COVER STORY

HOME BUYING
The Donna Cline Way
by Victoria Groves
Photos by Marie Leslie
Photography

FEATURES

Second Chances
by Renita Freeman

Women to the Rescue
by Beth Donahue

HOME BUYING
The Donna Cline Way
by Victoria Groves
Marie Leslie Photography

Almost two decades ago, New Mexico native Donna L. Cline was a rising star in the home security industry. Before that, she was operating heavy equipment.

Donna laughs about using the motors of the heavy equipment she operated back then to heat her lunch. She was never, ever afraid on this physically demanding job. “On the contrary,” she says, “the building process inspired me.” Donna worked in railroad construction and helped with the construction of the Ruidoso airport in the 80s. “To start with nothing, and build an airport,” Donna says, “was just pretty awesome.”

Today, she is a trusted mortgage advisor/sales manager for American Home Mortgage. Since 1988, she has been helping residents purchase their dream home. Her clients are first-time home buyers as well as those who are purchasing for the third or fourth time. Her clients purchase homes in the price range of $50,000 to $4 million.

“I conduct complete consultations with all my clients,” says Donna. “I find out what their wants and needs are and I ask them how much of a mortgage payment they are comfortable with. I then give them the mortgage payment they are qualified for. I explain every step of the process of purchasing a home, whether buying an existing home, or building a new one.

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Second Chances
by Renita Freeman

Have you ever found yourself gazing out of your office window, wishing you were in business for yourself? Maybe you’ve had a dream about opening a little bookstore or starting a business that would allow you to work from home. But you’ve kept that dream a secret because you’ve been doing what you were supposed to do—working every day, being a good employee, following the rules, paying the bills, raising your children, and so on.

But, deep inside, you know you could do something different. You have a creative side that is screaming for recognition, and you have an independent streak that has been stifled, perhaps by overbearing bosses and administrative bureaucracy. Well, if this describes you—read on! You’re not alone. Listen to what these women did after turning 50, with a second career and a second chance to live their lives the way they want to.

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Women to the Rescue
by Beth Donahue

The Old Wild West is alive in New Mexico. Cock fighting is legal and pit bull fights continue, although unlawful, and animal abuse is rampant. Thousands of animals are euthanized annually. It is not uncommon to find drivers attempting to hit an animal along the road for sport. Some New Mexico residents throw animals out of moving cars, shoot, hang, kick, beat, and starve their pets.

Because of atrocities carried out against so many animals there has been an outpouring of women rescuing these abandoned and abused creatures. These nonprofit operations are saving dogs, cats, horses, llamas, chickens, goats, rabbits, ducks, and birds—almost single handedly.

One of these rescue facilities, Heart and Soul Animal Sanctuary, is located on 150 acres of land outside of Santa Fe in the Sangre de Cristo Mountains. The shelter is run by Natalie Owings who nurtures hundreds of animals each year—dogs, cats, horses, llamas, goats, sheep, chickens, ducks, geese, and one very lucky rabbit. All animals receive veterinary help and medications.

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