Holly Scheib and Paul Wisneskey in Taos, N.M., with their daughter Kate, left, and their son Will, center. The couple were looking for an adobe with enough space to host family and friends. Jessica Lutz for The New York Times

With the possible exception of the snake that dropped into their toilet the day they moved to Taos, N.M., not much scares Holly Scheib and Paul Wisneskey in a new house.

The couple’s third home, for example — a New Orleans Victorian they bought in the early aughts — came with a termite infestation and plumbing leak, but interestingly, no kitchen or bathroom. Now, seven houses and five states into a 25-year marriage, they have perfected a pattern: “moving into a home that needed work, fixing it up and building sweat equity,” said Ms. Scheib, 49.

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“They can walk into a house and, even though it may not be a perfect fit for them in its current state, they can easily see what changes they could make to turn that property into their dream home,” said Cyndi Gonzalez, an associate broker with Berkshire Hathaway, who helped the couple find a home after Ms. Scheib accepted a job in Taos that required relocation from Santa Fe, 90 minutes south.

That fixer-upper mentality and an $800,000 budget afforded them ample choice in Taos, the mountainous high-desert town known for its Indigenous culture, thriving art scene and alpine Ski Valley. But there were a few conditions: Having just been named director of community development for the UNESCO-listed Taos Pueblo — home to some of the oldest continuously inhabited buildings in the United States — Ms. Scheib wanted a reasonable commute. Mr. Wisneskey, 55, needed a space for his remote work as a software architect for BigBear.ai, and considerably more space for the pinball machines he repairs and collects.

Another collection requiring its own real estate: the Mardi Gras paraphernalia the couple keeps on hand for their yearly pilgrimage to New Orleans (most conspicuously, the motorized recliner that Mr. Wisneskey built to ride in the Laissez Boys parade).

For any house to be a serious contender, it also had to have space for the couple’s two children, though neither would be living there full-time. Will, 21, is a dancer with the Grand Rapids Ballet, and Kate, 19, is a rising sophomore at Goucher College in Baltimore.

Aesthetically, the requirements were pretty simple: a traditional Taos vibe — an adobe or adobe lookalike with the exposed wood ceiling supports known as vigas and latillas — and gorgeous high-desert views.

Even if the key elements were not entirely there, the couple could refashion the rest. “The design is all Holly,” said Mr. Wisneskey. “I just do the work.”

Among their options:

No. 1

Room to Expand in Las Olas

Jessica Lutz for The New York Times

Set in the subdivision of Las Olas — the rare Taos neighborhood with sidewalks and centrally heated and cooled homes — this Southwest-style house from 2021 offered an open floor plan, expansive views and proximity to the Taos Pueblo. There was a covered patio with a barbecue and direct access to a long walking path, ideal for the family’s two dogs. At 1,574 square feet, the three-bedroom, two-and-a-half-bath house was the smallest the couple saw, and some of the spaces felt tight. But the lot had ample room for an addition — something they had experience with. And the $725,000 asking price, at the lower end of their budget, would allow for that possibility. Annual property taxes were around $3,400.

Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices

No. 2

Weathered Adobe in Ranchos de Taos

Jessica Lutz for The New York Times

The census designated place of Ranchos de Taos sits near the vast flats of the Taos Mesa, with the attendant wide-open vistas. The sunset views are particularly famous, and this charming weathered adobe from 2004 came with a sizable deck from which to take them in. Equally generous: the house’s 2,541 square feet, which included three bedrooms, two baths and a garage that had been converted to a great room. The house had been on the market for nearly a year and the $785,000 asking price was highly negotiable, so Ms. Scheib and Mr. Wisneskey imagined they’d have enough left over for the kitchen overhaul they considered essential, plus a greenhouse-style addition they considered doable. Annual property taxes were around $2,500.

Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices

No. 3

Former Rental in the Weimer Area

Jessica Lutz for The New York Times

Once largely grazing land, the Taos neighborhood now known as the Weimer Area was home to a Southwest-style house from 1996 that had long been operating as an unpermitted rental. When Ms. Scheib and Mr. Wisneskey saw the place, it was buggy, smelly and stained from past leaks. But the bones were good (including many beautiful vigas and latillas), as were the mountain views, the size — 2,441 square feet, with four bedrooms and two baths — and the 15-minute commute to Taos Pueblo. Plus, the junk-strewn backyard was hiding a private well in plain sight in addition to several fruit trees. While the $899,000 asking price was high, the difference seemed negotiable in light of needed repair work the couple would be willing to waive. Annual property taxes were about $2,350.

Ryan Trujillo/Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Taos & Angel Fire

Find out what happened next by answering these two questions:

Which Would You Choose?

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Room to Expand in Las Olas

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Weathered Adobe in Ranchos de Taos

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Former Rental in the Weimer Area

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Room to Expand in Las Olas

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Weathered Adobe in Ranchos de Taos

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Former Rental in the Weimer Area