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.
.
More
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
More
It’s the New Year and if your home is on the market, one of your resolutions is probably to unload that property at the best price and in the quickest possible time frame. Oftentimes when people list Palm Springs homes for sale, they figure that they can rely on the beautiful backdrop of the desert to do the selling for them. While the stunning area views are definitely a selling point, sellers have to stage their home properly in order to attract the buyers who are serious about purchasing a property. You can own the most beautiful property in La Quinta, Rancho Mirage or Palm Desert, but if the house isn’t staged properly, potential buyers are likely to move on to the next.
One of the best ways to start preparing Palm Springs homes for sale —and an excellent resolution for everyone—is to de-clutter. This is extremely important as it will make your home look more spacious and roomy. Plus, the less there is in the home, the less that the potential buyer has to use their imagination.
Your goal should be not only to get rid of excess clutter, such as boxes, clothing, appliances and household items you no longer use, but to eliminate some of the furniture. Again, this will make the space look so much larger. Really assess what you can live without and get rid of it. You should aim to get rid of as much as a half if possible, but if not, make removing one quarter of the furnishings your minimum goal.
If you have to store boxes in the garage, make sure that you don’t clutter that area either. It’s very likely that buyers will ask you to put the garage door up so you can see inside. At the very least, get some garage storage cabinets so they’re not looking at messy boxes.
Make a rule that for any new item you buy over the next few months, something else has to be removed or thrown out. This will help you maintain whatever de-cluttering you get done in the next few weeks. Once you’ve eliminated the clutter from your desert property in La Quinta, Palm Desert Rancho Mirage or any other area in Coachella Valley, you’ll be well on your way to finding a dream buyer for your beloved home.
More
PGA West has some of the most spectacular golf holes!
Nothing to panic about..but PGA West and the La Quinta Resort & Spa have changed hands once gaain. Humana Challenge will still be held here and the PGA West name will continue at least through 2061…
PGA West sits on approx. 1200 acres and offers 6 golf courses, 3 of which are private and the other 3 are public courses. It’s an amazing development with condos ranging from approx. $199,000 to custom homes priced to approx. $2,700,000..something for every golfing enthusiast that lives in the desert!
More
If you’ve been staying in Coachella Valley to view Palm Desert real estate or homes in La Quinta, you may want to learn about cool things to do that are just a short distance away. The perfect example of this is the 20th annual Festival of Lights celebration at the nearby Mission Inn Hotel & Spa. Located in Riverside, just 60 miles away from Palm Springs, this fabulous event attracts more than 250,000 visitors each year.
More than 3.6 million lights transform this national historic landmark into a mesmerizing and magical display of holiday lights that the whole family will truly enjoy. This unrivalled event commences each year on the day after Thanksgiving with an opening ceremony that includes an amazing fireworks show.
This unique holiday celebration includes live entertainment such as Dickensian carolers and literally hundreds of characters in 17th Century costumes. In addition, the event features authentic horse-drawn carriage rides, freshly fallen snow and visits from Santa that locals and owners of homes in La Quinta, Rancho Mirage and all the other desert cities look forward to for months.
This one-of-a-kind tradition is presented by the owners of the Mission Inn, Duane and Kelly Roberts, who saved the Mission Revival-style hotel from destruction and reopened it in 1992. The hotel offers special packages during the festival to accommodate visitors who want to immerse themselves in the experience. It’s the perfect way to both kick off and end the holiday season, and a great way for those looking at Palm Desert real estate to get a feel of some of the wonderful, wide range of experiences available to them in the desert communities.
Due to popular demand, the Festival of Lights has been extended and will run through January 5, 2013. The Mission Inn Hotel & Spa is located at 3649 Mission Inn Avenue, Riverside, CA 92501. Click here for more information.
image credit: smartmeetings.com
More
La Quinta real estate is always in demand—and for a variety of reasons. With its rich history, vibrant culture, impeccable golf courses and beautiful climate, it’s no wonder it’s called the “Gem of the Desert.”
The renowned Robb Report named La Quinta the “Best Place to Live for Golf” due to its array of remarkable golf courses, including several PGA courses, such as the PGA West Greg Norman Course, the PGA west Jack Nicklaus Tournament and the PGA West Stadium Course. Other notable courses include The Golf Club at La Quinta, the La Quinta Resort Dunes Course and the SilverRock Golf Club, designed by Arnold Palmer and ranked as “The Best Tour Course You Can Play” by Golfweek in 2009.
In addition to the many golf courses and access to outdoor activities, another reason many choose to buy La Quinta real estate is the city’s rich culture. Events such as the La Quinta Arts Festival and all the live theatre performances at the La Quinta Playhouse, coupled with beautiful public art pieces, offers much to do and see for the art lover. The charming Old Town La Quinta features stellar shopping and dining options, as well as the best in spa and salon services.
Stunning views of the Little San Bernardino, Santa Rosa and San Jacinto Mountains, and average winter temperatures in the mid 70’s, make it difficult to leave this desert respite. Average rainfall is less than five inches per year, and temperatures rarely drop below freezing, making for a mild climate. Even though the summer temperatures may soar, it’s a dry heat that many find very enjoyable. It makes perfect sense that visitors flock to the entire region for its desirable, moderate weather.
image credit: kolterhomes.com
More
When selling your home, make sure the interior is spic and span! By now, you’ve got some serious momentum going in regards to preparing your home for sale. Whether you’re looking to sell La Quinta real estate property or a home in another area of the region, now is a great time to get the house looking its very best, since many visitors and international tourists in the market for a vacation home are visiting during this time of year.
Many of the details that you consider minor actually make a big difference to buyers who are seeing a property for the first time. Even if they’ve looked at other Indio real estate properties or homes in other areas of Palm Springs, when they come across a home that appears to be in mint condition and well-kept, the overall effect can quickly cause a sale to turn in your favor.
Do a scan of the house and then make it sparkle from top to bottom. When you have an open house coming up, wash the windows, both inside and outside, vacuum thoroughly and mop or wax the floors until they shine. Assess the sinks, tubs and showers to see if they need re-caulking and bleach any grout that is dingy. Dust all the furniture and areas where dirt accumulates, such as ceiling fan blades, light fixtures and chandeliers.
Remember, if you’re trying to sell a La Quinta real estate property or something similar, the buyers are going to expect the premises to be pristine and high-end. If there are worn bedspreads or duvets on the beds, replace them now. Buy brand new towels for the bathroom, only to be put out when you know there are some prospects coming to look at the house. If you’ve considered replacing a worn bedspread, do so now! Also, replace any burned-out light bulbs or worn-out rugs.
Last but not least, make sure the exterior of the house is spic and span. Hose the garage, driveways and sidewalks down, or rent a pressure washer to get the job done. Clean out any cobwebs in the garage or patio and sweep or rake any dead leaves. Polish any chrome faucets throughout, wipe down all the mirrors and air out any areas that are musty or have odors. It’s even recommended to clean out your refrigerator.
Whether your goal is to sell an Indio real estate property or any other area in Palm Springs Valley, know that if it takes some work to prepare your property, the payoff will be worth it.
More
It doesn’t matter if you love snow-capped mountains or the desert, there are potential properties for second homes that can meet a wide range of budgets. Whether your dream is to find Palm Springs homes for sale, La Quinta real estate properties or something on the other end of the spectrum, such as a ski cabin or beach house, there are many benefits to owning a second residence.
When you choose a region that is popular among vacationers, those areas typically retain their value and can often times yield nice long-term profits if you plan to resell later on. For example, if you choose a desert property in the Coachella Valley, there is usually only a certain amount of area to build upon, so the chance of demand for Palm Springs homes for sale to increase over the years is pretty likely. While there is no guarantee that real estate prices won’t fluctuate over time, resort-like towns tend to maintain value overall.
There are also some tax advantages that behoove buyers of second homes. If you plan to leave the property unoccupied when you’re living in your primary residence, the interest on your mortgage and property taxes are deductible.
If you do decide to rent your second home during the time that you’re not there, you may be able to deduct operating expenses such as utilities, cable, maintenance, housekeeping and management costs. Many owners of La Quinta real estate rent their homes to snowbirds during the times they’re not personally enjoying the sunny weather, as those peak season rates can create a pretty nice profit margin. Often times, one week of rental income can equal an entire month’s mortgage.
image source: theminimalistmom.com
More
La Quinta has golf communities and more!
The La Quinta real estate market has specific appeal to a particular demographic—but it’s not just retirees. With its vast array of golf course homes, gated and non-gated communities to choose from, this luxury market is in high demand. Both sales and inquiries rose this summer and with low interest rates in place, the trend looks like it will continue for this resort area.
If golf course or country club properties are not what you’re looking for, there are still many beautiful neighborhoods in the La Quinta real estate market. In general, the properties tend to have a newer architectural look, giving the resort city a charming yet modern overall feel.
In addition to the city’s spectacular golfing, there are amazing shopping and dining options, as well as a multitude of outdoor activities, including tennis, cycling the Bear Creek Trail or stunning hikes in the San Jacinto and Santa Rosa mountains. It’s easy to understand why La Quinta appeals to residents and visitors of all ages!
More
La Quinta Fairways entry gate
Location is everything, right? When you are looking for a reasonably priced single family residence in the city of La Quinta and it has to be gated..consider La Quinta Fairways.
Located off of 50th in La Quinta, this RJT built community is lovely. Homes were built in early 1990’s,and offer both quiet, interior locations and also fairway homes. The low HOA of approx. $220/month includes front yard landscape and guard manned front gate + trash pick up. The fairway is part of the Mountain Course at the La Quinta Hotel and Country Club. Golf Membership is available through that club which is just down the street.
About 5 minutes from charming Old Town La Quinta, this quiet, friendly community offers both full-timers as well as seasonal home owners a secure place to call home.
Home prices range from approx. $275,000 to approx. $650,000.
If you are looking for a nice sized home in a gated community with manageable HOA’s..consider this to be one of your best choices in La Quinta…La Quinta Fairways.
More
