As you drive into the picturesque Palm Springs Valley, you will pass one of the most striking sights—a vast array of wind turbines that seem to cover the desert floor for miles. Whether you’re a long time resident and owner of Rancho Mirage real estate or visiting from out of town, it’s a curious sight, especially on your first visit to the area. Luckily there’s a way to satisfy that curiosity: the Palm Springs Windmill Tours.
Windmill technology is a very ancient source of natural power that has been used all over the world for centuries. You may have learned about wind turbines and how they harness wind for electricity in science or history classes during school. This tour is your chance to see these theories in action!
This unique tour is produced by the world’s longest continuously operating windmill tour business. The guided tour includes an introduction to the geography of Palm Springs Valley, as well as an explanation of why windmills (aka “wind turbines”) were built in California. You’ll learn about the area’s weather and why the wind blows a particular way through this mountain pass. You’ll also learn cool things like what some of the native plants area and how the local Cahuilla Indians used them.
The fascinating tour leads you through various projects and a power plant in the desert where you will discover tons about the advantages, economics and politics of wind energy in California, the country, and across the globe. You’ll learn all about the windmills—their size, how they operate and each of their unique designs.
The Palm Springs Windmill Tours is the most comprehensive tour of the windmills in the country today. Who knew that you could enjoy a dynamic tour and learn a little something as well? It’s a great way to spend some educational time with the family, and is a must if you own Rancho Mirage real estate and want to know more about where you live.
The Sundays in Summer Cabaret Series is always a hit in Palm Springs
The last holiday weekend of summer is here—but Palm Springs shows no sign of slowing down its diverse lineup of activities. The vibrant desert culture is one of the many reasons so many people come to Palm Springs in search of luxury properties in Rancho Mirage and other cities in the area.
On Thursday, August 29, the Classic Comedies screenings continue with the whimsical fantasy, Harvey. The screening takes place from 6 to 8 pm at the Annenberg Theater. Directed by Henry Koster (The Bishop’s Wife, My Man Godfrey), Harvey stars James Stewart as Elwood P. Dowd, a sweet-natured eccentric with a six foot imaginary friend, Henry the Rabbit, whose presence drives Dowd’s sister Veta (Josephine Hull) to distraction. Hull won both an Oscar and a Golden Globe award for her performance, and Stewart received Best Actor nominations from both. Catching a screening like this is bound to guarantee laughs and is the perfect way to relax after a day at work or looking at luxury properties in Rancho Mirage.
On Friday, August 30 from 9 to 11 pm, Ted Nugent will perform live at The Show at Agua Caliente Casino. Also on Friday, August 30 the Tony Stevens Slow Ride Original Foghat show will take place at the Morongo Casino. On Saturday, August 31, Anne Curtis will perform at the The Show at Agua Caliente Casino. The show will take place from 8 to 10 pm.
Rounding out the weekend is the Sundays in Summer Cabaret Series 2013, with Terri White in From Blues to Broadway with Musical Director Bryan Miller. Known as one of the great ladies of the Broadway stage, White has received acclaim for her roles in Barnum, Chicago, Ain’t Misbehavin’, Welcome to the Club, Bubbling Brown Sugar, Finian’s Rainbow and Follies. The show lasts from 2 to 4 pm and is located at the Arthur Newman Theatre.
Palm Springs has long been a favorite among celebrities, politicians and professional athletes for decades due to its gorgeous weather and vacation-atmosphere. Likewise, the consistent celebrity presence and rich, exciting history attracts visitors from all over the world, in particular, those who are interested in buying luxury international real estate properties. Visitors come for a vacation and fall in love with the Palm Springs Valley—and it’s not difficult to understand why.
One of the fun attractions that people of all ages enjoy are the celebrity tours in Palm Springs. It’s a great way to see the region, or to take a break from work or wind down after a day of looking at La Quinta homes for sale. There are two very popular tours, among many others, that often catch the eye of visitors, especially those who come from abroad for a holiday or to view luxury international real estate properties.
The Grand Tour is a favorite among residents and visitors. The two and a half hour tour bus ride displays the rich and luxurious history of the desert cities, offering glimpses of some of the most amazing estates in Palm Springs, including those of Frank Sinatra, Walter Annenberg and the Marx Brothers, among many others. The Grand Tour runs from Monday through Saturday all year long, and costs $44 for adults, $40 for seniors, and $19 for children 14 and under. Private tours are also available, starting at $79 per participant. For more information, call 760.770.2700.
Another ultra popular attraction is the Palm Springs Elvis Honeymoon House Hideaway. Guided tours highlight the marriage of Elvis and Priscilla Presley and take guests through extensive memorabilia and old photographs of Elvis “in the Building.” Knowledgeable tour guides share interesting stories about the couple and a short film features highlights on the mid-century-modern architecture of this famous building. In addition, visitors are shown the famous escape route that left paparazzi staking out the house speechless as the famous couple flew to Las Vegas to marry. Box lunches are available upon request. For more information, call 760.322.1192.
Click here if attractions like these have you inspired to view listings of La Quinta homes for sale.
If you’re trying to sell Indio real estate or homes in another area of the desert cities, you probably already understand the importance of staging the home for viewings and open houses. But are you aware of how important the landscaping is as well? The exterior of the property is the first thing potential buyers will see and can be enough to send them running in a different direction if your lawn is overgrown or your yard looks like a storage area.
As autumn approaches, you may not be thinking about your lawn too much, even when you own an equestrian home or similar property. Hopefully, you’re keeping things manicured and pruned, but it’s also a good time to look forward. If you’re just now thinking about listing your house, it’s the perfect time to prepare your lawn for upcoming months. Here are a few tips for getting your lawn in shape and boosting the appeal of your Indio real estate property.
Continue mowing regularly. Even though grass grows slower in the fall, it doesn’t mean you can slow down on moving and watering it. Your lawn is absorbing energy and nutrients to prepare for the winter. Continue mowing and watering it, though it’s best to set the blade of the lawnmower mower to its lowest setting the last few times you mow it this year to allow more sunlight to reach the crown—this will reduce brown leaves and help set you up for a lush lawn in the spring.
Aerate. Water, fertilize and oxygen need to reach the roots of your grass for it to be healthy and fertile. Aerating the lawn during autumn will help your lawn get what it needs to grow. Either hire a professional landscaper to aerate it—especially if you own a larger property such as an equestrian home—or rent a gas powered aerator and do it yourself.
Rake your leavesconsistently. While few people enjoy this chore, it’s an integral one when it comes to your landscape. Rake them as soon as possible so that the leaves don’t suffocate the grass and breed diseases. Plus, you don’t want potential buyers to be overwhelmed by the sight of a giant pile of leaves when they first arrive or have to wade through them to get to the door of the house.
If you’re preparing to sell your Palm Springs real estate, you should get started on your listing as soon as possible. Realtors and other real estate professionals recommend that your listing contain a plethora of photos that showcase your property from every angle and in its best light. This will provide buyers with an accurate gauge of what the property truly looks like so they can decide if they want to invest the time to look at it in person.
Photos are especially important when you’re preparing your home for the international real estate market. Since those buyers would have to travel from abroad to see your property, they have to be very serious about their interest. Due to the significant travel that may be involved, they will want to see as much of the house as possible through photos. With that in mind, here are a few more tips for improving your interior photography skills.
Keep the focus sharp. To achieve sharp focus, keep the aperture small and use hyperfocal principles to focus into the room. Avoid shooting objects from too close as this will compromise the focus and may result in blurry photos.
Take advantage of a tripod. When you use a tripod, you can work with longer shutter times to maximize the light. This is ideal for interior shots, since nothing is moving.
Declutter. When you’re trying to display your Palm Springs real estate in the best light possible, you’ll want to remove clutter from shots and hide any flaws in the room. Interiors can look intricate in photos; the less clutter, the better.
Capture the details. To make rooms look big while capturing the details, shoot a variety of wide-angle photos as well as some close-ups of any smaller areas that you want to highlight. Don’t limit your photos to any one shot angle—you don’t want to bore those looking at your listing. This is especially important when you’re trying to attract international real estate buyers.
Spectacular settings garner more money/sf in la quinta
It is HOT here in the Palm Springs area..afterall, we are a desert! Normally our summer season slows down quite a bit from high season, and this summer DID slow down. However, it has been a steady stream of sales for established Realtors. I just sold another Listing and am actively seeking new Listings here in our desert cities so that I may expose them to my supurb marketing system! July saw our 7th consecutive month of price increases for our Riverside County homes (CDAR housing report). Absolutely true, but my Sellers have to be careful not to OVER price their property. Whether you own Land, an Equestrian Ranch, or a Residential property, price it appropriately to SELL!
Your Realtor should advise you of a price/sf that is based on solid comparables and recent sales. After that number is established, you and your Realtor must review carefully y our own personal situation. Do you need to get out now? Are you ok with taking a chance that you will get more money in the high season? Are there family issues? Share all the pertinent information with your Realtor and your La Quinta property will SELL! Who wants to see a FOR SALE sign stuck in the ground if not to actually SELL their property????
My Sales over the past 3 weeks..
1. Lavender Way, Canyon Crest in central Palm Desert. I am representing the Seller and we listed at $413,500..a little ahead of the market. We received a full price cash offer after a couple months of extensive marketing/showings.
2. The Hideaway Golf Club; La Quinta. I brought my Canadian buyers to this lovely home with startling golf course, to Santa Rosa mountain views. $2,795,000. Our local high end golf clubs have been gaining traction over the past 6 months and I expect the price/sf to see a slow, stead rise throughout the winter season.
3. PGA West, Norman course; La Quinta. I am representing the Sellers at $1,349,000. Again..just ahead of the market based on recent comparables, but a very patient Seller. Listed at approx. 100 days, we got our number.
If you are looking to Buy or sell your home in La Quinta, Palm Springs, Rancho Mirage, Palm Desert, Indian Wells or the more easterly areas of our Valley, give me a call at 760-285-3578.
There may only be a few weeks of summer left, but there are still plenty of cool things going on in the desert. This Saturday, August 25, you can visit Joshua Tree National Park for free! In honor of National Park Service Birthday, which is August 25, this day falls under the category of Free Entrance Days to National Parks that the government offers each year. If you want a break from the heat, or are in town to look at La Quinta real estate and Rancho Mirage homes for sale, this is the perfect way to enjoy nature in a gorgeous setting.
If you’ve never been to Joshua Tree National Park, you are missing out on the infinite opportunities for exploration. Whether you’re a serious hiker or just want to stroll through nature, you’ll love to tour this incredible park. While some people enjoy driving through the main park roads and sightseeing from the stops, pullouts and wayside exhibits, there are also 12 self-guided nature trails that can be a great moderate walk that is perfect when you only have time for a short visit. If you head out to the vista from Keys View, you’ll witness an incredibly picturesque view that extends beyond the Salton Sea to Mexico. There are five fan palm oases throughout the park to discover, and some trails lead you to remnants of the gold mining era, a vibrant part of the park’s cultural history. With 10 mountains soaring higher than 5,000 feet in elevation, there are plenty of options to discover nature at its finest.
In addition to the gorgeous hiking trails and backcountry opportunities available, there is also an extensive network of dirt roads that are perfect for mountain bikes, as they are less crowded and safer for cycling than the paved main roads. Rock climbers will be in heaven with the array of majestic options there are to choose from. If you need a longer break from work, life or looking at Rancho Mirage homes for sale, there are nine great campgrounds available, and backcountry camping is also permitted.
The Joshua Tree National Park Visitors Center is located at 74-885 National Park Drive in Twentynine Palms.
If you are in town to look at La Quinta real estate, click here to view some gorgeous listings.
Summer fun is still in full effect in Palm Springs, as you can see from the upcoming weekend lineup. If you’re on vacation or are in town looking at equestrian properties or Indian Wells real estate, you can indulge in some amazing activities that will make for a memorable weekend and take recreation to a new level.
On Thursday, August 22, from 6 to 8 pm, Sullivan’s Travels will screen at the Annenberg Theater as part of the Classic Comedies series. The film tells the stories of director John L. Sullivan, played by Joel McCrea, who disguises himself as a hobo and sets out on the road in an effort to make serious social commentary with his next movie, O Brother, Where Art Thou? Along the way, he experiences a rude awakening that coincides with meeting a down-on-her-luck actress played by the legendary Veronica Lake.
The Summer Salsa Extravaganza takes place August 22-25 in Palm Springs
From August 22 through 25, the Summer Salsa Extravaganza is happening at the five-star Renaissance Marriott & Convention Center in Palm Springs. The weekend will be filled with amazing music, workshops and dance performances by the some of the world’s best salsa dancers. The Convention Center is located at 888 Tahquitz Canyon Way.
On Friday, August 23 from 9 to 10:30 pm, R&B superstar Jeffrey Osborne will perform at the Morongo Casino in Cabazon, which is in close proximity to all the desert cities, making it a perfect way to wrap up the night if you’re in town looking at Indian Wells real estate.
On Saturday, August 24, from 8 to 10, the Fantasy Springs Casino will host performances by classic rockers Heart and special guest Jason Bonham’s Led Zeppelin Experience. Also on Saturday, Paquita La Del Barrio, singer of Rancheras and other Mexican styles, will perform at the Spotlight 29 Casino from 8 to 10 pm.
On Sunday, August 25 from 2 to 4, the Sundays in Summer Cabaret Series 2013 offers another brilliant cabaret performance show with Norman Lasiter in Both Sides Now, with arrangements and accompaniment by Musical Director Chris Marlowe. The performance takes place at the Arthur Newman Theatre.
Click here to see some fabulous listings of equestrian properties and other Palm Springs real estate.
If you’ve been following our summer moving tips, you’re probably about halfway done with planning and packing for your move. It doesn’t matter if you recently bought Palm Desert real estate property or if you just now started eyeing Indian Wells homes for sale—a little forethought and advanced planning can streamline the process and reduce the stress of moving. Here are a few more ways to make the move easier and more efficient.
Protect the actual move. Even when you use a professional mover, accidents can happen. You may want to get full value insurance protection for peace of mind. This type of insurance covers any items that are lost or damaged in the move. When choosing a professional mover, it’s good to get referrals from trusted sources and to check the company’s online reviews and status with the Better Business Bureau.
Photograph the hookups. When it comes to hooking up home entertainment systems, DVRs and other electronics, it can be difficult if you’re not an expert. Save yourself some time and energy by photographing all the connections before you unplug anything. Label the wires as you unhook them so that you can match them to the appropriate electronics. Put all the loose wires in a box or zip lock bags that are clearly labeled. Planning ahead like this will make it that much easier to enjoy your first few nights warming up your new Palm Desert real estate property.
Pick and choose in an eco-friendly way. Cleaning products and anything toxic, such as detergents, cleansers, furniture polish, pesticides and paint, can be very unwieldy items to pack. Throw away as many as possible before you move (make sure to dispose of them in an eco-friendly way, of course). These items can be heavy when boxed up together, and often times, they are not worth the money you would save by simply buying them again. For those products that you really must take, pack them in a box that you place inside another box to protect against leakage. Make sure to seal all of the containers tightly so that their contents don’t spill and keep these items separate from your other boxes.
If you’re just starting to look at Indian Wells homes for sale, click here to browse some spectacular listings.
As you drive into the picturesque Palm Springs Valley, you will pass one of the most striking sights—a vast array of wind turbines that seem to cover the desert floor for miles. Whether you’re a long time resident and owner of Rancho Mirage real estate or visiting from out of town, it’s a curious sight, especially on your first visit to the area. Luckily there’s a way to satisfy that curiosity: the Palm Springs Windmill Tours.
