SPRING GARDEN ACTIVITIES

With the nice weather this last week, weren't you tempted to go and buy flowers to plant? After that freeze we had, we are all ready for Spring! But last night it dropped again below freezing so what can we really do to get ready for Spring? For one, we can water once a week. Next we can do a final cleanup on our garden beds and replant any volunteer seedlings that are shooting up. It's so nice to see the green shoots coming up through the winter dead plants. We can amend the soil especially with iron. Personally, I need to fillin the holes my dog dug burying bones in the winter lawn. I keep her off the lawn in the Spring & Summer. She won't be happy but Huskies dig.
Speaking of lawn, the Journal had a good article today about not powerraking to remove thatch. Instead, to aerate by making plugs and leaving them on the lawn. In Africa, we teach our villagers to do the same thing. Maintain the ground cover and make sure the soil surface is broken so that air and water and nutrients can enter. Same principles work here.
Soon we can break out the lawn chairs and barBQ!

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.

Fire Hazard Warning

A friend just sent me this after having a fire in her bathroom. I will be removing all the Globe bulbs from my house. CFL bulbs are a great energy saver but make sure you buy a name brand like Sylvania , Phillips or GE and not the ones from China . An electirician told me the plug-in air fresheners are their fire hazards too. Just a word of caution.......

30 Mortgage Rates Up

The average rate on 30-mortgages toped 5 % this month. Rates followed Treasury notes fueled by fear of higher inflation. Five percent is still wonderful though. It’s all relative but some of us remember 18% rates! 5% is a once in a lifetime opportunity for this buyer’s market. On a $200,000 loan compared to November’s rates is still less than $100 per month. And with enough down and a score above 650 you might get a rate of 3.5%. It’s all relative, but still great! Go on my website to Mortgage Center to get a quote.

Kennedy's coming to New Mexico

Well, not literally but the production on the Kennedy's is coming to our locally produced ReelzChannel. And the productions just keep coming. We love the industry here in Albuquerque. We hope the new Govenor does too!!!!

If your on the production team and are thinking of taking the plunge and buying a house here, go to my website and check out home prices under Market Snapshot.

True Grit in NM

Saw True Grit this weekend and really enjoyed it. The performances were excellent although I found the film slow. Somehow I remember the original one more suspenseful and entertaining. What I did love about this film was the New Mexico setting. Nothing beats the beauty of northern New Mexico which like a chameleon can become anything the film needs it to be from an 1800 site to a stark future-scape as in Denzel's film this last year.

How could someone not want to move here and explore our Enchanting state even more? Well, if you want to find some good vacation homes in Northern New Mexico with lake access, call me.

Real Estate Predictions for Albuquerque

Well, here goes....... my personal Crystal Ball for 2011. What is the good news? Prices will continue to stabilize and inch up month by month. Mortgage rates will go up to 5% which still is terrific. All and all, it will be a good time to buy because buyers can have some confidence that if they make an investment now, the value will hold and begin to appreciate over the next five years. Already, I have more buyers who want to purchase in this first quarter than I have had in the last two years. I sense that people are more secure in thier jobs as the mass layoffs have all but disappeared, and the stock market is positive so no more losses are expected in that arena. Retail sales are up and real estate is next, I think. For sellers, the time to sell will be better in 2011. Prices won't be up from the past two years, but the slide downward in value has largely stopped. There are foreclosures that will need to be sold this year and those are tough competition, but that too shall end. The thing I see is the return to a "Fair Market" value. Not that buyers won't still come in with low offers, but they quickly up the offer when the Seller counters at a reasonable price. Homes that are selling are selling at fair prices. Homes that are in good condition and fairly priced sell within 60 days. The days of wildly inflated prices, and profits, from real estate may be over, but property once again will be a good, reliable investment for the future. I am forecasting an improved market. There it is..... my Crystal Ball. Call me if you want to discuss your particular situation. 2011 will be the year to make a move!