Hello & Happy New Year! Welcome to my first newsletter of 2023. As we begin the new year, I thought I'd highlight one of the major contributors to Albuquerque's growth in recent years…the television & film industry. Thanks to many inherent factors, Albuquerque has been voted the No. 1 place in the U.S. to live & work as a filmmaker for the last four years in a row! The beauty of the surrounding landscapes & moderate climate, the heart & soul of the people here & the ever-persistent creative spirit paired with relatively affordable standards of living are contributing to our sustainable hot spot status in the industry.
Netflix has launched a helpful tool called Netflix in Your Neighborhood: New Mexico, a website to make it easier to explore locations where Netflix productions were filmed around the state. The first U.S. site of its kind, Netflix in Your Neighborhood lets you search for filming locations by film or series title, or by searching the area of the state.
In 2022 alone there were 109 different productions bringing in a record $855 million. With film incentives, a talented crew base, hospitable climate & stunning landscapes, its hard to compete with all Albuquerque has to offer film & television. Favorable experiences by filmmakers & actors are contributing to the growth too. Albuquerque is becoming a favorite destination for casts & crews who are soaking in the 300+ days of sunshine, more relaxed environment & that magical something that New Mexicans know all about.
Another recent studio acquisition comes to I-25 Studios by way of Cinelease Studios. The Albuquerque space will become the third largest studio for Cinelease, behind Pittsburgh & Covington. The studio will house more than half a million square feet, encompassing stages, offices, mill space & more. In addition, the first independent film studio, New Mexico Film Studios (NMFS), will soon be offering soundstages, backlots & production facilities in a single location. This project, backed by a collaborative group of New Mexican film & television executives, broke ground in the Spring of 2022.
With growth there are always sacrifices & changes that we might feel uncomfortable with, however the resources that come along with that growth are important for moving us forward. Albuquerque & New Mexico deserve to be celebrated! The film & television industry in Albuquerque has become an integral contributor to our creative economy providing high-paying creative & technical jobs. This benefits so many other industries & businesses in Albuquerque, Real Estate included.
As we enter 2023, the Real Estate market in Albuquerque is holding steady while we are still experiencing a shortage of available houses on the market. We are not expecting prices to be impacted in our area due to the low inventory levels. If you have been considering selling your home, now is a great time to call me to discuss your options! Stay tuned….2022 yearly statistics will be included in the February newsletter.
