Spread the word. The mural for the Paint Factory exhibition on March 12^th at ALTA Lofts is up in Hollywood.

The mural was painted by AXIS, a contemporary illustrator/painter who emerged from Los Angeles’ seminal street scene in the late 1980’s. He is most noted for his hyper-stylized street art and canvas paintings, which have appeared in L.A., Austin, Seattle, Baltimore, Tokyo, and Berlin. By the mid-90’s he had cemented his reputation as one of the most prolific artists working in Los Angeles. In recent years, his art has moved from the streets and onto the pages of Get On, Juxtapox and the L.A. Times.

AXIS will be a featured artist at Paint Factory along with many other renowned artists. This is just a sample of some of the amazing, cutting-edge graffiti art that will be featured at the Paint Factory exhibition. Spread the word and stay tuned for more updates on the ATLA Lofts’ blog and at icuart.com.

What’s Going on At ALTA Lofts This Week? Shopping and Melty Madness with the Grilled Cheese Truck!

Thursday, January 27^th from Noon to 2PM

What a way to get your Thursday groove on! St. Vincent De Paul is having a 3-hour sale from 12:30 to 3:30 PM where you can get 50% off of all clothing and shoes. AH-MAZING!

St. Vincent De Paul is just steps away from ALTA Lofts at 210 North San Fernando Road, Los Angeles, CA 90013. For more than 100 years, St. Vincent de Paul has provided programs and services for children, the homeless and the poor within the counties of Los Angeles, Ventura and Santa Barbara.

Everything you purchase helps this organization help the less fortunate in our city. SVDP has a great rep among set designers, wardrobe consultants and stylist that has made it a staple among creative professionals and bargain shoppers with style. Our buyers shop at SVDP, so we have teamed-up to make Thursday a special ALTA Lofts day! So, shop, make a difference and swing by ALTA Lofts to eat at LA’s favorite food truck!

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.

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.!

You’ve read about the historically low interest rates that are available. You know that the California $10K New Home Tax Credit is about to run out. And you have heard about the incredible pricing at ALTA Lofts. But, what does this really mean to you? Bottom line: it equates to lower monthly payments.

Low Monthly Payments
With ALTA’s pricing from the high $200,000s and interests rates at historical lows (hovering around 4.50% for a 30-year fixed-rate mortgage), owners could feasibly see a payment which rivals traditional monthly rent for Los Angeles.Here’s an example of how it all breaks down:

$320,000.00 Sales price – 3.5% Down payment ($11,200) = $308,800.00 + 2.25% MIP = $315,748.00 loan amount.

P & I at 4.25% = $1,553.29

MI = $129.44

Taxes = $333.33

Ins = $30.00

HOA = $375.00

Total payment = $2,420.00

So, for about $2,400 you can own your own loft.

Here is what you need to know: Mortgage rates are at historical lows. Pricing at ALTA is incredible! This is a combination that will not last indefinitely. Bottom line – don’t let history pass you by!

Chinatown Summer Nights

Every Saturday in August, KCRW and Community Arts Resources present Chinatown Summer Nights. Chinatown Summer Nights features public art and workshops, culinary demonstrations, outdoor video projections and a sampling of LA’s food trucks. KCRW sponsors the event and each week a new DJ rockin’ the dance floor – all in the heart of one of LA’s most unique neighborhoods.

Downtown Los Angeles Artwalk

This free, self-guided tour of Downtown Los Angeles’ hottest art community takes place on the 2nd Thursday of every month from 12-9pm. Each art gallery has its own operating hours so be sure to check individual gallery websites to ensure the spaces you want to visit will be open when you come. Click here for a List of Galleries. Downtown is littered with some of the hottest new hotspots if you are looking for libations and the streets are also lined with food trucks.

B Movies and Bad Science at the Natural History Museum

Get your geek on with some vintage sci-fi and horror flicks at the Natural History Museum! Check out a spotlighted B-movie memorabilia, including lobby cards, posters, and even actual movie props. It’s where hot summer nights mash-up real science and reel science!

Outdoor Cinema Food Fest

The Outdoor Cinema Food Fest mixes Los Angeles’ love of food with its love of entertainment. With new food trucks every week, the Outdoor Cinema Food Fest will feature over 60 different food trucks over the eight week series. Most movies take place on the eastside at Exposition Park near USC or Grand Hope Park on 8^th and Grand downtown. With hits like the Hangover and the Buttermilk Truck – you can’t go wrong!

Enjoy your free ticket to Downtown LA’s Urban Amphitheater: The Grand Concert Series : Grand Performances takes place just 2.8 miles away from ALTA Lofts.

Downtown LA has come alive with the sound of music and culture during the summer’s Grand Concert Series which takes place at the California Plaza located at 350 S. Grand Avenue. One of the best things about living at ALTA is its proximity to everything hip, cool and culturally cutting-edge. Our latest discovery is Grand Performances.

Every Saturday night during the summer, Grand Performances, a non-profit organization dedicated to bringing amazing local music and culture into the city’s heartbeat, puts on a show in Downtown LA’s urban amphitheater, the California Plaza presents world-class, world-renowned artists along with some of the finest homegrown talent.

Food and beverage are available for purchase by local stores, but bringing in your own food and beverage is encouraged as well. Cop a squat and enjoy your own urban picnic with the Los Angeles skyline as your backdrop and LA’s finest musicians as your soundtrack. The Grand Summer festival brings in an eclectic mix of musicians, dancers and storytellers every year, from Brazilian Samba to Rock en Español to Hip Hop to Afro-Cuban sounds.

Last week’s performance was standing room only with a stellar performance from LA’s own Dakah Hip Hop Orchestra’s ode to Wagner’s Ring Cycle – Gansta Wagner. Crowds enjoyed some of the talented Double G’s (co-creator and conductor of Dakah) original scores and some interpretation of Wagner. The performance ended with a cameo appearance by Macy Gray and a standing ovation.

Another great discovery on ALTA’s Local Treasure Hunt. We love our location!

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.