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Buying – Info For Buyers

La Quinta Resort & Club Soon To Be Palm Springs Record Holder

July 8th La Quinta Resort & Club Becomes Longest Operating Palm Springs Area Resort

On July 8th, The La Quinta Resort & Club will become the longest operating hotel/resort in the Palm Springs area. That’s due to the current record holder for oldest hotel, The Spa Resort Casino Hotel closing on July 8th.

The Agua Caliente Band of Cahuilla Indians announced the closing on their Facebook page to launch “a new vision” for downtown Palm Springs, which will be announced by the tribe later this year. The Tribe’s casino however is not closing.

Opened In 1927; Major Renovations This Summer

Built by Walter Morgan and opened in 1927, La Quinta Resort is one of the most popular properties in the desert and is slated for major renovations during the summer. The charm of this Spanish hacienda-styled resort is set to be preserved but with the property taking on a brightened look.

The summer will see refurbishing of the resort's 620 guest casitas and suites. Upgrades will include bedding, carpeting, wall coverings, tile, window treatments and bath fixtures to the furniture in materials and colors that pick up the hues of the desert landscape and La Quinta Resort’s iconic, hand-painted tiles.

Improvements To 41 Swimming Pools

Decking around the resort's 41 swimming pools will be redone, and new shade structures are being added to many areas. The main lobby will be opened up to draw in light and offer guests more lounge appeal.

The La Quinta resort will be open through the summer as work will be staged through the fall in a way to keep interference to a minimum.

Popular With Celebrities Then & Now

Early on, La Quinta Resort & Club was a retreat where Hollywood celebrities such as Greta Garbo, Clark Gable, Ginger Rogers, Bette Davis and Frank Capra rubbed tennis elbows with America’s business elite such as the Vanderbilt’s and the Crocker family of Southern Pacific fame. Celebs still seem to enjoy the La Quinta Resort as just last month I was playing tennis just one court over from Will Ferrell.

Resort guests and the public can play the resorts two Pete Dye championship golf courses, and the resort's spa is considered one of the best in the Valley.

La Quinta Resort Real Estate Opportunities

Real estate opportunities at La Quinta Resort include the Spa & Tennis Villas, Santa Rosa Cove Condos, Enclave & Enclave Mountain Estates, and the adjacent Legacy Villas.

Photos: William Dettman ©

From Sheri Dettman
In Sheri's Palm Springs Area Blog, Buying - Info For Buyers, Golf Communities, Lifestyles & Things To Do

Photo Gallery Of Our Recent Palm Springs Area Home Sales

89 Sales Transacations During The Last 12 Months

You might find it interesting to browse some of our recent Palm Springs area sales transactions. You’ll find these arranged in a photo gallery so you can click on any picture you find interesting to learn more about a particular property or community.

During the past 12 months we’ve had the pleasure of helping dozens of buyer and seller clients, and have completed over $50 million in sales transactions, in all price segments, from affordable to super-luxury.

Double Digit Growth 7-Years Running

Our Sheri Dettman & Associates sales transactions have grown by double digits every year now for seven years running, and I believe this reflects the fact that today’s buyers feel that Palm Springs area Real Estate offers good value.

Being able to invest in Palm Springs area resort lifestyle real estate that your family and friends can enjoy (including escaping the cold and/or rain), certainly can add a great deal of value beyond the investment cost of a home or luxury condo here in the desert.

Palm Springs Area Living Is About Your Lifestyle

The vast majority of our buyer clients are investing in a lifestyle for their family and friends rather than just a Palm Springs area home. Whether, for winter escapes, or full-time living, this is about much more than real estate, it’s about finding just the right Palm Springs area home or luxury condo for your lifestyle and than working together to negotiate the best price and terms possible. That’s what we do for clients every day!

How can we assist you? Please don't hesitate to contact us–even for a simple real estate question.

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

Griffin Ranch La Quinta Real Estate Update

Development Is Bustling At Griffin Ranch

Griffin Ranch in La Quinta opened in '07, and 60 luxury homes sold before construction halted during the economic downturn. Now, we’re happy to report that construction has not only resumed, but is bustling at Griffin Ranch. We were onsite at Griffin Ranch today. Our Sheri Dettman & Associates team shot new photos and updated our exclusive video tour. You can view our Griffin Ranch Video Tour Here.

Originally planned by the late Merv Griffin as a luxury equestrian community with adjacent stables, Griffin Ranch while still being equestrian friendly, will no longer offer an equestrian focus with onsite stables.

8 New Model Homes Under Construction

Eight new model homes are under construction with an estimated completion date of fall 2014. Prices at Griffin Ranch start in the $800,000 to $1 million range with homes ranging from 2,800 to over 4,800 square feet.

Savvy buyers should not wait until fall to choose the best lot locations. So Sheri Dettman & Associates have arranged to help you view virtual tours of the new model homes.

Griffin Club Now Under Construction

Also under construction is the new 10,050 square foot clubhouse that will feature a pool/spa area, fitness center, outdoor porticos, staff-free dining area and a dog run.

221 new homes are being developed over time and Griffin Ranch is destined to become one of La Quinta’s pre-eminent non-golf communities. Griffin Ranch is immediately adjacent to golf at the PGA West Greg Norman Course.

Please don’t hesitate to contact Sheri to arrange your own private tour of Griffin Ranch. Sheri and her team will be happy to assist you in comparing the new home product to re-sale homes.

From Sheri Dettman
In Sheri's Palm Springs Area Blog, Buying - Info For Buyers, Non-Golf Communities

New Andalusia Homes Locations Just Released

Western Views From Andalusia Drive

Andalusia At Coral Mountain in La Quinta recently released a selection of new locations for new construction homes. Many lots feature sweeping golf course and Mountain views. December 2014 to February ’15 completions are scheduled with about a dozen of these new homes already under contract.

These new Andalusia homes range from 3,280 up to 5,131 square feet and are priced from $1.2 to $1.95 million. All new homes include extensive upgrade packages with custom pool/spa, landscaping and built-in grills. Resale home prices at Andalusia start in the $900’s.

The Best Andalusia Locations Will Go First

Please don’t hesitate to contact us to arrange your own private tour of Andalusia at Coral Mountain as the best locations usually sell first. Our Sheri Dettman & Associates team walked these new lot locations last week, and we are happy assist you.

Andalusia La Quinta Sales Up 66% Over Last Year!

Luxury home sales at Andalusia continue to be very strong. 25 Andalusia homes were sold during the last six months, a 66% increase over the same six-month period of ‘13. Sales during this six-month period totaled $29.2 million, with an average sales price of $1,169,000.

Your Guides To Andalusia Real Estate

Our Sheri Dettman & Associates team has helped dozens of people in getting to know and call the Andalusia community home. Recently we’ve completed over $7 million in sales of both new construction and resale homes at Andalusia. We are happy to assist you in comparing both new and resale home opportunities at Andalusia or any Palm Springs area golf or country club community.

Adding A Layer Of Objectivity Can Benefit You

Having your own personal buyer's agent adds a layer of objectivity to your new home shopping experience. Your agent can also use the local tax roles and title company information to discover what prices other buyers have paid for similar new homes. Keep in mind too that the advertised sale or brochure price can sometimes be negotiated.

From Sheri Dettman
In Sheri's Palm Springs Area Blog, Buying - Info For Buyers, Golf Communities

From Hundreds Of Homes To Just 17 In About 10 Minutes

Photo: PGA West Golf Condo Just Listed at $335,000

Discover How To Fine Tune Your Palm Springs Area Home Search

Just this week a future buyer client called me to gather information about investing in a Palm Springs area second home. I asked David a few questions that have proved helpful in helping past clients, and I was able to fine tune David's home search.

I discovered that David felt that there were hundreds of properties on the market that fit his parameters. I suggested we set up an online property portal so that he could have a better idea of what properties matched his criteria.

When I set up a property portal for a client, I utilize local MLS search criteria tools that are exclusive to Palm Springs area Realtors. These search tools give me dozens of options in fine-tuning each client’s search and are light years ahead of the national real estate sites.

Better Searches, Better Results

You see when David had been using a national aggregator real estate site like Zillow®, he had viewed several hundred properties that seemed to match his criteria. But after David and I refined his search criteria using our MLS, he was shocked to see that just 17 properties actually matched what he was looking for.

David quickly discovered the advantage of being plugged in to our local Palm Springs area MLS. In just ten minutes David and his family were set up for success in being able to see what homes truly fit their wants, needs and budget.

Your Own Local MLS® Property Portal

If you have not taken advantage of using your own MLS Property Portal, consider that I can easily set one up for you in just a few minutes. With your own MSL portal, we'll supercharge your property search by adding criteria that’s important to you such as whether you want a swimming pool, golf community, single family home or condo, view preferences and more.

To gain the advantage of using your own exclusive MLS Property Portal, please contact us today by phone or send an email.

Discover more information and resources on Sheri's exclusive Information For Buyers web pages.

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

Spring Has Sprung In The Palm Springs Real Estate Market

New Video: The Winter Lifestyle In Palm Springs

As our Palm Springs winter turns into springtime, I’d like to share a 2-minute HD video that my husband Bill put together. These Palm Springs area scenes are from our golf and country club communities, as well as a few non-golf communities taken from December through March of this winter.

Most of our Sheri Dettman & Associates buyer clients are investing in a lifestyle for their family and friends rather than just a Palm Springs area home. It’s about finding just the right Palm Springs area home or luxury condo for your lifestyle and then negotiating the best price and terms possible!

Spring & Summer Bring Our Most Serious Buyer Clients

Did you know that spring and especially our summer months bring our most serious buyers to the Palm Springs area? Over the years, we’ve found that people coming during the spring and summer months are on a mission. And that mission is usually not to return home without choosing a property that they’ll be able to enjoy here next winter.

And based upon the winters that much of North America experienced this year, we are predicting that our spring and summers buyers will be here this spring and summer in record numbers.

May we help you find your Palm Springs area home in the sun?

From Sheri Dettman
In Sheri's Palm Springs Area Blog, Buying - Info For Buyers, Lifestyles & Things To Do

Palm Springs Real Estate Market Update – April 2014

Shift In Palm Springs Area Real Estate Luxury Market

Beginning in January of 2013, we started to see another sign of a shift in our Palm Springs area real estate market. Sales of homes and luxury condos that sold for $700,000 and higher increased substantially from month to month right into the first quarter of 2014.

Record Net Worth Pushes Valley Luxury Sales Up 50%!

A record household net worth ($80 trillion) helped push luxury home sales in the Palm Springs real estate market up by 50%, while the lower end of the market seems to be held back by wage stagnation.

Let’s take a look at average selling prices in Palm Springs area golf communities where the average selling price over the last six months is above $700,000. For the larger golf communities, these stats include single-family homes only.

Golf Community / Average Sale Price / High Sale Price (last 6 months)

Madison Club, La Quinta: $5,266,667 / $7,100,000
Vintage Club, Indian Wells: $3,655,625 / $10,450,000
Bighorn, Palm Desert: $2,692,969 / $6,600,000
Hideaway, La Quinta: $2,555,411 / $4,650,000
Tradition, La Quinta: $2,487,708 / $3,900,000
Toscana, Indian Wells: $1,748,644 / $2,695,000
Reserve, Indian Wells: $1,715,525 / $2,480,000
Monte Sereno, Palm Springs: $1,355,083 / $1,447,360
Andalusia, La Quinta: $1,190,751 / $1,750,000
The Palms, La Quinta: $1,076,250 / $1,287,500
Mission Hills, Rancho Mirage: $946,675 / $2,250,000
Indian Wells Country Club: $825,000 / $933,810
Citrus, La Quinta: $877,969 / $1,680,000
Rancho La Quinta: $870,266 / $1,550,000
PGA West, La Quinta $840,090 / $1,625,000
Indian Ridge, Palm Desert: $820,625 / $1,950,000
Mountain View, La Quinta: $787,808 / $1,525,000

Data Source: April 22, 2014 Market Watch Real Estate seminar and Desert Area MLS.

From Sheri Dettman
In Sheri's Palm Springs Area Blog, Buying - Info For Buyers, Golf Communities, Info For Sellers

Kate Shares Why She Loves Her New Desert Home

Toscana Country Club, Indian Wells

Just about every day I'm reminded by one of our Palm Springs area buyer clients of how fortunate we are to live here in the Palm Springs area. This week a client who invested in a home at Toscana Country Club in Indian Wells emailed me after coming back from Wyoming.

"Dear Sheri, I absolutely love it here! This desert is amazing and soooo beautiful and full of bright, happy people. Living here some of the time improves my mood, my perspective and my daily choices. I could go on about desert living, especially for people who come from the freezing cold north, which I did just this afternoon. There is magic in this desert!" Kate, Wyoming

Kate’s expression of her love for the Palm Springs area desert lifestyle is similar to what my team and I hear from people on almost a daily basis. It’s why my husband Bill and I chose to relocate to the Palm Springs area from the Los Angeles area years ago, and we’ve never looked back.

I Love Helping People Find Their Place In The Palm Springs Area Sun!

One of the cool things about my real estate career is the chance to help people discover the desert lifestyle for their family and friends rather than just a home or luxury condo.

The discovery process of finding your home in the desert sun can take days, weeks, months or even years for some buyers. Some people tell me that they are coming to the desert this week, and they’re not leaving until they find their new home. Other people come for an overview in getting to know the desert, and they may be a year or more away from even considering a purchase. Either way my team and I are here to help, to listen and to guide.

Building A Relationship, Not An Quick Sale

There are a number of agents here in the desert that won’t invest much time with you if you aren’t prepared to buy now. That’s not the right approach in my book. We have clients buying this year that we’ve had the pleasure of working with and communicating with for years, and we have new clients who are ready to invest now. Either way is fine with us.

So Much More Than Palm Springs Real Estate

Forgive me if you heard this before, but this process of finding your desert home is about much more than real estate, it’s about finding just the right Palm Springs area property for your lifestyle and then negotiating the best price and terms possible.

Take a look around our website including our Information For Buyers pages. We created all the information and resources on this Palm Springs real estate web site just for you!

Can we help you discover your desert home in the sun? And please don't hesitate to contact us–even if you have a simple real estate question. View Toscana Country Club homes for sale here.

From Sheri Dettman
In Sheri's Palm Springs Area Blog, Buying - Info For Buyers, Golf Communities

Many Boomers Seeking an Active Palm Springs Area Lifestyle

76 Million Boomers Began Turning 50 This Year!

"The youngest of 76 million boomers have begun turning 50 this year and 10,000 boomers per day will turn 65 from now through 2030." This data was shared in an article on CNBC.com article about the booming housing market for Boomer Retirees.

The article mentions how more and more boomers are seeking an active lifestyle and how these demographics alone are driving increased demand for 55-plus communities. "The concept has gotten an even bigger boost in recent years as more boomers find themselves sitting in an empty nest in an active housing market," the article said.

As I read the article, I thought of the Palm Springs area real estate sales as it relates to this huge boomer market. Yes, the Palm Springs real estate market has several active adult communities including Sun City Palm Desert, Sun City Shadow Hills and Heritage Palms Country Club in Indio, and Trilogy at La Quinta.

Many people like active-adult communities because the Home Owners Association (HOA) can do the 'heavy lifting', such as yard work. There are also a variety of social and athletic activities to enjoy. But that's the great thing about so many of our Palm Springs area golf and country clubs, and even non-golf resort lifestyle communities–the heavy lifting can be done for you!

Many Desert Communities Provide Value Added Services

Let's take PGA West in La Quinta as an example. PGA West includes about 2,400 homes and luxury condos. Most neighborhoods include landscape maintenance for each property and condos include exterior building maintenance too. Several golf clubs and country clubs including La Quinta's Hideaway Golf Club offer a private concierge service for members. The concierge service will take care of just about any task for you.

Another benefit in the Palm Springs real estate market is the number of property manager's available to check your property when you're away. Property managers can also help you take care of things in and around your home, regardless of where you choose to live in the desert.

Golf & Country Club Amenities Popular With Boomers

Many of our local golf and country clubs offer wellness programs for members and/or homeowners and their guests and you often don't need to leave your neighborhood to take advantage of a massage, dinner, golf or tennis.

Other communities such as Legacy Villas in La Quinta offer a lock n' leave condo and townhouse lifestyle that also includes 14 pools, onsite fitness, walking to shops and dinner and more.

Boomers Can "Have It Their Way" In The Palm Springs Real Estate Market

Bottom line is this. The desert resort lifestyle that so many people have come to enjoy here in the Palm Springs area can be yours in a variety of locations, price segments and amenities. Like the old Burger King® commercial broadcast, "You can have it your way!"

Photo: Rancho La Quinta by Bill Dettman

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

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