The Living Desert in South Palm Desert
The Living Desert in Palm Desert; Coachella Valley Treasure. Absolutely, one of the BEST “Things to Do” here in the Coachella Valley, The Living Desert, is also a great source of pride amongst Locals. The entry with it’s beautiful Lion sculptures, only hints at the wonderful day, or night, ahead for you, your family, friends or our Seasonal visitors. Located off of Portola in South Palm Desert, The Living Desert is what it’s name implies..a Living world you won’t find anywhere else in our Desert Valley.
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The Cross Trail in Palm Desert offers hikers breathtaking views and a workout
Palm Desert is ripe with hiking opportunities. Many trails are close by and offer breathtaking panoramic views down into Palm Desert and out across the Coachella Valley to the San Andreas Faultline and north mountains beyond. “The Cross” trail, as it’s known to hikers, is exceptional.
PALM DESERT AND THE BEST HIKING IN THE VALLEY
The Cross is especially cool for several reasons. One is that you can bring your dog… some of Palm Desert’s other trails don’t allow them. Horses and Bikes are allowed, but it’s rare to cross paths with them. The trail is steep, gaining over 600 feet in elevation before reaching the large metal Cross (lighted at night) located on a promontory. Once there, you can look down into Stone Eagle Golf Course with its emerald green manicured fairways… a striking juxtaposition to the adjacent rocky landscape. And you just might happen upon Bighorn Sheep, as the area serves as their native habitat.
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One of the most amazing events for Palm Springs Valley residents and owners of Palm Desert real estate is the world famous Palm Springs International Film Festival (PSIFF). Founded in 1990 by former Mayor Sonny Bono, the festival is celebrating its 26h year with more than 200 films from over 60 countries, as well as special events and galas. One of the largest film festivals in North America, the PSIFF welcomes more than 135,000 attendees every year.
The PSIFF has a unique draw in that it presents most of the films under consideration in the Best Foreign Language category for the Academy Awards, in addition to many premieres of independent features and documentaries. This gives the lucky residents and owners of homes in La Quinta and the surrounding areas an amazing opportunity to be the first to see some incredible films that may not even be released in theaters in the United States. The stellar line-up of screenings are held on 15 screens throughout Palm Springs.
This PSIFF also offers the perfect opportunity for owners of homes in La Quinta and the surrounding regions, as well as the many visitors who flock to the area this time of year, to rub shoulders with some of their favorite film actors. The event is renowned for its annual Black Tie Awards Gala, which honors achievements by an incredible list of artists and talent. Citizenfour director Laura Poitras will be honored with the inaugural Filmmakers Who Make a Difference Award as part of its Talking Pictures program. The screening takes place Friday, January 9 at 4:30 p.m, with the awards presentation following. Variety Magazine will present actor Steve Carell with the Creative Impact in Acting Award to celebrate his scope of work, and two-time Directors Guild of America Award-winner and Oscar, Golden Globe, and Tony Award nominated director Rob Marshall will receive the Creative Impact in Directing Award, to honor his career as a theater and film director. In addition, Variety will present Emmy Award winning comedian, director and actor Chris Rock with the Creative Impact in Comedy Award. These awards are presented by Mercedes-Benz. In the past, those honored have included Richard Gere, Helen Mirren, Javier Bardem, Cate Blanchett, George Clooney, Clint Eastwood, Daniel Day-Lewis, Leonardo DiCaprio and Ron Howard, among many others. The festival began on January 2 and runs through January 12 this year.
Whether you live in Los Angeles, are a resident of Orange County, or own Palm Desert real estate, this is the perfect chance to immerse yourself in the vibrant and stimulating Desert Cities culture. For more information and to buy passes, visit psfilmfest.org.
Click here if you are in the market for Palm Deset real estate or homes in another part of the Palm Springs Valley. image credit: psfilmfest.org/Lucid Media
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Tourists, locals and residents of neighboring cities all understand the appeal of Palm Desert real estate—beautiful weather, unparalleled shopping, fine dining and a wide range of outdoor activities that are perfect for the entire family. Palm Desert isn’t all spas and golf, though many buyers from all over world seek out both Palm Desert real estate and Palm Springs homes for sale for those reasons alone. There are plenty of family-friendly activities and things to do that all ages will truly enjoy.
1. Head to the Park. Grab a football, skateboard and all your other favorite sports gear and make a trip to the Palm Desert Civic Center park. It’s the perfect place for a family picnic, friendly game of football, day of cycling and just walking around and exploring. Beautiful ponds filled with ducks and grassy areas that seem to go on for miles make this a popular recreation destination.
2. Dive in. The Palm Desert Aquatic Center at the Palm Desert Civic Center Park is an eight–acre facility with a shallow splash pool, water slides and an Olympic-size pool that’s perfect for swimming laps and practicing dives.
3. Feel the rush. For the adventurer, the thrill rides at Wet ‘N Wild in nearby Palm Springs promise a fun day of adrenaline rushes. It makes sense that this adds an element of fun appeal to Palm Springs homes for sale, but it’s truly just a hop, skip and a jump from Palm Desert as well.
4. Off-road discovery. The rugged desert offers the perfect locale for all-terrain vehicle adventure tours of the rocky terrain and steep mountainsides.
5. Absorb some culture. The state-of-the-art McCallum Theatre offers an incredible variety of performances by world-class artists that include everything from ballets and symphonies to productions of children’s fairy tales and magic acts.”
Click through to browse listings of Palm Desert real estate and homes in other parts of the beautiful Coachella Valley.
image: palm-desert.org
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The international real estate market is heating up—and if you’ve got Palm Desert real estate on the market, foreign buyers should definitely be part of your target market. Many are seeking a second residence, a vacation home or an investment for their portfolio.
An important way to expand your pool of buyers to tap into this trend is to take your digital listing to another level with a stellar virtual tour. This will allow prospective buyers who are traveling from abroad the opportunity to browse your luxury property’s features before they get into town. Doing so will not just boost exposure in the international real estate market; locals will also appreciate getting a look in advance of an actual viewing or open house. Plus, your real estate agent will really appreciate your initiative.
Here are a few tips to help you get started with the amazing virtual tour you’re going to create to showcase your gorgeous luxury property.
- Plan your tour in advance. Walk through your house with the most objective eye possible and try to determine the best angles for shooting. Plan your shots in a way that will show how the rooms flow and highlight your property’s best features.
- Film short clips. Move very slowly as you shoot each room of your house. To ensure a steady hand and the most professional looking results, you may want to employ the use of a tripod. Use it to swivel from side to side so that you can provide 360 degree views of each room.
- Take lot of great stills. Even though this is essentially a video, you will want to include some photos as well, especially if your property features a lot of amenities, such access to a golf course, tennis courts, swimming pools and picturesque views.
- Find easy-to-use software to edit your clips together. If you have a Mac, iMovie will be your best choice. For PCs, Movie maker is equally user-friendly.
If you’re on the other side of the fence and are looking for Indian Wells, La Quinta or Palm Desert real estate property, click here to browse some amazing listings.
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Nearly all real estate professionals, from listing agents to short sale realtors, recommend having an extensive home inspection conducted before making an offer. The process is designed to help you avoid unexpected costs associated with repairs stemming from issues or damage sustained prior to your move in.
If any issues are discovered during the inspection, you will then have the opportunity to go back to the seller and re-negotiate, based on the potential costs you may incur. As you can imagine, home inspections are essential to ensuring that you get a fair deal on the property. Whether you’re interested in Palm Desert real estate or a house in the mountains, home inspections are an invaluable resource.
A home inspection typically evaluates several aspects of both the interior and exterior of the house. If you are working closely with listing agents or short sale realtors, you may want to involve them in the entire process, as they may have some inside knowledge about the property itself, or have experienced situations that are similar to any issues you may come across in the process, and have solutions to help you renegotiate.
The home inspector will assess important areas of the house where issues may be difficult to see for the untrained eye. For example, they will look for cracks and irregularities in the foundation and leaks in the roof, as well as examine the sills on windows, seals on doors and peeling paint, among a wide range of other potential issues. They will thoroughly inspect the infrastructure of the home, including the electrical and heating systems, as well as air conditioning units, which can be very important when it comes to Palm Desert real estate and other desert properties. In addition, they will ensure that the home is properly situated for drainage.
If the home inspector discovers potential issues, this does not necessarily mean you should give up on the property. Think of the inspection a resource that will provide tools for you to accurately determine the home’s value, prevent you from incurring costs that you shouldn’t be paying for, and ultimately, help you obtain the home you’ve been dreaming of.
Visit this link if you are in the market for Palm Desert real estate or homes in other parts of the Palm Springs Valley.
image: albaninspect.com
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Rockin’ the Holiday Musical Review
This week is a great time to be in town, whether you live here year round, are a snowbird or are in town to look at Palm Desert real estate. Check out some of the festive activities taking place this week that are perfect for the entire family.
Now through Sunday, December 28, the renowned Desert Springs Marriott Resort & Spa is hosting Rockin’ the Holiday Musical Review, a series of live concerts featuring Broadway talent performing classic holiday tunes with a rock and roll twist. The festive performances will take place at the JW Pavilion every Friday, Saturday and Sunday, with cocktail receptions before the evening shows. Prices are $15 for children ages 3 to 15, $30 for general admission and $55 for a VIP ticket.
Remembering Sheila Brown-The Last Originals will be exhibited through December 28 at the Desert Art Collection and Sculpture Garden. The internationally artist and desert resident will be honored with a show of her original works, including hand-tinted etchings from the Smithsonian Collection. Benow was the recipient of Palm Springs Life Magazine’s Lifetime Achievement Award in 2011.
On Thursday, December 4 from 8 to 10 pm, the McCallum Theatre’s Annual Gala will be in full swing, featuring six-time Tony Award winner Audra McDonald and actor, comedian, singer, writer and Tony Award winner Martin Short. McDonald will be accompanied by a 60-piece orchestra conducted by Grammy Award winner Richard Kaufman.
This weekend is one of Palm Desert’s renowned First Weekends in Palm Desert, which means extended shopping hours coupled with a celebration of world class art, entertainment and cultural activities. It’s an excellent time to enjoy the festivities and get some of your holiday shopping done.
If you are currently in the market for property in the Palm Springs Valley, click here to browse listings of Palm Desert real estate, equestrian ranches and homes for sale in the other desert cities.
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If you’re looking to sell your Palm Desert real estate, there are always things you can do to improve your chances. Here are some easy-to-implement tips that will help you boost the appeal of that gorgeous property in La Quinta, beach cottage or even a downtown loft.
1. Augment your realtor’s online marketing efforts. In this day and age, technological advances give both buyers and sellers a head start on the process. In fact, research shows that more than 90 percent of buyers begin their search online. Therefore, listings must be dynamic and compelling in order to get buyers to actually come take a look. Provide your realtor with as many flattering photos as possible of that stunning property in La Quinta – get every nook and cranny from every angle possible.
2. Post your listing on your Facebook and Google Plus pages. Choose a stellar photo to feature and a direct link to your agent or realtor’s listing of the property. Your personal network may be able to significantly boost exposure of the home you’re selling.
3. Compete! Much of your competition may be low-priced foreclosures or short sales with pricing you don’t really want to compete with. However, you can compete in other ways. Get as many repairs done in advance of selling your home as possible and be willing to meet certain conditions that potential buyers may have. Strive to fix little things such as hardware, knobs, etc.—having those small items in mint condition makes a big difference when it comes to a prospective buyer’s first impression.
4. Open up to the neighbors. If you live in a small, close-knit community, make sure to keep everyone abreast of your plans to sell and forward them your listing. Another unique tactic is to invite them to an open house that is more of a party, but lets them get a good look so they can tell any of their friends or family who may be on the hunt for a house. Many people would love the chance to have a hand in choosing their new neighbors, so why not give them one?
If you’re on the other side of the fence and are interested in Palm Desert real estate, click here to view some incredible listings.
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Black Friday is here! Locals, visitors and those looking at homes for sale in Palm Desert have a bevy of shopping options to explore this weekend. The region is famed for its chic boutiques and designer outlet shopping—and the holiday seasons is a magical time to visit and shop in the desert cities.
The famed El Paseo Boulevard, a wonderful shopping district of chic boutiques, transforms into a winter wonderland this week, with all sorts of exciting events taking place throughout the season. On Black Friday, there will be special sales at an array of stores including Escada, Chico’s and Optical Shop of Aspen, among other great stores. You’ll be able to finish all of your holiday shopping with one visit to El Paseo Boulevard, as the stores feature everything from shoes, contemporary and couture clothing collections, to fine jewelry, art and designer home wares. Throughout the season, there will be many awesome in-store events and extended shopping hours, especially during the citywide First Weekends events taking place starting this Friday. Be sure to hit both The Shops on El Paseo and The Gardens on El Paseo.
If you’re looking for fun and unique items for the art and design aficionados in your live, you’ll find plenty of options in Palm Springs’ Uptown Design District, which features shops including Trina Turk, Shag: The Store, Just Fabulous, Raymond | Lawrence and more.
Charming Old Town La Quinta boasts boutiques that feature designers such as Rag & Bone, Diane von Furstenberg and James Perse. Find decorative accents at Gracie’s Emporium and incredible gifts for food and wine connoisseurs at The Wine Bar at Old Town or La Quinta Olive Oil Company.
The Desert Hills Premium Outlets in Cabazon is renowned as one of the best outlet malls in the country. You’ll find designer picks at outlet prices at stores such as Movado, Alice + Olivia, Elie Tahari, J.Crew, Ralph Lauren, Calvin Klein, Gucci, Helmut Lang and many more. The nearby Cabazon Outlets features sportswear brands including Puma, Under Armour, Oakley, Merrell, Adidas, Reebok and many more.
Click through to discover some amazing listings of homes for sale in Palm Desert.
image: thegardensonelpaseo.com
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The popularity of golf has increased significantly over the last few decades. Baby boomers are entering their prime golf years and people in general crave a calming physical activity that provides an escape from their anxious lives. As the game has risen among the ranks, the culture has transformed as well. The fusion of the golf lifestyle with real estate has resulted in a rising demand for golf properties among Rancho Mirage and Palm Desert real estate, as well as other Palm Springs area homes for sale.
While the first wave of country club communities surged in the 1970s and early 1980s, most of the popular golf communities are much newer and more modern. At one time many golfers simply performed an internet search for “Palm Desert Golf Communities” in hopes of finding a home with a golf course nearby; now many are looking directly for more opulent “big name” courses that are coupled with the amenities associated with the lifestyle they seek. The appeal of master planned golf communities also extends to those looking for a retirement home or second residence that gives them the feeling of enjoying an endless vacation.
The options among Palm Springs area homes for sale are wide-ranging, with offerings that provide homeowners with a sense of luxury that is unrivaled in other parts of the country. In addition to the highest quality courses, buyers can find everything from a multitude of dining options, private jet services and an on-site concierge, to access to lavish spa treatments, hiking trails, horseback riding and community events. Whether you are looking for a golf community within Rancho Mirage, La Quinta or anywhere else in the Palm Springs valley, keep in mind of the fundamental features that can make it great: course design, impeccable maintenance, easy access, and most of all, superior residences.
image: PalmSprings.com
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