Federal Reserve Alerts Home Owners to Questionable Solicitations The Federal Reserve has distributed the following notice. “The Federal Reserve received complaints from recipients of direct mail solicitations that suggest there is a ‘Community Reinvestment Act (CRA) program’ that entitles certain homeowners to cash grants or equity disbursements. Some of these solicitations may be read to indicate that the Federal Reserve endorses or supports the offers they contain. These solicitations appear to be a deceptive effort to encourage consumers to apply for a mortgage loan secured by the consumer’s home. The Federal Reserve cautions the public about loan solicitations or other offers from lenders or mortgage brokers that offer consumers cash grants or equity disbursements as part of a ‘CRA Program.’ No such federal programs exist and these programs are not required by the CRA, which encourages depository institutions to help meet the credit needs of their communities, including low- ...

The West's best cities by the slopesWhy rush to the runs? These four ski-area gateways provide a delightful excuse to stop--and avoid the crowdsBy Dan LeethSpecial to the TribunePublished February 11, 2007 ALBUQUERQUEAn Old Town--and its spicy flavorsIn a land better known for salsa than snow, Albuquerque provides a spicy transition from chili powder to chilly powder.Where to stay:Check out Old Town, the historic center of the city. Footloose romantics will enjoy the Hotel Albuquerque (800-237-2133; www.hhandr.com/alb(underscore)main.php) with its walk-to-everything location.Families can book rooms at the nearby Best Western Rio Grande Inn (800-959-4726; www.riograndeinn.com). Those in a quest for style should try the Hyatt Regency downtown (505-842-1234; www.albuquerque.hyatt.com), 2 miles from Old Town.Where to feast on regional fareRed or green? The official New Mexico state question refers to the flavor of chili smothering the local fare, and either can pack a mouth-warming wa...

Mayor Martin Chavez just passed an ordinance "no cell phone talking in your car without hands free device"....I'm all for this! Too many close calls when someone has one hand on the phone and one hand on the wheel, or sometimes not on the wheel! I wish I was in the cell phone accessory business today!

Posted: 2/8/2007 9:56:00 AM Albuquerque buffed, fitness magazine says Source: AP ALBUQUERQUE -- Albuquerque had been listed as the fittest city in the United States in this month's issue of Men's Fitness magazine. That's up from the city's 13th-place showing last year. Albuquerque Mayor Martin Chávez said the city has a lot of options to keep people fit -- everything from gyms to hiking and biking. The magazine's nonscientific survey lists Seattle as the No. 2 fittest city, followed by Colorado Springs and Minneapolis. The magazine labels Las Vegas, Nevada, as the fattest city, followed by San Antonio, Texas; Miami; and Mesa, Arizona.

International Science Fair Comes to Albuquerque Judges and volunteers needed The University of New Mexico is a major sponsor for “Creating a New Element,” the theme of the 2007 Intel International Science and Engineering Fair, to be held in Albuquerque May 13-19. Events will take place at the Albuquerque Convention Center and Expo New Mexico. The weeklong event is the world’s largest pre-college annual science celebration. This event brings approximately 1,500 high school student finalists from more than 47 countries, regions and territories to compete for more than $4 million in scholarships, tuition grants, internships, scientific field trips and three grand prizes of $50,000 college scholarships. Student competitors or finalists compete for more than $4 million in scholarships and prizes during the fair. Major universities, government agencies, military branches and businesses come to recruit from the best pool of pre-college brains in the world. The event requires 1,200 judges a...

By ASSOCIATED PRESSJanuary 15, 2007 ALBUQUERQUE (AP) - The Albuquerque-Bernalillo County Water Utility Authority is trying to recharge the aquifer beneath Albuquerque.The small research project will examine how the area can take advantage of extra water that can be saved for the future.The $985,000 project, the first of its kind in New Mexico, will divert water from the Rio Grande in the heart of the city into an arroyo, where it will seep into the ground.The study will begin this fall and will use about 1,000 acre-feet of river water. An acre-foot, about 326,000 gallons, can meet the annual water needs of one to two U.S. households.The project will determine how long it takes the water to reach the aquifer and how much of it gets there, said John Stomp, manager of the city-county water utility.The idea of storing some water in the aquifer is part of the utility's long-range plan."Aquifer storage and recovery is going to be a big benefit to the state of New Mexico," Stomp...

When I first started running I just hated it, which is why I started doing it. Kind of like everything I do, I take on the thing I don't like doing and do it if it sounds like it's a good idea. Real estate, too - and believe it or not COMPUTERS! That's a whole other story, but believe it or not, I was the 'least likely people' to get involved with technology. I started "running" a few steps after walking awhile. Pretty soon I realized I was running more than walking; then I was into keeping track of distance; then miles, then I was running marathons. I did quite a few, and those days are not now, but I still run/walk/get out - just because it feels good. I haven't run double digits for quite awhile, but that's my goal for this year is to start putting in 10-12 miles once in awhile, just because I love the way that feels. I used to struggle through real estate by realizing it was a lot like running - one step at a time; some days feel better than o...

The most recent CNN story referenced a list of housing areas that would be on the decline in the next year - well Albuquerque was NOT one of them! You can see, we are forecast to be on top for yet another year!

Published: 08.06.2006 Orbitz: Albuquerque will be a hot spot soon By Erik Siemers SCRIPPS HOWARD NEWS SERVICE World travelers, take note: Albuquerque should be on your list of must-see places. And don't forget Iceland. That's the advice offered by travel experts from the online travel agency Orbitz, who predict that Albuquerque will become a top destination in the next five years, along with Reykjavik, Iceland; New Orleans; Shanghai, China; and Cape Town, South Africa. Happy mayor It's another list that's got Albuquerque Mayor Martin Chavez cooing. "The old days of people coming to Albuquerque only as a means of getting to Santa Fe really will be done over the next five years," Chavez said. "It doesn't mean people won't still go to Santa Fe, but it will be a day trip away from their stay in Albuquerque." A marketing dream Albuquerque's standing on prominent national lists has become a marketing dream come true for the city. Albuquerque...

New Mexico Business Weekly - 5:25 PM MDT Wednesday Online travel site Orbitz has named Albuquerque as one of the top five future tourist destination hot spots. Albuquerque made the list along with Reykjavik, Iceland; New Orleans; Cape Town, South Africa; and Shanghai, China. However, it did miss Orbitz's list of top five domestic and international destinations during the past five years. Topping that list was Chicago, London, Las Vegas and Cancun, Mexico. Albuquerque was cited for its "hot climate and variety of world class resorts rising in the area," according to an Orbitz release. The International Balloon Fiesta was also cited as a must-see attraction, as well as the Indian Pueblo Cultural Center and Old Town's San Felipe de Neri Church. Orbitz is the third largest online travel company that offers a wide variety of travel products, including airline tickets, lodging, rental cars, cruises and vacation packages. It launched its Web site, www.orbitz.com , in Ju...

The Albuquerque Tribune By Erik Siemers Tribune ReporterJuly 24, 2006 A Hollywood studio unveiled plans this morning to build a 50-acre film production campus at Mesa del Sol that could employ up to 2,000 people. Culver Studios of Culver City, Calif., began work last week on what they're calling Albuquerque Studios: a full-service site for film, TV, music videos, commercials and digital media processing. (Pacifica Ventures via U.S. Newswire) "Most of the movies that are not made in Hollywood are made in Canada," Nick Smerigan, executive director of Albuquerque Studios and a managing director with Pacifica Ventures, owners of Culver Studios, said in a news release. "This facility will bring a significant number of these productions, and the jobs that go with them, back to the U.S. where they belong." The studio's owner, Pacifica Ventures, plans an initial $75 million investment in the south Albuquerque development. The company will first have 75 permanent j...

PMBy: Todd Dukart In a city where the average home sells for about $190,000, the cheapest loft in Albuquerque’s oldest skyscraper will cost more than $500,000. Crews are finishing the Banque Lofts inside the old First National Bank building, which was built in 1922. The 27 luxury lofts come with a doorman, valet parking and concierge service, along with a plush interior. “It’s a product that you cannot get anywhere else,” said real-estate agent Alicia Feil with Coldwell Banker Legacy. “It’s time for Albuquerque to have a product like this.” Board of Realtors Director Nancy Kennedy says Albuquerque can support high-end real estate like these luxury lofts. A $1 million loft covers two stories with 2,000 square feet of real estate. That works out to $500 a square foot. Owners say four lofts have been sold, and it should take about a year to sell the rest.

By Associated PressJuly 21, 2006 Posted 1:10 p.m. The Westland Development Corp. board of directors has accepted a California development company's offer to buy 55,000 acres of Westland property on the West Side for more than $250 million. The deal, which is subject to approval by Westland shareholders, involves land given to Spanish settlers in the early 1700s as the Atrisco Land Grant. The land grant was incorporated in 1967 into Westland Development, which manages the land holdings for thousands of heirs. Westland announced the agreement with SunCal Companies of Irvine, Calif., on Thursday. Steve Greyshock, a spokesman for SunCal, said the company is interested in developing housing on the Westland property. A special shareholders' meeting to vote on the sale is expected before September. Westland has 794,927 shares, each of which counts toward a vote. Two-thirds of the votes must favor a sale for it to go through. James Aranda of Concerned Heirs of Atrisco said his group ...

Wednesday, July 19, 2006 Clara Garcia News-Bulletin Staff Writer; cgarcia@news-bulletin.com Looking for a home in Valencia County? You'll probably be paying more than $100,000. According to the Southwest Multiple Listing Service (MLS), there were 748 homes sold in Valencia County in 2005 at an average sale price of $154,880. In 2004, 655 homes sold at an average of $133,504. These figures do not include new houses being sold by builders or homes sold directly by homeowners. There are still bargains available, especially if you're willing to live a little farther from the freeways heading to Albuquerque. Valencia County's housing market remains steady as home sales and average sale prices increased during June compared to a year ago, according to figures released this week by the Valencia County Board of Realtors. Some 142 previously owned homes sold in the county during June compared to 108 for the same period last year, according to Phyllis Laureta, president of the Val...

Eminent Domain Limited in Rio Rancho The Rio Rancho City Council recently voted to pass restrictions against seizing residential homes or commercial businesses for redevelopment. The city has used eminent domain to seize property at least twice in the last two years and attempted a third time in February 2006, but failed after meeting strong resistance from property owners. Opponents call the process a political tool to coerce property owners and reward developers. Read the full story about the council’s unanimous vote in New Mexico Business Weekly. ****************************

Good News for New Mexico Schools New Mexico has received more than $12 million from the US Education Department to increase the number of charter schools in the state, the Associated Press reports. The funds will be made available over the next three years to plan, design, and create the new charter schools. State Public Education Secretary Veronica Garcia says 90 percent of the federal money will go to charter schools in the form of planning and implementation grants. The state agency also will work to improve the approval process for charter schools and make sure that parents and students are informed about charter school options. Read NAR’s look at the effect of charter schools on neighborhood quality of life.

By Amy Wolff Sorter WWW.GLOBEST.COM Tonjes ALBUQERQUE- With its state motto being "the Land of Enchantment," New Mexico conjures up images of sprawling vistas and colorful buttes with a river thrown in here and there. What it might not conjure up, however, is a growing population with a booming residential and commercial development in its wake. New Mexico in general and Albuquerque in particular have entered the business and real estate consciousness as a strong location for growth and development. Sandia National Laboratories, under its Microsystems and Engineering Sciences Application project, is developing a 400,000-sf spread in three buildings, valued at approximately $500 million. Intel Corp. is undergoing a $750-million upgrade of its campus. And just south of the city, the 12,900-acre Mesa del Sol, under the development of the Forest City Covington NM LLC, is taking shape as one of the largest master-planned developments in the US. Vacant land on the west side is ...

Rail Runner to begin abbreviated route Last Update: 06/28/2006 10:13:00 AMBy: Reed Upton The Middle Rio Grande’s commuter rail line is within weeks of beginning service, but it will have fewer stops than it will when full service begins. On July 14th the Rail Runner will begin offering service from downtown Albuquerque to Bernalillo with stops at Alvarado Station, Paseo del Norte and US 550 in Bernalillo. Missing will be stops in downtown Bernalillo, Los Lunas and Belen. “I would have preferred to have the whole corridor in place,” said executive director Lawrence Rael, “but construction schedules being what they are, negotiations with the Burlington Northern (railway) did not occur as quickly as we would have liked.” Officials estimate the train will make the run from downtown Albuquerque to northern Bernalillo in 18 minutes. When the trains initially begin running there will be no charge. Come October, a one-way trip aboard the Rail Runner will cost $2.

Report says Albuquerque hotels a bargain this summer New Mexico Business Weekly - 2:18 PM MDT Wednesday Albuquerque will have some of the lowest hotel rates in the nation this summer, according to a report by PKF Hospitality Research . The average room rate in Albuquerque will be about $67.95, according to the summer edition of Hotel Outlook by PKF and Torto Wheaton Research . This puts the Duke City behind markets such as Tucson, Ariz. and Columbus and Dayton, Ohio. New York will have the highest average room rate at $200.28, followed by Honolulu and San Francisco. Overall across the country, hotel rooms will be harder to find compared to last year and travelers will pay more for these rooms, according to the report. "Given the increasingly sophisticated yield management practices within the hotel industry, the high occupancy rates are enabling managers to more aggressively quote the highest room rates," said Mark Woodworth, president of PKF, based in Atlanta. That's...

Cashing in on the last of the hot spots. Spotlight: Albuquerque Keep your head during a boom and you'll keep more of your gains over the long run. By Amanda Gengler, MONEY Magazine reporter May 17, 2006: 4:27 PM EDT NEW YORK (MONEY Magazine) - In early spring a TV news report on KASA Channel 2 in Albuquerque noted that the housing market nationwide was slowing down, with mortgage rates and inventory rising and demand slackening. "Now with all that said, by all accounts here in New Mexico things are still red hot," quipped Greg Zanetti, a local financial adviser. "But we are usually a little behind national trends." The Archibeck family economized when renovating their 1961 Albuquerque home, maximizing their return on investment. Indeed, Albuquerque missed much of the great bull market in houses. Between 2000 and 2004, median prices appreciated no more than 5% a year. But as other sunbelt cities are cooling, Albuquerque has started sizzling. Call it the rollin...