Hillside Lot With Power, Utilities And Water Service

The subject property is a .18 acre lot situated along Trading Post Road in Cloud County West, a forested residential community located along US Highway 82 just east of Cloudcroft.

When we speak of property we typically use an address -- 123 Main Street for instance. 

As most vacant land does not have a physical address, however, county governments will identify it in other ways, such as a "legal description", a parcel number or a tax code. The information provided in the table to the right are the ways in which the various state and county agencies will identify this specific parcel of land. These signifiers are important to have when speaking with these agencies - whether they be the assessor, the zoning office, or even the local utilities - and may prove invaluable when initiating conversations about whatever research a buyer intends to do.

Whenever one exists or has been assigned to the land, the physical address will be included in this table.

Roads & Access: The subject property is located along Trading Post Road. Like the rest of this small subdivision, Trading Post is a well-maintained road consisting of graded gravel which can be navigated by an any vehicle type.

Power & Utilities: Residential power and underground telecom lines can be found running along Trading Post Road including at the lot line of the subject parcel as well as servicing a number of nearby developed home sites. Because of this, it should be both easy and affordable to get power connected on this parcel. Anyone looking to investigate the costs associated with getting service to the subject property is encouraged to contact the Otero County Electric Cooperative, the local utility servicing this region.

Water Service: The Cloud Country West subdivision shares a well with the Cloud Country West RV Park on the opposite side of Highway 82 and supplies residents of both communities with year-round water service. This will prove a tremendous savings to anyone looking to develop their property because it means you will not have to drill a well. In addition, because of the size of the lot, if this service did not exist, it would mean numerous additional permits from the state would be required before drilling could even commence. In Cloud Country West, however, this has all been simplified and aside from an initial tap installation fee of $500.00 plus the cost of hiring a local plumber, any resident can get water to their property. As of 2022 there were 256 taps supplied by this one-well water system. Anyone who would like to learn more about installing a tap on their property can visit the Cloud County West Property Owner's Association website here.

Water Service, Cont'd: As this one well services a number of residents throughout multiple communities, the water table is regularly monitored. From the Cloud Country West website they write " After work completed March 9, 2022, it was determined that the water table is approximately 497 feet deep, which means there is a water column about 41 feet above the water pump. The depth can fluctuate greatly because the water supply sits in a "vertical aquifer," which means it is deep and narrow rather than shallow and wide. Cloud Country West will continue to measure the depth on a regular basis to ensure there is an abundant supply for all of the residents. "

Zoning: Otero is one of a handful of New Mexico Counties which have no formal County-wide zoning ordinance and defer instead to towns and municipalities within their borders to make their own rules. As this property is located in "Unincorporated" Otero County that means it is outside the jurisdiction of even the most "small government" town. This means that aside from state-wide regulations such as building codes or environmental ordinances, there are no governmental restrictions about how the land may be used or developed.

POA: While this subdivision may be free of county zoning ordinances, The Cloud Country West community does have a Property Owner's Association (POA) which is responsible for community upkeep, improvement projects, approving construction plans for residential development as well as maintenance of the community well.

While many buyers may recoil at the suggestion of rules or governing organizations, good POAs can be a benefit to the land and homeowners in their communities as they help to beautify the region and ensure that property values increase over time. For anyone who would like to learn more about Cloud Country West, you can visit their  Property Owner's Association website here or their Facebook page here.

Covenants, Conditions & Restrictions: When the Cloud Country West subdivision was first created, the developer drew up a set of covenants and restrictions to run with the land. Unlike what we normally encounter, these are surprisingly detailed and deal not just with obvious things like the disposal of trash and prohibitions on excess noise but also acceptable structures for the region, setback requirements, minimum square footage, construction materials, etc. Because of this, anyone considering purchasing the land is encouraged to review the Cloud Country West Covenants and Restrictions document linked here.

Architectural Control Committee: Cloud Country West has an Architectural Control Committee which oversees and approves all plans for structural development in the region. This is done in the interest of making sure that home sites conform to a standard both in quality and condition as well as aesthetic appearance. It also helps to keep the community free of dilapidated or nuisance structures while also ensuring property values for other residents. Anyone who would like to learn more about the Cloud Country West Architectural Control Committee and their various policies for development is encouraged to review their website here.

Annual Dues: Annual dues within Cloud Country West vary depending on whether the lot has been developed or is left vacant. A developed lot in Unit 1 will have dues of $660.00/Year or $55/Month. Undeveloped, or "Standby" lots are only charged $80.00/Year or less than $7.00/Month. 

Time Limit On Building: Anyone purchasing land in Cloud Country West is not obligated to developed their property. Those that do, however, will need to complete construction within twelve months of the ground-breaking.

The Hemingway Land Company does our best to represent the properties we list as accurately as possible. Our research, however, will always be limited. 

Because of this, included in the table to the right is a list of the relevant state and county governments, agencies and authorities as well as local utilities (and all their respective websites and contact information) which should help to answer any questions a buyer may have about developing this specific property.

Whenever possible it is best to speak with these agencies first as they will always be a far greater source of information about the local region and the regulations which govern it.  

National Forest: The subject property is located in the heart of the Lincoln National Forest. This means not only that you'll have easy access to the many trails, camp grounds and picnic areas that surround this region, but your new home will be visited frequently by neighboring deer and elk (see photos in the gallery at the bottom of this page).

Topography: The subject property has a gentle rise to it from the road to the back, or south end of the parcel. Because of this, building along the higher end of the property may provide the homeowner with beautiful views of the surrounding region.

Fishing Pond: Cloud Country West also boasts its own fishing pond which is made available to members from April to October each year at a cost of only $50.00 per household. To learn more about the pond and the community rules which govern it, please visit this page of their website.

James Canyon Volunteer Fire Department: It should be noted that just east of the Cloud Country West subdivision is a volunteer fire department which services the many residential subdivisions along Highway 82. This can be a tremendous benefit, particularly in a densely forested region such as this where fire mitigation is crucial to preserving the residents' way of life. 

The subject property is located just outside Cloudcroft, a charming rustic community of less than one thousand residents. While small, this area features amenities such as post offices, banks, medical practitioners, schools and churches. In addition, there are a number of places to eat and drink as well as purchase building materials. Located as close as it is to the National Forest and local skiing destinations, there are also places to purchase hunting supplies and skiing equipment.

Anyone looking for the nearest Walmart or other big box stores, national retailers or fast-food chains will need to either drive west into Alamogordo or north into Ruidoso.

This part of New Mexico is home to a number of popular skiing destinations such as the slopes of the nearby Ski Cloudcroft as well as Ski Apache further north in Alto.

The Ruidoso Downs Racetrack and Casino – home to plenty of gambling, concerts and general entertainment - is also within an hour's drive of this region.

In addition, this entire subdivision is set against the backdrop of the Lincoln National Forest with its numerous trails, camp grounds and picnic areas. Home to species as diverse as Elk, Deer, Pronghorn Antelope, Oryx, Ibex, Javelina and Bighorn Sheep, this region is ideal for hunters and outdoor enthusiasts of all ages.