ANN WERNER IS AMAZING

Well, Ann entertained a group of executive women the other night with stories of films being made here in ABQ and shared her plan to make us #2 in the country for filmmaking. And why not? With the support of Mayor Chavez, she has used her talent to bring films here and to keep all of us here in ABQ excited about our new fame as a film site. The revenue coming in is amazing and the opportunity for employment locally is growing by leaps and bounds. Lots of film people are buying homes here they are so sure this will be a happening place.

I have one word for all of you: Call me and I'll get you lined up with great financing and find you a perfect house. Oh and my second word is we are just plain lucky to have Ann!!!!

"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 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......

POOR CHRISTIAN BALE

Ever since it was announced that he would be here to film the new Terminator movie, we have felt like he was "ours". New Mexico is like that. And now our hearts break with this bad news about the alleged abuse to his relatives when he should be enjoying his tremendous success. There are definitely two sides to the story and only one has been heard. This is a healing place, Christian, come on "home."

In the meantime, a way over built home used as the film location for several movies last summer has foreclosed. An investor realtor owned it. It was spectacular but way overbuilt. The whole outrageous upper level was just the master suite and then there were two tiny bedrooms on the ground level. I mean who could live in that!!! Shame, shame, Realor, you should have known better.

FILM NEWS IN NM

Lots happening here. Probably the biggest news is the approval of the $40 million Santa Fe Studio project to be build south of The City Different. The area had been slotted for a studio for a long time and now groundbreaking will occur this year with opening of many sound stages by the end of 2009. The county hopes to increase gross receipts and other revenue from the associated activities. In return for the land and county financed infrastructure improvements, the studios promise to build four green sound stages near NM 14 which is off interstate I-25 and is the road that leads to Madrid which is already a popular area for filming. Remember Wild Hogs??

Project Angel or as we like to say the next Terminator movie crew finished up filming at the Gorge bridge up near Taos and the crew is back in town. The next Transformers film is set to be filmed near Alamogordo. And the 9th Gate may come here too. Lots happening.

In the meantime, I am available for anyone that is looking for a rental or investment property. I have a couple of homes that house up to six people and would be great to lease out to film crews. CAll me at 505-220-9193.

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!

Extreme Makeover

The Extreme Makeover filmed in freezing January aired tonight and it was a tear jerker. The Rodriquez family is truly amazing in what they have done over 6 years in our "war zone" area. The crime rate is down 50% and the area is buzzing with hope. The show tonight captured the big hearts that differentiates New Mexico from the family themselves to the thousand or so volunteers that built the homes. Someone said that every city has a word that describes it. For Albuquerque the word is "heart". People here with and without alot of money give generously of their time, concern and money. I love it here! I left Hollywood ten years ago and have never regreted it. I'll let Hollywood come here to me as I am not leaving! Call me if you want to move here! You will love it too.

FILM MAKERS SEEK HOMES WITH POOLS

The weather would seems ideal, but few homes in Albuquerque have pools, and renting homes with pools is quite desireable for filmmakers here on location. There are nice apartments that can be rented on a month to month basis with outdoor pools, but few homes. I think the main reason we do not see many pools here is the heat. It's hard for pools to survive without cracking issues when you have our freezing winters and hot summers. We found after moving here from LA that you can't lay out in the sun here; it's too intensely hot. Swimming in that heat will fry your skin in a nanosecond. The altitude creates a much more intense heat even though our summers do not get as hot as AZ or Nevada. So here in our Mile High City we head to the half dozen or so wonderful gyms with beautiful indoor pools.

“LEGEND” TO FILM IN NM IN APRIL

You hated him as Silas the albino in “The Da Vinci Code” but this time Paul Brittany is the archangel Michael in the film “Legend.” The movie is about the last days when God loses faith in humanity and decides to end things. Michael tries to save the earth. Most of it will be filmed in Santa Fe, but I am really hoping to run into his wife, Jennifer Connelly, of “A Beautiful Mind”, at Buffalo Exchange or Chez Nous!

JACK BLACK BRINGS IT TO NEW MEXICO!

The "Year One" staring Jack Black will be filmed in New Mexico. The ABQ Journal describes the role as a "neolithic road tripper" and I am not sure what that is. Maybe I am dating myself, but I do like Jack Black. The film is described as a road trip through ancient times which is a genre we haven't seen for awhile. More details are not available except that it will be filming in ABQ for three weeks. Wonder where he will hang out.

Well, give me a call if you are with the film and need anything of a real estate nature.
Judy

HOUSING RECOVERY LATE 2009

Forecast Positive for Second Half of 2008Thursday, March 06, 2008 National Realty News

WASHINGTON, D.C. - The volume of existing-home sales is expected to hold steady through late spring, with a gradual recovery during the second half of the year as the mortgage situation improves in high-cost areas, according to the latest forecast by the National Association of Realtors®. Lawrence Yun, NAR chief economist, said many buyers have been waiting for higher mortgage loan limits. “The higher loan limits for both FHA and conventional loans will increase consumer choice and provide greater access to lower interest rate mortgages in high-cost regions,” he said. “Therefore, a notable rise in home sales can be anticipated in the second half of the year." Realtors locally report that calls off of signs and activity has picked up in since the start of March.
In ABQ, the number of sales is off by 35% from last year this month, but the average sales price has increase about 1% a month so far this year. A pattern of disparate price performance continues around the country with a roughly even split between up and down markets. Many areas that have lost jobs are showing price declines which might be why ABQ looks good. We are gaining jobs.
“New-home sales nationally should decline 23.7 percent to 590,000 this year before rising 7.2 percent to 633,000 in 2009. Locally, KB Homes has announced that they are leaving ABQ. For years they successfully built for starter-homes at the low end, but their last move to higher priced homes here has proven to be a poor strategic move.
The 30-year fixed-rate mortgage, which has moved erratically in recent weeks, is expected to hover around 5.8 percent most of the year, and then rise to an average of 6.3 percent in 2009. Growth in the U.S. gross domestic product (GDP) should be 1.5 percent this year and 2.4 percent in 2009. The unemployment rate is projected to average 5.4 percent in 2008 and 5.5 percent next year. Inflation, as measured by the Consumer Price Index, will probably be 3.2 percent this year and 1.5 percent in 2009. Inflation-adjusted disposable personal income is expected to grow 1.4 percent in 2008 and 3.1 percent next year.

If you are looking for homes to rent, buy or for location shots, give me a call at 505-220-9193.

Judy Pierson, CB Legacy
New Mexico's Hollywood Realtor

HOMES TO BUY OR FOR LOCATION

There are just great deals here in ABQ to buy second homes with sellers eager to make a deal, any deal. Some are willing to rent or generate revenue by having them be used as a location set. There are some million dollar beauties in the High Desert area and just about any age, type or model of home. I just listed a terrific townhome owned by an artist which would be a great second home here in ABQ. Check out Eastridge on my website www.JudyPierson.com. Call me.

This Week's Real Estate Update

Here is a link to my weekly "REAL ESTATE NEWS CHANNEL":Click Here This week's segments are full of interesting and useful information that I think you will enjoy whether you are a buyer, seller, homeowner, or renter.Some of the topics covered this week are:Real Estate Outlook - Every week, it seems, there's a battle of conflicting numbers when it comes to housing. The latest existing home sales survey from the National Association of Realtors is a perfect example.Mortgage Moment - Jan Demas discusses "Stated Income Loans"Market Condition - Local market expert Realtor Craig Martin, reports Greenville, South Carolina, is one of the few cities bucking the national trends.Ask the Expert - "Can anyone steer me to a report that will tell me the U.S Real Estate Appreciation Rates by state for the last 15 to 20 years?" Video of the Week - This week's amazing video.You can also tour my latest listing as well as view some of my personal favorites.I hope you enjoy this week's show. If you have any comments, please e-mail them to me.If you do not wish to receive this each week, please reply to this e-mail with the word 'REMOVE' in the subject line.Sincerely,Judy Pierson

NM IS A WINNER AT OSCARS!

Who by now doesn't know that No Country for Old Men won the Oscar as best picture and several other awards to boot. What may not be known is that it was filmed here in New Mexico in one of our proud historic towns called Las Vegas. Las Vegas was on the original Santa Fe trail and like Pasadena, CA had rich families from the mid-west settle there at the turn of the century. There are wonderful grand old homes that are being updated and attracting buyers from out-of-state who want to retire in NM but live in elegance. Charming town! I just sold a fast food drive-in to a Taco Bell franchise so even the food is getting upgraded!!

GOV RICHARDSON WOOING HOLLYWOOD FILM TO NEW MEXICO

New Mexico is serious about bringing film and tv productions to our State. This week the Governor, that would be Bill Richardson, was in Hollywood talking to several studios including Lionsgate, Touchstone, HBO Films, Sony, Warner Bros, NBC, Universal, CBS/Paramount, and Fox TV Studios. Reading about the trip made me abit nostalgic since I lived in Burbank for years and drove by the big studios almost daily. What I enjoyed the most were the huge, and I mean huge, posters that announced the new films. You knew you were in Hollywood!!