Quite frankly, there are few, if any, communities in the fair city of La Quinta that don’t have a view. Some neighborhoods are tucked right next to the mountains like La Quinta Cove and Traditions . . . others have a more panoramic view from a distance, quite dramatic . . . like La Quinta Fairways.
La Quinta Fairways is a well kept secret in our desert, conveniently located off of 50th Ave. near Washington St. and right around the corner from Old Town La Quinta. It is a quiet neighborhood, but very accessible – just 10 minutes away from Hwy. 111 and about 20 minutes from Interstate 10.
There are 254 homes in La Quinta Fairways and it is adjacent to La Quinta Resort and Club – with several of the golf holes of the resort’s Dunes Course winding through this private gated community. Though membership to The Dunes Club is not included in LQ Fairways HOAs, residents can receive discounted rates to play by using their city resident cards. Discounts apply to the Mountain Course and La Quinta’s public course, SilverRock, as well. Since there is no Clubhouse, community pool or fitness center, all is available at the Resort and consequently La Quinta Fairway’s HOAs are much lower.
La Quinta Fairways’ homes were built from 1994 to 2000 and are located both on and off the golf course. The streets are quiet and ideal for families with children and pets . . . and people are noticably friendly here. The smooth stucco homes in neutral colors with tile roofs are one and two-story and many have private pools with front and rear patios and courtyards, making for the perfect desert lifestyle. Floor plans range from approx. 1700sf to approx. 4,000sf and spectacular views of the Santa Rosa Mountains are a bonus.
La Quinta Fairways is truly a FIND !!! Allow Kimberley Kelly, Realtor with HK Lane Real Estate, to help you find your Desert Dream Home here . . . give her a call at 760-285-3578.
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Why is Old Town La Quinta such a destination for vacationers and residents alike??? The answer is simple . . . it’s quaint, it has charm, it’s not just a line of squared-off cookie cutter buildings with no soul. Au contraire . . . Old Town La Quinta has plenty of soul. It’s picturesque Main Street is lined with shops, boutiques, restaurants and cafes and sets the stage for outdoor concerts, art shows, seasonal activities and a weekly organic Farmers Market.
Old Town has fountains, benches, winding streets and a green lawn area . . . all of which invite you to stay awhile. Once there, you’ll surely want to take in some good food and refreshment to complete your Old Town experience. Here are several establishments you will surely want to try:
- The Grill on Main – Relaxed, casual atmosphere, Classic American Fare, specialty micro-brews, an interesting wine list and full bar. Lunch, Dinner, Happy Hour daily from 2 p.m. to 6 p.m.; Weekend Brunch served on Sat. & Sun.; Live Music every Fri. & Sat. night. Located at 78065 Main St., Suite 104
- Stuft Pizza Bar & Grill – A friendly, fun place for the finest pizza from their woodfired oven, along with tempting small plates, fresh salads, sandwiches and pasta. Their bar is a great place to meet friends or unwind watching the game, or you can enjoy a meal on our patio with great mountain views! Located at 78-015 Main St., Suite #100
- Solano’s Bistro – Recently moved to Old Town, this fabulous restaurant changes seasonally, offering fresh seafood, steak chicken and pasta for lunch, bar and dinner menus – along with beer, wine and a full-bar. Patio dining. Located at 78-075 Main St.
- Old Town Coffee Company – A favorite place for locals and visitors alike to hang out, people watch, dog watch, etc. But most important is their exceptional coffee brewed to order, fresh baked goods and light food. Their motto is ‘Where Good Friends meet Great Coffee.’ Located at 78-100 Main St., Suite #102
- Hog’s Breath Inn – It’s sister restaurant is in Carmel, serving specialty entrees and fresh seafood in a comfortable dining room and patio with outstanding views. Memorabilia from Clint Eastwood’s legendary movie career makes for a fun atmosphere, popular for lunch and dinner. Located at 78-065 Main St., Suite #200
- The Wine Bar at Old Town – Offering over 200 wines from around the world in their retail shop and 15-20 wines by the glass, any bottle from their retail shop, plus a number of micro-brew beers. A small friendly menu is available to accompany your wine selection. Located at 78-015 Main St., Suite #109
- Cool Options -Featuring all natural gelato and sorbetto – delicious and intense flavors made fresh with raw ingredients, no artificial additives or unhealthy fat; all natural sugar-free ice cream, homemade gelato pies, smoothies, Izze Italian sodas, etc. Located at 78-010 Main Street, Suite #108
So there you have it . . . there is no lack of fun and delicious dining experiences in Old Town La Quinta . . . from morning until night. See you there . . . and Bon Appetit !!!
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La Quinta's property values have increased..
Our Palm Springs Valley is rising it’s real estate value head..good for everyone living here or owning here. Buyers still get great value, but their selection is not as great and the price/sf has inched up a bit. It has become a very competitive Buyers’ market in La Quinta, California.
The Valley’s median home price, (half sold for more, half for less) was $210,000 in March. UP from $195,000 in February..a substantial increase. More luxury homes are being sold which pulls the median up. Across the entire valley, approx. 1,152 homes sold in March, a 3.3% increase from March of 2011. The big indicator? New Homes actually started selling! Approx. 60 new homes closed in March of 2012..that’s fantastic!
La Quinta Sales Statistics for March, 2012:
Total Sales: 166 Change from 2011 was up 19.4%!
Median price: $322,500 Change from 2011 was up 13.2%!
Highest priced Sale: $3,300,000 Median price/sf is up about 6% to $155/sf
If you are thinking of purchasing a vacation home or even moving up to a larger, or smaller, or newer property..2012 may be the year to actually do it! I am seeing a significant reduction of choices in all price points. Multiple offers are becoming the norm, so don’t try to “lowball” the Seller. Offer fair market value and make your offer clean and easy for the Seller. You’ll have a much better chance of success!
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We hadn’t had the chance to check out the Cliffhouse in La Quinta, perched on historic Point Happy, since it was recently taken over by Pacifica, the fabulous seafood restaurant and bar at The Gardens in Palm Desert. Pacifica is a class act and I could only imagine that the Cliffhouse would benefit by its new management. I had heard that the valet parking is a little dicey . . . and I must admit that I experienced that firsthand on Saturday. The energy of the valet team is a little aggressive and not welcoming – as they seem to cater to those driving Ferraris as opposed to regular “middle class” cars. BUT, once we climbed the stairs that meander next to the rock boulders and refreshing waterfall, we had regained our sense of good spirit and were delighted with what was to follow.
The Cliffhouse has a comfortable and earthy ambiance, that of a historic ranch house, offering magnificent mountain views from the indoor bar and dining area, an outdoor dining alcove carved into the adjacent granite mountain- complete with a flowing waterfall and a massive stone fireplace.
We met our friends at the Cactus Grill indoors and the atmosphere was festive and upbeat. The bar menu bears resemblance to the old Cliffhouse one, with a few subtle changes here and there. It feels a little more upscale, but prices are still affordable. The service was good, the Pinot Grigio I selected from the Happy Hour list was delightful and my simple order of a Wedge salad was executed perfectly. It was served at room temperature and everything was sumptuous and fresh. My friends offered up tastings of their French Fries and the yummy dishes they had ordered. We were all pleased as punch and very happy with our “new” Cliffhouse experience.
Hopefully, the valet parking situation will be resolved over time – there is no more park your own car, you must valet park. I have no beef with that, but the parking dudes could stand to take some lessons in customer service and proper valet etiquette. I won’t let that stop me from returning to the Cliffhouse for another delightful repast . . . and the sooner the better.
Living in La Quinta just keeps getting better and better !
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With home prices still falling in La Quinta and across America, could the housing market really be healing? That’s what two of the major U.S. banks say – Wells Fargo and Chase. Their earning reports disclosed that more Americans are taking out loans, paying them on time and taking advantage of low interest rates to refinance.
Chase, the biggest bank in the U.S., says that their income from new home loans made from January through March is record-breaking. They issued 6% more loans than this time last year and received 33% more applications.
At Wells Fargo, the bank issuing the most home loans, booked the most mortgage fees since 2009 and issued 54% more mortgages than a year ago . . . and took in 84% more applications.
As manufacturing and consumer spending have held their own or grown, the housing market has been the biggest drag on our nation’s economic recovery. Home prices are still falling, but have slowed down in the past serveral years and more than half a million American homes were in the foreclosure process at the end of March.
Yet, the stronger mortgage business reported by Chase and Wells Fargo helped to surpass Wall Street’s expectations for first-quarter earnings. Signs are encouraging and it’s a wait-and-see process as the year 2012 unfolds.
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The number of La Quinta homes and homes across the country that received first-time foreclosure notices rose 7% in March from the previous month, marking the third consecutive monthly increase this year. This increase reflects the heightened efforts of banks in taking action against homeowners who are behind with their mortgage payments.
Some real estate experts are pointing out that we have not seen the last of rising foreclosures and that there will be many more to come down the pipeline. Foreclosure activity slowed down markedly in the fall of 2010 – that’s when claims began to surface regarding banks and mortgage servicers processing foreclosures without properly verifying documents. Since then, a $25 billion settlement was reached in February between the largest U.S. mortgage lenders and state officials. This paved the way for banks to now take action on unpaid mortgages, some of which have been hanging in limbo for months and years. These are the homes that may be looking at being foreclosed and eventually ending up back on the market.
Typically, foreclosures sell at a discounted price compared to other homes and these sales can drag down the value of neighboring properties . . . meaning that it could now take even longer for home prices in certain markets to gain value.
Some experts are saying that it’s likely that the new crop of foreclosures will arrive in smaller waves throughout the year rather than all at one time. The sad part is that even more Americans will be losing their homes, never good.
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Most everywhere across the country, and in La Quinta too, all you have to do is look in the local paper at the ‘For Rent’ section of the Classifieds to see that the rent prices are climbing. At the same time, home prices are either still declining or remain at a relative low. This is enough to get some reluctant home buyers into the game and ready to take the plunge into home ownership and the current spring selling season is reflecting this trend.
Other factors contributing to the increased buying activity – sales made by investors and second-home purchasers . . . but, realtors are saying that they are hearing complaints from people who are currently renting about the rise in rental prices. Experts are saying that due to the rising rents (avg. apartment rents rose by 2.7% last year) coupled with stagnant or falling home prices and available low interest rates, demand for entry level homes is on the rise. They also believe that 2012 will be the first year since 2005 that the percentage of apartment renters moving out to buy a home will increase from the previous year.
Some housing analysts say that historically, the cost to rent an apartment has been about 10% lower than the after tax cost of owning a home. That discount began falling in 2010 and last year disappeared entirely. By the end of last year, it was found that the cost to rent an apartment was about 15% higher than the cost to own a home – showing that conditions are “overwhelming” in favor of buying now.
But not all markets have been seeing the same trend – for instance, in Orange County and NYC, where home prices are extremely high, it is still cheaper to rent. But even NY realtors say sales of small studio and one-bedroom apartments are brisk because renters don’t want to pay such high amounts to rent – so may as well own.
Spring home sales are bustling . . . and the question remains, To Buy or Not to Buy . . . stay tuned !!!
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Well, it’s called fearlessness . . . ‘the quality of mind enabling one to face danger or hardship resolutely.’ That is the dictionary’s definition and that pretty much sums up what my friend Kim Kelly is all about. This is a guest blog and I am writing about Kimberley Joy Kelly – realtor for HK Lane Real Estate in La Quinta AND longtime pro on the polo circuit and trainer of polo ponies.
In this month’s issue (April) of Palm Springs Life, there is an excellent article entitled “Chicks With Sticks,” spotlighting Kim and another local female equestrian and their careers in the male dominated sport of polo. I can’t talk intelligently about the game of polo, as I haven’t spent a lot of time around horses and have only observed the game as a spectator. All I know is that from knowing Kim personally, the fearlessness she displays in her facility as a polo player, a game with obvious risks and dangers, is the same fearlessness she displays when running her real estate business. No challenge is insurmountable to her, short sales don’t daunt her in the least (she’s had five years of experience in short sales with an excellent track record – and she knows how to deal with the banks !!! nuff said). She amazes me, her level of commitment and focus to whatever she puts her sights on.
I know what I’m talking about because I speak from personal experience – Kim represented me and my fiance when we bought our home last year. She was on top of everything, making sure we got the best price and that the confusing whirlwind of escrow, loan procurement, etc. went as easily and smoothly as possible. She took amazing care of us, treating us every bit as well as she treats her horses. And that’s saying something, because she LOVES her horses and intuitively knows and responds to their needs.
Okay, here’s your answer to the question “What does a polo player and a real estate agent have in common?” And the answer is . . . Kimberley Joy Kelly.
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When it comes to sleeping during the music festival..watch out! Any idea is a good idea. Everyone’s renting out their homes or their bedrooms, or whatever they can come up with. Then there are the temporary accomadations right at the fields! These “sleeping tipis” are all the rage. Rows and rows of white tipis with colorful extra large tipis for the Executives. Check it out…
coachella music festival sleeping tipis
Luxury sleeping at the Coachella Music Festival
Thermal is the site for future development of a high end country club and racetrack for wealthy car lovers. What a score for this Desert community located on the east end of the Palm Springs Valley !!! Developers planned to break ground today on this exciting project that’s been in the making for years.
Coined as the “Rich Man’s Playground,” the Thermal Club’s developers claim they will succeed because there just aren’t many other places like this in the entire world – even though economic times are tough around the globe. A project of this type is not a new idea in our desert, there has been talk of building something like it here since the late 1980s.
The race course has been in the design stages for the past two years by Alan Wilson, a well-known track designer out of Salt Lake City. It will feature 3 independent circuits with the flexibility of running 19 different configurations.
Discovery Land Company is the Scottsdale based development company which is handling development, sales and operations at the club. They also developed The Madison Club and The Hideaway luxury country clubs in La Quinta. Memberships to the non-equity private club start at $85,000, corporate memberships of $200,000 include up to 4 designees. Club members must purchase lots starting at $200,000.
Approximately 40 people have joined the Thermal Club so far, most of them having homes in the Palm Springs Valley, Los Angeles, Orange County and San Diego. Some members are from Texas, New York and Montana.
The Thermal Club project is expected to generate hundreds of jobs locally in construction, with about 60 permanent positions. What a boon for our desert here and for the city of Thermal !!! It will be exciting to see how this project develops !!!
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Quite frankly, there are few, if any, communities in the fair city of La Quinta that don’t have a view. Some neighborhoods are tucked right next to the mountains like La Quinta Cove and Traditions . . . others have a more panoramic view from a distance, quite dramatic . . . like La Quinta Fairways.
