Once again, Palm Springs has lined up some exciting cultural activities to celebrate the beginning of Fall this weekend. Visitors in town with their sights on making an international real estate transaction can unwind and enjoy the cool array of film screenings that are scheduled this week.
Always a favorite of residents and those who own homes in Rancho Mirage, the Classic Comedies series of screenings continues with the Coen Brothers’ Raising Arizona, featuring an exciting ensemble cast that includes Nicolas Cage, Holly Hunter, Trey Wilson, William Forsythe, Frances McDormand and John Goodman. Considered the Oscar award-winning writer/director team Coen Brothers’ first mainstream hit, this innovative comedy tells the story of a naïve, childless couple who decide to kidnap one of the quintuplets of a local tycoon, which sets off a series of hilarious and deranged events. The screening takes place on Thursday, September 19 from 6 to 8 pm at the Annenberg Theater.
From Thursday, September 19 through Sunday, September 22, another favorite of those who own homes in Rancho Mirage will be going on: Cinema Diverse, the Palm Springs Gay and Lesbian Film festival. This vibrant festival is renowned for showcasing the best in LGBT filmmaking. The event kicks off on Thursday night with at 5:30 pm with an Opening Night Reception with Del Shores and the cast of Southern Baptist Sissies, which screens that night at 7 pm and will be followed by an exciting after party. Screenings take place at the Camelot Theatres and will go on all weekend, featuring an eclectic array of intriguing titles such as Greg’s List, Holden, Hot Guys With Guns and Chicken Soup With Knives.
Whether you’re a lucky local of Palm Springs or are in town to make an international real estate transaction, there is always something fun to do and some culture to absorb.
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The Desert Willow Golf Resort
This weekend is packed with an assortment of things to do for people of all ages. Locals head to Palm Springs in throngs for the Richard Kelly Memorial Adult/Junior Desert Open, which takes place this Saturday, September 14 from 7 am to 2 pm. If you are entertaining visitors from out of town, whether they’re on vacation or in the market for an international real estate purchase, this is the perfect weekend to give them a taste of everything Palm Springs has to offer.
The incredible event pays homage to the many contributions of Former City Council Member and Mayor of the City of Palm Desert, Richard Kelly. An avid supporter of the local community and junior golf, Mr. Kelly shared the vision of Desert Willow Golf Resort, where the tournament takes place. The current Mayor of the City of Palm Desert, Jan Harnik, will serve as Honorary Chairperson at this year’s event, where both adults and juniors team up to compete. All proceeds from the tournament benefit The First Tee of the Coachella Valley, a youth development program that teaches life skills and leadership through golf.
There are also some unique tours going on this Saturday. From 10 am to 4 pm the 13th annual Idyllwild Home Tour will be happening (more information on that in tomorrow’s blog post). Also on Saturday, but from 10 to 11 am, a trained docent will provide a Guided Public Art Tour of the Palm Desert Public Library’s impressive sculptures of its art collection. The Palm Desert Library is located at 73300 Fred Waring Drive in Palm Desert. For more information, call 760. 346.6552.
On Saturday night, Spanish-language rock musicians Caifanes will perform at the Fantasy Springs Casino. Their unique style is often described as a fusion of Latin percussion, British new wave and progressive rock.
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R. Hero by Karen & Tony Barone
There are many reasons why Palm Desert real estate is in such demand—and one of them is the city’s dedication to culture and the arts. This vibrant desert city has become one of the Coachella Valley’s premier hubs in everything from education and shopping to art shows. Every year, there is a wide range of special events and activities organized by some of the very active local organizations, such as Hidden Harvest, the Historical Society of Palm Desert, the Palm Springs Art Museum, Mojave Desert Land Trust and Walter N. Marks Center for the Arts at College of the Desert, among many others.
An excellent example of the city’s commitment is the Art in Public Places program, the city’s collection that features more than 150 pieces of artwork, including everything from grandiose sculptures to works that are integrated into the landscape of the city. Residents, tourists and foreign visitors looking at luxury international real estate properties are always in awe of the ubiquitous art.
There are city tours that will lead you through the locations of some of these awesome pieces—a great way to get a feeling for the community and desert cultural life is to take one of these tours during your search for Palm Desert real estate. Visit three “Komodo Dragons” sculptures created from copper coated galvanized steel or “Archangel,” a mobile halo homage to solar and wind-powered energy alternatives. Take the kids or grandkids to see “R Hero,” a six foot plus, purple aluminum Dalmatian puppy dog sculpture that was built to honor firefighters. Music aficionados will love “Thought of a Treble Clef,” an abstract sculpture that appears to be a treble clef when viewed from the front, but evolved into a flowing and changing piece as you walk around it.
If you’re in town looking at luxury international real estate or just want to make a move to the desert, click here to browse some incredible properties.
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We have an exciting but sentimental weekend coming up for visitors, residents and those who own Palm Desert real estate. Kicking it off this Saturday, September 7 is the Farewell Concert at Forever Marilyn Park in downtown Palm Springs. This unique event is an opportunity for Palm Springs to say goodbye to the 26-foot “Forever Marilyn” statue, created by renowned sculptor Seward Johnson. The desert cities’ love affair with this beautiful commemorative statue of Marilyn Monroe began when it arrived in May 2012. The statue will soon travel to its next tourism site, the 42-acre Grounds for Sculpture in Hamilton, New Jersey, where a lifetime retrospective exhibit for Johnson is planned.
The free concert features live performances from Catch a Wave, a dynamic Beach Boys tribute band, and Paperback Writer, a Beatles tribute band. The Forever Marilyn Park is located at 101 N. Palm Canyon Drive in Palm Springs. A perfect way to relax with the family or unwind after a long week of work or looking at homes for sale in Indian Wells, the concert takes place from 7:30 to 9 pm. For more information, contact the Buzz Factory at 760.969.4200.
Also on Saturday, American pop singer Bobby Vinton will perform at The Show at Agua Caliente Casino from 8 to 10 pm. Vinton was well-known for his hit song, Blue Velvet, which topped the Billboard charts. In addition, there will be an innovative art show at Studio D from 6 to 9 pm called Non Objective. The show features three artists with one vision, including Chris Hoffman, Kim Chasen, and Marian Moiseyev. There will be an artist reception and light refreshments. Studio D is located at 4116 Matthew Drive in Palm Springs.
Rounding out the weekend on Sunday, September 8 is the Sundays in Summer Cabaret Series 2013, featuring Keri Kelsey in Darin’ To Do Bobby. This vibrant musical production directed by Todd Schroeder includes iconic hits by singer and actor Bobby Darin such as Queen of the Hop, Mack the Knife, Two of a Kind, The Other Half of Me and Talk to the Animals, as well as never before heard stories about Bobby. The show takes place at the Arthur Newman Theatre from 2 to 4 pm and is the perfect way to take a break if you’re visiting open houses to check out Palm Desert real estate.
If you’re interested in homes for sale in Indian Wells or any other part of the desert cities, click here to browse our real estate listings.
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It’s never boring in Palm Springs—especially now that summer is drawing to an end and the football season is finally starting! People in town for vacation or who are here to look at international real estate are always blown away by the varied slate of activities you can find during any week of the year.
Long day at work? Tired from looking at La Quinta real estate properties? Take a break today and get your golf and football fix with the The Gridiron Challenge: Ravens vs. Broncos at the Desert Willow Golf Resort. It’s the perfect way to kick off the NFL season. You have your choice of challenging yourself with the Mountain View or Firecliff Courses anytime after noon in a series of Casual Golf days complete with contests held on-course. Afterwards, head back to the Clubhouse to enjoy a stellar dinner buffet that is covered by your green fee, and watch the Baltimore Ravens play the Denver Broncos on a 10 foot big screen! There will be raffles for awesome prizes throughout the entire game, as well as some great drink specials. For more info, visit DesertWillow.com.
If football doesn’t do it for you, you can still unwind from a day of looking at Indian Wells, Palm Desert and La Quinta real estate properties with some classic comedy! Check out a screening of the infamous movie directed by Billy Wilder, The Apartment, starring Jack Lemmon, Shirley MacLaine and Fred MacMurray. The screening, which is part of the Classic Comedies series put on by the Palm Springs Museum, takes place from 6 to 8 pm on Thursday, September 5 at the Annenberg Theater.
If you’re interested in making a move to the Palm Springs Valley or are in town to find international real estate property, click here to view some sensational listings.
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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.
image: thebestofthebesttours.com
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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.
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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.
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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.
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If you’ve run out of things to do this summer, there are still plenty of ways to keep boredom at bay—at least, if you live in the desert cities. If you’re in town to check out Indio real estate or an international investor looking at buying luxury international real estate in Palm Springs, you have an array of activities at your fingertips that will keep you occupied and excited about your potential move to the desert cities. Below are three fun things to do in your spare time this summer.
Take a Tour. There are so many cool tours to take—even if you’re already a resident, it’s always fun to explore what Palm Springs has to offer. If you’ve been considering buying Indio real estate, you’ll be excited to discover that Indio is the “Date Capitol” of the world. Not as in going out to find a significant other, but as in the delicious, nutrient-rich fruit. There is also a remarkable concentration of Mid-Century Modern Architecture that is definitely worth seeing, as well as tourist attractions including Elvis’s Honeymoon Hideaway and the Marilyn Monroe Statue, among many other exciting sights.
Cool off in the mountains. The desert cities boast the world’s largest rotating tram—the Palm Springs Aerial Tramway. Ascend thousands of feet during a 10 minute journey that takes you past the sheer cliffs of Chino Canyon to the top of San Jacinto Mountain, where you’ll be immersed in a chilly new climate zone, even when temperatures spike in the valley. Take a hike or guided nature walk, or have lunch or dinner at the Pines Café or Peaks Restaurant, which both offer breathtaking views.
Hit the Boulevard. El Paseo Boulevard is known as the “Rodeo Drive of the Desert.” In addition to finding some serious shopping opportunities among the chic designer boutiques, you can stroll along the beautifully manicured street, relax at the sidewalk cafes and people watch for hours on end.
If you’re an investor interested in buying luxury international real estate in Palm Springs, click here to browse some superb listings.
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