So much is happening this weekend—it’s an excellent time to visit or look for Palm Springs homes for sale, while still enjoying yourself on your downtime. Check out what the desert cities have in store to kick off of the weekend.
On Thursday, May 8 from 7:30 to 9 pm, Concerts in the Park: Britain’s Finest will take place at the Palm Desert Civic Center Park Amphitheater, a popular spot for live music under the stars every May. This free concert features a Beatles tribute band, Britain’s Finest. Sponsored by the City of Palm Desert, this event is a great opportunity for those looking to move to the area and hunting for Palm Springs homes for sale to check out this gorgeous, family-friendly park.
The Arthur Lyons Film Noir Festival starts Thursday and runs through Sunday, May 11 at the Camelot Theatres. This unique festival sets itself apart from others by screening an eclectic array of landmark and obscure vintage movies from the classic film noir era. The event was founded by the late Arthur Lyons, who was a mystery author and community leader in Palm Springs. Each year, the festival showcases the best of film noir along with appearances from many of the movie stars and filmmakers at Q&A discussions, autographs and book signings after the film screenings. The festival opens with a screening of The Window, and a special appearance by actress Barbara Hale.
On Friday, May 9, the McCallum Theatre will host the Coachella Valley Symphony’s season finale: The Best of CVS. The event will be headlined by local physician and soprano Dr. Lisa Lindley with selections from the opera and pop genres, as well as performances of Aaron Copland’s Lincoln Portrait and Gershwin’s An American in Paris. The concert will be followed by a grand VIP reception and auction.
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The Elvis Honeymoon Hideaway is a popular sight in Palm Springs
Cinco de Mayo weekend in Palm Springs always means lots of fun—the desert climate is beautiful this time of year and the activities are in full force. It’s a great time to check out La Quinta real estate if you’re in the market for a new home. Read on to see what’s happening this festive weekend.
On Friday, May 2, Mexican singer-songwriter and actor Pepe Aguilar will perform at the Fantasy Springs Casino from 8 to 10 pm. Mr. Aguilar performs in the pop, ranchera and mariachi genres. On Saturday May 3 from 7 am to noon, The City of Coachella Celebrates Cinco De Mayo 5k run/walk will take place at the Veterans Park on fourth street in Coachella. There will be salsa tasting, live music, food and other things to do after the walk.
On Saturday from 9 to 10 am, there will be a free public tour of the artwork at the Palm Desert Civic Center Park. Located on Fred Waring and San Pablo next to City Hall, this gorgeous park is an absolute must-see for anyone interested in Palm Desert, Rancho Mirage or La Quinta real estate. A trained guide will be onsite to provide facts and information about the 20 plus sculptures.
Also on Saturday, from 5 to 7 pm, the Indian Wells Tennis Garden will host the Desert Lexus Jazz Concert, with award-winning composer and dynamic performer Will Donato, renowned saxophonists Dave Koz, Mindi Abair, Euge Groove, Gerald Albright, Richard Elliot and American Idol sensation Elliott Yamin. From 6:30 to 9:30 that evening, the amazing Living Desert will present Brew at the Zoo to benefit the many animals and 1,600 protected acres of the facility, and provide scholarship programs for visiting school children.
On Saturday and Sunday, the Elvis Honeymoon Hideaway will host a one of a kind event—Weekend with the King │ It’s a Fifties Jamboree. On May 3 through 5, Gabriel Iglesias will perform at The Show at Agua Caliente Casino.
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We know it can be all about location—especially for those of you who have chosen to search for Palm Springs homes for sale. Yet each community is different and has its own pros and cons that are specific to each buyer. What’s right for one family may not be right for another, so it’s important to determine in advance what you need from the community you live in so that you can factor that into your search and make your realtor aware of your needs. Read on for a few elements to consider.
Determine your deal breakers. Whether you’re buying on your own or with a spouse/partner, you should sit down and write a list of the things you need and what you want from a home. Figure out which things you cannot live without so you know what your deal breakers are. For example, some families, especially those searching for Palm Springs homes for sale, really want a home with a pool or yard so they can enjoy the outdoors. Others may be looking for a particular style of architecture or number of bedrooms. Figure out what matters most for you.
The Commute. A major consideration for many buyers is the commute they will have to work, school and other places they and other family members need to go on a regular basis. Think about your parameters for the longest amount of time you’re willing to spend in the car and factor that into your list.
Amenities. Many move to the Palm Springs Valley so they can enjoy some of the myriad amenities available, such as golf, tennis, shopping, fine dining, nightlife, cultural options and spa services. If you love the great outdoors or you have children who like to play sports, you may want to live in close proximity to pools and parks, as well as golf and tennis courts, hiking trails, and any other outdoor activities that your family enjoys.
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If you’re ready to put your Rancho Mirage or Palm Desert property on the market, then it’s time to prepare your house for all the prospective buyers that will come through it. While Palm Springs homes for sale are in demand, you still need to highlight your home’s strengths, while de-emphasizing its weaknesses. Try these home-staging tips to appeal to the widest range of potential buyers.
- Alleviate clutter. This is, by far, one of the most important things you can do maximize your home’s appeal. Often times, an owner will have one of the most beautiful Palm Springs homes for sale, but the cluttered look makes the property appear smaller and is too overwhelming for the potential buyer to see past. Avoid having too much furniture; in fact, get rid of whatever you don’t need. The house will appear much more spacious and you’ll streamline your own move.
- Establish the right lighting. Have you ever noticed how staged homes look so warm and inviting? Nine times out of ten, it’s due to great lighting. Increase the wattage in your fixtures and strive to have ambient, task and accent lighting in every room.
- Group furniture. A mistake that many amateurs make when selling a home is to push all the furniture against the walls to make the rooms appear bigger. A better route is to position furniture into conversation groupings and allow the pieces to indicate the room’s flow.
- Create the illusion of space. Two easy tricks that will maximize the size of a room are to paint it the same color as the room next to it, as well as the draperies or window treatments. This will make the rooms appear seamless and spacious. If you’re selling a Rancho Mirage or Palm Desert property with a patio, paint it green to make it blend and reflect the gorgeous colors outside.
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Many foreign investors from Europe, Japan, Scandinavia, Russian, Hong Kong and China are searching for Palm Springs homes for sale to add to their international real estate investment portfolios. It’s a strategy with loads of potential and plenty of upside. Whether it’s done purely for investment or to obtain a vacation home, there are a few things you can do to maximize the benefits.
Location is everything. When you’re trying to decide whether you’re more interested in Palm Springs homes for sale or another type of international real estate opportunity, consider the desirable aspects of each specific area, from climate and lifestyle to amenities and the average age range of community residents. Also keep in mind that areas with limited inventory usually make an excellent investment.
Work with someone you can trust. Whether you need a realtor or another type of licensed agent, try to get a referral from someone who has had a good experience in the area. If you don’t know anyone with local connections, look for associations that can recommend the right type of agent for you to work with. You want someone who knows the area very well, so they can help you navigate the area-specific red tape and tell you everything you need to know about the areas you are interested in.
Be open to updates. Have vision and don’t fear properties that may need some improvements—often times, these homes have the most potential as both an investment a vacation home. This is also where working with a local expert benefits you—they will have many resources you can tap in regards to trustworthy contractors and vendors who will provide solid remodeling work.
Think cash. If you don’t already have a credit line in the United Sates, you probably will need to pay cash for that piece of Rancho Mirage real estate you’ve been eyeing. While it may seem daunting, it will be a lot more appealing to the seller. If you’re working with a short sale realtor, they may be able to negotiate a much better deal for you if the purchase is going to be free of financing.
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While weekend two of the Coachella Music and Arts Annual Festival will be in full swing at the Empire Polo Club this weekend, there are still plenty of other things to do if you’re in town to relax or check out Palm Springs homes for sale. Below are just a few of the myriad activities to keep your occupied and entertained on this beautiful weekend in the desert.
On Thursday, April 17 from 6 to 8 pm, the University of California, Riverside Palm Desert will host the Palm Desert Art Documentary Series 2013-2014: Stolen. The film tells the powerful story of how on St. Patrick’s Day in 1990, thieves disguised as police pulled off the largest art heist in modern history at the Boston’s Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum. The screening will be followed by a Q&A session with the co-founder of the FBI Art Crime Team, Lynne Richardson.
On Thursday and Friday from 7 to 9 pm, Saturday the 19th from 2 to 4 pm, the McCallum Theatre—a must-see for those looking at Palm Springs homes for sale—will feature the 16th Annual Open Call Talent Competition, where the Coachella Valley’s best performers of all ages perform in an exciting and colorful talent competition that is always a sold out event. Winners will be chosen at the dynamic final performances on Saturday.
On Saturday from 5 to 10 pm the Desert Willow Golf Resort will host Classic Cars Under the Stars, an auto/motorcycle show with live music and great dining. To round out the diverse slate of events, the Joshua Tree National Park Visitors Center will feature Free Entrance Days to National Parks on both Saturday and Sunday. It’s an excellent opportunity to enjoy the beautiful sights of this amazing park that is a must-see for anyone visiting or living in the Palm Springs Valley.
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The Desert Garden Tour
The music just isn’t stopping this weekend in Palm Springs! If you’re a music lover and have been thinking about buying Palm Springs real estate, there are myriad options for fans of every genre to experience. The world-famous Coachella Valley Music and Arts Annual Festival is in full swing and there are more cool performances taking place for those not attending this amazing event. Read on for just a few items on this weekend’s lineup.
On Friday April 11 and Saturday, April 12 from 10 pm to 4 am, SocialNightlife Presents: Zero Gravity will take place at the National Date Festival Fairgrounds located at 82-503 California 111 in Indio. This larger-than-life, live music experience brings together SocialNightlife, Rocketboy Events and Drai’s for an unforgettable after party complete with art and light installations, geo-domes and a 65-foot rocket ship!
For those not attending Coachella but who own are looking for Palm Springs real estate, the The Gardens on El Paseo will host Concerts in the Gardens: Magdalena Chovancova – Smooth Jazz on Saturday from 5:15 pm to 7 pm. The event starts with a wine and cheese reception on the center lawn. Also on Saturday night, the Broadway Tenors are set to perform at the Annenberg Theater from 8 to 10 pm. The veteran Broadway stars will sing some of Broadway’s most beloved hits from award-winning productions including Les Miserables, South Pacific, Phantom of The Opera, Jersey Boys and West Side Story, among others.
On Sunday, April 13 from 1 to 6 pm, the 9th Annual Desert Garden Tour offers participants the opportunity to explore six private Palm Springs gardens featuring stunning, low-water landscaped designs created by homeowners and design professionals. Come see beautiful and lush palms, agaves, flowering perennials and unique garden art. There will be an awesome after party held at the Vintage Nursery in Palm Springs from 4 to 6 pm. Registration is open from 12:30 – 2 pm, at the Wellness Park on the corner of Via Miraleste and Tachevah in Palm Springs.
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The McCallum TheatreThe music isn’t only about Coachella this week in Palm Springs! If you’re in town to look at Palm Springs homes for sale, there is a bevy of options for music lovers, in addition to the world-renowned Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival taking place in Indio at the Empire Polo Club over the next two weekends. Check out the exciting lineup starting tonight!
On Wednesday, April 9 from 6 to 8 pm, Broadway performer James Barbour will share his talent at the Annenberg Theater. Mr. Barbour portrayed Sydney Carton in the Broadway musical version of A Tale of Two Cities, which garnered him the Outer Critics Awards for Best Actor in a Musical and nominations for the Drama Desk and Drama League, and was recipient of the Sarasota Magazine Best Actor Award for the Asolo Rep pre-Broadway production. He also starred in Tony Award-winning Broadway shows including Disney’s Beauty and the Beast
and Stephen Sondheim’s Assassins. The Annenberg Theater is located at the Palm Springs Arts Museum, 101 Museum Drive in Palm Springs.
On Thursday, April 10 from 8 to 10 pm, the McCallum Theatre will host Celebrate! The Texas Tenors are Back! As part of the Desert Symphony’s 25th Anniversary Celebration, this performance is a unique blend of classical and country music. The previous two performances were completely sold out, so this promises to be another well-attended event and a great opportunity to get a glimpse of the arts community, if you’re here looking at Palm Springs homes for sale. The McCallum Theater is located at 73000 Fred Waring Drive in Palm Desert.
On Friday, April 11 from 8 to 10 pm, award-winning jazz singer Diana Krall will perform at the McCallum Theatre. Ms. Krall has sold more than 15 million albums across the globe and is the only jazz singer with eight albums debuting at the top of the Billboard Jazz Albums.
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The original, modern day Dinah Shore Weekend is here—and it’s the perfect way to celebrate and pay homage to one of the most renowned entertainers of days gone past, Dinah Shore. In its 23rd year, “The Dinah” is one of the largest lesbian events in the country and considered by many to be a rite of passage in the community. It’s an extremely exciting way to catch a glimpse of the diverse communities in the Coachella Valley, especially if you’re considering Palm Springs homes for sale. The event takes place from Wednesday, April 2 through Sunday, April 6.
The event spans five days and features an incredible entertainment lineup. Founded by Mariah Hanson in 1991, the event has achieved international status, partly because of the world-class entertainers who are as diverse as the attendees—past performers include Lady Gaga, Pussycat Dolls, Katy Perry, the Indigo Girls and Ke$ha, among many others. This year’s music lineup includes Grammy Award-winning rapper Eve, Australian recording artist Iggy Azalea and the Canadian indie rock duo Tegan and Sara.
For the second year in a row, The Dinah Film Festival will be a part of the event, featuring a two-hour screening followers by a live Q&A with the filmmakers. Also in its second year, there will be a celebrity poker tournament with 100 percent of proceeds benefiting the Human Rights Campaign. Thursday will feature the Dinah Comedy Night, featuring comedy greats such as Fortune Feimster from Chelsea Lately, Erin Foley and Gina Yashere, both from Last Comic Standing. If you’re in town to look at Palm Springs homes for sale, any of these events will be a great way to relax and unwind.
In addition, there are a bevy of pool parties with cool DJs that have become staples of this unique event. On Saturday, April 5, the L Word Pool Party and the Dinah Pool Party II will be going on with the Black Party happening that night. On Sunday, April 6, the Wet & Wild pool party will take place and on both Saturday and Sunday night, the Battle of the DJs will be in full effect. On Sunday, The Dinah Closing Party will finish out this exciting weekend.
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Are you ready to start viewing Palm Springs homes for sale? Getting the house hunt started can be a daunting process, but with a little bit of strategy and planning, you can find your dream house more easily and efficiently. Here are three tips for streamlining the process and making it more enjoyable.
1. Set a realistic budget. The first thing to do before you start looking for Palm Springs homes for sale or any property, for that matter, is to set a realistic budget. Determine how much of a down payment you can afford and start the pre-approval process with a good lender. You should sit down with the other decision makers in the family and break down all of your monthly expenses and income and create a solid budget, complete with projected mortgage payments, homeowners’ association fees and contingency funds. Now is also an ideal time to pull a credit report and make sure everything is accurate and fix anything that isn’t.
2. Get your team in place. It’s essential to find a good team to work with, especially when it comes to real estate professionals. The first thing you should do is find a good realtor with local expertise who will help you navigate this process. You can troll the internet and ask friends and colleagues and anyone else you trust for referrals. Once you have a realtor to work with, you may also want to find an attorney, as well as a reputed appraiser and title company. The most important thing is that you trust your team and enjoy working with them, as you may very well need to spend lots of time together.
3. Keep your options open. Cast a wide net so that you can find the home of your dreams. Put the word out that you’re looking for a new home—let everyone know, including your social media contacts, that you’re in the market. Search online and drive around neighborhoods you are interested in.
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