ABQ Loft For Sale in Downtown

Want a place to stay while filming in New Mexico? Or a great investment property to lease to film production people here for only a few weeks or months? Have I got a place for you!! In the middle of downtown (so convenient to studios or locations), I have two lofts listed a fire-sale prices. Both are in the Gold Ave Loft buildings across from the train station. The new Jazbah club in right across the street and downtown hangouts are a couple blocks away.

The lofts are new, modern with killer views of the city. One is the corner penthouse loft with two bedrooms and two baths currently rented to a Very Important Person on the "Lone Ranger" set. The other is on the third floor and is an open flexible design. All appliances included. Bamboo floors and huge window walls with patio.

Want to spend a mere $200,000? Call me.

ABQ Home Sales Sag In July

Home Sales Sag In July. That is the headline but what’s behind the numbers? First of all, we had some terrible financial uncertainty that threw everyone off guard for a couple of weeks. That will stop things dead in their tracks. While it is true that the housing recovery in ABQ is up and down, we see a steady solid influx of new buyers and a few new sellers. Usually, sellers have already got their homes on the market to catch the summer traffic. In ABQ, new listings always slow come Fall and Winter. Sales in ABQ have been steadily rising month by month bucking the national trend until July. Compared to last year however, sales are up by 12 percent. The home prices went up but are still below last year’s level. Statistics can be viewed at www.gaar.com. Call me if you want to see what this means for you.

ABQ No. 2 as Film Friendly

MovieMaker magazine has ranked ABQ as the No. 2 city among the top 10 cities for independent filmmaking. The ranking is for the best place to live and work in the film business. Boston ranked No. 1 which I don't get. We are so much better at so many levels. The best place to live is definitely our strong suit. Great weather, friendly people, accessible amenities and great home prices. We have tons of good buys on the market now so if you are interested in investing in a second home or investment property, give me a call. 505-220-9193.

STRIKE OFF; FILMS TO MOVE AHEAD

The Screen Actors Guild and the producers union agreed on a new contract finally. For NM, this should mean several new films starting here. We knew there were several in the wings but everything was on hold. Both the ABQ and NM Film Offices report that more scouts are scouting, so to speak. Hey you scouts......"Call me. We'll do lunch."

ABQ ranks High!

US News and World Report has ranked ABQ in its top ten most liveable cities with Kiplinger's Personal Finance magazine ranking it as the second best city. Both of these considered the economy, weather, natural beauty and recreational and work opportunities. ABQ is HOT!

Cool Video on ABQ

What Albuquerque wants, Albuquerque gets -- and the city and state crave high-tech jobs, especially in the renewable-energy industry.http://link.brightcove.com/services/player/bcpid271539280?bctid=23941075001

Filming Season Starts in ABQ

Well, with the strike threat resolved, films are lined up to film here in Abquerque and the rest of New Mexico. The second season of "Crash" will film again in our city starting in May. The film stars Dennis Hopper who lives in Santa Fe so his commute will be short.

One fun one is "Did you Hear about the Morgans?" which stars Hugh Grant and Sarah Jessica Parker. I bet she has a great time shopping in and around our non-assuming city. Can't wait to see her return to New York sporting some wonderful heavy torquoise jewelry.

An "In Plain Sight" is still around as well as the second season of "Breaking Bad". I watched it and found it quite disturbing. Well acted and intense but what pathetic characters and situations. Seemed to much like ABQ to be entertaining for me.

The big one for fans, is the TV show "Stargate: Universe" which will shoot in Alamogordo. Just in time to resolve the withdrawal anxiety of Stargate fans!

Then, "The Book of Eli" is still here shooting with Denzel Washington at the ABQ studios. I guess Denzel didn't end up renting in my "hood" of High Desert which is where lots of the stars end up. Too bad because I really wanted to re-connect ---- our kids went to the same elementary school in Los Angeles. "Denzel, if you read this, call me. We'll do lunch."

Want Your Home as Movie Site?

Not much happening now in the city. So if you think you might like to have your home available for a movie set, let me know. It usually means you would move out for five days or so and make maybe $5000 or so. Not bad. I just need some inside and ouside shots of your home and a description. Give me a call and I can give you the details.

Judy Pierson
220-9193

BIG STARS' HOMES FOR SALE

So if you have $8-11 million to buy a home, well, really a ranch, then check out what Marsha Mason and Val Kilmer are selling in Northern NM. Or call me and I'll find you something more reasonable.

BREAKING BAD STILL GOOD

Bryan Cranston got another award for his work on "Breaking Bad". It's such an interesting story line --- good teacher fighting his own demons. He won the International Press Academy Satellite Award for best actor in a drama series. We look forward to the show coming back to start production for season three.

Now would be a great time for those on that production team to buy a house here in ABQ. Call me. Rates are great and clearly you all are going to be around for awhile. We hope.

BUYER'S MARKET IN ABQ

For buyers, especially first-time homebuyers, the market couldn't be better. Rates are incredible and sellers are eager to sell. We see buyers waiting to see if "we have hit" bottom but we have pretty much stabilized here in ABQ. We didn't depreciate like other cities although our sale prices went down around 4-6% depending on the area of the city and price range. Homes in the range of $200,000 are particularly good deals now.

So for those of you here doing films, give me a call. Let's get you in a home. You can't go wrong. This isn't California!!

"NIGHT AND DAY" FILMING IN NEW MEXICO

"Night and Day" will be shot in Albuquerque in October-November. This is a Mue Entertainment Enterprise/TNT pilot starring William Fichtner from Crash and Dark Knight. Its a drama about an agent with the Bureau of alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms. Should be a fun one!

'BREAKING BAD" IN MY BACKYARD!

For those of us living High Desert area of Albuquerque or users of the Emory Trailhead, know that there will be filming next week in the Trailhead area.

"Breaking Bad" Emmy for Cranston Good for NM

Congratulations to Bryan Cranston who won an Emmy Award for Best Actor in a Drama last week for his performances in "Breaking Bad". We know him as the nicest guy in TV and nothing has changed. He doesn't gloat but will reportedly pull out his Emmy for all to view. And why not?!? I do that with my new car and that just shows how much I am in denial about the economy; his pride is well earned. He was nominated three times for playing the dad in "Malcolm in the Middle". The award is good for New Mexico because it mean the show is likely to stay on the air longer. Shooting can be seen all over Albuquerque. They were up in my High Desert neighborhood not long ago. We love the excitement and hope for more of the same. Way to go, Bryan!

Breaking Bad Filming

Breaking Bad film crews seem to show up all over the city. Everyone here likes the series and there is a rush still when one drives by all the trucks associated with a shoot. The novelty hasn't worn off for us here so bring on some more films Hollywood......

"Swing Vote" Out in Theatres

Well, our own Kevin Costner who hung around ABQ for several months filming, can now be seen in "Swing Vote". Look for scenes filmed here locally! Annette Johnson is one of the adorable little girls in the film. Annette's father flies back and forth with my husband each week to work in LA. A proud father, indeed.

"Breaking Bad" to Film in ABQ

Sony/AMC/Topanga Productions is bring a second season of filming of "Breaking Bad" to ABQ. The pilot was picked up so the crew will be here filmng over various locations for the next six months. Welcome Back! I expect to get calls for homes to lease, especially with pools. Bring it on! I can find them.

The Governor has tried to attrack more television productions so that the crews are here for longer periods of time which creates more local economic benefits. "Easy Money" will be the sixth major TV production following "Crash", W"Wildfire", "Breaking Bad", "Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles," and "In Plain Sight".

STUDIO IN RIO RANCHO?

City councilors have approved a resolution to negotiate with a group who wants to establish a digital media center downtown. The City of Vision Studios needs to provid proof of financial backing by Dec. 2008. If approved, it could bring hundreds of high paying jobs to RR. What with HP coming next year and maybe this studio, RR just could turn around in a couple of years. Let's hope because the real estate market there now is totally stalled.

TERMINATOR FILMS AT LA LUZ TRAIL TODAY

The Terminator, oops, I mean Project Angel, is filming days now and today they are at the La Luz Trailhead. The wind is blowing like crazy so I hope they stay save. No word on a possible actors' strike so plans are for the crew to stay through September. I have been in contact with three about finding a home to lease with a pool. I do have one for $1800 a month and another for $4500 per month which is more for the star or top mucky-mucks.

INDIAN JONES IN NEW MEXICO

We all kinda view the new Indie movie as ours since so much of it was filmed here. The scenes in downtown especially the cafe reminded me that we are definitely retro. Nothing had to be changed to film a 1950's hangout. I always say we are a third world state and I mean that affectionately. My husband and I saw the film this weekend and observed that 90% of the audience were in our age group ...... aging, grey haired (well, I'm not, but the others were) baby-boomers. So what were we doing there? We had all seen all of the series and were perhaps longing for that thrill of suspense we experienced when we were twenty years younger watching the films??? I don't know why we were all there. I mean I enjoyed it; it was formulaic except for the wedding. All in all we had some good laughs and were proud of New Mexico!