Everything is changing in our lives, and the real estate market is no exception. They way buyers work with agents, lenders, and all of the people involved in buying a home in Albuquerque are changing to the virtual world. But through it all, one thing is not changing: the need for people to buy homes. Buying a home can drive the local economy here in Albuquerque.

Everyone is being affected differently by the effects of this virus on the economy. If you're in a position to buy a home, you are a major economic force in your neighborhood in Albuquerque. Even though we don't know how long it will take for this pandemic to pass, there are still things right now to keep your search for a new home in Albuquerque going.

Every year the National Association of Realtors (NAR) shares a report that notes the full economic impact of home sales. This report makes the following statement:

“The total economic impact of real estate related industries on the state economy, as well as the expenditures that result from a single home sale, including aspects like home construction costs, real estate brokerage, mortgage lending and title insurance.”

That means that when you buy a home in Albuquerque, you make an impact on the local economy. While it fulfills your need for a having a roof over your head, it also generates income for appraisers, loan officers, the title company, your real estate agent, and anyone else who contributes to the process of buying a home. These people also have teams that they work with that benefit from the purchase. And when you buy a new construction home, that impact almost doubles. According that same report, the economic impact of a home sale in New Mexico is $66,912. That's a lot of people in Albuquerque who benefit from just one home sale.

When you buy a home in Albuquerque, you become an economic driver. Even if you're not ready to buy a home right now, there are things you can do to keep your own process moving forward so you’re set when the time is right for you. Contact us today to keep your home buying process on track.

Join us twice a week on our blog for more real estate advice and great reasons to buy a home in Albuquerque and the surrounding area. Follow us on Facebook for the latest Albuquerque real estate updates. Looking for the perfect home for sale in Albuquerque? Our easy-to-use home search tool can help you start the process. Contact us today to help you buy or sell your next home in Albuquerque.

HOT HOME LISTING OF THE WEEK!

5910 HANNETT Avenue NE, Albuquerque, NM 87110  $208,000

3 Bedrooms / 2 Bathrooms (1 full, 1 half) / 1885 Square Feet

Terrific location close to Uptown, shopping, dining, parks, UNM! 3BDR/2BA/1CG! Versatile floor plan with 3 living spaces; combined living & dining space, separate hobby/office/bdr, plus large family room/den with cozy wood fireplace. NEW ROOF (2017-1018) Updated furnace (2017) Newer water heater! Lots of light, skylights, ceiling fans, separate utility room! Kitchen features new gas stove, lots of cabinets, tile floor, breakfast bar and is open to the dining room. Outdoor living space with covered patio and walled for privacy and storage shed.

Contact the Sandi Pressley team for additional details! 

Get your Morning Inspiration with the Sandi Pressley Team

Since we all need to stay away from each other for a while, one great way to cope with this new reality is to get outside and exercise. And the great thing about Albuquerque is that we have many great trails to help us stay healthy and away from other people for a while. The beauty of these trails will help you reduce stress as well. What better way to spend your time?

Here are some great trails in the Albuquerque area for you to explore.

Sandia Foothills Open Space

The Sandia Foothills Open Space contains approximately 2,650 acres of steep sloped hills intersected by gravelly drainages at the base of the Sandia Mountains. Trailheads provide access to the Foothills trails as well as the Sandia Mountain Wilderness Area, managed by the US Forest Service. Recreational opportunities include hiking, horseback riding and mountain biking. Foothills overview map.

Rinconada Canyon Trail

7601 St Josephs Ave, Albuquerque, NM 87120

Nice, easy 2.2 mile hike (loop) back into a small canyon. The trail along the base of the north side of the canyon allows you to view a variety of petroglyphs. The escarpment and all the petroglyphs are a little ways back from the trail. At the furthest point, some are right next to the trail. Take water and sunscreen, look for little lizards and rabbits, along with turkey vultures soaring high.

Eye of the Sandias

Eye Of The Sandias Loop Trail is a 6.3 kilometer loop trail located near Albuquerque, New Mexico that offers the chance to see wildlife and is rated as difficult. The trail is primarily used for hiking, running, nature trips, and bird watching and is best used from March until October. The trail leads to a canyon between foothills with trees and shade if you continue going east from the parking area.  Dogs are also welcome on this trail but must be kept on leash.

Boca Negra Canyon

Atrisco Dr NW, Albuquerque, NM 87120

Located off of Unser Boulevard, ¼ mile north of Montaño Road, this canyon provides quick and easy access to three self-guided trails, (Mesa Point, Macaw, and Cliff Base) where you can view approximately 100 petroglyphs.

Piedra Lisa Canyon Trail

13225 Menaul NE, Albuquerque, NM 87111

Piedra Lisa Canyon Trail is a 2 mile out and back trail located near Albuquerque that features beautiful wild flowers and is rated as moderate. 

Michael Emery Trailhead

High Desert St, Albuquerque, NM 87111

Michael M. Emery and Trail 305 Loop is a 3 mile heavily trafficked loop trail located near Albuquerque, New Mexico that features beautiful wild flowers and is good for all skill levels. The trail offers a number of activity options and is accessible year-round. Popular with hikers & mountain bikers, this trail offers rugged scenery, shrubs & diverse wildlife.  

Join us twice a week on our blog for more real estate advice and great reasons to buy a home in Albuquerque and the surrounding area. Follow us on Facebook for the latest Albuquerque real estate updates. Looking for the perfect home for sale in Albuquerque? Our easy-to-use home search tool can help you start the process. Contact us today to help you buy or sell your next home in Albuquerque.

HOT HOME LISTING OF THE WEEK!

12906 ALICE Avenue NE, Albuquerque, NM 87112  $172,000

3 Bedrooms / 2 Bathrooms (1 full, 1 half) / 1443 Square Feet

This wonderful townhome has newer carpet & fresh paint in 2019. Refrigerated Air, Custom Brick fireplace and Banco (hearth). The great room is wonderful for entertaining, and an enclosed atrium opening to kitchen (window) and great room, great for dining or planting. Oversized garage, enclosed courtyard makes this your next home. Close to shopping and fwy. Don't wait!

Contact the Sandi Pressley team for additional details! 

Get your Morning Inspiration with the Sandi Pressley Team

When you buy a home in Albuquerque, the last thing you need to worry about is being scammed. Yet, mortgage scams are an unfortunate reality that has victimized thousands of people. Over 11,000 people reported being scammed when financing a home in 2018 alone. And to make matters worse, scammers are getting more and more creative about how they steal your money. Scammers are also notoriously hard to catch, as many operate outside the country.

Here are two of the main ways that scammers have stolen money from home buyers and how you can protect yourself.

Escrow Wire Fraud

How it happens: Someone sends you an email claiming to be from your title or escrow company. The email contains instructions on where to wire funds. There will usually be a fake website that looks like the real website of your title or lending company. The scammers will use other tactics to deceive you, such as making phone numbers, websites and email addresses appear familiar, but one number or letter is off, which is an easy thing to miss at first glance.

You then follow the instructions and wire the money. Except in this case, the money goes to an offshore account, and the scammers have your money. At this point, there is almost nothing that can be done to get it back, since it's not on American soil.

How to protect yourself: Protecting yourself is simple. If you get any email with instructions on wiring money, ALWAYS call your real estate agent. Never click on email or text links, or send money online, without verifying wire instructions with a live person on the phone from a number that you’ve called and verified.

Also beware of any email or text that requests a change to wiring instructions you already were given. Always confirm the escrow account number before wiring money, and call your settlement agent to verify the transfer of the funds immediately after you’re done.

Loan flipping

How it happens: Loan flipping is when a predatory lender persuades a homeowner to refinance their mortgage repeatedly, often borrowing more money each time. The scammer charges high fees and points with each transaction, and homeowners get stuck with higher loan payments they can’t afford after being duped into borrowing most of their home’s equity.

Seniors with memory impairment are especially vulnerable to these scams because they have significant home equity and may not realize they’re being taken advantage of. Predatory lenders convince homeowners they can help them find a better loan product or use a cash-out refinance to pay for home renovations to make their homes more accessible as they age in place.

How to protect yourself: Elderly homeowners in Albuquerque who have cognitive issues should involve a trusted relative or friend in any key financial discussion, especially about tapping home equity. If you’ve recently completed mortgage refinance, it’s usually not in your best interest to do another transaction right away.

If predatory lenders are actively seeking you out and you haven’t requested their help, that’s another warning sign that something is off. Work only with known banks or lenders, and question all fees and penalties presented to you. Lenders are required to provide loan estimates and closing disclosures that list all fees and third-party costs, so make sure to review these documents carefully, or have a trusted adviser do this.

Join us twice a week on our blog for more real estate advice and great reasons to buy a home in Albuquerque and the surrounding area. Follow us on Facebook for the latest Albuquerque real estate updates. Looking for the perfect home for sale in Albuquerque? Our easy-to-use home search tool can help you start the process. Contact us today to help you buy or sell your next home in Albuquerque.

HOT HOME LISTING OF THE WEEK!

12906 ALICE Avenue NE, Albuquerque, NM 87112  $172,000

3 Bedrooms / 2 Bathrooms (1 full, 1 half) / 1443 Square Feet

This wonderful townhome has newer carpet & fresh paint in 2019. Refrigerated Air, Custom Brick fireplace and Banco (hearth). The great room is wonderful for entertaining, and an enclosed atrium opening to kitchen (window) and great room, great for dining or planting. Oversized garage, enclosed courtyard makes this your next home. Close to shopping and fwy. Don't wait!

Contact the Sandi Pressley team for additional details! 

Get your Morning Inspiration with the Sandi Pressley Team

Get ready to get your green on this weekend and have some good old Irish style fun in Albuquerque. There's a great selection of St Patrick's Day celebrations coming up this week. Here's a few of those events to put on your calendar.

St. Patrick's Day Party

Sun, Mar 15, 11 AM – 3 PM
The Banquet Rooms at ABQ PartySpace
300 Menaul Blvd NW #200, Albuquerque, NM

Our annual St. Pat's Party with Celtic harp, Irish sing along, Irish step dancers, pipers, the Duke City Ceili Band and Ceili dancing! Featuring corned beef and cabbage, Irish stew, soda bread and soft drinks. (Beer and wine available for purchase.) Limited seating: Get dinner tickets by March 11 at www,irishamericansociety-nm.com

St. Patrick's Day D&B Albuquerque

Tue, Mar 17, 7 – 10 PM
2100 Louisiana Blvd NE, Albuquerque, NM

On St. Patrick's Day, Dave and Buster's is the place to be! Have the classic Irish dish of corned beef and cabbage, green drinks, game cards and all the St. Patty's day accessories you could want.

St. Patrick's Day/Anniversary Celebration

Sat, Mar 14, 11 AM – 11 PM
Quarter Celtic Brewpub
1100 San Mateo Blvd NE, Albuquerque, NM

Join Quarter Celtic Brewpub for a full day of festivities. Bag pipers, live music, Celtic dancers, Celtic fare and plenty of beer!

St. Patrick’s Day Irish Music Session with Duke City Céilí Band

Tue, Mar 17, 2 – 4 PM
High and Dry Brewing
529 Adams St NE, Albuquerque, NM

Join High and Dry Brewing this St. Patrick’s Day for a live traditional Irish music session with the Duke City Céilí Band. This free event benefits Reading Works, a non-profit organization that helps adults gain the basic reading and literacy skills they need to succeed.

St. Patrick's Day Party

Tue, Mar 17, 3 – 4 PM
Kirtland Family Housing
1012 Golden Smoke Dr SE, Albuquerque, NM

Wear your green and join Kirtland Family Housing at the town center for some St. Patrick's Day fun. Make a craft, eat some yummy snacks, and enter your luck at the drawing for an exciting prize!

St. Patricks Day Blues & Jazz Benefit Concert

Tue, Mar 17, 4 – 8 PM
UNM Continuing Education
1634 University Blvd NE, Albuquerque, NM

This benefit concert is to raise money for the New Mexico Jazz Workshops present & future Youth Honor Jazz Band. Live event performances will include the guest of honor Doug Lawrence, a multi-Grammy award-winning saxophone artist with the Count Basie Orchestra. Special guest performances by local sensations Hillary Smith and Wendy Beach. Also a host performance by Joey C & The Jazz All-Stars.

Have a Safe and Happy St. Patrick's Day!

Join us twice a week on our blog for more real estate advice and great reasons to buy a home in Albuquerque and the surrounding area. Follow us on Facebook for the latest Albuquerque real estate updates. Looking for the perfect home for sale in Albuquerque? Our easy-to-use home search tool can help you start the process. Contact us today to help you buy or sell your next home in Albuquerque.

HOT HOME LISTING OF THE WEEK!

2319 PENN Avenue SE, Albuquerque, NM 87106  $269,000

3 Bedrooms / 2 Bathrooms (1 full, 1 half) / 1938 Square Feet

Across from the park! Covered front porch! Beautiful 3BDR/2BA, approx 1930sf Pulte home featuring open floor plan with great room, kitchen, dining & side patio access for entertaining family and friends! Great room features gas fireplace and raised ceiling! Kitchen has granite countertops, decorative backsplash, island, walk-in pantry & tile flooring. All appliances stay! Master suite features oversized shower, dual sink vanity, tile flooring, walk-in closet, linen closet and side patio access! Great location across from Portrait Park and close to Netflix, Alb Studios, shopping, restaurants, Sunport Intll Airport, Kirtland AFB, Downtown and Uptown!

Contact the Sandi Pressley team for additional details! 

Get your Morning Inspiration with the Sandi Pressley Team