Owning a Taos home is even better when it helps pay its own way. Tucked high into the forest at the end of Gallina Canyon, Casa Saudade has been both a much-loved mountain escape and an established income-producing property. At approximately 8,000 feet, its 1.7-acre setting feels wonderfully removed--surrounded by ponderosa, pinon and juniper, with sweeping views south across the Taos Valley to the Truchas Peaks and east toward Taos Mountain and Lobo Peak. Skiing, hiking and the mountain village of Arroyo Seco are all within a 25-minute drive, yet up here the rest of the world feels a good distance away. Built in 1992 by Taos builder John Hunt, the 1,594-square-foot, one-bedroom Earthship is quite literally part of the hillside. Its open, organic interior includes an enclosed round bedroom with a king bed and its own wood stove, a separate queen sleeping loft, an open kitchen and dining area, an elevated living nook and a built-in workspace. Earthen walls, natural forms and windows framing the surrounding forest give the home the quiet, sheltered feeling that makes Earthship living so distinctive. The kitchen is equipped with a stove, oven, refrigerator, coffee maker and cooking utensils. Bed linens, a washing machine, hair dryer and other household essentials are also included, along with wireless broadband internet and television service through an antenna. Carbon monoxide and smoke detectors, a fire extinguisher and a first-aid kit provide additional peace of mind. Active and passive solar design, photovoltaic power and rainwater catchment are complemented by propane, two wood stoves and a wood-fired sauna. Six cisterns hold about 6,000 gallons in total onsite, with a gravity-fed holding tank supplying the home. Built into the earth, the home uses solar gain, thermal mass and natural ventilation. In keeping with the outside-the-box thinking behind the Earthship itself, Casa Saudade offers more than a place to stay. When the owners are not using it themselves, it has operated as a successful short-term rental and is currently represented to produce approximately $43,200 in annual net operating income. At the $584,900 asking price, that equates to an approximate 7.4% cap rate--before accounting for the personal enjoyment of owning a retreat in the Taos mountains. The property's current Airbnb listing is a Guest Favorite, with a 4.91-star rating from more than 100 guest reviews. Guests repeatedly mention the views, peaceful location, memorable interior and sense of seclusion. The established Casa Saudade website through North Node Retreats will transfer to the new owner, providing a valuable foundation for continued direct marketing and rental operations. An existing network for property management, cleaning, turnovers and guest services may also provide continuity for a buyer interested in continuing the property's combination of personal use and income production, subject to separate arrangements and applicable platform requirements. Outside, a patio lined with Russian sage overlooks the forest and valley, while a private wood-fired sauna sits on the hillside with expansive views below. Trails lead directly from the property, creating an easy invitation to hike, wander or simply disappear into the quiet for a while. Casa Saudade is reached by a mountain road, and four-wheel drive is encouraged during the winter months. The journey is part of what gives the property its extraordinary privacy and sense of escape. Use it for ski weekends, summer hiking, long dinners with friends, a quiet place to write or the occasional escape from everything. Then, when you leave, let the house get back to work. It is a distinctly Taos proposition: a remarkable mountain retreat, an established source of rental income and an Earthship conceived around a different way of thinking about how we live. You do not have to choose between the place you want to own and an investment that makes sense. Here, they happen to have the same address.
