Everyone knows it’s cool to live in a loft. That’s why lofts are becoming more and more popular – especially with young, creative professionals. This is probably due to the hip-sophisticated image that loft living conjures: urban setting, open spaces, huge windows, visible air ducts, original columns and high ceilings. ALTA Lofts offers all of that and more, and is quickly becoming the popular place for young professionals.

Determine the Function of the Space

What will you do with all of the space? Don’t panic. Take a deep breath and walk around your space and decide the best areas for working, relaxing and entertaining. Once the natural flow of the space has been determined, then you can start to divide the space into rooms, if you choose.

Divide and Define Your Own Walls

Separate spaces inexpensively with bookshelves, artwork, tapestries and other dividers.

Look for Furniture that Leads a Double Life

Save money by having furniture serve a dual purpose. For example, create couches from twin mattresses - they can double for seating and sleeping for guests. A couple of twin beds and throw pillows are a lot less expensive than a designer couch.

Create Storage in Hidden Places

Organization is key to loft living. Look for furniture with storage; like beds with built-in drawers or ottomans that have storage. Use a book case as a headboard. Look for an old steamer trunk to double as a coffee table as well as for storage space.

Dig Deep for Deals

You don’t have to go too far to find great bargains in Los Angeles. The famed St. Vincent De Paul is right around the corner and L.A. is packed with hotel liquidations and swanky estate and garage sales. Affordable furniture is out there - you’re just going to have to dig a little deeper for it.

The Fuller Paint building was given a new lease on life when it was converted into the stylish living spaces, ALTA Lofts. This is great news for
artists, actors and young business professionals who are finding ALTA Lofts a perfect fit for their lifestyle and budget.

The loft spaces at ALTA Lofts provide an open canvas where creative adjustments can be easily made. Loft living is about creating your space for your lifestyle. Lofts can also be customized to the owner’s specifications.

ATLA Lofts is even being compared by many to the traditional Manhattan lofts that are generally born form older, industrial buildings with exposed brick, original windows, and located near areas where there are is an abundance of artistic and creative types.

This leads us to another bonus of ALTA Lofts: being situated near Downtown Los Angeles, Chinatown, Silverlake, Echo Park and other coveted areas of the city. This location provides great access to businesses and entertainment areas.

Not only does ALTA Lofts fit the creative requirements and geographic requirements of the young L.A. artistic type, but it also fits the budget; Now, buyers can own for the same price as renting for as low as $1,669* a month.
ALTA Lofts are like New York lofts but with a far better climate and price!

* Disclaimer to read: Advertised monthly payment is for illustrative purposes only and is based on a sales price of $224,312 with a conforming loan amount of $216,461 and may vary based on down payment assistance,borrower’s credit, actual closing costs and other variables. Scenario is based on borrower ualification for a 30-year fixed rate loan at 4.750% (4.875% APR.) Monthly payment of $1,669 includes taxes, insurance, and HOA. Borrower down payment is 3.5%. Down payment assistance programs through LAHD and other City assistance are available to qualified buyers based on income qualifications. There are a limited number of moderate income units. Rates effective January 2011 and are subject to change without notice. Scenario assumes the buyer has good credit. Not all buyers will qualify. This offer subject to underwriting guidelines and available only for owner-occupied homes. Pricing and terms subject to change without notice. See salesperson for further details.*

Buying a home still has enormous financial benefits. One measure of knowing when it’s a good time to buy is when you can buy for about the same price as renting. Right now at ALTA Lofts, you can own for as low as $1,669* a month. That’s right. In Los Angeles!

If this payment isn’t enough incentive - here’s five reasons of why buying is still a smart move:

1. Housing is more affordable than it has been in a long time and many experts predict that it has reached fair value. ALTA Lofts IS an excellent example of this. Right now, ALTA is priced from the mid $200,000s.
2. Interest rates are still historically low. Although they have been ticking up the last few weeks, buyers can still get a 30-year fixed-rate loan under 5%.
3. Homeowners save on taxes, as they can take advantage of the tax deductions.
4. Eventually real estate prices will head up again. Demand will increase as will the price of supply. Real estate is always a great investment.
5. It’s forced savings. When buyers begin to build equity, they’re paying themselves. Rent goes directly into someone else’s pocket.

Now, you can own for the same price as renting. Buying a home has long-term financial benefits. Now, more than ever is the time to seize the opportunity.

* Disclaimer to read: Advertised monthly payment is for illustrative purposes only and is based on a sales price of $224,312 with a conforming loan amount of $216,461 and may vary based on down payment assistance, borrower’s credit, actual closing costs and other variables. Scenario is based on borrower qualification for a 30-year fixed rate loan at 4.750% (4.875% APR.) Monthly payment of $1,669 includes taxes, insurance, and HOA. Borrower down payment is 3.5%. Down payment assistance programs through LAHD and other City assistance are available to qualified buyers based on income qualifications. There are a limited number of moderate income units. Rates effective January 2011 and are subject to change without notice. Scenario assumes the buyer has good credit. Not all buyers will qualify. This offer subject to underwriting guidelines and available only for owner-occupied homes. Pricing and terms subject to change without notice. See salesperson for further details.

Looking for something a little different this Holiday Season? Well. All you have to do is look down the street from ALTA Lofts to find a vintage shop that has become more of a couture shop: Shareen Vintage in Lincoln Heights is a favorite of celeb stylists and A-listers looking to add a little vintage to their collections and even the red carpet. And, it’s walking distance from ALTA Lofts! We know how great our neighborhood is and we thought we would share one of its best known secrets with you.

Because of its popularity, the cost of vintage apparel had risen to the point where it was beyond the means of many. But, our neighbor, Shareen Vintage, has made cool vintage apparel was affordable. There are racks and racks of vintage clothing from 20’s to the 90’s at affordable pricing! Most items are under $100.

Owner, Shareen Mitchell personally finds all of her pieces and brings them back to live by cleaning, steaming and mending them so they can find a new owner with the right sense of style perfect for a fashion reincarnation. Mitchell, a stylist and star of her own upcoming reality show on the Planet Green Network knows how to pick out great pieces for any vintage style shopaholic. She has created a secret society of followers that swear by her sense of style and ability to pick out the best of the vintage.

There is a “no-boys-allowed” motto at this secret warehouse. Women get to play dress up without the confines of a dressing room and it makes a great stop for any girly day planned. This Lincoln Heights’ treasure is unlike any other store in Los Angeles. We like to think ALTA Lofts is unlike any other loft community in L.A.: Hidden, classic, affordable, hip and waiting to be discovered!

Shareen Vintage
350 N. Ave 21, Lincoln Heights, CA
Los Angeles 90031
323.276.6226

By now you know all about the new loft community in Lincoln Heights, ALTA Lofts. You know that ALTA Lofts is surrounded by L.A.’s culture centers and hippest neighborhoods. You know that this exciting new loft development was built from a historic 1925 Beaux Arts building and is located near Downtown, the Gold Line and the famed Brewery Arts Complex. What you may not know is that ALTA Lofts is located in an area that many consider to be the birth place of Los Angeles.

Lincoln Heights is rich with layers of history from its earliest settlers that first settled along the river and created an underwater irrigation system to bring water throughout the community - making it the home of the city’s oldest housing stock. Later, it became the site of the first vineyards in Los Angeles and the nation’s first urban parkway, the Arroyo Seco, runs through it.

The history of Lincoln Heights is the history of Los Angeles. It holds the stories and character of our history as Angelenos. Here are a few of our favorite historical elements of our neighborhood.

The Arroyo Seco

The Arroyo Seco Parkway, built in 1940, was the prototype of the world-famous Los Angeles freeway system. Its significance in California’s highway history is highlighted by its designation as an American Civil Engineering Landmark.

The Arroyo Seco Historic Parkway is also California’s first and only state historic parkway and is nationally recognized as one of the most significant roadways of the 20th century. If it’s culture you desire, you’ll find plenty of it on your scenic drive along the Arroyo Seco Parkway. The Arroyo Seco was the center for the Arts and Crafts movement on the West Coast and is one of four internationally recognized centers of the movement in America.

The Trains! The Trains!

Lincoln Heights was initially settled as a streetcar suburb with horse-drawn trolleys crossing the North Broadway Bridge. In southwest Lincoln Heights, industry displaced housing as railroads, wineries, breweries, bakeries, and others took advantage of proximity to rail facilities.

Though the trolleys are long gone, the Metro Gold Line light rail arrived in 2004, bringing with it a new interest in revitalizing the historic area. LA is now seeing the most dramatic resurgence of urban rail service anywhere in North America with the opening of 73 miles of new, electrified heavy and light rail service on five lines and more than 500 miles of diesel commuter rail service from scratch on seven lines. The Metro Rail station near ALTA Lofts is a portal to anywhere you want to go in LA. The nearest Metro Rail station to ALTA is the Lincoln/Cypress Station for the Metro Gold Line. Just a short walk up Humboldt Street and one block down Avenue 26.

El Vino!

At one point, Los Angeles had more than one hundred wineries near the Los Angeles River Basin. Its oldest and only producing winery, The San Antonio Winery has been in business since 1917. Owned and operated by four generations of the Riboli family who founded it, the winery’s history traces back to its establishment by a first generation Italian immigrant when Lincoln Heights was a thriving Italian community. The historical San Antonio Winery has been an oasis of good living and culture in the heart of Los Angeles. Although vines are no longer located in L.A., the winery boasts hand craft wines from estate vineyards in Napa Valley, Monterey, Paso Robles, and more. There is also a wine tasting room at 737 Lamar Street, Los Angeles, CA 90031.

ALTA Lofts in Lincoln Heights is welcoming our new owners. There are so many things to be excited about: true industrial-style lofts; the location (near Downtown L.A., Silverlake, Chinatown, Little Tokyo, the Lincoln Heights Brewery…); pricing from the mid $200,000s, no pre-sale requirement; immediate move-ins; FHA financing; low HOAs, historically low interest rates, and more!

New residents are starting to move in, adding a new buzz and vibrancy to this contemporary loft community. They keep talking about how much they love their new space, what an amazing deal ALTA Lofts is, how much they love their location and how they cannot wait to move-in!

So, the secret is out! One good sign that it is a good time to buy -is when you can own for about the same price as renting. Right now, you can own at ALTA Lofts for as little as $1,997 a month! That’s a brand new, never-been-lived-in, contemporary loft near Downtown Los Angeles, major freeways, public transportation and other historical, cool and hip areas of the city!
Come check out the buzz at ALTA Lofts and see why our new residents are calling it the best deal in L.A.!

There are plenty of reasons to buy a new loft at ALTA Lofts, but this week we are focusing on our newly completed gym, social room and our unbelievable fall specials!

Gym and Social Room

Anybody who has visited ALTA Lofts understands that we have an amazing environment. ALTA Lofts is home to some of the most unique and raw lofts spaces in Los Angeles and is a remarkable example of how adaptive reuse can artfully blend old and new to offer the best in contemporary loft living. Recently, the social room and the gym have been completed AT ALTA Lofts – adding to our amenities. In addition to the newly constructed social room and gym, ALTA Lofts has a community lounge in the open courtyard and BBQ area near the front for all residents to enjoy.

Fall Specials at ALTA Lofts

Another great new announcement is that living at ALTA has become even more affordable. Here are our new Fall Specials:

Fall Special at Loft 605

This 838 sq. ft. ALTA loft has a balcony and a sectional roll-up door. It was originally priced at $271,400 and is now priced at $247,000!

Fall Special for Loft 611

This 918 sq. ft. ALTA Loft boasts a view of Downtown Los Angeles has a balcony and has a sectional roll-up door. Loft 611 was $293,800 and is now $267,400.

There’s a lot happening at ALTA Lofts. Stop by and see what the buzz is all about!

Sometimes in life there is a good reason to do something – and sometimes there are a few good reasons. Right now, ALTA Lofts, Lincoln Heights hippest new loft community has FIVE reasons to buy at ALTA Loft.

CA Tax Credit for New Homes

Hurry! Before the money runs out, there is still a chance for Californians to get a big tax break, when buying a new home. The State Tax Credit offers new homebuyers a chance to obtain a credit of 5% of the purchase price of their home or up to $10,000, which is payable over three years. This means that ALTA buyers still have an opportunity to take advantage of a huge State Tax Credit!

Priced from the high $200, 000s

This is not a typo. ALTA, a community of brand new lofts are priced from the high $200,000s. These are also lofts for the purist - in the style of a traditional loft with raw space and located in the heart of the city. ALTA is nearby everything: Downtown, Chinatown, Little Tokyo, Silverlake, Dodger Stadium and more. And, again, these new lofts are priced from the high $200,000s. Really!

Eye Popping Low Interest Rates

Interest rates are at historic lows. This is the best time for Californians, who also have access of up to a $10K State Tax Credit when buying a new home, to take advantage of low interest rates. A 30-year fixed loan for up to a $417,000 purchase price is at an average rate of 4.50%, the lowest since 1971! A 15-year fixed-rate mortgage is averaging 4.13%. An, adjustable-rate loan, fixed for the first five years, is being offered at an initial rate of 3.79%. Again. REALLY!

No HOAs when you buy before July 31^st

And, if you needed another reason to buy at ALTA, here it is: When you purchase at ALTA before July 31^st, you will not pay HOA dues for your first two years. TWO YEARS! Over that time, this is an average savings of $7K.

Qualify for FHA Financing Now

FHA financing is a great tool for first time buyers, offering a low down payment of only 3.5% of the purchase price. Plus, most of the closing costs and fees can be included in the loan.

There you have it. Not one, two, three or even four – FIVE reasons to buy at ALTA. It’s what we like to call the ALTA-mate FIVE!

The Metro Gold Line. Your Beeline for Art and Culture!

Just steps away from ALTA Lofts is a connection to LA Metro’s Gold Line and your connection to the LA’s burgeoning epicenter of art and culture: Downtown Los Angeles.

Downtown is the new home of LA’s art scene. Every second Thursday, take a ride on the Gold Line to enjoy Downtown’s Art Walk. Avoid traffic, parking fees and even parking tickets by hopping on the Gold Line and heading Downtown to get your art on.

It’s not just about the growing number of galleries; there are other attractions like LA’s famed MOCA – which has been leading the contemporary art scene since 1940, The Disney Concert Hall, The Mark Taper Forum and more.

The Gold Line is not just your connection to LA’s artistic heartbeat; more and more restaurants and local watering holes are headed back to this historic core as well. Hotspots such as The Varnish, Broadway Bar and the Golden Gopher are capturing the hearts of local hipsters that have moved back downtown. Chaya has added a branch to their family of European Asian restaurants. Chef Celestino Drago has opened Drago Centro and the ladies who brought us the Border Grill have opened Ciudad.

If you’re craving art, music, theater an amazing mean and even a good drink – the Gold Line is your connection and it’s just steps away from ALTA Lofts.

Looking to celebrate the 40^th Anniversary of Earth Day? Here are some local Eastside events to consider:

Sustainable Silver Lake

Sustainable Silver Lake will host “A Promise for the Planet” at Spaceland (1717 Silver Lake Blvd) Thursday, April 22^nd, from noon to 5PM.

A party for the Eastside eco-conscious: Local residents, business owners, school children, celebrities, and government officials, will publicly promise and pledge to adopt at least one more eco-friendly practice in their lives. These pledges will be video recorded and rebroadcasted online at www.dublab.com. Dublab – world renowned DJs and musicians will also spin. KCRW’s Anthea Raymond, KPCC’s Alex Cohen, and actor Ross Marquand will be the MCs. In the spirit of the event, the following green organizations will have information tables: Heal the Bay, Food Forward, The LA Stormwater Program, MTA, and The Eastside Bike Club.

A Global Block Party

Global Block Party sponsored by the Assembly Line Collective Saturday, April 24 from 11:00am - 8:00pm at 1354 Margo St. Los Angeles

A Block party for Eastside Hipsters in Downtown LA! Replete with local vendors and live performances from Pac Div, Dom Kennedy, Overdoz, Tiron, BJ the Chicago Kid, Kendrick Lamar, Carter, Skeme, Rob Roy, Skotch Davis, and more.

There’s no cover. Live art by Codak and Jim Darling will be featured as well as a booth from the Assembly Line Store with more art to check out.

The 3rd Annual Wilshire Center Earth Day/Car Free Day Event

The 3rd Annual Wilshire Center Earth Day/Car Free Day Event will take place on the lawn of the Wilshire Park Plaza building at 3700 Wilshire Blvd., Los Angeles (between Oxford and Serrano) on Thursday, April 22nd from 11 AM - 3 PM. Locals are encouraged to bike, walk or take public transportation to the event.

If you are looking to celebrate Earth Day’s 40^th and recycle your old electronics – this is the event for you! This event features e-waste recycling, so please bring your old TV, computers, monitors and other electronics.

Entertainment for this event will feature musical performances by Naked Rhythm, the Quetzal Guerrero Band, VoKab Kompany, as well as other artists.

There will also be a farmer’s market with organic and locally grown produce, gardening training, face painting, drumming for kids, a photo-booth and much more.