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Virgin America Lands In Palm Springs

Virgin America began new service to Palm Springs from San Francisco and New York on December 15th. The new daily flight will leave New York's JFK airport, make a stop in San Francisco and then continue on to Palm Springs International Airport. Return service to New York is also routed through San Francisco.

My Husband I recently experienced Virgin America service and we both rate Virgin a notch above other domestic airlines.

Virgin joins a growing list of ten airlines now offering direct flights to Palm Springs from the following cities:

Bellingham, Washington
Calgary, Alberta
Chicago, Illinois
Dallas / Ft. Worth, Texas
Denver, Colorado
Edmonton, Alberta
Houston, Texas
Las Vegas, Nevada
Los Angeles, California
Minneapolis / St. Paul, Minnesota
Phoenix, Arizona
Portland, Oregon
Sacramento, California
San Francisco, California
Seattle, Washington
Toronto, Ontario
Vancouver, British Columbia
Winnipeg, Manitoba

From Sheri Dettman
In Sheri's Palm Springs Area Blog, Lifestyles & Things To Do

Just Listed: Clubhouse Suite At Madison Club, La Quinta

The Clubhouse Suites at Madison Club are designed as a luxurious Pied-a-Terre. This one bedroom suite offers 1,390 square feet and is adjacent to the private clubhouse. Sweeping Southwestern views from this upper floor suite can be enjoyed from the suite and private balcony.

> View this listing at 53035 Meriwether Way #221, La Quinta
Offered at $1,800,000

Listing Courtesy of Hideaway Properties

From Sheri Dettman
In Sheri's Palm Springs Area Blog, Golf Communities

Palm Springs Area Voted Best Golf Desination For 2012

Palm Springs has been voted as “2012’s Top North American Golf Destination” by the International Association of Golf Tour Operators (IAGTO), at the IAGTO Annual Golf Travel Awards Ceremony in Belek, Turkey on November 17, 2011.

The Palm Springs Area Offers More Than 100 Golf Courses

With more than 100 golf courses located throughout our destination, many designed by such notable golf architects as Arnold Palmer, Greg Norman, Tom Fazio and Pete Dye, the Palm Springs area has become a year-round golf destination, as famous today for our annual tournaments as we are for our 350-days of signature sunshine.

World-Wide Recognition For Palm Springs Golf

IAGTO’s 380+ golf tour operators from 55 different countries cast their votes for the Awards. Each operator was asked to nominate what they considered to be their best performing golf destinations this year enjoyed by their golf travelling clients. There are five Golf Destination of the Year winners – one in each of five regional categories: North America, Latin America & Caribbean, Europe, Africa & Gulf States, Asia and Australia. The golf destination in each of the five regions with the most votes receives the 2012 Golf Destination of the Year accolade.

The Palm Springs area is comprised of eight distinctively charming desert resort cities in Riverside County – Cathedral City, Desert Hot Springs, Indian Wells, Indio, La Quinta, Palm Desert, Palm Springs and Rancho Mirage. Year-round sunshine and world-class hotel and resort amenities entertain more than 3 million visitors each year, including families, newlyweds, seniors and singles. The area is not only a mecca for golf, but tennis and relaxation with more than 600 tennis courts and 50,000 swimming pools.

La Quinta Resort & Club and PGA West in La Quinta received the Award for North American Golf Resort of the Year at last year’s event.

There's Lot's More Than Golf In Palm Springs

The recreational opportunities in the Palm Springs area are endless. Travel by Jeep, Hummer, or on foot through historic Palm Springs Indian Canyons or the San Andreas Fault. Watch a polo match or see the valley, part of the Colorado Desert, from a hot air balloon. Rejuvenate with a spa treatment or soak in natural mineral waters. Spend a day shopping at trendy boutiques on historic Palm Canyon Drive or exclusive El Paseo.

From Sheri Dettman
In Sheri's Palm Springs Area Blog, Golf Communities

2011 Goes Out Strong, 2012 Looks Even Busier!

On behalf of myself, and our Sheri Dettman & Associates team members, we wish you a happy, healthy and prosperous New Year! It has been our pleasure to serve and get to know so many of our clients and new friends during the past year.

A Year For The Record Books!

2011 will go down in our record books as our fourth year in a row of double-digit sales growth (sales up 30% in 2011). We sincerely appreciate the opportunity to serve you and we look forward to serving you and your friends in the New Year.

20% Growth In Real Estate Sales Forecast For 2012

We continue to be exited about the opportunities we are seeing in the Palm Springs area real estate market. We are predicting 20% sales growth for us in 2012 based on the high level of inquires we've received during the past few months.

Coming To Visit This Year?

If you're planning to come visit please be sure to let me know a few days in advance so that I can reserve time for you on my schedule. Please keep in mind that many properties require 24 to 48 hours notice to arrange viewing during the coming months.

Please don't hesitate to contact me – even if you just have a simple real estate question.

PS: Thank you for your kind referrals during the past year!

From Sheri Dettman
In Sheri's Palm Springs Area Blog, Sheri Dettman & Associates

PGA West Offers New Golf Membership Options

The Club at PGA West in La Quinta recently announced new membership rates that are sure to appeal to both golfers and non-golfers alike. Instead of paying the current $125,000 refundable membership deposit, new members now have the option of paying $40,000 as a non-refundable deposit. And if you’d prefer more than six golf courses to play, you can add golfing privileges at La Quinta Resort and The Citrus Golf Club by simply paying additional monthly dues.

The Club At PGA West Membership Classifications

PGA West Premier Golf Membership

Non-refundable Deposit: $40,000
Golf Dues: $985 Monthly (+$70 monthly cart/trail fee)

The Premier Golf Membership entitles the Member, spouse and all children under the age of 23 to use all of the golf, tennis and fitness facilities as well as social events offered at The Club. Reserve tee times five days in advance with no payment of green fees, range use, court or fitness fees.

Premier Desert Golf Membership
No Additional Deposit
Additional Golf Dues: $329 Monthly (in addition to Premier Dues)

This membership adds full golf and spa memberships privileges at both The Citrus Club and La Quinta Resort.

PGA West Premier Sports Membership

Non-Refundable Deposit: $20,000

A Premier Sports Membership entitles the Member, spouse and all children under the age of 23 to use all of the tennis and fitness facilities as well as social events offered at The Club. The Sports Member has access to PGA West’s three private courses by making tee times two days in advance and paying the current Member/Guest green fees. A Sports Member also has access to the three semi-private courses by making tee times three days in advance and paying the Member/Guest green fees.

PGA West Premier Social Membership

Non-Refundable Membership Fee: $5,000
Social Dues: $158 Monthly
Sports Dues: $264 Monthly

A Premier Social Membership entitles the Member, spouse and all children under the age of 23 to use all of the dining facilities as well as social events offered at The Club. A social member may expand Membership to include fitness and tennis by adding the monthly Sports Dues.

If you'd like further membership information or would like to join The Club at PGA West please email Sheri for an introduction to the PGA West membership office.

From Sheri Dettman
In Sheri's Palm Springs Area Blog, Golf Communities

The Perfect Storm For Canadian Buyers

Golf homes at the Haciendas in La Quinta

The combination of drastically reduced home prices in the US, a strong Canadian Dollar in relation to the US Dollar, and low interest rate financing options seems to have created the perfect storm. And this particular storm offers warm sunny days year-round here in the Palm Springs area. Dreams of sunny days by the pool or daily rounds of golf during the cold Canadian winters are not hard to imagine for most Canadians!

Here’s What Numerous Canadians Are Taking Advantage Of:

Historically Low Real Estate Prices In The United States
An Easy and Straightforward Purchase Process
Reasonable Property Taxes and No GST or HST
A Variety Of Ways To Structure Ownership For Tax Planning
No Realtor Fee When You Buy Most Properties
Canadian Loan Programs

Buying a home in the Palm Springs area is a worthy goal for many Canadians. Here's a link to the full article "Canadian Buyer Information"

From Sheri Dettman
In Sheri's Palm Springs Area Blog, Buying – Info For Canadian Buyers

Dining Around The Desert: Okura, La Quinta

We’ve been enjoying the Okura Robata Grill and Sushi Bar for two years now and, frankly, I don’t know why I’ve taken this long to post a review. Even if you’re not someone who enjoys sushi, Okura’s offers a number of cooked entries including steak, seafood, spareribs, tempura vegetables, chicken and many more, that are sure to please your taste buds.

If you’re like me, you likely re-order some of your favorites after you’ve visited Okura a number of times. My husband, Bill, and I continue to enjoy our two favorites from the sushi menu. If you like just a little spice try the Dyno-Mite Rolls prepared with sweet scallops flash fried with Tobiko, cucumber and aioli sauce. Another favorite of ours is Okura’s Volcano Roll. It consists of a California Roll topped with baked salmon and spicy tuna. Or, try the Baked Alaskan Roll, another version of the Volcano Roll with a sweet Miso glaze rather than the spicy salmon.

All You Can Eat Sushi Is Another Option

While we order ala cart from the menu, you might consider Okura’s $29.95 ‘All You Can Eat’ sushi menu. Basically, you are given one hour to eat all the sushi you can. To take advantage of this offer, everyone at your table must order this option and finish all of their food.

Okura features a nice little lounge area, a sushi bar, dining room and a small patio out front. In summary, Okura bridges the gap nicely between a hardcore sushi restaurant and a trendy first-class dining spot.

Okura Robata Grill and Sushi Bar is located at 78370 Highway 111, La Quinta in the Point Happy shopping on the northwest corner of Washington Street and Highway 111. (760) 564-5820. Okura has a second location at 105 South Palm Canyon Drive in Palm Springs.

> View ALL Desert Dining Suggestions Here

From Sheri Dettman
In Sheri's Palm Springs Area Blog, Dining Around The Desert

Home Selling Tip: Professional Photography or Agent Photos?

Recent photo shoot at Lake La Quinta with Photographer Jeff Atkins

The vast majority of today’s buyers start their real estate search for Palm Springs area homes on the Internet. And we know that one picture is worth a thousand words. So why are so many agents still taking their own shall we say 'questionable' photos of their seller client’s properties?

Many of today’s buyers will choose whether to go see a property or not based entirely on the online photos and video tour. Using the services of a professional real estate photographer and our video team certainly costs more, but the result is magazine quality photos, and for luxury properties a video tour that presents each property professionally.

Personally I utilize one of the few in-house marketing teams in the desert and we invest in magazine quality photos of every property that we professionally market for our seller clients. Don’t you think it makes sense that the Realtor you choose to market your property is committed to aggressively and persistently invest in the sale of your home?

And if you're a buyer looking at Palm Springs area properties online and you see some questionable photos of a property, they weren't taken by us!

From Sheri Dettman
In Sheri's Palm Springs Area Blog, Info For Sellers