To Whom It May Concern: I moved from Salt Lake City to the Willows at Picacho Mountain in December 2017. I did a remote build for my house and am very pleased with the final outcome as well as the process. I made three trips to Las Cruces, the first by air, the other two by car. These two trips were extended trips of one week onsite for each trip. I immediately fell in love with every aspect of the city and the property location. Billie toured me around the town and other areas and was very knowledgeable of every aspect of the building process. As a result, I made my purchase right after my first trip. Billie handled all of the purchase agreements, title documents, HOA documents, and any other documents associated with my purchase. She provided these to me electronically, with time for my review. Signing was electronic as well. Plans of the "Durango" model were overnighted to me. I re…
To Whom It May Concern: I moved from Salt Lake City to the Willows at Picacho Mountain in December 2017. I did a remote build for my house and am very pleased with the final outcome as well as the process. I made three trips to Las Cruces, the first by air, the other two by car. These two trips were extended trips of one week onsite for each trip. I immediately fell in love with every aspect of the city and the property location. Billie toured me around the town and other areas and was very knowledgeable of every aspect of the building process. As a result, I made my purchase right after my first trip. Billie handled all of the purchase agreements, title documents, HOA documents, and any other documents associated with my purchase. She provided these to me electronically, with time for my review. Signing was electronic as well. Plans of the "Durango" model were overnighted to me. I reviewed the plans and prepared a list of 28 changes. These changes included minor things, such as adding additional lights in the garage and walk in closet, adding 11 small, elevated windows, speaker brands, and their placement to mention a few. I also added a Kiva fireplace, 6 nichos, outdoor BBQ grill, large view window in the master bedroom, and some fairly complex tile designs in both bathrooms. Karen worked with me closely to ensure I was happy with all the changes I made to the house. With the plans finalized, permits were secured and construction began. Throughout this period, I received a daily email of pictures showing every aspect of construction, from pad prep to pour, plumbing rough in, framing, wiring, HVAC, and ever other stage of construction, allowing me to see every thing that occurred and the progress being made. I now have a photographic album with pictures of every aspect of my house being built. Karen and I spoke at least weekly, and with some issues, like the Kiva fireplace, much more frequently. On my second trip down, when framing was complete, Karen spent a part of everyday helping me select floor tile, counter tops, cabinets and introducing me to her venders. On this trip I began to realize just how competent Karen was. She pays great attention to detail, has a very good sense of style, and extremely good taste. She spent hours with me at the Mexican tile store developing tile ideas for the bathrooms and she was not afraid to voice her views and was accepting of the decisions I made. There was never a commitment she made that was not followed through in a timely manner. On the third trip down, final decisions were made regarding counter tops and cabinets. Again, Karen spent the time with me necessary to make these important decisions. We had a very good concept regarding the bathroom tile work, but I had a difficult time wrapping it up. Karen offered to "take it on", and by this time, I had such respect for her I gave her the green light to complete the designs on her own; I was not disappointed. Living in a house of "my own" was an experience new to me, and I am thrilled. I smile giddily every time I return from errands, and even when I just roam aimlessly from room to room. The quality of the build is amazing. I have two friends that have done the same thing as I have, one in Arizona and one in Virginia. They are ahead of me, but we still compare notes. In every instance, I see how the care, involvement, and thoughtfulness of Karen and the entire team has resulted in a home that clearly out shines those homes of both my friend's. Karen and Bob's philosophy of what makes a community is clearly foundational in everything they have done at the Willows.
Three years after my husband passed away, I decided that I needed to reinvent my world. I was still in good health and active but not getting any younger. I did the mighty internet search communities closer to my children. I discover The Willows and it advertised just what I wanted: a smaller house and yard and an area where people were active. I made the trip to The Willows. I met Billie and she did a great job telling me what was available. One of the things that she mentioned was that people were coming from all over the US. This sounded great to me as that meant a better chance to meet a variety of people who were not settled in their ways; people that wanted to make new friends and do new things. A couple of months later, I made an appointment to visit The Willows. This time I met with Karen. She was wonderful. I left with lots of things to think about. I decided that The Willows …
Three years after my husband passed away, I decided that I needed to reinvent my world. I was still in good health and active but not getting any younger. I did the mighty internet search communities closer to my children. I discover The Willows and it advertised just what I wanted: a smaller house and yard and an area where people were active. I made the trip to The Willows. I met Billie and she did a great job telling me what was available. One of the things that she mentioned was that people were coming from all over the US. This sounded great to me as that meant a better chance to meet a variety of people who were not settled in their ways; people that wanted to make new friends and do new things. A couple of months later, I made an appointment to visit The Willows. This time I met with Karen. She was wonderful. I left with lots of things to think about. I decided that The Willows was where I wanted to live. I chose a modified Butterfield model. With Karen’s help we came up with great ideas and modifications. Between Karen, myself, and my Las Cruces children, I was kept informed of the progress. When the house finished, I was amazed. Absolutely beautiful, perfect, everything that I had hoped. It am home. Karen, Bob, Jason, and Billie have been amazing to work with. I could not have taken this step in my life without their help.
The couple were looking for a quiet, gated neighborhood, and they were very impressed with the amenities offered at The Willows, so they ended their whirlwind trip to the desert by signing a contract with a contingency to sell their home back in North Carolina. The couple signed a loan with Washington Federal, which offers customers a one-time up-front close on their loan products so that the interest rate is locked in during construction and the home appraisal is done before the house is started. We love recommending Washington Federal because this service provides peace of mind so customers can focus on building the perfect home and not worry about rates going up or appraisals being impacted by upgrades. Robert and Yolanda knew it was truly meant to be when their home sold very quickly and they headed back to Las Cruces in June to make their selections on their dream retirement home an…
The couple were looking for a quiet, gated neighborhood, and they were very impressed with the amenities offered at The Willows, so they ended their whirlwind trip to the desert by signing a contract with a contingency to sell their home back in North Carolina. The couple signed a loan with Washington Federal, which offers customers a one-time up-front close on their loan products so that the interest rate is locked in during construction and the home appraisal is done before the house is started. We love recommending Washington Federal because this service provides peace of mind so customers can focus on building the perfect home and not worry about rates going up or appraisals being impacted by upgrades. Robert and Yolanda knew it was truly meant to be when their home sold very quickly and they headed back to Las Cruces in June to make their selections on their dream retirement home and get to know their new neighbors. We kicked off their visit with a happy hour in the neighborhood. The Wagnons had a great experience meeting all their new neighbors and decided to join the group at our weekly Taco Tuesday event a few days later which really helped them bond with the group. Taking care of business Bonding with all of the neighbors is an important part of joining The Willows, but there was also work to be done. The Wagnons chose the Chaparral model for their new home and wanted to add a pool to the backyard. We had pre-interviewed a number of pool contractors before their trip and selected Dolphin Pools after meeting with salesperson Peggy Tanzy. Many high end builders here in town use Dolphin, and they do lots of specialty pools. Michael and Yolanda met with them and were very pleased with the selection. They spent the remainder of their two-week visit making design decisions and selecting finishes with Karen Pofahl. “We are having a very positive experience with Billie Hayne and Bob and Karen Pofahl in the process of building our forever home,” says Yolanda. “They are always available to answer any questions. Karen has been so patient with all details involved. She is such a great designer.” Now the fun part… After their very productive short trip, the Wagnons headed back to their home in Puerto Rico. Billie is sending them daily pictures on the progress of their home, and the team has helped with the delivery of their furniture and cars, which were put into storage. Since they have been traveling between three places for the time being, the team at The Willows has really stepped up to help make their move seamless and not stressful, even taking them to and from the airport a couple of times. In addition, we took on a lot of the appointments that the Wagnons might have needed to do themselves. “We are very impressed with Billie Hayne’s knowledge of the whole process and the steps involved. She is being so helpful and warm as well,” says Yolanda. “They have all been so helpful and warm and have welcomed us as family members would. We can’t wait until our home is completed.”
I am a recently retired educator. After thirty-six years of working with students and teachers, I wanted the next phase of my life to be about interesting people and fun/diverse activities in a beautiful environment... with mild winters. I explored various locations and options for this exciting adventure (and of course, to find out if such a place even existed!). Almost by accident, I stumbled upon Las Cruces, New Mexico. I was even more fortunate when I discovered The Willows. Few of my friends and family believed that I, being a single, sixty-four-year-old woman, would move to a place where I did not know a single person and had only visited a few times. It is a testament to the support of Billie Haynie, my realtor, and Bob and Karen Pofahl, the developers of The Willows at Picacho Mountain, that I felt secure and confident enough to make such a decision. Billie Haynie is a fifth-gen…
I am a recently retired educator. After thirty-six years of working with students and teachers, I wanted the next phase of my life to be about interesting people and fun/diverse activities in a beautiful environment... with mild winters. I explored various locations and options for this exciting adventure (and of course, to find out if such a place even existed!). Almost by accident, I stumbled upon Las Cruces, New Mexico. I was even more fortunate when I discovered The Willows. Few of my friends and family believed that I, being a single, sixty-four-year-old woman, would move to a place where I did not know a single person and had only visited a few times. It is a testament to the support of Billie Haynie, my realtor, and Bob and Karen Pofahl, the developers of The Willows at Picacho Mountain, that I felt secure and confident enough to make such a decision. Billie Haynie is a fifth-generation resident of Las Cruces… she is a never-ending source of information about the community. Billie personally escorts clients on tours/shopping excursions of the town and the surrounding area… not just once or twice, but almost weekly during the building process. Additionally, she kept me updated almost daily concerning the building of my home with photos (WOW!). That provided such peace of mind for an out-of-town buyer. When my home sold in Boise, she arranged for me to move into a lovely two-bedroom condo while my home was being completed. She met me at the condo with a welcome basket and the keys… all on a Sunday! Billie has been in contact with me almost daily during the six-month building schedule of my home in The Willows to make sure that all my questions were being honestly answered, that I am satisfied with the construction, and to provide moral support. I have never felt like I was in this “alone.” Billie Haynie has been so much more than a realtor to me… she has been a source of support, information, trusted advice, and friendship. The Willows are a dynamic part of the dream that Bob and Karen Pofahl have for Picacho Mountain. I have observed the care, planning, and “attention to detail” that goes into each home. They are on the worksite daily and have a reputation for not accepting anything but the best workmanship from their contractors. Karen actively listens and presents selections that work within the client’s budget and taste. She will research and present options that are amazing. In addition, Bob and Karen have created a community where it is easy for neighbors to engage with one another. It is the perfect place to walk, to view the stars, and to be mindful. Quality, personalized construction that complements a unique environmental setting with a warm sense of community… I guess that is how I would describe The Willows.