Pitt and Jolie settling in French Quarter

Brad Pitt, filming a movie in New Orleans, and girlfriend Angelina Jolie have moved into a French Quarter residence in the city.

“It’s great if they’re here to stay and to be a part of the community,” said Rayna Nielsen, who lives across the street from the early-1830s masonry mansion where the celebrity couple have been spotted in recent weeks.

Nielsen said the street was closed off while the couple moved in earlier this month.

Estate agents familiar with the deal said the couple had purchased the home.

Records for the property, which is near the French Market, show the home was purchased for £3.5m (€2.7m) in cash on January 2.

Neither Pitt nor Jolie is named in the transaction.

Mondo Bongo Trust, which has a Beverly Hills post office box address, is listed as the buyer.

“I think it validates the French Quarter and New Orleans when people like that who can live anywhere in the world choose to live in New Orleans,” Michael Wilkinson of French Quarter Realty said.