In July, contracts to buy previously owned homes rose to their highest level in more than two years… suggesting that the Housing Market Recovery is Making Headway.
The Pending Home Sales Index set by the National Association of Realtors, based on contracts signed in July, rose 2.4 % to 101.7 – the highest level since April 2010… and just before the deadline for the home buyer tax credit.
With gains in home construction and sales and prices, the report was just the latest one to show momentum in housing market recovery. Pending home sales were up 12.4% year-over-year in July.
Monthly increases in home buying activity were seen in all regions except for the West. . . this is because of the extreme lack of inventory there. The West saw a 1.7% drop in contracts last month. Contracts in the Northeast gained 0.5 % last month and the Midwest increased 3.4%. In the South, contracts rose 5.2%.
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Palm Springs – Every year – runners, walkers, joggers flock to the Palm Springs Tram Road Challenge 6K race. This year it will be held on October 27 and there will be something new about the race!
Each of the Palm Springs Valley’s nine cities is invited to compete with one another for the highest number of registrants in the race. The city that gets the greatest turnout of people signed up for the race will receive acknowledgement in The Desert Sun . . . and also receive a plaque giving special recognition celebrating the city’s dedication to its residents’ health and the community’s spirit of volunteerism.
The Desert Sun’s designers are working with all of the cities to help promote the competition by creating fliers and helping with promotional outreach. The fliers will include information about the challenge such as the schedule of events leading up to the race and the link to register. Each city will have fliers posted on its website and they will be distributed around to businesses and neighborhood associations.
You can visit the main informational link to get more info on the Tram Road Challenge or to sign up at www.facebook.com/PSMakeADifferenceDay.
So, come on out everybody and support your city while you are supporting your own healthy lifestyle. It will be one fun party you won’t want to miss!
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PALM SPRINGS — To commemorate the 35th anniversary of Elvis Presley’s death, you will be able to tour his Estate in Palm Springs – today and tomorrow. His 5,100sf home at 845 W. Chino Canyon Road has been called “Graceland West” by the New York Times.
“Graceland West” was built in 1946 and sits on about two acres. Prior to Presley’s buying the property in 1970, it was owned by the Jergen’s cosmetic family and Ray Kroc, founder of McDonald’s. Elvis died on this day, August 16, in 1977 at Graceland, his home in Memphis Tennessee.
Tours will be offered every 30 minutes from 10am to 4pm on both days. Tickets are priced to honor the year that “Elvis left the building” . . . at $19.77 per person.
The current co-owner of the home now has said that the house sat vacant for 27 years until he bought it in 2004 for $1.25 million. Elvis celebrated his last birthday at his home here in Palm Springs and this home and Graceland were the only properties he owned at the time of his death.
For more information, call the estate at (760) 322-3211 or go to www.elvispalmsprings.com
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PALM SPRINGS – Well, we knew it was coming . . . the extreme heat, that is. That time in the summer when we’re biting at the bit for fall to come, when the temperature gets up over 110, then 115 . . . if you’re a Desert Dweller, you know the routine. Power outages or blackouts, as they are also called, can happen this time of year when the demand for electricity strains the system.
Yesterday, Southern California Edison sounded an alarm by asking its customers to turn up their thermostats . . . especially at night. And IID (Imperial Irrigation District), which serves La Quinta, Indio and Coachella, said yesterday that it was just 25 megawatts short of hitting maximum capacity at 3:30pm.
When the temperatures here in our valley turn into a heat wave lasting several days or more, people use more electricity around the clock. If the equipment doesn’t get the chance to rest, that’s when problems can begin.
Here’s what you can do if an outage occurs:
- Open the fridge and freezer only when necessary
- Turn off and unplug any electrical equipment that’s not being used
- Take advantage of “Cool Centers” – find list of locations at www.sce.com/coolcenters
- Instead of using candles, use flashlights. Candles are a fire hazard
- Have an emergency plan for anyone in your home who’s dependent on electric-powered medical equipment – a back-up power source or somewhere to relocate to
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The Palm Springs Aerial Tramway was constructed in rugged Chino Canyon on the north side of Palm Springs as the dream of a young electrical engineer named Francis Crocker. He wanted to “go up there where it’s nice and cool” – what a concept !! This was in 1935, and there were many setbacks over the years which stymied his project, even though enthusiasm was high. Finally, in 1963, Crocker’s dream became a reality and more than 12 million people have been transported up those majestic mountains overlooking the Palm Springs Valley.
If you live full time in the valley here, round about this time of summer, it’s just HOT, plain stinkin’ HOT. And you find yourself wanting some relief from the intense heat (and this summer, the humidity too). Maybe you don’t have the time to drive up to Idyllwild or down to the coast to get your relief fix . . . so just a day trip up the Tram is the perfect Stay-cation.
The temperature differential between the valley floor and the top of the Tram is about 30 degrees. And if there’s a little wind up there, you might even want to bring along a light sweater or jacket since Desert Rats like us have thin blood and get chilled. But what a pleasure to have to put on a wrap on a day when it’s 105 degrees down below, but a chill 75 degrees up above. Yippeeee !!!
Tickets for the day are $23.95 for adults, $16.95 for children (ages 3-12) and $21.95 for seniors (62+). Year passes and Summer passes are also available. It’s a cheap way to rock your world for a day, from desert to alpine in one quick trip up the Tram. Take a picnic, bring a chair and binoculars for birdwatching or a good book to read, take a hike or have a sumptuous meal at the Peaks Restaurant or the Pines Cafe. Make a day of it, or even an evening.
The Palm Springs Aerial Tramway is truly of of the Wonders of the World and certainly one of the Palm Springs Valley’s most popular and sensational attractions.
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Sun City Palm Desert is a popular gated active adult (55+) community located in Southern California’s Palm Springs Valley. It is surrounded by breathtaking mountains, towering palm trees and lushly manicured grounds. It was built by Del Webb between 1992 and 2003 and includes 5,000 homes with 44 different models.
Residents at Sun City stay actively engaged and entertained by a multitude of activities put on by their full time Events Department. There are classes, events, activities and over 60 organized clubs to be involved in . . . such as the Garden Club, Dance Club, Geneology Club, Wine Tasters, Exercise Clubs, and more. You get the picture, there are activities enough to stay busy seven days a week if you wish.
Sun City Palm Desert covers 1600 acres and boasts amenities too many to mention them all. There are 3 large recreation/clubhouse centers, numerous indoor and outdoor swimming pools, 2 fitness centers totaling 16,000 square feet, 10 lighted tennis courts, 2 pickleball courts, t2 paddleball courts, and 8 bocce courts.
The community offers two 18-hole golf courses, including one designed by hall of famer, Billy Casper and Greg Nash. Let’s not forget the Billiard Room, Ballroom, Library, Dog Parks, Theatre, Fishing Pier and much, much more. With all of these fun activities going on at Sun City, when does one sleep???
Buyers can select from 44 different pre-owned single-family floorplans on one level that range from 1,000sf to over 4,000sf. There are a multitude of different sizes, styles and price ranges to suit most any buyer. With the homes in Sun City Palm Desert so well priced and the HOA fees reasonable, many residents feel that they got the best buy in the Valley.
Should you have interest in touring Sun City, getting information about available real estate there or want to list your home for sale – don’t hesitate to call Kim Kelly, Real Estate Agent with HK Lane Real Estate in La Quinta. She is professional, experienced and knowledgeable about the Palm Springs Valley here. She listens and will guide you towards what is the best fit for you.
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I haven’t been to Cabot’s Pueblo Museum
in Desert Hot Springs . . . but I’ve been told that it is one of the jewels in our Palm Springs Valley here and not to be missed. So, some friends who are familiar with it are taking me on Sunday to peruse this local treasure, so I’m studying up on it before I go.
Cabot’s Pueblo is a structure or home – handmade by a man named Cabot Yerxa from objects that were reclaimed or found. The four story high structure was built in Pueblo style, has 5,000 square feet and 35 rooms, 150 windows and 65 doors. The building possesses many unique and interesting features, as some windows and doors were collected from abandoned homesteads and reassembled for use in this home. Yerxa also used buckboard wagon parts, old telephone poles and other building materials in a very creative manner.
Cabot Yerxa founded Desert Hot Springs and was a homesteader there from 1913 until 1918. He is also responsible for discovering the “miraculous” hot water aquifer that lies under Desert Hot Springs and from which sprang a whole tourist and resort industry capitalizing on these readily available healing waters.
Upon visiting Cabot’s Pueblo Museum, guided tours take visitors on a journey through the life of Cabot Yerxa and his family. You will see artifacts they collected from their adventures spanning back over a hundred years. You will also hear Yerxa’s stories from his travels to the Dakota Territory, Mexico, Alaska, Cuba, France and throughout California and the Southwest.
The museum is open year-round for single tours, prearranged group tours and special events. Hours are Wednesday to Saturday from 9am to 1pm. Tours are scheduled at 9:30, 10:30 and 11:30am. Tickets are $11, first come, first served.
Cabot’s Pueblo Museum is located at 67-616 E. Desert View Avenue in Desert Hot Springs. For more info, call 760-329-7610.
I can hardly wait until Sunday, to tour this incredible historic treasure right in our own backyard !!!
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Not to fear . . . despite budget restraints in the cities that make up our Palm Springs Valley here, there will still be fireworks to top off your Independence Day celebration !!!
On the east end of the valley, in La Quinta, there will be a Parade of Lights tomorrow at 6pm, with fireworks starting at 9pm. Both will be held at the La Quinta Community Center Park at 77-865 Avenida Montezuma, La Quinta. The events are free; for more info, call 760-777-7035
In mid-valley at Palm Desert, there will be live music starting at 7:30pm with fireworks following at dark – at Palm Desert Civic Center Park, 73-510 Fred Waring Dr., Palm Desert. The events are free; for more info, call 760-346-0611, ext. 416
On the west end in Palm Springs, there are fireworks scheduled at 9:15pm at the Palm Springs Stadium at 1901 E. Baristo Rd., Palm Springs. For more info, call 760-323-8272
Everyone have a fun and safe Fourth of July !!!
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Have you wondered why mortgage rates have remained near record-low levels for so long? I know I have. Rates on a fixed 30-year mortgage averaged 3.71% for week ending June 14, according to a recent survey . . . and before that, rates had broken record lows for 6 weeks in a row.
It doesn’t really make sense for these low levels remain while housing conditions slowly improve. If demand in the housing market increases, logically one would think that the cost to borrow money to buy a home would increase as well. Apparently, it ain’t necessarily so . . .
Consider that there are numerous factors that affect mortgage rates, including the overall economic picture across the U.S. and overseas and policy decisions made by the U.S. Federal Reserve. Also, improvements in the U. S. economy can influence mortgage rates, but domestic news has not been positive enough to drive the rates any higher. Home prices have stopped going downward, but are not appreciating at a rate that is the norm, historically.
Mortgage industry experts’ projections have the 30-year fixed rate mortgage ending the year at a 4.2% average, which is still relatively low. Housing recovery is still in its early stages and there are obstacles yet to face, such as the drop in median household incomes and foreclosure inventory that’s projected to hit the market.
Basically, the upshot of all of this is – that the low mortgage rates are not likely to go away soon. And that’s a good thing because many would-be buyers are hesitant to jump back into the housing market and lack of job stability hinders some who might otherwise make a purchase.
It’s a good idea to consider refinancing right now and it would be wise to take action sooner than later because the rates will eventually start creeping up again. These sure are unsettling times for many Americans.
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Truly… how lucky are those of us who live in Indian Wells and the Palm Springs Valley, to have a world class facility such as the Indian Wells Tennis Gardens practically in our own backyards?
This state-of-the-art facility opened in March 2000 and showcased the 2nd largest tennis stadium in the world along with a full-service tennis club. It includes a 16,100-seat Stadium court, 23 hard courts, and 2 Har-Tru play courts on 88 acres.
The IW Tennis Gardens were originally the vision of two men who loved the sport and partnered together to create the best tennis facility for professionals and amateur players alike… along with spectators, sponsors and the media. Charlie Pasarell, a former #1 US Player, along with his partner Raymond Moore teamed with investors to privately fund the $77 million dollar project.
In 2009, the IW Tennis Gardens were bought out by Larry Ellison, multi-billionaire founder and CEO of Oracle Corporation. Ellison has a love of the sport and retained Pasarell, Moore and their staff to continue to manage the BNP Paribas Open, which constitutes the 5th largest tournament in the world.
On a regular basis, members of the Tennis Club are able to use the courts for recreational play. The Club has a member lounge and a fitness and locker room. Tennis programs are offered year round, including private lessons, group lessons, clinics and adult and junior camps and additional club services include professional stringing, game arranging, ball-machine rental, leagues and mixers.
Indian Wells Tennis Gardens has also hosted performing artists such as Pavarotti, Tom Petty, The Who and the Eagles. The NBA has played three pre-season exhibition games at Indian Wells featuring the Phoenix Suns.
And all we have to do is drive a few miles to experience all of these pleasures. That’s just one of the many reasons people live and recreate here in Indian Wells, in our very own Palm Springs Valley!
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