Moving to Santa Fe? Finding Your People Might Be Easier Than You Think

There's a question I hear from people considering a move to Santa Fe that has very little to do with real estate.

"Do you think I'll be able to make friends there?"

It's a good question. Especially if you're moving from a place where you've spent years building relationships, finding your favorite restaurants, supporting organizations you believe in, and creating a life that feels comfortable and familiar.

Maybe you've lived in Marin County or Sonoma for decades. You love your community, but you're beginning to wonder whether the cost of maintaining your California lifestyle still makes sense. Maybe you're thinking about wildfire risk, property taxes, or simply what you want the next twenty years to look like.

And you've been coming to Santa Fe for years.

You know Canyon Road. You've been to the Opera. Maybe you've been to see Jon Batiste or Lyle Lovett at the end of Opera Season (btw, I helped organize those shows!)

You've spent afternoons wandering the Plaza and evenings having dinner with friends at one of our wonderful restaurants, like Market Steer or Coyote Cafe (have you ever had dinner at the counter and watched the chefs prepare each dish, getting a taste every once in a while?)

But visiting Santa Fe and actually living here are two different things.

The good news? I think living here is even better.

Santa Fe Is a Small Town with a Remarkably Big Life

One of the things I love most about Santa Fe is that it's possible to become part of the community without having grown up here.

I grew up in a little town in eastern New Mexico, and I've always appreciated places where people know one another. Santa Fe has given me that feeling in ways I couldn't have anticipated when I moved here in 2012.

For a relatively small city, we have an extraordinary collection of artists, writers, musicians, entrepreneurs, volunteers, and people who have lived fascinating lives in other places.

And many of them came here for exactly the reasons you might be considering.

They wanted something different. Not necessarily something slower or quieter, although Santa Fe can offer both. They wanted something meaningful.

Finding Your Niche in Santa Fe

One of the first things I encourage people to do when they're considering a move is to think about how they enjoy spending their time.

Not just what kind of house they want.

What kind of life do they want to build?

If you love the arts, you can find your way into a community through the Georgia O'Keeffe Museum, SITE Santa Fe, gallery events, art classes, and the many cultural organizations that make this city such an interesting place to live.

If you enjoy being outdoors, there are hiking and walking groups, beautiful trails in the Dale Ball system, the Santa Fe National Forest, and plenty of people who would rather spend a morning outside than sitting in a coffee shop. I have a client who joined a hiking group and ended up doing a three day hike/camping trip at Chaco Canyon. (Although we have some wonderful coffee shops, too. There's nothing like a morning at Downtown Subscription, Ohori's, or La Mama!)

If volunteering gives your life meaning, you'll find no shortage of opportunities.

The Cancer Foundation for New Mexico is particularly close to my heart. I spent years involved with the organization, including serving as board chair, and I've seen firsthand how volunteering can turn acquaintances into lifelong friends.

But that's only one possibility. From animal welfare and food security to the arts, education, and healthcare, Santa Fe has organizations doing important work that welcome people who want to contribute.

And if you enjoy a good party for a good cause, you'll find those, too.

If you're intellectually curious, Santa Fe offers lectures, book discussions, classes, workshops, and opportunities to meet people who are still learning and exploring well into their seventies and eighties.

I love that about this place.

There seems to be very little interest in the idea that we should stop growing or trying new things simply because we've reached a certain birthday.

You Don't Have to Reinvent Yourself to Move Here

I think that's an important distinction.

Sometimes people talk about relocation as though you have to leave your old identity behind and become an entirely new person.

I don't see it that way.

If you've spent years volunteering in your California community, you can continue doing meaningful work here.

If you love entertaining, you'll find people who love gathering around a dinner table.

If you've always enjoyed walking with friends on Saturday mornings, you can build that routine here, too.

You bring your interests, your experience, and your personality with you.

Santa Fe simply gives you a new place to put them to work.

Of course, friendships take effort. No city can promise an instant social circle. But I've found Santa Fe to be a place where curiosity and a willingness to participate can open a remarkable number of doors.

Where You Live Matters, Too

This is where my work as a real estate broker becomes especially interesting.

When someone tells me they're thinking about moving to Santa Fe, I want to know much more than their price range and how many bedrooms they need.

I want to know how they imagine spending their days.

Would you love being able to walk to a favorite restaurant or gallery?

Do you want a home with a courtyard where you can entertain new friends?

Would you prefer a little acreage, mountain views, and the quiet of the countryside?

Do you imagine joining friends for morning walks, taking art classes, or getting involved with a nonprofit?

The answers can help us determine which parts of Santa Fe might suit you best.

A home near the Historic Eastside offers a different daily experience from a property in Las Campanas or the foothills. None is automatically better. The question is which one fits the life you want.

And that's a conversation worth having before you start looking at houses.

You Can Start Building Your Santa Fe Life Before You Move

Here's something I often suggest: On your next visit, spend a little less time being a tourist.

Attend a community event. Take a class. Explore a neighborhood at different times of day. Visit an organization whose mission interests you. Strike up a conversation.

Ask yourself whether you can imagine doing these things on an ordinary Tuesday, not just during a wonderful vacation.

You might be surprised how quickly Santa Fe begins to feel familiar.

A House Is Only Part of What You're Looking For

I've been a real estate broker for more than twenty years, and one of the greatest pleasures of my work is helping people find more than a property.

I love helping them find their place.

Sometimes that means introducing them to people with similar interests. Sometimes it means talking through the realities of living in a particular neighborhood. And sometimes it means encouraging them to slow down and spend more time here before making a decision.

Buying a home is important. But building a life you love in that home matters even more.

If Santa Fe has been on your mind for years, I'd love to hear what draws you here.

You don't need to be ready to buy tomorrow. You don't even need to know exactly what you're looking for.

We can start with a conversation about the life you want.

You already love Santa Fe. I'd love to help you find your place here.

Bunny Terry is a Santa Fe real estate broker with The Bunny Terry Group at Real Broker. Licensed since 2004 and living in Santa Fe since 2012, she helps buyers and sellers navigate Santa Fe real estate with local knowledge, candid advice, and a genuine love for the community. Feel free to give her a call at 505-504-1101.