Bermuda Dunes is home to some legendary golfing as well as gorgeous real estate!
Another element that makes the area so exciting to prospective buyers of Palm Desert real estate and Palm Springs homes for sale is that world famous celebrities including Clark Gable, NFL running back Casey Merrill and Arnold Palmer have all lived at Bermuda Dunes. The course also attracts a substantial number of professional players from around the world who travel there to enjoy the rolling fairways every year.
In addition to the gorgeous views of fresh water lakes and the San Jacinto Mountains, Bermuda Dunes golf club also distinguishes itself as a “classic” style course, with 27 holes of championship golf available for play and an innovative tee sheet system that ensures you can always get a tee time.
This stunning area boasts miles of riding trails and equestrian friendly areas, as well as lots of opportunities for tennis, swimming, hiking and biking. With 10 other golf clubs and communities within the five mile radius, Bermuda Dunes real estate and properties in the surrounding region offer the perfect sanctuary for golfers and outdoor lovers.
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The famed Rat Pack loved Palm Springs!
Palm Springs will always be a part of iconic Hollywood—to this day both locals and tourists marvel at the architectural mystique of some of the gorgeous celebrity homes and the historical flavor of some of the town’s hotspots and landmarks, such as the Palm Springs Walk of Stars, the Elvis Honeymoon Hideaway and places that the Rat Pack used to frequent.
Whether you take an organized tour or catch some glimpses while perusing Palm Springs homes for sale, there are plenty of celebrity abodes to be amazed by. Those searching for Rancho Mirage Real Estate often want to get a good look at Frank Sinatra’s lavish property at the base of Tamarisk Country Club. The 8,000 square foot main residence and 4500 square foot guest quarters are flanked by trains that appear both inside and outside the property, a result of Sinatra’s fascination with train cars. Inside there is a barber salon, as well as specially commissioned portraits of many of Sinatra’s cohorts, from Dean Martin and Sammy Davis Jr., to Ronald Reagan, Eva Gabor and Marilyn Monroe.
Once finished looking at Rancho Mirage Real Estate and Sinatra’s home, many are inspired to get a look at Dean Martin’s midcentury modern home. It was one of the last masterpieces created by the renowned father and son architectural team, George and Robert Alexander, who passed away in a plane crash, soon after Martin purchased this gem of a property.
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Kim Kelly is an expert short sale Realtor!
The short sale enterprise can be a bit complex. Since it involves the bank, a buyer and a seller, there are probably a few other players involved, including a seller broker, appraiser, and a few who represent the bank’s interests. With so many cards stacked, it only makes sense for a buyer to retain the services of a short sale realtor.
A short sale transaction requires significant expertise and some insight into how each involved party thinks. The buyer typically attempts to push a low ball offer, which means persuading the bank to get the loan off its books at the lowest price possible. This sounds like it can still be simple but when the seller still has any financial ability to influence the sale, that’s where it can get more complicated—and where a short sale realtor becomes invaluable.
Again, whether you’re looking for homes for sale in Palm Springs or any other part of the state, it’s important to work with a realtor with vast expertise, especially in regards to short sales—you want an experienced Agent who CLOSES their short sales. Ideally, you want someone who is familiar with different lenders, is connected in the area and has negotiation skills that transcend normal real estate transactions.
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Palm Springs offers affordable luxury!
Nestled in the picture perfect Coachella Valley, Palm Springs draws visitors from across the globe, from the jetsetters and foodies to athletes, outdoor lovers and those who simply want to relax. The population is still under 50,000, yet it’s a diverse community with lots of international flavor, from its fine dining and cosmopolitan shopping to its upscale downtown, museums and theaters.
While the area has always been a respite for Angelenos, the international community has expanded significantly, creating substantial demand for Palm Springs homes for sale. Known as the “Playground of the Stars,” as evidenced by some of the town’s main drags such as Frank Sinatra Drive and Bob Hope Drive, the population still attracts the wealthy and famous, yet the population has grown considerably more diverse, which has only enhanced the rich culture of Palm Springs. Add in the picturesque San Jacinto mountains for hiking and cycling, and the plethora of other outdoor activities available, and it’s a slam dunk for anyone looking for a sophisticated yet laid back primary home, secondary residence or vacation home.
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The Palms in Palm Springs!
Certain cities pull people in. Other cities pull us back..again and again. Palm Springs is one of the latter. It did that to me over 25 years ago. I remember driving over the hill from Long Beach, hitting the Whitewater Pass and letting out a deep breath. Miles of open space, warm and balmy air and a feeling of Freedom!
This is a great article about why people come back to Palm Springs..
Then there are the Art Festivals..Palm Springs offers 6 of them and the number is growing! Starting in January and going throughout the season, film buffs can see all the new ones hitting the screens. Live entertainment? Try the Coachella Music Festival and Stagecoash Festival in April. Lots to do here in the Valley!
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Palm Springs – Smoke Tree Ranch is one of those neighborhoods that stands out like no other in the desert. It is considered by many to be the ultimate example of exclusivity, notoriety and prestige, dating back to the 1930s. A relaxed, casual and rustic lifestyle can be found here at Smoke Tree Ranch.
Smoke Tree Ranch’s pristine landscape
Smoke Tree is so private and tucked away from view that many Valley residents don’t even know it is there or have never ventured behind its guarded entrance gate. Encompassing approximately 300 pristine acres of desert, Smoke Tree boasts an amazing array of 93 luxury residences and the 20 acre Smoke Tree Guest Ranch, which is located at its center. The homes are represented by a variety of architectural styles, all blending harmoniously in with their natural setting.
Buying opportunities in Smoke Tree Ranch do not come along often . . . and there are new homes currently under construction. Owning in Smoke Tree affords you the opportunity to join the Ranch Club and enjoy it’s recently renovated clubhouse, restaurant, swimming pool, tennis club, on-site hotel/bungalows for guests and access to Smoke Tree Stables.
This historic neighborhood offers an unmatched lifestyle enjoyed by many celebrities of the past, including Walt Disney. It is conveniently located ten minutes away from downtown Palm Springs and the Palm Springs International Airport and Interstate 10 are an easy 20 minutes from Smoke Tree – making travel outside of the desert easy and accessible.
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Palm Springs – There are many wonderful communities in Palm Springs with charm and history, harkening back to the glamorous Old Hollywood days. Alta is not one of those communities . . . instead, it is a master planned community of 67 semi-custom Contemporary homes in the scenic and serene area of South Palm Canyon.
Alta was designed by award winning architect Narendra Patel in the mid 2000s with a goal to “design homes that promote a three-dimensional reflection of the inner landscape of a settled mind.” Patel’s end result was an array of floor plans offering state-of-the-art amenities and the Ultimate in Contemporary desert living.
The homes found in Alta are for the discriminating buyer and architectural enthusiast. These homes feature walls of glass which disappear into their adjacent walls, revealing the seamless indoor/outdoor lifestyle Southern California is so well known for. Other luxury amenities include built in sound systems, water features, solar panels and more.
The views from Alta are breath-taking, as it is nestled in the shade of the towering San Jacinto Mountains with Indian Canyons to the South. “Old Town” Palm Springs is minutes away by car and Interstate 10 and the Palm Springs Airport are a quick 20 minute drive.
Alta homes offer three flexible floor plans ranging from 2,875sf to 4,783sf with plenty of options such as guest casitas, gym, butler’s pantry, pool and hardscape packages, etc. Alta’s professional Design Center staff will work with you in choosing fixtures and finishes that are of highest quality and style.
Is your interest piqued? Then you will want to contact Kim Kelly with HK Lane Real Estate to tour you around Alta and show you the unique and one-of-a-kind homes for sale there. 760-285-3578.
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Palm Springs – There is a new small boutique hotel being planned for construction on North Palm Canyon Drive being planned by Ezra Callahan – a young early employee of Facebook. It’s being touted as a potential clubhouse of sorts, a la Ace Hotel, for those who love style and green construction.
Arrive Palm Springs – may be soon to arrive
The 32-room hotel will be called Arrive Palm Springs. There are other partners in this exciting project – a Seattle architect, a Denver-based restauranteur, and two men working in redevelopment in Los Angeles. Once the plans get approved through the city, these developers are saying they want to break ground early in the new year and be open by the 1st of July.
The project’s architect has said that “Arrive will cater to the next generation of global travelers influenced by culture, fashion, design and sustainability.” He also says that Palm Springs was targeted for this project because of “its appreciation and affinity for modern architecture, design-oriented population and geographic positioning as a world class vacation destination.”
That pretty much says it all. And it’s likely that Arrive Palm Springs will stay in the same genre as Palm Springs’ modernist architectural traditions. In addition, the hotel will be built so as to receive LEED Gold label certification, with its 32 pre-fabricated guest rooms. There will also be a restaurant and two additional retail buildings to encourage more pedestrian traffic on North Palm Canyon Dr.
Exciting things on tap for our Valley indeed !!!
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Palm Springs – Maybe you’ve done it . . .
or you know someone who has – that is, paid a contractor up-front for work to be done on their home . . . and then it didn’t get finished or was done poorly or the contractor skipped town.
California consumers are now being alerted by the Contractors State License Board (CSLB) about what the law is regarding down payments paid to contractors – painters, landscapers, or any other type of construction contractor. It is illegal for a contractor to ask for or accept a down payment of more than 10% of the total home improvement contract price . . . or $1,000, whichever amount is less.
Consumers who were victimized and have filed complaints with the CSLB tell investigators they were unaware of a legal limit for down payments. And there are many unlicensed operators out there who also don’t know about this California law. If that is the case, this should be a red flag for you if you are looking to have work done by them.
If you are asked for a large amount of money up front before beginning work at your home, the worker may not be licensed or have the skills necessary to perform the work satisfactorily. There have been many cases where unlicensed operators have taken a substantial down payment from a homeowner and never start the project. It is virtually impossible at that point to recoup your money.
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Palm Springs – Every year – runners, walkers, joggers flock to the Palm Springs Tram Road Challenge 6K race. This year it will be held on October 27 and there will be something new about the race!
Each of the Palm Springs Valley’s nine cities is invited to compete with one another for the highest number of registrants in the race. The city that gets the greatest turnout of people signed up for the race will receive acknowledgement in The Desert Sun . . . and also receive a plaque giving special recognition celebrating the city’s dedication to its residents’ health and the community’s spirit of volunteerism.
The Desert Sun’s designers are working with all of the cities to help promote the competition by creating fliers and helping with promotional outreach. The fliers will include information about the challenge such as the schedule of events leading up to the race and the link to register. Each city will have fliers posted on its website and they will be distributed around to businesses and neighborhood associations.
You can visit the main informational link to get more info on the Tram Road Challenge or to sign up at www.facebook.com/PSMakeADifferenceDay.
So, come on out everybody and support your city while you are supporting your own healthy lifestyle. It will be one fun party you won’t want to miss!
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