are adobe and stucco the same thing?Arthur says adobe is a building material inside the walls and stucco is an exterior finish. He notes that most local homes are frame construction rather than adobe.

• Should I worry about every item on an inspection report?Arthur recommends having the inspector explain the findings so buyers understand which issues are routine and which need more attention.

About Arthur Knouse

Arthur Knouse works with buyers on Lise Knouse’s Santa Fe real estate team. He also plays violin with the Burque Jazz Bandits.

Timestamps

00:00 Introduction

00:50 Arthur’s Path Into Real Estate

01:43 What Makes a Great Buyer’s Broker?

03:26 Understanding Buyer Priorities

04:53 Pricing Santa Fe Homes

07:26 Negotiating Beyond the Highest Offer

10:56 Home Inspections, Adobe and Stucco

13:56 Building Trust With Buyers

14:33 Why Buyer Representation Matters

17:12 Local Construction and Maintenance

19:56 A Tesuque Renovation Story

23:11 Advice for Home Buyers

24:14 A Home and a New Chapter

25:34 Finding Arthur and the Burque Jazz Bandits

Connect with Arthur Knouse

• Team website: https://liseknouseandassociates.kw.com/

• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/arthur-knouse-11072a60

• Band Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/burquejazzbandits/

• Band Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/burquejazzbandits/

Connect with Lise Knouse

• Website: https://liseknouseandassociates.kw.com/

• Brokerage profile: https://www.kellerwilliamsrealtysantafe.com/agent/liseknouse/

• Email: [email protected]

• Team Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/liseknouseandassociates/

Mentioned in this episode

• Burque Jazz Bandits: https://www.burquejazzbandits.com/

Follow Good Day Santa Fe for more local real estate conversations.

Produced by: https://iconsofrealestate.com/

Should you sell or stay?

Lise Knouse, an associate broker with Keller Williams Realty Santa Fe, launches Good Day Santa Fe: Changing Lives Through Real Estate with a simple idea: the next step should serve the client's goals.

Lise explains why that can mean buying, selling, staying put or renting a home. She also introduces Santa Fe's cultural character and previews a future conversation with buyer specialist and violinist Arthur Knouse.

Discover the people, place and approach behind the show.

About the host

Lise Knouse is an associate broker with Keller Williams Realty Santa Fe and the host of Good Day Santa Fe. In this episode, she introduces her team's approach to helping buyers and sellers take their next step.

What you will learn

• Feeling overwhelmed by a move? Begin with what matters to you.

• Not ready to sell? Recognize staying put as another possible outcome.

• Thinking about renting? Consider whether you can manage the property.

• Curious about Santa Fe? Hear an introduction to its scenery and culture.

• Seeking local support? Learn how Lise's team listens to clients' needs.

Key questions answered

Q: What is Good Day Santa Fe about?

A: Good Day Santa Fe introduces real estate conversations and members of the Santa Fe community, connecting property decisions with people's next steps in life.

Q: Who is Arthur Knouse?

A: Arthur Knouse works with buyers on Lise's real estate team and plays violin with the Burque Jazz Bandits. Lise introduces him as an upcoming guest.

Connect with Lise Knouse

Website: https://liseknouseandassociates.kw.com/

Brokerage profile: https://www.kellerwilliamsrealtysantafe.com/agent/liseknouse/

Email: [email protected]

Burque Jazz Bandits: https://www.burquejazzbandits.com/

Follow Good Day Santa Fe for more local real estate conversations.

Produced by Icons of Real Estate

#GoodDaySantaFe #LiseKnouse #SantaFeRealEstate #LivingInSantaFe #NewMexicoRealEstate

Real estate is more than transactions: it’s about transformation. Lise Knouse brings her passion for Santa Fe, high integrity, and deep market knowledge to help you navigate buying or selling with confidence and joy. This podcast demystifies the process, shares local insights, and focuses on what truly matters: finding a home that aligns with your life and values. Tune in for a fresh, heart-centered approach to Santa Fe real estate.