His agent is on the line squawking into his ear about all the money he can make in the music, television and movie industries with new projects being green-lighted right in his backyard. His wife already launched her own successful cosmetics line with as many Instagram followers as the balance of her checking account.

The couple is young, charismatic, rich and ready to take over the scene.

This is not an LA story. This couple lives in Atlanta, a.k.a. “Hollywood South.”

How Atlanta became “Y’allywood”

What started a few years ago as tax incentives for filmmakers to help ease the bloat of Hollywood production budgets has become a complete rival industry. Movies and television reportedly brought in $9 billion in revenue to the state last year with over 300 productions currently being made.

photo by FilmHubATL

Georgia locations can be dressed up to look like anywhere–mountains to the coast. The staffing, crew and catering companies rival anywhere in the world, and there are enough great restaurants and nightlife to keep industry types happy after work.

Black Panther and the last two Avengers movies wrapped here. Guardians of the Galaxy 3 and Will Smith's, Gemini Man are starting to film now.

Donald Glover's dramedy Atlanta, arguably the smartest thing on television, will be returning for another season. "I’m not making a TV show, I am making an experience," Glover told The Guardian in June.

Anyone who's seen Glover's twisted vision knows that Atlanta itself plays a major role in making the show must-watch TV. "I dare somebody to go to Atlanta and not have a good time," says Brian Tyree Henry, one of the stars of the FX hit show.

Atlanta Real Estate Market Soars

Buckhead listing offered by Debra Johnston

All of this star power is having a ripple effect on the real estate market. Several market reports show that housing price gains have nearly doubled the national average last year. Rents in the most desirable areas are outpacing even historically high places like San Francisco.

JLL’s market research has found that in the last 10 years, nearly $4 billion in completed real estate investment has been made in downtown Atlanta and another $4 billion worth of development is under construction or in the planning stage.

People in the entertainment industry want the perfect place to live, work and play. Atlanta city planners are willing to give it to them.

Buckhead, Atlanta Offers Luxury in all Forms

One affluent area in the ATL that blends uptown chic with charm is Buckhead.

Debra Johnston, an Atlanta luxury real estate specialist with Berkshire Hathaway, says, "My clients from LA love the quality of life here in Buckhead, with excellent restaurants and shopping and the gorgeous tree-lined neighborhoods right in the heart of Atlanta."

The Shops at Buckhead offer six city blocks of designer style. Tom Ford, HERMÈS, Canali, Jimmy Choo, and Dior are among the high-end lines that can be procured here.

Atlanta Is Tops For Home Design Shops

courtesy of ADAC

Whether homeowners are on the hunt for antiques, mid-century modern, or the latest contemporary craze, Atlanta offers prime shopping for home design fanatics as well. Everything from high-end boutiques to mega-store showrooms can be found within the city's limits. The Atlanta Decorative Arts Center (ADAC) is an interior designer's dream. It offers more than 60 showrooms across 550,000 square feet of space. Visitors are encouraged to explore and engage with top designers.

Atlanta Dining and Drinks

STK in Atlanta

Park 75 inside the Four Seasons Atlanta is the place where industry insiders are often spotted dining on the cuisine that's described as contemporary American with a Continental flair. The food and cocktails are good, but it's the discreet staff and strict no paparazzi policy that keep calling celebrities back.

Clint Eastwood and Tom Hanks mixed work and play at Meehan's Public House downtown while making the movie, Sully. Liam Hemsworth has been seen raising a pint at their Atlantic Station location after a day on set.

Mick Jagger munches on the home-made chips at Buckhead Diner, while Hollywood royalty like Denzel Washington enjoys the chic lounge and modern eats served up at STK Atlanta.

With stunning estates, booming business, and a plethora of bars, restaurants, and shops that cater to a high-end clientele–Atlanta seems poised to hold the crown as Hollywood South for years to come.

The post Haute Market: Atlanta Is Now Hollywood South appeared first on Haute Residence by Haute Living.

The influx of hundreds of production crews has exerted quite a demand on Georgia’s – and in particularly Atlanta’s – real estate market; and the change barely even starts with scouting for film locations. From A-listers to directors, they all search for properties to call home while shooting. Haute Residence Atlanta partner, Debra Johnston has helped many find their temporary adobes in the city’s luxury housing scene.

“They are working most of the time so they like to find homes that are private, calming, gated and secure,” Johnston said. “They are design sensitive and appreciate good design, green space, a pool and/or a tennis court and of course the creature comforts of a well- designed home.”

Fortunately for actors and film professionals, whose families often trek along and seek privacy, Atlanta, a city sprawling over 134 square miles, offers the perfect blend of seclusion and amenities, said Johnston.

She, herself, epitomizes the hospitality and discretion Atlantans pride themselves on. Johnston often rents out her mid-century modern residence, The Ridgewood House to actors, making sure her home becomes theirs. Whenever she expects a high-profile guest, she replaces her belongings with a selection of luxurious items – fresh flowers, special soaps and deluxe pool towels.

“Working with the film industry has become a part of my business that I really enjoy,” she said.

It all started at the dawn of the century, when she revamped her house, which architect Jerry Cooper designed in 1959. The renovation allowed for a contemporary way of life but still reflected a historical sensitivity. Eager to showcase “incredible mid-century modern architecture for today's lifestyle,” Johnston entered her upgraded home in the Metropolitan Home of the Year contest – and won. The press flocked in and Johnston’s home found a spot on the Georgia film registry as a location for print, video and film.

Some may recognize Johnston’s property as the home of Gabrielle Union in BET’s hit series Being Mary Jane or as the setting for the music video for Usher and Rick Ross’s LemmeSee single. From a three-season role in the USA Network’s Satisfaction to a spot in a slew of projects with Sony, Knoll, Rolls Royce and Samsung, Johnston’s Ridgewood masterpiece became a high-end rental when The Hunger Games came to the area. Since then, it has hosted Liam Hemsworth and Ryan Gosling, among others, whose privacy Johnston guards.

“The guests that I have hosted so far have been great,” said Johnston. “Like with any business, word of mouth is the best, I have been lucky that way.”

Debra A. Johnston is the exclusive agent representing the Atlanta, Georgia real estate market as a member of the Haute Residence Real Estate Network. View her profile or contact her here.

Images and video courtesy of Debra A. Johnston

The post Debra Johnston: How Georgia’s Entertainment Industry Influenced Real Estate And Her Own Home appeared first on Haute Residence by Haute Living.