Georgi Zelma, Party Officials Lecturing Workers, 1933, gelatin silver print, gift of David Lafaille
This weekend in Palm Springs is packed with cool art events—which is something you can come to expect when becoming an owner of Palm Desert real estate and the surrounding desert communities. For starters, the Desert Mountains Art Faire takes place this Saturday, February 2 from 9 am – 3 pm at the National Monument Visitor Center in the gorgeous foothills of the Santa Rosa Mountains. The events, which supports Conservation and the Artists of the Coachella Valley, features unique paintings, jewelry, wood carving, handmade clothing and other items inspired by National Monument’s natural beauty. The Santa Rosa & San Jacinto Mountains National Monument Visitor Center is located at 51-500 Hwy 74, 4 miles south of Hwy 111 in Palm Desert. For more information, visit DesertMountains.org.
Today is your last chance to visit the Michael H. Lord Gallery in Palm Springs to catch a glimpse of an amazing exhibit—and the perfect way for those searching for Palm Springs homes for sale to get a taste of the community. Forrest Moses: New Paintings, Monotypes and Photographs features American painter Forrest Moses’ exploration of landscapes from Maine to Georgia and New Mexico, where he currently resides. His unique technique includes recording with a camera and then translating those images into watercolor, oil and monotype works. Since 1965, Moses has created over 40 one-man shows for museums, galleries and universities across the country. For more information, visit michaelhlordgallery.com.
Another great exhibition taking place through March is Picture This: Photographic Portraits of Place. Located at a favorite among owners of Palm Springs and Palm Desert real estate, the Palm Springs Art Museum, this exhibit features documentarians including Louis-Auguste Bisson, Francis Frith, Alfred Stieglitz, Brown Brothers, Max Alpert, Yevgeny Khaldei, Georgi Zelma, Harry Callahan and Lewis Morley, among many others. This survey shows how photographic images reveal the identity of a region while exploring other cultures to examine global exchange and its impact. For more info, visit psmuseum.org.
If you’re currently on the hunt for Palm Springs homes for sale, any of these events is a great way to absorb some of the vibrant culture that residents of the desert communities are so proud of.
image: psmuseum.org
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Over the last decade, Rancho Mirage has been named one of the best places to retire in America by renowned publications such as the US News & World Report. If you’re already searching for Rancho Mirage real estate or properties in Indian Wells, La Quinta or Palm Desert, you’re probably already familiar with this bucolic town’s many charms. If not, read on.
Quality of life. Living in Rancho Mirage, La Quinta and other areas in Palm Springs Valley affords you access to unparalleled outdoor recreational activities, incredible shopping, fine dining options and a thriving arts and culture community. Whether you’re a tennis or golf aficionado, an avid hiker or cycler, or simply enjoy bathing in the sun, you’ll be able to take advantage of the sunny climate all year long.
Resort amenities. Stellar golf courses aren’t the only benefits of nearby country clubs—resort-style amenities and world class spa services can be enjoyed in the stunning desert setting that owners of Rancho Mirage real estate call home. It’s like being on vacation every day of the year.
Access to superb medical care. This resort city was formerly known as “The Playground of Presidents,” due to regular visits by Nixon, Reagan and Gerald Ford, who eventually bought a house in Rancho Mirage. Perhaps this has something to do with the development of high-end, world-renowned medical facilities in the area, such as the Eisenhower Medical Center and the Better Ford Center addiction rehabilitation clinic.
Location, location, location. Rancho Mirage is not only close to all the desert communities, it’s also only a couple hours by car to the beach, Las Vegas and other desirable locations.
Whether you’re interested in homes in Rancho Mirage or properties in Indian Wells or La Quinta, it’s safe to say that each promises to be a perfect haven for retirement.
image: ranchomirage.org
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There are many reasons why Palm Springs Valley is unlike any other region in the country—and Modernism Week is one of them. The exciting 11-day celebration takes place from February 14-24 this year and promises to be one to remember. With no other event like it in the entire country, Modernism Week is yet another reason why Palm Springs homes for sale are so appealing to people from all over—the desert communities have a vibrant culture and there is always something unique and interesting to do.
Modernism Week is a celebration of mid-century modern design, architecture and culture. In Palm Springs Valley, this clean, simple aesthetic originated in the 1940s, 50s and 60s, during which time it came to define desert modernism. The unique architecture is still very prevalent among properties in Rancho Mirage, La Quinta, and other desert cities.
Modernism Week stems from the Modernism Show, an annual symposium that was established in 2001 by the Palm Springs Art Museum’s Architecture and Design Council. In 2006, the event grew to become Modernism Week, as a showcase of this world-renowned aesthetic. The event is organized by the Palm Springs Modern Committee, a non-profit, volunteer organization dedicated to promoting the heritage throughout the entire Coachella Valley.
Modernism Week includes a wide range of events such as films, lectures, educational seminars, a symposium, architectural tours (you may even be able to spot some Palm Springs homes for sale!) and chic parties that take place in mid-century modern homes.
Visit ModernismWeek.com to find more information and buy tickets to the events you are interested in attending. The myriad of events are cool and unique: choose from celebrations like the Opening Night Preview Tour & Party—Celebrating the Mystique of Marrakesh, a Sunnylands Tour, a Walking Tour of Celebrity Homes or The Future of Frank Lloyd Wright, among many others.
Take a cool break from your search for properties in Rancho Mirage, La Quinta, Indian Wells and other desert cities to learn about the history of this amazing architecture that gained notoriety in the Palm Springs Valley.
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Buying property for the first time can be very daunting. As soon as you decide to start looking for your first home, there are several strategies you should employ to ensure the smoothest process possible. Whether you’re seeking homes for sale in Palm Springs or in another part of the country, the tips below can help you navigate your first real estate transaction.
Get pre-approved before you start looking. Taking this step in advance will save you the time that you may waste looking at properties outside of your budget. Pre-approval, which is based on your income, credit and debt, will improve your position when you find the house of your dreams and are ready to make an offer.
Enlist the help of professionals. While the internet has changed the landscape for house hunters by providing wide-ranging access to listings, it still really helps to have a professional real estate agent or short sale realtor in your corner. They will have specialized expertise in the type of transaction you plan to make, as well as local knowledge that will help you choose the best option for your family and lifestyle. It’s especially important to work with a short sale realtor if you plan to buy a property that qualifies for such a transaction, as these types of purchases can be significantly more complicated.
Do your research. Before you place your opening bid, be sure to research the marketplace by looking at the sales of similar properties in the neighborhood for the last three to six months. Consider the sales trend of these transactions when making your initial offer. For example, if you’re viewing homes for sale in Palm Springs and find the ideal property, find out what other homes have sold for in the area and make your initial offer on par with those sale prices, or a little bit lower so that you have room to negotiate.
Hire an inspector. Keep in mind that an inspector is different than an appraiser. While banks tend to require appraisals, this is really just to ensure that the property is worth your offer. An inspector will do a comprehensive home survey so that you can be aware of any potential problems that may result in costly damage or repairs down the line.
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The Living Desert
Palm Desert real estate isn’t just appealing to golf aficionados—living in Palm Desert offers a variety of amenities and recreational activities that are family-friendly and enjoyable to people of all ages.
In addition to the gorgeous weather, wide variety of shopping and dining options, and of course, the golf and tennis, there are plenty of things to do that the entire family will enjoy. Whether you own homes in Indio, Rancho Mirage or another area of Palm Springs, all of the below activities are in very close, manageable proximity to the entire Coachella Valley.
1. Tale in a sky-high view. The Palm Springs Aerial Tramway is a world famous attraction that allows the whole family to soar high above Palm Springs to catch stunning views of the entire valley. Get off and hike down or enjoy a meal at one of the restaurants near the top.
2. Explore the wild desert. Visit the unparalleled Living Desert museum, a favorite of every tourist who visits, as well as residents and owners of Palm Desert real estate. This attraction is part botanical garden, part zoo and part nature preserve.
3. Soak it up. Not just the sun—take the family for a swim at one of the Palm Desert Aquatic Center’s three pools, including a splash pool for the kiddies and an Olympic-sized one that’s ideal for diving and lap swimming. The Aquatic Center is located at the Palm Desert Civic Center Park, which also offers an array of family-friendly activities.
4. Make discoveries. Even when it’s too hot for the kids to play outside, there’s something cool for them to do. The Children’s Discovery Museum of the Desert in nearby Rancho Mirage is full of one-of-a-kind exhibits and hands-on activities.
5. Get adventurous. There are plenty of steep mountains and rugged terrain to explore on one of the many available off-road all-terrain vehicle tours.
6. Trek it out. One of the many amenities for those who own homes in Indio, Rancho Mirage and other parts of Palm Springs is the abundance of stellar hiking trails. If you’re more of a novice at hiking or have young children, there’s trails such as the Randall Henderson Trail, which are easier climbs that still offers lots of outdoor fun coupled with great views.
image: mypalmsprings.com
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Every year, the Humana Challenge Golf Tournament brings lots of excitement to bucolic La Quinta—and this year was no different. For most of the tournament, Scott Stallings was the leader. But on the final day, there was much to talk about when Charles Howell III, David Lingmerth and Brian Gay came from behind, ending up in a three-way tie. Owners of La Quinta real estate, visitors and other area locals were able to witness one of the most exciting 18th hole this year, when Longmerth hit his ball in the water, leaving only Gay and Howell to playing number 10 for a tiebreaker. Howell’s shot ended up in the bunker with Gay’s just off the green—Gay won the tournament for his fourth PGA win and the $1,008,000 prize.
Formerly known as the Bob Hope Classic, this 72-hole tournament is part of the PGA Tour’s early season West Coast Swing, and is renowned for its celebrity pro-am. In fact, it formerly was only a pro-am, including the many years that it was hosted by legendary icon, Bob Hope. In 2012, Humana changed its format to a traditional four round tournament, played over three different courses: Palmer Private at PGA WEST, Nicklaus Private at PGA WEST and La Quinta Country Club, all favorites of residents and owners of La Quinta real estate. The first 54 holes of the Pro-Am features each of the 156 pros partnering with a different amateur each day. On Sunday, the low 70 professionals play the final round. We always suggest that clients who are viewing homes in Rancho Mirage, Indian Wells and Palm Desert spend one of their days here at this incredible, star-studded event.
The Clinton Foundation partnered with the PGA, committing to help make this tournament a part of its mission to bring the message of healthy living to American through golf. While President Clinton was at the tournament on Thursday, he did not play. He was unable to stay through the entire tournament, due to his obligation to attend the Presidential Inauguration. But how exciting for residents throughout and those who own homes in Rancho Mirage and La Quinta to get a glimpse of the former president. He’ll attend all five days of the 2014 tournament!
Celebrities who participated included Eric Dickerson, Alice Cooper, Marshall Faulk, Don Felder and local resident Carson Daly, among others. Organized by the non-profit organization, Desert Classic Charities, the Human Challenge has donated more than $52 billion to the Eisenhower Medical Center and a multitude of other local nonprofit organizations.
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There’s nothing like a little curb appeal to get a buyer interested!
Give the front door an upgrade. Making over your home’s front door is a quick way to improve the entire property’s appearance and boost its resale value. If your budget is small, try a new coat of paint, but if you can afford to invest in a new door, it will be well worth it. We recently had a client install a new front door on their Indian Wells property and experience a multitude of compliments from buyers—we’re pretty sure that simple upgrade motivated buyers to get out of their car and see what was inside.
Enhance the landscape. A nicely landscaped yard is one of the best ways to maximize curb appeal. It doesn’t have to be expensive; strive for something uncluttered and cohesive that ties together the architecture of your home and the region. For example, if you’re preparing La Quinta real estate or an Indian Wells property, you may want to pick a desert themed landscape.
Add some design features. If there are areas of the home’s exterior that need replacing or refinishing, consider adding some architectural detail that will increase the property’s flair. It could be something as simple as new window shutters, moldings, or a larger project such as adding a balcony or porch.
Give the garage a new face. In today’s real estate market, you see an array of stunning alternatives for garage doors. Don’t go with a plain white door—and if that’s what your house has, an upgrade will definitely be worth the investment. In addition, make sure the garage doesn’t look like a storage facility inside. Keep things streamlined, clean and in order. If you do need to keep some things in there, buy some garage storage cabinets so everything looks organized and is out of the way.
image: © Iriana Shiyan – Fotolia.com
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It’s clear that there are many benefits to living in Palm Springs, but even for local residents, there is always something unique in store. A great example of this is a recently opened exhibit, “Bob Hope: An American Treasure” at the Palm Springs Air Museum. From now until Tuesday, April 2, 2013, residents and owners of Palm Desert homes, tourists and those viewing Palm Springs homes for sale can enjoy this one-of-a-kind tribute to the great icon and former resident, Bob Hope.
The 2500 square foot exhibition pays tribute to many aspects of Hope’s mesmerizing life, which of course, includes commemoration of his time as the face of the iconic Bob Hope Classic golf tournament. The exhibit, which was built with the support of the Bob & Dolores Hope Charitable Foundation, runs until April so that fans planning to attend upcoming golf tournaments, such as the PGA Tour’s Humana Challenge and the LPGA’s Kraft Nabisco Championship, will have the opportunity to view the exhibit.
The exhibit features over 160 artifacts that tell the story of this popular celebrity’s life in Palm Springs, such as the famous golf cart that was created in the shape of Hope’s face, a favorite among owners of homes in Palm Desert and throughout the Palm Springs Valley. In addition, there are more than 200 vintage photos, seven video displays, Hope’s Congressional Gold Medal, Honorary Veterans citation, honorary Oscar statuette and PGA of America money clip. These items accurately depict Hope’s rise to stardom, his relationships with former United States presidents, his dedication to the military and his passion for golf.
Located at 745 N. Gene Autry Trail, a stop at this incredible exhibit is the perfect way to finish off a day of viewing Palm Springs homes for sale. For more information about the museum, visit Palmspringsairmuseum.org or call 760.778.6262.
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Whether you’re considering buying a beach house, a home abroad or are looking at Palm Springs homes for sale, it’s an important decision that requires significant forethought and planning. For many families, it’s a life changing event. Here are a few tips for making your real estate transaction as smooth and stress-free as possible.
Be ready to commit. If you’re not sure that you’re ready to commit to living in one place for a few years, than you may not be ready to own unless you’re willing to lease out the property at some point. The costs associated with buying and selling real estate could possibly cause you to lose money if you sell too soon. In addition, it’s difficult to accurately predict fluctuations in the real estate market, so you’ll want to able to sit tight and avoid selling when prices are dropping.
Get to know the neighborhood. If you are moving to a completely new town or city, it will behoove you to spend some time getting to know the area to make sure that you really like it and can spend a substantial amount of time there. For example, if you’re interested in properties in Indio, you’ll want to spend some time checking out the community, recreational activities, shopping, dining and cultural options. If you have children, it’s equally important to check out the local schools and activities that are suited to them. The last thing you want to do is find your dream house but then get there and unpack, only to realize you don’t like the town you’re living in. It’s important to make sure that the place you live will accommodate your lifestyle so that the entire family is happy.
Aim within your means. Sit down and map out your true budget before you start looking for homes. Too many times, people view Palm Springs homes for sale, find their dream property and then discover that it’s way out of their price range. Know your boundaries before you meet with an agent and start looking. A general rule of thumb is that that you can afford approximately two-and-one-half times the amount of your annual salary. Without having knowledge of your debts and other expenses, it’s best to get some professional help or use online resources to determine what your true spending ability will be.
Follow these tips before you start viewing properties in Indio, Palm Desert, La Quinta or any other area of the Coachella Valley, and you’ll be a step ahead in finding the home of your dreams.
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One of the many benefits of living in the gorgeous Palm Springs Valley is all of the recreational activities we have to choose from, including outdoor sports, exercise, spa time, fine dining, and a favorite for many, shopping. While owners of Palm Desert real estate and residents of the other desert cities flock to the high-end boutiques and designer outlets, they’re also regulars at the amazing Indio Open-Air Market and the Certified Farmers’ Markets.
How lucky are we to have farmers’ markets all year round? We can access some of the freshest produce grown by Certified California Farmers at our winter markets (September through May), which take place on Wednesdays in Palm Desert, Saturdays in Palm Springs and Coachella, and Sundays in Old Town La Quinta. A visit to one of these markets is the perfect break from checking out Palm Springs homes for sale! All take place from 8 am to 12:30 pm. For more info and dates for summer markets, visit certifiedfarmersmarket.ning.com.
A unique and amazing event that takes place on Wednesdays and Saturdays—and is a great way to take a break from viewing Palm Desert real estate while getting a taste of the community—is the Indio Open-Air Market. This innovative market is the perfect place to discover both new and used, brand-name merchandise and gather with friends and family to shop and enjoy a wide array of food choices. This social marketplace, located at the Riverside County Fairgrounds, boasts architecture similar to the markets of Morocco, making it one of the most interesting venues throughout California. The fairgrounds are located at 46350 Arabia Street in Indio. For more information, call 800.222.7467.
If community events like these inspire you, and you’ve been considering a move to the beautiful Coachella Valley, then click here to browse listings.
image: coachellaunincorporated.org
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