Palm Springs Valley Real Estate News Including La Quinta, Palm Desert And More!

Prop 19: Property tax benefit

August 21, 2026 by Kimberley Kelly

55+ buyers in the Coachella Valley need to take advantage!

Prop 19: Property Tax Benefit. For Californians over 55, this is an important issue. To qualify, the homeowner must sell their old home and buy or build the new one within 2 years. Local resident and agent, Kim Kelly 760-285-3578.

The Coachella Valley has some terrific 55+ communities geared for retirees or people planning for when they age. There’s Trilogy, in south La Quinta, Heritage Palms in central Indio, Sun City, and many others. Prop 19 could save home buyers over 55 huge property taxes when buying a new home.

Normally, when you sell your home and buy another one, the property taxes go way up. Why? Because Prop 13 keeps our taxes at or near your original purchase price. When you buy a new home in California, your new property taxes would reflect the NEW homes current value. Prop 19 helps prevent you paying the higher property tax.

Under Prop 19, eligible homeowners can take their lower property tax value with them when they move and apply it to a new home anywhere in California! Passed in 2020, another benefit to this law is it’s flexibility. Eligible homeowners may use this tax saving benefit up to three times in their lifetime. Designed to make it easier for seniors to downsize, move closer to family, or relocate without worrying about a big tax increase. AND for people who lost their home to a wildfire or natural disaster, there is no limit on how many times the benefit can be used. There are also rules for severely disabled homeowners.

To qualify, the homeowner must sell their old home and buy or build the new one within 2 years. Before buying a property, homeowners are strongly encouraged to talk with a tax advisor and/or contact their local county assessor’s office.

Real Estate Prices: 5 Cities being hit the hardest

August 18, 2026 by Kimberley Kelly

Real Estate Cities that lead the way in high risk buying and selling

Real Estate Prices: 5 Cities being hit the hardest. I’m always reading these articles to keep a finger on the pulse. At this time, they are pretty much all saying the same areas are being hit the hardest with high inventories, long days on the market, and multiple price reductions to even get offers. Real Estate Prices here in the Coachella Valley have definitely been re setting and my short sales are increasing, but there are still plenty of sales! Local resident and agent, Kim Kelly 760-285-3578.

Real Estate Prices; 5 cities hardest hit

1. Key West, Florida: Florida in general currently accounts for 36 percent of all locations that are struggling to sell properties. Homes in Key West have the highest number of days on the market at 105, and out of 1346 listings, 224 had to be reduced.

2. Rockport, Texas: The state of Texas always comes in equal to or very near Florida in being hardest hit. The coastal town of Rockport has a medium list price of $425,000 and many are being reduced and still sitting.

3. Port Lavaca, Texas is tied with Forrest City, Arkansas: Sitting at third in median days on market at 103, Port Lavaca is losing populations and is now approx 11,000 people with a median property value of $353,000. Forrest City has a population of approx 12,000 but a much lower median value of $139,000.

4. Naples-Marco Island, Florida: Yep, back to Florida! Population of approx 376,000, an average list price of $750,000. Tons of listings right now and 17% of them have had price reductions.

5. Rio Grande City and Bay City, Texas: And surprise, surprise..back in Texas for #5. These two cities in Texas are tied at days on the market although Rio Grande City is a bit cheaper at a median list price of $230,000. Bay City has a median list price of $325,000.

Why choose a short sale?

August 17, 2026 by Kimberley Kelly

Considering a Coachella Valley short sale?

Why choose a Short sale? Short sales are making a comeback. The number of them here in the Coachella Valley is slowly increasing but it is still behind foreclosures. If you are behind on your mortgage, or the value of your home has decreased and the mortgage doesn’t make sense any more, talk to your lender. Be wise about loan modifications, they just extend the life of the loan, and often stick the sellers with another lien. If you are looking to buy or sell in the Coachella Valley, give local realtor, Kim Kelly a call at 760-285-3578.

(The following information is courtesy of the National Association of Realtors.)

Consumer Guide: Can’t Pay Your Mortgage? You Have Optionspdf(150.21 KB)

Financial hardships can strike when we least expect them. Maybe you’ve been part of a downsizing at work, a catastrophic illness has wiped out your savings, or you’re facing any number of other financial challenges. For any kind of financial hardship, there are multiple options to help you get back on track.

I’ve missed one or more payments. What should I do?

As soon as—or, better, before—you miss a payment, contact your mortgage servicer. The company may offer mortgage-relief options that could help you stay in your home. Be sure to ask how each of these options will affect your credit score.

What are my options?

Ask your mortgage servicer about the mortgage relief options that may be available to you based on your situation, including:

Forbearance. Temporarily pause or reduce your monthly payments for anywhere from one month to a year, but interest accrues; then, repay on an agreed-upon schedule or at the end of your loan.
Deferment. If you qualify, move missed payments to the end of the loan or repay them under another approved arrangement, depending on their circumstances and the type of mortgage you have.
Loan modification. Reduce the interest rate, extend the loan term or add past-due amounts to the loan balance. These changes would be permanent for the life of your loan.
Reinstatement. If your hardship was temporary and you have the funds, you can arrange to pay the entire past-due amount, including late fees.
Repayment plan. If your hardship was temporary, your servicer may allow you to repay the missed payments over time by adding a portion of the past-due amount to your regular monthly payment.

If interest rates are favorable compared to your current rate, you might also be able to refinance your mortgage to lower your monthly mortgage payments.

What if I can’t pay back the missed payments?

If your hardship is longer term, options can include: Contact your Lender first and foremost!

Selling your home. You can sell if you have the equity to pay off the loan.
Initiating a short sale. If your mortgage balance is more than the current market value of your home, you may be able to do a short sale and have the lender forgive or defer payment on the difference. To avoid having a debt collector come back to you later, you’ll need to obtain a written deficiency waiver from the lender. Note, however, that cancelled debt must be reported to the IRS and is considered taxable income. Short Sales normally affect your credit for approx 3 years
Foreclosure. The lender can force the sale of your home to recover the debt. Foreclosure processes differ by state, but generally a lender can initiate a foreclosure after you miss four payments or are 120 days behind on your mortgage. Foreclosures normally affect your credit for approx 7 years.
Deed-in-lieu of foreclosure. You can voluntarily transfer the title of your home to your lender in exchange for cancellation of the rest of your mortgage debt.

What if my hardship is due to a natural disaster?

If your home or finances have been affected by a federally declared disaster, additional mortgage relief may be available. Depending on the type of mortgage you have, your mortgage servicer may offer options such as temporary payment relief, payment deferrals or other forms of assistance. Contact your mortgage servicer as soon as possible to discuss your situation and ask what disaster relief programs may be available.

Where else can I turn to for assistance?

A REALTOR®, a member of the National Association of REALTORS®, can help you identify local resources, such as reputable attorneys and short-sale negotiators. NAR members who hold the Short Sales and Foreclosure Resource Certification have special training to help you through a difficult sale.
State-run mortgage relief programs or nonprofit organizations may provide emergency housing support. Some homeowners associations also help with fees or mediation.
A HUD-certified housing counselor can also help you understand your options and communicate with your mortgage servicer.

Be wary of mortgage-relief scams!

Scammers prey on vulnerable homeowners by promising to get you modifications on your loan or help you avoid foreclosure. Never pay a company or organization upfront for mortgage-relief help.

Coachella Valley City Sales

August 8, 2026 by Kimberley Kelly

Coachella Valley city sales are helped with beautiful finishes!

Coachella Valley City Sales: Our desert city sales varied greatly for the month of July, compared to last year. Inventory has dropped for most of our desert cities, but that’s very normal for July/August..it’s HOT! I always tell my sellers that if they are really serious about selling, go ahead and list. Buyers that brave our desert heat at it’s peak are probably really serious! Local valley resident for 40 years and coachella valley realtor for 26, call Kim Kelly if you are looking to buy, sell or short sale your property at 760-285-3578.

Coachella valley city Sales

The July numbers show a market that continues to vary significantly by city. Across much of the valley, inventory and months of supply declined compared with last year, while pricing trends were much more location-specific.

Palm Desert had 97 sales with a median sale price of $615,000, up 13.9% from July 2025. Homes spent a median 73 days on market, while inventory fell 19.0% to 692 homes. Months of supply dropped 22.9% to 5.04.

La Quinta recorded 72 sales, down 20.9% year over year. The median sale price was $697,500, down 7.0%, while the median price per square foot remained essentially flat at $377. Inventory dropped a substantial 30.9%, bringing months of supply down to 4.41.

Indian Wells stood out on the luxury side of the market. There were 19 sales, up 35.7% from last July, while the median sale price jumped 47.9% to $2.5 million. Median price per square foot increased 65.8% to $745. However, homes took longer to sell, with median days on market rising to 104.

Rancho Mirage remained relatively steady on pricing, with a median sale price of $887,500, up 0.3% year over year. There were 52 sales, while median days on market improved 11.3% to 63 days. Inventory declined 14.9%, and months of supply fell to 5.47.

Palm Springs recorded 132 sales with a median sale price of $622,500, down 4.2% year over year. Interestingly, median price per square foot increased 7.1% to $417. Inventory declined 19.3%, while months of supply fell 27.6% to 5.20.

Cathedral City was one of the stronger markets for transaction activity, with 51 sales, up 34.2% from July 2025. The median sale price held steady at $500,000. Inventory declined 25.7%, and months of supply fell 28.7% to 4.58.

Indio recorded 66 sales, down 18.5% year over year, with a median sale price of $545,000, down 3.5%. Inventory declined 26.4% to 421 homes, while months of supply dropped 27.2% to 5.20.

What does this mean for Coachella Valley buyers and sellers?

The biggest valley-wide story this month is shrinking inventory. Every market in these reports had fewer homes for sale than a year ago, with La Quinta experiencing the largest decline at 30.9%. At the same time, most cities are sitting around 4.4–5.5 months of supply, creating a market where neither buyers nor sellers have an overwhelming advantage.

For sellers, pricing remains critical. Buyers have choices and are paying attention to value, but well-positioned properties can still perform, particularly as available inventory continues to tighten.

Negotiating conditions vary considerably by city and property, making local market knowledge especially important. (Courtesy greater Palm Springs newsletter)

Check your Title Reports

August 5, 2026 by Kimberley Kelly

Sellers: check your Prelims carefully!

Check your Title Reports! This is just so important. Insist that your listing agent pull your preliminary title report before you go active. It is imperative to be sure everything is there and it’s correct. There is alot of fraud right now, especially on long vacant homes, homes owned by elderly people with lots of equity, vacant land that is not owned by an LLC..just lots! If you are looking to buy or sell in the Coachella Valley, give local resident/agent, Kim Kelly a call at 760-285-3578.

5 Items to check in your Prelim (courtesy of Pacific Coast Title)

The preliminary report arrives, the property address looks right, and the transaction appears to be moving forward.

Then one line reveals an old lien, an unexpected owner, a legal-description issue, or an exception that no one discussed with the client.

A preliminary report can look routine until one detail changes the entire closing.

1. The Ownership Does Not Match the Seller

The seller may say the property is theirs, but the report may show a trust, LLC, corporation, former spouse, deceased owner, or another individual still holding title.

This can affect who must sign and what supporting documents title may need.

2. Old Loans, Liens, or Judgments

A loan may have been paid years ago but still appear because the release or reconveyance was never properly recorded.

Judgments, tax liens, support liens, assessments, and other claims may also require additional review or documentation.

3. A Legal Description That Raises Questions

The street address helps identify the property, but the legal description defines what is actually being conveyed.

An unexpected lot, parcel, easement, condominium designation, or missing portion of the property deserves attention.

4. Taxes, Assessments, or Delinquent Amounts

Property taxes, supplemental taxes, special assessments, and delinquent balances can affect proceeds and create payoff questions.

Reviewing these items early gives the parties more time to understand what may be collected or addressed through escrow.

5. Exceptions and Easements

The exceptions section may include easements, restrictions, agreements, mineral rights, access rights, or other recorded matters affecting the property.

Not every exception is a problem, but unfamiliar items should be raised before the client assumes they are unimportant.

A Relatable Example

Your seller says, “That old loan was paid off ten years ago.”

The preliminary report still shows the deed of trust because the lender’s release was never recorded. The loan may be paid, but title still needs a way to clear the recorded lien.

The lesson: A client’s memory and the public record do not always tell the same story.

Coachella Valley sales; past 2 months

August 1, 2026 by Kimberley Kelly

Coachella valley sales over past 2 months

Coachella Valley sales; past 2 months. Residential sales numbers have declined, but there are still closings. These are the sales numbers for June and July, 2026. I am continuing to receive calls regarding short sale possibilities from owners who are behind in their mortgage payments. Local resident, equestrian, and realtor, Kim Kelly 760-285-3578

Area Total sales Total sales Average SP Medium SP DOM

307 – Palm Desert NE	43	$23,175,500	$538,965	$524,000	– $10,853	54
308 – La Quinta No of HWY 111	15	$9,153,000	$610,200	$645,000	– $10,787	70
309 – Indio North of I-10	51	$27,787,588	$544,855	$540,000	– $10,788	78
31 – South of Conant	1	$875,000	$875,000	$875,000	– $44,900	67
310 – Mecca/North Shore	0	$0	$0	$0	$0	NA
311 – Indio Central	16	$7,511,000	$469,438	$442,500	– $10,031	63
312 – Bermuda Dunes	12	$10,027,321	$835,610	$644,660	– $35,056	52
313 -La Quinta South of HWY 111	128	$164,810,550	$1,287,582	$950,000	– $115,649	77
314 – Indio South of Hwy 111	50	$27,544,122	$550,882	$542,500	– $27,144	72
315 – Coachella	15	$6,429,907	$428,660	$430,000	– $2,473	49
316 – Thermal	3	$1,439,047	$479,682	$557,954	– $28,719	29
317 – Valerie Jean,Oasis,Desert Shr,Salton Cty	1	$264,950	$264,950	$264,950	$0	84
318 – Indio Hills	1	$360,000	$360,000	$360,000	+ $10,000	53
319 – Desert Center, Eagle Mountain	0	$0	$0	$0	$0	NA
32 – Stratford Square, University	0	$0	$0	$0	$0	NA
320 – Thousand Palms	4	$1,714,000	$428,500	$407,000	– $12,400	45
321 – Rancho Mirage	90	$115,054,444	$1,278,383	$900,000	– $71,228	63
322 – Palm Desert North	31	$19,650,800	$633,897	$610,000	– $13,994	82
323 – Palm Desert South	44	$63,448,820	$1,442,019	$932,500	– $79,523	67
324 – Palm Desert East	72	$48,778,500	$677,479	$525,000	– $35,982	81
325 – Indian Wells	30	$64,524,000	$2,150,800	$1,675,000	– $162,500	105
326 – Mtn Center, Pinyon Pines, Garner Valley	1	$1,095,000	$1,095,000	$1,095,000	– $100,000	152
33 – Lakewood Plaza, Rancho	0	$0	$0	$0	$0	NA
331 – Palm Springs North End	44	$27,326,700	$621,061	$570,000	– $21,486	93
332 – Palm Springs Central	36	$39,602,179	$1,100,061	$995,000	– $27,077	79
334 – Palm Springs South End	60	$55,004,799	$916,747	$781,747	– $55,695	74
335 – Cathedral City North	41	$19,367,400	$472,376	$485,000	– $7,766	65
336 – Cathedral City South	20	$10,726,035	$536,302	$502,500	– $11,163	86
337 – Garnet	0	$0	$0	$0	$0	NA
	0	$0	$0	$0	$0	NA

Foreign Buyers top 5 destinations

July 30, 2026 by Kimberley Kelly

Foreign Buyers choose their top 5 destinations

Foreign Buyers top 5 Destinations: We know that our tourism numbers are way down in 2026, though the FIF cup helped! Where are foreign buyers still looking to purchase? Our Coachella Valley is notoriously a destination for buyers looking for a killer winter residence, either to escape cold weather, or golf one of our 120+ golf courses. Local resident, equestrian and agent Kim Kelly, 760-285-3578.

Top destinations, sources for foreign buyers

After rebounding last year for the first time since 2017, foreign purchases of U.S. homes lost momentum over the last year, reflecting a broader housing market slowed by high home prices, limited inventory and elevated borrowing costs.

Coastal states continue to dominate international demand. Florida remained the top destination, attracting 20% of all foreign buyers, particularly those from Canada and Latin America. California ranked second, drawing many buyers from Asia and Latin America. Neighbors Canada and Mexico comprised the largest share of foreign home buyers, with both countries increasing their share of U.S. purchases over the past year. The share of buyers from China declined to 11%, down from 15% a year earlier, but Chinese buyers continue to spend the most: an average of $1 million.

Download 2026 International Transactions in U.S. Residential Real Estate for the authoritative data you need to understand who’s buying, where they’re buying and how they’re paying. NAR chief economist pointed out that the decline in foreign home buyer activity reflects the decline in international visitors and tourists to the United States. Even a slightly weaker dollar over the past year, although providing more purchasing power for foreigners, did not increase purchasing activity. Take a look at this gorgeous piece of real estate in our beautiful Coachella Valley.

Coachella Valley Market update

July 29, 2026 by Kimberley Kelly

The open spaces and large lots often seen in the Coachella Valley are remarkable.

Coachella Valley Market update: If you didn’t already know it, the local market has slowed down. Residential properties are still selling, land is still selling and commercial properties are still selling, but it’s really slow. Much slower than the normal summer lull. We here in the Coachella Valley are not unique. After reading about the general slowing down in the entire Riverside County, it seems buyers are slow to write and sellers are stubbornly optimistic about their properties selling! If you are looking to buy or sell in the Coachella Valley, give Kim Kelly a call at 760-285-3578.

The past two weeks have seen the inventory of homes in the Coachella Valley fall by 81 homes (3%) to 2,997 homes. This is the lowest level of listed homes since last October. Coachella Valley demand has also decreased. By 22 pending sales (4%) from 524 to 502 pending sales. That’s the lowest since the start of 2026. Demand is falling at a faster pace than supply! The expected market time for Coachella Valley rose from 176 to 179 days, slowing by 3 days over the past couple of weeks.

Year over year, the Coachella valley inventory is down by 154 homes which is 5%. Demand is down 68 pending sales which is 12%. The expected market time last year was 166 days, almost 2 weeks less than right now.

The median sales price in June of this year was $577,000, down 2% from May. median price in June of 2025, just one year ago was $610,000, about 6% more than today! The word median means half above that number and half below that number, so locally for us agents showing daily, the median doesn’t mean all that much. I personally like to only compare sales prices to come up with an offer number from WITHIN the actual community or communities very similar to the actual property.

I think the point of these stats is that buyers have MORE power and sellers have LESS, for the most part..there are always exceptions! Take a tour of this amazing 35 acre farm in Coachella.

Coachella Valley market update

July 14, 2026 by Kimberley Kelly

Coachella Valley market update in a quick snapshot

Coachella Valley market update: (Courtesy of Lawyers Title) We are now in the summer season here in the desert cities, and it is HOT! 110 – 115 degrees during the days is not unusual, and the nights settle in between 70 and 80 degrees. Sounds unbearable, I know, but having lived here so long, I do not complain about the heat! As I tell my clients, a perfect world would be living here, but taking August and September to travel to a cooler place. However, I am here year round and absolutely love it! And the summer is the time to get a great buy in the real estate market here in the desert. Local resident/equestrian and agent, Kim Kelly 760-285-3578.

Coachella cities market update

July 10, 2026 by Kimberley Kelly

Anyone heard what’s new with the real estate market?

Coachella cities market update: Each of the Coachella Valley cities have their own special amenities and draw for residents. If you’re looking for Palm Springs kitch, head to down town Palm Springs, want to be near El Paseo, Palm Desert may be your city. Rancho Mirage has that perfect central valley location, Cat City has it’s small town feel, Indian Wells and La Quinta are beautiful and friendly. Indio is right by the Festivals and nearer the rural East Valley. If you are looking to buy or sell in the Coachella Valley, give local resident, agent and equestrian, Kim Kelly a call at 760-285-3578.

Coachella Valley Market Update

Palm Springs

Median Price: $610,000 (-17.6%)
Homes Sold: 155 (+20.2%)
Days on Market: 69 days
Sales activity is up, but buyers are benefiting from lower home prices.

Cathedral City

Median Price: $535,000 (+6.2%)
Homes Sold: 61 (+29.8%)
Days on Market: 73 days
Strong buyer activity continues while home values remain stable.

Palm Desert

Median Price: $545,000 (-6.8%)
Homes Sold: 157 (+29.8%)
Days on Market: 74 days
Higher sales volume signals strong demand despite modest price adjustments.

Rancho Mirage

Median Price: $900,000 (+20.0%)
Homes Sold: 59 (+11.3%)
Days on Market: 65 days
Luxury homes continue to perform well with significant year-over-year price growth.

La Quinta

Median Price: $812,000 (+7.5%)
Homes Sold: 90 (-17.4%)
Days on Market: 84 days
Fewer homes are selling, but values remain strong as buyers become more selective.

Indian Wells

Median Price: $1,190,000 (-29.6%)
Homes Sold: 15 (-34.8%)
Days on Market: 87 days
Luxury buyers are taking their time, creating a slower-paced market with more negotiating room.

Indio

Median Price: $536,000 (-6.4%)
Homes Sold: 88 (unchanged from last year)
Days on Market: 76 days
Sales remain steady while prices have softened slightly, creating opportunities for buyers.

Prop 19: Property tax benefit

Real Estate Prices: 5 Cities being hit the hardest

Why choose a short sale?

Consumer Guide: Can’t Pay Your Mortgage? You Have Options

I’ve missed one or more payments. What should I do?

What are my options?

What if I can’t pay back the missed payments?

What if my hardship is due to a natural disaster?

Where else can I turn to for assistance?

Be wary of mortgage-relief scams!

Coachella Valley City Sales

Check your Title Reports

1. The Ownership Does Not Match the Seller

2. Old Loans, Liens, or Judgments

3. A Legal Description That Raises Questions

4. Taxes, Assessments, or Delinquent Amounts

5. Exceptions and Easements

A Relatable Example

Coachella Valley sales; past 2 months

Foreign Buyers top 5 destinations

Coachella Valley Market update

Coachella Valley market update

Coachella cities market update

Featured Post

Prop 19: Property tax benefit

Real Estate Prices: 5 Cities being hit the hardest

Why choose a short sale?

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