Looking forward towards investments

As this year comes to an end, many feel that that bottom of this tricky real estate market has been reached or at least can be seen. Whether this is true or not, I don't know.

What I do know is that in our Albuquerque Real Estate market, there are great deals right now. Inventory is high and interest rates are low. History has shown us time and time again that the maximum profits made in Albuquerque Real Estate are best when the buying occurs on the down slop or at the bottom.

By doing this the main mistake made by people in the "2005 era" (which was buy high and, with a little luck sell higher), can be avoided. Buy low, sell high. sound familiar? Luck should not have a place in this equation that several people (including myself) found themselves using.

A couple of great rules were brought to my attention by an amazing colleague of mine in a different part of the country. These rules should be followed when considering an investment property and I felt were worth mentioning.

• Focus on quality properties and areas
• Don't have tunnel vision on foreclosures and certainly not short sales. Some of the best deals are found the traditional way. Basically, Don't "pigeon hole" yourself. Look at all properties that fit the criteria.
• Do your homework. Be sure to factor all things financial whether its taxes, utilities or HOA dues. Have you Realtor help!
• Study the rental history and be conservative when evaluating the cash-flow potential.
• Be sure to work with a Realtor that has your goals and vision in mind. Make sure they are in it just for the sale. Its all about making good financial decisions! 

Albuquerque Homes are an excellent opportunity to create wealth for the future! If you need any help or have questions regarding Albuquerque, Corrales real estate, or Rio Rancho real estate, please don't hesitate to contact us!!

LET'S HAVE A GREAT 2011!!!

Short sales getting better?

So, I recently closed another Albuquerque Real Estate short sale. This one took a good 6 months which, to me, is pretty typical. It was basically 6 months of bank games that were a lot of fun! (can you see the sarcasm dripping from your monitor?) This one went through the lovely Bank of America's "equator" system. This system promises prompt, friendly and I assume honest service. The promptness...6 months isn't exactly ideal. Friendly...Some what. The assigned negotiator did give us his personal cell number because, due to appraisal service, the deal went right down to the wire (I'm talking hours to the wire). Honest...Even after the deal closed the bank wanted an additional $3k and, some how, the escrow officer was able to work around. Not to sure if the ball was dropped some where there be it seemed a bit suspect since it has happened to me once before. I'll let you decide.

I do hear conversations around the office about short sales only lasting 1.5 to 2 months. I guess it really is a learning process. If the listing Realtor knows how to get a hold of a live person and can to get quick responses, these short sales seems to go fairly smooth. It does seem that banks are finally getting better at understanding how these work. The one thing, I have to admit, that I feel uneasy about is that these homes are mainly sold as is. I warn my buyers over and over about this. Inspection costs also fall on the lap of the buyer which can go well above $1k. That's a jagged pill to swallow for me.

So, bottom line. Should you avoid short sales still. I personally don't think so. Just be prepared for some "uncomfortable situations". Your Realtor should be covering EVERY aspect of a short sale and the possible consequences.

I love my job!! ( that was not sarcasm! ;))

Reasons to use an Albuquerque Realtor

I have recently been trying to help a good friend in other state sell his home. He has accepted a job and will be relocating and he has been bombarding me with several questions on how to choose his Realtor and should he try to sell himself. I cannot remember ever being in this type of situation - helping a friend find a Realtor...that wasn't me!

My friend is not necessarily a frugal man but, like everyone, enjoys a good deal so he hit me with his ideas of beating down a Realtor for a commission cut - a.k.a, commisionectomy (because it really does hurt that bad!) or selling the home by owner. I told him that unless I am helping a seller find more Albuquerque Real Estate or have several deals with that person, I do not cut my commission. And if I did, what would that say to the seller? That I will settle for less when it comes to my own money? If a Realtor cared so little about his own money, how much more could that Realtor really care about their clients' money when it comes to negotiating?

Any Realtor can take a commission cut and do the minimum to sell that home and anyone can try to sell their own home, put a sign in the yard and enter it into MLS. That all seems like a great idea on paper, but having expert advice readily available when selling the biggest investment in most people's lives is more than worth the 6% most people agree to pay. Realtors have been around for over 100 years and must be licensed and continually educated and tested during their career.

People don't try to negotiate an accountant's fee. And even if people did do that, do you think that person's tax return is going to be a priority to that accountant? It's worth the extra up front rather than a huge amount later to the IRS.

Here is an example I heard recently: People who go to Ethan Allen know that the furniture in that store is expensive but they also know that it is a quality product. People who shop on Ebay realize that they are taking a chance on the furniture sold by the owners who are only experts in sitting on that couch. These people are willing to take the chance of buying a couch that could have been a dogs bed for 12 years in order to save some money....and then finally end up buying a couch from Ethan Allen. Wouldn't it be better to go with quality service, expert opinion and protection right from the get go? I also believe that this attracts serious, qualified buyers who expect the same quality service rather than attracting those who are not screened (your Realtor should make sure all buyers are qualified with a mortgage professional) and just looking for a quick deal? Just a thought.

I love selling Albuquerque Real Estate!! Thanks for reading!

New 3.8% Tax scare

New tax on home sale profits-

Just to clarify something you may have heard or received in an email about.

There has been talk about a 3.8% tax on any profit made on a home sale which was hidden in the recent health bill. For example, if someone sold their home for $350,000 and, after closing costs, had a profit of $100,000, $3,800 would go to Uncle Sam. As I understand it, this is NOT true. This tax only applies to any one individual making over $200,000 a year (or $250,000 if filed jointly) and only if that profit exceeds $250,000 (or $500,000 if filed jointly). Any profit made after the initial $250,000 will then be hit with the 3.8%.

So, if a single person that makes $201,000 a year sells a piece of Albuquerque Real Estate and walks with $350,000, he/she will have to pay the $3,800 ($350,000 - $250,000 = $100,000 x 3.8% = $3,800). This is how I understand it. If you need further clarification, please consult your CPA.

This all just seems to be another media scare tactic. If you receive any type of email that you find hard to believe, I suggest researching it before you share it with your friends.

Thanks!!

New Purchase Agreements for Albuquerque Home Sales

Be very care when using The New Mexico 2010 revised Residential purchase agreements! Be very, very, careful!

When I came home Friday night I updated my wife about my day. During the course of this particular day I learned about the new purchase agreement that was placed on the state site for immediate use. At lot has changed. This form places the burden of inspections entirely on the purchaser. (Well, that isn't entirely correct, there is a very small area dedicated to Seller paid inspections).

The buyer is now responsible for not only choosing the inspector (that's ok), but paying for the inspection. Nothing is mentioned about setting up the appointments for the inspectors. It causes me to wonder how this all is going to take place! This really needs to be negotiated clearly on an addendum!

My wife, being the intelligent lady she is, pointed out that many in our industry are probably not even aware of the changes to the purchase agreement and that I needed to be aware as well.

If you purchase a home, condo, or Albuquerque foreclosure, be sure to utilize a Realtor that is updated on the new Purchase Agreement. We would love to help you buy real estate in Albuquerque, New Mexico.

I love my job!

From the mouth of my Babe (er…Wife)

I came home from work last night and asked my wife what she thought the most important item to do was when placing a home on the market. My wife is a nurse by profession but right now she is caring for me and our three young children. She has no real estate experience. The first thing on her list was to verify ownership. I thought that was really a good idea so I quickly made a mental note! Then she said she would measure the house to make sure of the size.

The size of a home is important!  Many times the value is based on the heated square footage of the house.

So what should every buyer do? Have someone measure the house or make the seller verify the size before the buyer closes. Most of the time, it costs less than $75 to have this accomplished.

As a seller, adding a scan of the floorplans to the MLS listing might give an extra thought to a buyer looking at Albuquerque homes for sale.

My wife is really smart, good looking, and I really hope she reads this……

Selling real estate in Albuquerque is great!

I love my job!
***
Posted by Tim :-)

The Albuquerque Lifestyle

Albuquerque - What a place!

Selling Albuquerque real estate is a wonderful job. But certain times of the year it is really cool! Whenever clients come to town to visit our city and purchase their next home, I like to look around to see what events are occurring that we could see. Obviously the balloon fiesta in October is tops on the list, but all during the summer months there are events happening that are really fun!

The Isotopes play all summer and into the fall, and this is a wonderful way to watch some great baseball and enjoy a cold one with a hotdog. It’s the next best thing to watching the pros!

The concerts at the zoo are great for all the ages and occur throughout the summer months. My family enjoys the zoo and all they offer all summer.

My December clients have all been impressed by the luminaria, but the one place they just have to see during Christmas is the Old Town/Albuquerque Country Club Luminaria Walking Tour on Christmas Eve. Christmas is special in our great city.

I have learned a long time ago that I don’t just sell homes; I sell Albuquerque!

I love my job!

Posted by Tim
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Search our Albuquerque MLS

Great places to eat in Albuquerque New Mexico

Last week while showing Albuquerque real estate I was reminded that we are so fortunate to have so many fine places to eat.

My clients and I stopped by Sushi and Sake on Academy NE and Wyoming NE. The service was great and the variety of “specialty rolls” was unbelievable! We were able to socialize, eat, and talk business without interruption.

 
Another great place to take clients for a break during a day of looking for homes for sale in Albuquerque is Papa Nachos on 7648 Louisiana NE. It is a family run Mexican food restaurant with different levels of “heat”. It was an adventure with wonderful results! My out of town clients said it was perfect!


I love my job!
Posted by Tim

The Albuquerque Real Estate Market- What Is It Going To Do?

As a real estate broker in Albuquerque, New Mexico I hear this question or similar questions on a daily basis. My remark is really simple now; “Why do you ask?”

If it is casual conversation they are seeking I can point to many positives that have occurred recently; low rates, steady sales, the focus on reviving sales nationwide. If it’s conversation that feeds the negative beast I simply do not engage.

But if the person asking the question tells me they need to sell or buy a home I always give them words of encouragement. The market is what it is. Who knows, this could be the new norm! I try to discover their needs, offer real life solutions, and hopefully they will feel comfortable enough to allow me the opportunity to find them a home in Albuquerque, and be the real estate broker to help them realize their real estate dreams.

I love my job!

Posted by Tim Fish

Snake, Rattle, and Roll in Albuquerque

American International Rattlesnake Museum

One of Albuquerque's unusual attractions sits on the edge of its famous Old Town. The American International Rattlesnake Museum may not attract some folks, but 50,000 plus people a year seem to be drawn to get up front and personal with the museum's scaly residents.

Bob Myers opened his museum almost 20 years ago, and says rattlesnakes have earned an inaccurate reputation for being agressive. He says most rattlers will avoid people and will only strike if cornered or threatened.

There usually are around 34 rattlers on display at the museum, which is home to a number of rare species like a striped western diamondback rescued from a rattlesnake roundup and a viritrox, which is a cross between a prairie rattlesnake and a diamondback. There are also a number of non-rattlers, like the tri-colored Arizona king snake and a striking (no pun intended) white Texas rat snake - not to mention a number of New Mexico natives that don't fall into the snake category, like a friendly faced Gila monster named Mollie and a whiptail lizard.

The Rattlesnake Museum has a gift shop, and all kinds of displays full of reptile-related artifacts like snake-oil bottles and such. If you are one of the few who like snakes, or are just curious about our rattling residents, it's an interesting way to spend a day with the kids.

American International Rattlesnake Museum

202 San Felipe NW  Suite A
Albuquerque, New Mexico  87104
(505) 242-6569
www.rattlesnakes.com

SEPTEMBER-MAY HOURS

Monday-Friday...11:30am to 5:30pm
Saturday...10am-6pm
Sunday...1pm-5pm
(School Groups...Mon-Fri...10-11:30am)

SUMMER HOURS
Monday-Saturday...10am-6pm
Sunday...1pm-5pm
Closed Major Holidays, Field Trips and Animal Rescues

Kids $3 • Adults $5 • Seniors, Military, Students $4
###
We're experts about our city, from attractions to Albuquerque Real Estate!

Great News for Members of the Military, Foreign Services, and the Intelligence Community!

Congress has acknowledged circumstances for members of the military, foreign service and the intelligence community that extend both the $8,000 tax credit for first time homebuyers and the $6,500 for qualified repeat buyers!  If you're looking for a home at Kirland AFB, this can help.

Normally, homes that are resold or that cease to be used as a principal residence within three years of the initial purchase are subject to recapture of the tax credit. However, qualified service members who sell or move from a tax credit home within the three years of the initial purchase due to Official Extended Duty may be exempt from the recapture rule.

Additionally, for qualified service members who are ordered on a period of extended duty, the deadlines are extended from April 30, 2010 to April 30, 2011 and closed by June 30, 2011! Official extended duty means any period of extended duty outside the United States for at least 90 days between December 31, 2008 and ending before May 1, 2010.

So, if you're in the military, foreign service, or intelligence community, and you were on official extended duty for missions outside the United States for 90 days or more beginning December 31, 2008 and ending May 1, 2010 you may be able to take advantage of the extended Tax credits of $8,500 or $6,500.

Visit our website and look through the Albuquerque MLS, or just learn about the different neighborhoods.  We can help you with every facet of your home buying experience!

6 Tips to Improve Your Home's Sales Appeal

From Southern Living

We've all heard the advice about staging your home's interior to make it warmer - much of buying a home is based on the emotions of the buyer. A recent article on MyHomeIdeas.com listed some quick and easy ideas for sprucing up the entrance of your home. Every small spruce-up helps to add more money when you sell, and a little bit of effort on your part may get that contract in your hands sooner!

1. Trim your shrubbery and add new ones to help with overall yard appeal.
2. Add shutters to the windows. Don't buy cheap plastic ones, either. Toss just a few more dollars in the purchase and get wooden ones. Nice coordinated shutters dress up any home!
3. Build a window box. Whether under a window or complimenting your new shutters, nothing adds to the beauty of a home more than a huge window box bursting with gorgeous blooming plants. Be sure to make plenty of drain holes in the bottom so the water doesn't collect and drown the plants.
4. Add potted plants around the home's entrance. Inexpensive pots that match your trim is the key, and the placement counts too. Keep the plants in the walkspace low and out of the foot path. Place larger plants on the ground near the steps to accentuate the home's entrance.
5. Add dark mulch or pine needles to cover the bare spots around the plants and shrubs.
6. Fertilize, patch spots with turf, water more, and make your grass green and healthy. Be sure to keep it freshly mowed for the most inviting look and smell!

Just a little bit of extra effort can make your home look like a showplace, and get it sold faster. Ask us for more tips on dressing up your Albuquerque home for sale! We've got 35 years of experience in selling real estate in Albuquerque NM.    ~Tim Fish

Albuquerque Real Estate News!

Albuquerque Real Estate Sales are on the rise!

In March the local area housing market saw significant increases in home sales! There were 634 residential inits in March 2010 which represented a 36% increase over the same month in 2009! Additionally there were 1,077 sales placed under contract in March 2010 which represented an incredible increase of 44% over March of 2009! This was the highest number of pending sales since June 2007!

The median price dropped about 5% from $184,500 in March of 2009 to $175,000 for March of this year. The average price dropped slightly to $211,049.

The number of homes cureently on the market is down 4.7% from this time last year!

The market is brisk! Buyers are in the marketplace and sellers are selling. With today's interest rates this is nothing but good news for all involved!

Did you know that The Albuquerque Real Estate Group can place your home in the Coldwell Banker Legacy Welcome Home Magazine every month until it sells? Well, we can and we will!

Visit us at TheAlbuquerqueRealEstateGroup.com and search the Albuquerque MLS!

Albuquerque Homes May Be Saved By Reductions in Mortgage Balances

In the newest attempt to stem foreclosures in Albuquerque and elsewhere in the country, Bank of America has announced that it will reduce the balance on some mortgages that owe more than the current market value.

In example some homes that sold for $200,000 during the housing boom may now be worth more like $150,000, encouraging homeowners to toss in their lost down payments and walk away in disgust. Bank of America says it will "forgive" some principal balances up to a maximum of $30,000, providing the homeowner is underwater at least 120%, or owes 20% more than the home is worth.

Since Bank of America bought Countrywide Home Loans in 2008, this has the potential to help a large number of Americans to keep their homes and hopefully prevent another flood of foreclosures as more of the negative-amortization and adjustable rate mortgages with baloons become due.

Here is how the program will work for an eligble mortgagee:

The bank will create a separate, interest-free "forebearance" account that covers a five year period. The $50,000 overage goes into this temporary account, and your new mortgage is based on $150,000 instead of $200,000. In some cases the interest rate can be reduced as well, resulting in much lower payments.

During the first year, if the homeowner makes the new, reduced payments on time, the bank will "forgive" $10,000 of the overage.

The second year, providing the house is still in an underwater condition, another $10,000 will be dropped.

The third year brings the same, providing the homeowner is continuing to make timely payments and the house is still over-mortgaged. This brings the amount "forgiven" to $30,000.00.

During the fourth and fifth years, your situation would be re-evaluated, and if you still benefitted from the reduced payments, they could remain the same. However, if the house has appreciated, or your principal balance is now under 100%, no more would be forgiven for that year. If home prices have not gone up and your mortgage is still more than the market value, they may elect to forgive $10,000 more these final two years until the total overage of $50,000 is met.

On certain negative-amortization mortgages, the bank may forgive the principal amount down to a 95% loan to value level as well.

Wells Fargo has also announced similar plans to reduce negative equity balances, and the Obama Administration has announced measures aimed at getting lenders to reduce underwater borrowers' principal balances and refinance their mortgages into government-sponsored loans. Government programs could affect loan modifications offered by many other banks and mortgage companies.

With these programs coming into effect, the prices of Albuquerque homes for sale will hopefully stabilize and our real estate market will bounce back sooner instead of later.

If you are a homeowner currently facing this situation, be sure to contact your mortgage company and find out your options before you decide to walk away from the home that you love.

If you are a buyer looking for a home in Albuquerque, there is no better time to buy than right now. Use our website to search the Albuquerque MLS and find just the one for you. 

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Free WIFI on Albuquerque's Rail Runner Express

One of fun things about making your home in Albuquerque is the Rail Runner Express shuttle bus. Getting to the Albuquerque Airport is a snap with the Rail Runner, whether you take Route 350 from north of downtown, Route 222 from south of downtown, or the single Saturday Route 50.

Ride to the Santa Fe Depot, the Kewa Pueblo for a little casino action, downtown Bernalillo, or several other destinations in New Mexico's attempt to go green and eliminate a few cars on the road.. And now you can work (or play) while you ride with the free WIFI on the train. For the last several months, only a 50 chosen participants had been given access to test the system. As of April 5, 2010, the final test phase is being opened to all passengers for the next 90-days to work out any remaining bugs in the system.

Quite the "Google-esque" thing to do, don't you agree?

Check the schedules and full information about times and stops from their website at www.nmrailrunner.com. Our city offers more reasons every day to own real estate in Albuquerque, NM. Downtown Albuquerque condos offer more and more in lifestyle amenities and conveniences and there's always plenty of land for new homes in Albquerque too. Let us show you around town and convince you we've got the best city in the west!

The website offers the following instructions for connecting on the shuttles:

How to connect on the NM Rail Runner Express:

1. Turn on your device
2. Check for a list of available Wi-Fi networks
3. Select or connect to NMRX (SSID or Service Set Identifier that will appear in list of available networks)
4. Open your browser and you will be redirected to the NM Rail Runner portal page.
5. Click on “accept” to accept the terms of using the service and you will be allowed into the free internet.

 Remember this is a free service and is not password protected. Never perform any data-sensitive transactions such as banking while accessing the internet on an unprotected network. 

Albuquerque Mayor Promotes Bicycle Safety

Mayor Richard Berry has adopted a new bicycle safety campaign called "Easy to Miss". The campaign, which includes a new website, billboards, mall and airport displays aims to raise awareness of drivers who share the roads with cyclists.

According to statistics, more than 100 bikers in Albuquerque are killed each year from accidents involving motorists who didn't see them until it was too late.

As recently as last June, mother and biking enthusiast Heather Reu was killed after being struck by a car. She left behind four small children and grieving friends, who came up with the idea for the campaign. Reu worked for a marketing company that partnered with the mayor to produce the billboards and website.

One of the billboards is designed to demonstrate how hard it is to see a bicycle until you are almost upon it...a picture on the sign has a biker that doesn't show until seen at a certain angle as a car begins to pass.

Bicycles are popular in our city, particularly in the neighborhoods and homes near Albuquerque's UNM campus. The campaign sponsors hope to make drivers in the University area more careful and on the alert.

Also in the works are more bicycle lanes throughout the city. Mayor Berry encourages bicycling and bike lanes, according to Chris Ramirez, City of Albuquerque communications director. He considers it a quality of life issue and wants Albuquerque residents to feel safer and enjoy biking. The website offers answers to questions of driving laws and safety tips for drivers and bikers.

Having a fun and healthy neighborhood for biking is often a deciding factor for our buyers looking for Albuquerque homes for sale. If you are interested in property near UNM or in a bike-friendly area, call us, or use our free Albuquerque MLS search!

Albuquerque Home For Sale by Owner - Will it really sell?

"FSBO" (pronounced fizz-bo).

This is a four-letter word for most Realtors, but not for the reasons most consumers might think. Many agents will look past a FSBO and pretend it doesn't exist when they are searching for homes to show a buyer. I've heard it referred to as "kinda like the obnoxious relative you see out with your friends and hope they go away before someone makes the connection". Beyond the obvious reason of commissions, why would a Realtor avoid the pitfalls of helping a buyer to purchase a FSBO? Glad you asked!

Despite the fact that an owner sponsored listing might be a bargain, an agent becomes twice as liable for legal and other problems. Also, a seller being represented by a professional Realtor is more willing to pay for inspections, repairs, and even closing costs. Those are major negotiating points, after all.

O.K., let's just pretend that you want to buy a FSBO home without a Realtor. You would save 6%, right? That's $12,000 on the average price of a home for sale in Albuquerque. Start with this...would you feel comfortable taking the seller's word on the condition of the home?

Do you consider yourself as a professional negotiator?  This isn't a car you're buying,  It's a HOUSE... the most expensive investment that most people make in their lives.

"But I have done it in the past.", you say. Neat. You can negotiate with this stranger all by yourself and save the commission dollars. So...do you know all the new rules regarding tax levy disclosure? FIRPTA? Septic and well regulations? Does the seller know them? Do you trust him well enough to take this chance?

Who do you call for inspections?  Do you have an escrow officer at a trusted title company?  Do you have a mortgage officer? Is that mortgage officer up to date with all the new government regulations?  These are the things you have to consider with an Albuquerque home for sale by owner.

And the appeal of SELLING your home by yourself is definitely tempting. Realtors understand this. But how much are you going to save selling a product that basically repels the main group of people (Realtors) that represent the one group of people (qualified buyers) that you want your property exposed to?

The statistics speak for themselves: 92% of For Sale By Owner transactions FAIL - this is according to the Nation Association of Realtors.

If I was feeling that lucky, I would go put my 6-3% "savings" on red or black at my local roulette table. My odds would increase 6.25 times. It would make much more sense...and maybe I would make enough money to pay a real plumber to fix that faucet I've tried to fix myself that continues to drip, drip, drip all the time...:-)

### ~Tim Fish

Visit our website and see our FREE Albuquerque MLS Search.
We are Albuquerque Real Estate Experts!

Albuquerque Job Market is Expanding

We happened to run across a new job listing in careerbuilder.com for Greyhound Bus Drivers in Albuquerque. That's kind of an ususual job that many folks might not think of on their own, but it looks to be a good one.

Greyhound was founded in 1914, according to their short bio. They provide not only passenger bus transportation, but also accept express package delivery and charter services.

Drivers (or Greyhound Motorcoach Operators, as they list the official job position) are expected to possess safe driving practices, the ability to be on schedule at all times, to excel in customer service, and be dependable and professional.

Requirements of the job include: professional dress, the ability to lift baggage and packages of up to 100 lbs, be on-call 24/7, and be away from home for stretches of three or more days when necessary. You would also have to be proficient enough with reports to do passenger counts, driving logs, and safety inspections. (They would love you to speak Spanish, but it's not a requirement!)

More job specifications include:

• Be at least 22 years of age
• Have a valid driver’s license
• Minimum of three (3) year’s driving experience (Commercial or private)
• Have a good character and positive work history
• Consent to a background check and alcohol/drug screen
• Pass a background check (MVR, Criminal Extended Employment Verification).

Your driving record must:

• Have no more than two (2) moving convictions/accidents in the past three (3) years.
• Have no more than three (3) moving convictions/accidents in the past five (5) years) (Speeding, tailgating, etc.)
• Have no license suspensions in the past ten years (Suspensions for physicals, insurance lapses, failure to pay fine and failure to appear are exempt under the ten-year rule)
• Have NO driving convictions related to alcohol or illegal drugs.

****
 This could be a unique new career path for our young people, or even pre- or post-retirees. An Albuquerque relocation is proving to be a very good choice as our economy tries to pull out of its problems and make a comeback. When you are ready to find a home, use our website to search the Albuquerque MLS, and then give us a call. With over 35 years of experience, we are Albuquerque real estate experts, and we look forward to helping you!
 

Living in Albuquerque- Balloon Festival Event

On March 7, the Albuquerque Balloon Museum will host one of its best exhibits - The Open House Sky Sailing.

Visitors will thrill to hang gliding and paragliding demonstrations, including an acrobatic paragliding act by the Ozone Team, as well as 12 ft walking puppets, remote controlled flight demonstrations, and model gliders.

The Museum's open house will feature an Olympus 180 hang glider and a giant sailplane with wingspans of 50 ft. These aircraft will be hanging in the Museum Gallery.

The concept of wind flight will be explored, from the aircraft to nature's own wind machines - birds, squirrels...and even amphibians.

This is a great free exhibition that the whole family will enjoy. Come and learn about Albuquerque's special wind currents, and then drive around afterwards and check out what Albuquerque real estate has to offer these days!

The exhibition is on March 7, 2010, from 11-3pm.

Albuquerque Balloon Museum
9201 Balloon Museum Dr. NE
Albuquerque, N.M. 87113
505-880-0500
I-25 (exit 233), west on Alameda
Google Map and Directions

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Home Staging for Albuquerque Real Estate Sales

From Ambiance Home Staging & Interior Design, LLC

You've decided on your price, listed your home on the Albuquerque MLS, and now you wait to find a buyer. Whether a home is lived in or vacant, it will benefit from "staging" before being placed on the market. When a family has lived in a home for awhile, they are so used to it that they can't see some of the problems. A fresh set of eyes (or, in the case of Ambiance, TWO sets of professional fresh eyes!) can quickly spot things that might be a deterrent to a quick sale. Sometimes it is a need to remove clutter, freshen up things such as bedding, re-arrange furniture and wall hangings to better show off the space, etc.

Out latest staging was this week in a beautiful large expensive home in Albuquerque. It is a gorgeous home with almost no clutter and just the right amount of furniture. However, there were almost no accessories, ambient lighting or accoutrements to soften up the space and make it look comfortable and livable. Being super bargain shoppers, we were able to purchase just a few things such as new bedding, pillows, throws, lamps, candles, etc. which made a world of difference in this space. The homeowner had no time, interest or knowledge of what was needed and welcomed our shopping service.

Check out our website below and look at the Facebook page at the bottom for before and after photos of this job. (Or, go directly to Facebook and search for Ambiance Home Staging and Interior Redesign. Our website also features a before/after gallery of other Albuquerque interior redesign we've done!)

A vacant house offers different challenges. We bring in just enough furniture and lots of accessories to set up interesting pockets of interest, or "vignettes" to bring the rooms alive and interesting. It is a proven fact that potential buyers will spend more time in a staged home than one that is vacant. We direct the buyers eyes toward the home's interesting features and provide a sense that the house would be nice to live in. Ambiance brings in all the furniture, accessories and any props necessary to accomplish this goal. For the reasonable cost of our service, the client gets our expertise, information concerning any other things that should be done to the home/property, staging materials and their set-up for a period of 90 days.

After that period, if the house is still on the market, our staging props may be retained on a month-to-month basis for a small fee. The client/homeowner is responsible for our materials while in the home, but we only had a problem once where a house was broken into. Fortunately, the owner had homeowner's insurance, which covered our stuff, as well as the appliances, etc. that were taken! (We, of course, carry general business liability insurance.)

If you are thinking about putting your Albuquerque home on the market, call Ambiance Home Staging and Interior Redesign, LLC first! Carefully staged homes will sell faster, get more Realtor traffic and will usually be priced higher than those that are not staged. Our service is a small price to pay to have your home look its best for potential buyers! Check out our Albuquerque Home Staging Website at www.NMAmbiance.com and call us for a quote or consultation!

Of Fish Men and Men Who Fish...

It was in the north western part in NM on a ranch called Vermejo Park, owned by Ted Turner. The very first thing we saw when entering the park was a herd of Elk.  I rolled down my window and actually heard them bugling, which I guess is pretty rare.

We kept driving toward the main lodge and then saw a herd of deer. When we pulled up to the lodge we got out of the car and immediately entered the wrong building - and I'm glad we did. The building we entered was Ted Turner's personal lodge and it looked like something you would find in Europe. The ceilings were high and arched with amazing detail and in every corner was a some kind of stuffed animal...even a lion!  I could go into much more detail, but just imagine rich wood and marble everywhere.

When we finally figured out we were in the wrong building, we went to check into the right one. It also was impressive. Very clean and massive logs made this lodge. Jumping forward about two hours, we went to the "Fish House" and got a few coolers - one for drinks and one for fish - then headed to the lakes...

We finally found the lake we wanted to fish, and the very first thing we saw were two bears drinking from the lake. The lake was situated in the middle of a open, grassy area and about 100-200 yard away were pine trees. The view from the lakes was the Colorado mountains. It felt like we stepped right into some sportsman's magazine.

The rest of the day was amazing. We caught several FAT trout and the weather couldn't have been more perfect. One of the men fishing with us was a very good friend of my father's (and mine), Jim Padon, who was suffering from terminal brain cancer.  This was one of his wishes - to finally fish the legendary Vermjo Park.  I feel very fortunate to have spent that time with my father and Jim. Jim passed away several months later.

I will never forget those couple of days and will some day take my sons (and daughter if she wants to go).

A memory as told by Tim Fish. Photos are: Top - Father Dennis with one of those "fat trout", and Middle - Tim and his prize trout
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Visit our Albuquerque real estate mls website and let our 30 plus years of experience help you find your dream home in Albuquerque, NM.

Investing in Albuquerque Real Estate

Why real estate? Well I like it because:

I can buy it leveraged. Instead of paying dollar for dollar as with stock, I can usually purchase a rental home in Albuquerque with 30 % or down, or less - depending on the financing.

Real estate in Albuquerque typically appreciates, while also providing excellent tax advantages for me. Currently, I can deduct interest, property taxes, and improvements.

When I decide to dispose of the real estate I may postpone the taxes owed by exchanging. If I must sell the property outright I may be able to spread the tax liability out over a period of time depending on the terms of sale.

I know what you're thinking - the real estate market is down!

I don't purchase real property for the short term, I buy it for the long haul.

I am confident that just as the value of real property has decreased over the last several years, the value of homes and condos in Albuquerque will increase once again.

So today I am looking to acquire additional property. It just fits my investment strategy, along with stocks and mutual funds. And there are some bargains out there!

Visit our website and browse through the Albuquerque MLS.

Let us help you get started on your road to real estate investing.

Posted by Dennis Fish, The Albuquerque Real Estate Group