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The next few days perfectly exemplifies the thriving arts community in Palm Springs. If you are in town for a visit or have your sight sets on homes for sale in Palm Desert, you have the ideal opportunity to get a feel for the exciting cultural event that are always going on in the vibrant desert communities.

From Thursday, November 13 through Sunday, November 16, the Art, Music, Film & More (AMFM) Festival will celebrate the interconnectedness of all art forms with programming such as live music, films and unique art exhibits, as well as panels and workshops to encourage growth in the arts. The festival takes place all three days at the Mary Pickford Theater in Cathedral City.

Also from Thursday through Sunday, the Sun City Shadow Hills Montecito Clubhouse will feature comedy performances of “Don’t Dress for Dinner.” Written by Marc Camoletti, this French-influenced production portrays hilariously mistimed love affairs. Performances take place at 7 pm Thursday through Saturday and at 2 pm on Sunday.

On Thursday at 6 pm, the Desert Willow Golf Resort will host Music and Dining Under the Stars featuring the Danny Flahive Trio. This series of evenings always features delicious buffets and excellent live music, amidst the majestic views provided by the resort’s outdoor Lakeview Terraces and Clubhouse. If you own real estate in Palm Desert, you’ll regularly be able to enjoy these awesome concerts under the stars.

Also on Thursday from 7 to 9 pm, the McCallum Theatre will feature Mummenschanz, the innovative Swiss mask theater troupe that pioneered new forms of visual theater. In its 43rd season, Mummenschanz tells stories without sound or music, using everything from common materials and everyday objects to shadow and light to bring the experience to life.

Starting November 14 and continuing through Sunday, November 23, the Indio Performing Arts Center will feature performances of the Tony Award-winning comedy classic The Odd Couple. Shows take place Fridays and Saturdays at 7 pm, Sundays at 2 pm.

If this exciting slate of activities further sparks your interest in homes for sale in Palm Desert, click through for more info about real estate in the Coachella Valley.

image: amfmfest.com

There is so much going on this weekend, we had to break it down into two posts—be sure to check out yesterday’s for more activities. Whether you’ve lived here for years, are new in town or have your eye on homes for sale in La Quinta or Indio real estate, you have a wide array of options for entertainment this weekend.

On Saturday, November 8 and Sunday, November 9 the renowned Palm Springs Pride Festival will be in full swing along Palm Canyon Drive. The street will be fully closed to traffic to create a safe, pedestrian friendly route to enjoy this vibrant event, which is the longest-running LGBT festival in the Coachella Valley. There will be several beverage gardens and an eclectic bevy of entertainers, artists and vendors.

Also on Saturday and Sunday, the McCallum Theatre will feature The 17th Annual Choreography Festival. Both established and up-and-coming choreographers and dancers take stage to perform a diverse array of styles and original dances. Saturday’s performance takes place at 7 pm and Sunday’s begins at 4 pm.

On Saturday, the Living Desert will host its 3rd Annual Go Native bilingual native plant and bird walk. This unique event is a great way to learn about the local plants and wildflowers. If you’re currently eyeing homes for sale in La Quinta or Indio real estate, you’ll definitely want to visit this one-of-a-kind wildlife zoo and botanical garden.

On Saturday from 6:30 am to 5 pm the Palm Desert Century bike ride will take place at University Park. Enjoy world class views of the desert landscape on this incredible ride along low traffic roads.

On Saturday and Sunday from 9:30 am to 4 pm, the Rancho Mirage Art Affaire will be going on at the Rancho Mirage Community Park. Presented by the City of Rancho Mirage, this free fine art festival features 100 award-winning visual artists using an array of artistic mediums, from ceramics and jewelry to painting, sculpture and much more.

Saturday from 11 am to noon, the Palm Springs Art Museum in Palm Desert will host Saturday ArtVentures, featuring A Grand Adventure: American Art of the West. On Sunday, Palm Springs will come alive as the Pride Parade during the annual Pride Parade. It starts at 10 am at Tachevah and travels south along historic Palm Canyon Drive to the gates of the Pride Festival at Amado Road.

image: visitgreaterpalmsprings.com

The social season in Palm Springs is kicking off, which means it’s an excellent time to be in town. Whether you’re visiting or in town to look at property in Palm Springs, you’ll find plenty of ways to spend your spare time.

On Wednesday, October 7 from 7 pm to 9:30 pm, the Woodhaven Country Club will host Paint Sip & Inspire. This unique party helps participants create and complete their own masterpieces while enjoying delicious refreshments.

The Joshua Tree Music Festival kicks off Thursday, October 9 and runs through through Sunday, October 12. This awesome outdoor festival takes place at the picturesque: Joshua Tree Lake Campground. The multiple-day campout festival allows music lovers to enjoy an array of colorful musicians in an unique, intimate setting. If you’re a music lover and interested in property in Palm Springs, the Joshua Tree National Park is must-see.

On Thursday from 6 to 7:30 pm, the Palm Desert Civic Center Park Amphitheater will host Concerts in the Park: Zulluu. The featured band will play innovative Anglo-African Fusion music under the stars at this popular free event sponsored by the City of Palm Desert. It’s a great place to enjoy a picnic with the entire family.

This weekend, from Friday October 10 through Monday, October 13, the Modernism Week Fall Season Kick-Off will be in full swing. A group of local organizations collaborate to create a “mini-Modernism Week” to celebrate the beginning of the social season in Palm Springs.

On Saturday, October 11 from 8:30 to 11 am, the Paint El Paseo Pink fundraising event will take place at the beautiful Gardens on El Paseo. This walk/run helps raise funds for the Suzanne Jackson Breast Cancer Program and Desert Cancer Foundation, which have funded early detection services for more than 6,000 Coachella Valley residents.

image: desertlivingtoday.com

Whether you’re looking for a single-family residence or are planning an international real estate investment in the Coachella Valley, you may be lucky enough to find yourself in a rare position where there are two luxury homes you are torn between. Maybe you and your significant other each like one slightly more than the other or you’re both equally undecided. If this is your situation, here are some factors to compare that may help you determine which option is best for you.

1. Amenities. Make a list of all the amenities and attributes each home has and rank how important each is to you. Creating a side-by-side comparison of the two properties is an excellent way to see how each one measures up.

2. Appreciation. This can be a very important factor, especially if the purchase is intended to be an international real estate investment in the Coachella Valley. Ask your realtor for comparables and to retrieve numbers of sales in both neighborhoods over the past few years. If the difference between the two neighborhoods is negligible, you’re in the same boat, but if one area has increased significantly over the other, this could be the deciding factor you’re looking for.

3. The neighborhoods. Assess the pros and cons of each neighborhood. Compare the other homes in the neighborhood—are they similar in terms of value? This is something that may be important if you ever decide to sell the home. How safe is each neighborhood? Research the crime statistics for each area online and ask your realtor for their perspective. Do you have children? If so, you may want to be close to a park and recreational areas and you’ll want to consider the neighborhood schools. Look up their state standardized test results online and research district information. You’ll also want to consider how well the streets are maintained and how well your neighbors maintain their landscape.

This year, sales across many U.S. markets rose, especially as buyers purchased property at depressed price levels, many of which were short sales. In fact, research shows that almost half of the country’s real estate sales in the first part of 2014 were short sales and foreclosures. While a short sell can be a win-win situation for all parties involved, these are also deals that are often times tricky and complicated, which is why it’s essential to work with a certified short sale expert. Read on for the skinny and some help for navigating these inherently complex transactions.

In a nutshell, a short sale is when a seller sells their property for less than the amount they owes their mortgage company. This is a different type of purchase since the buyer is purchasing a property that is owned by a lender, known as a real-estate owned property (REO).

Short sales can be excellent deals for buyers and can also help sellers avoid the negative impact of having a foreclosure on their credit record. The damage can be somewhat minimized if a short sale occurs rather than a full foreclosure, especially if the seller can convince the lender to report the debt as paid in full.

One of the trickiest parts of executing a short sale is persuading all the lenders involved to take less than the amount owed on the property. It can be very helpful to involve a certified short sale expert, as they may be able to better negotiate such a transaction.

If you find a great deal that is a short sale property, consider all the issues involved before you jump in. Keep in mind that, even when all the lenders agree on the price, this type of deal can still take some time to close. Make sure to do your due diligence and push for full disclosure before you get involved on any level.

image: lowvarates.com