Palm Desert, CA

First known as the Old MacDonald Ranch, the city of Palm Desert is now one of the driving forces in the Palm Springs real estate market. Located in the Coachella Valley, Palm Desert had grown to become one of the major shopping destinations in the Palm Springs area. Palm Desert's El Paseo Drive is considered the desert's equivalent of Beverly Hill's Rodeo Drive. A teeming business center, Palm Desert's growing community has reached a population of around 40,000 year round residents, although the winter months see another 30,000 winter residents as Snowbirds leave their wintry homes to enjoy the warmth of the California sunshine.

Home to the Cahuilla Indians, the first residential community was established in 1943. Desert Palm was also a training ground for the army before World War II. This exciting history has now become one of the most popular areas in the Palm Springs desert valley.

Palm Desert boasts a wonderful educational system as a part of the Desert Sands Unified School District. Palm Desert has one high school, one middle school, and four elementary schools. Beyond the classroom, educational opportunities include the Living Desert Zoo and Gardens. This combination botanical garden and zoo features an extensive collection of desert animals and plants. Palm Desert is also the home of a community college, College of the Desert, as well as extension campuses for California State University and the University of California.

The California real estate market of Palm Desert has plenty of variety, single family homes beginning in the $130,000 range all the way up to 10 Million for Custom Homes in Bighorn. This teeming Southern California real estate market has something for everyone - and something to fit in any budget. The educational opportunities make Palm Desert and excellent place to raise a family. The job market in Palm Desert centers on the resort and retail market, with teaching opportunities as well.

Whether you are looking for a place to raise a family that provides the means for a quality education for your children, or are looking for a resort environment with the best in shopping, Palm Desert is just the place. Are you ready to find an oasis in the magnificent California desert? Check out the real estate available in this growing community and make the move. Become a part of the excitement today!

Elaine Stewart, M.A.- Remax Real Estate Consultants
78965 Highway 111, La Quinta CA 92253
Mobile:(760) 668-2399 - Phone:(760) 391-4415
Email: desertrealestate1@yahoo.com

POPULATION:

Permanent: 49,012; Seasonal Increase 31,000+ (estimated)

Average Age: 48

CLIMATE PROFILE:

Sunshine: 350 days annually. Rainfall: 3.38 inches annually. Average Temperature: January: High 70, Low 41; July: High, 107 Low 74.

RESORT HOTEL PROFILE:

Hotels: 17

Hotels with Convention Facilities: Best Western Palm Desert Resort, Comfort Suites, Courtyard, Embassy Suites, Fairfield Inn, Marriott's Desert Springs Resort & Spa, Residence Inn, Shadow Mountain Resort, and Vacation Inn.

Golf Courses: 32 Tennis Courts: 150 (including clay and lawn)

Activities: Hot air ballooning, hiking, swimming, cycling, ice skating, Jeep tours, and

nearby horseback riding and polo, and of course shopping.

• Living Desert Wildlife and Botanical Park

• McCallum Theatre for the Performing Arts - Great Concert Venue

• Jeep Tours

RETAIL:Shopping centers and plazas: 15

• Exclusive El Paseo Shopping District which includes The Gardens on El Paseo

• Westfield Shoppingtown in Palm Desert

• Desert Crossing

• College of the Desert's weekend Street Fair - Saturday and Sunday

• Many specialty boutiques along the Highway 111 corridor

DINING:

170+ restaurants from California casual and various

streetside cafes, to southwest and continental fine dining.

• Independence Day Fireworks: July 4th

• Palm Desert's Summer of Fun Free Concert & Movies Series: June through September

• Palm Desert Golf Cart Parade: Early October 26th, 2008

• WildLights show at the Living Desert Wildlife & Botanical Park: November-December

• Jazz You Can Understand - The Living Desert: November-April

• Palm Desert Senior Cup Tennis Tournament: March

For many reasons, including our weather, lifestyle and golf, our desert communities in the Coachella Valley, including Palm Springs, Palm Desert, La Quinta, Indio, Indian Wells and others, have been a popular vacation home destination for Canadians for many years. Recently we have seen many more Canadians looking to buy here due to the weakness of the U.S. dollar, our declining real estate market and the potential for "good deals". Experts are predicting that this upcoming season in the desert we will have an increased number of Canadians who will choose to buy a home in the Coachella Valley.

Investing in a second home or investment property here in the desert is relatively easy for a Canadian citizen and we are facilitators of the U.S. home-buying process. Our goal is to simplify the process for our clients. We regularly assist Canadian buyers in finding excellent real estate opportunities be it a condo, home, estate or land for a custom home. Canadian buyers won't need a U.S. Social Security card, just a valid passport. We will help you understand the process and navigate you through the negotiations, escrow and successful close of escrow.

What will Canadians find in the Coachella Valley real estate market this upcoming season ?

• Historically low real estate prices
• A strong Canadian"Looney"
• The largest selection of inventory in every price range in many years
• A Southern California sunbelt location for your retreat away from the winters in Canada
• A strong resort rental market for owners wishing to rent their property

Loan Programs for Canadian Buyers
Mortgages are readily available for Canadian buyers. When financing, a Canadian buyer needs to establish a U.S. bank account before submitting an application. The financed property must also be a second home or investment property, but not a primary residence. Coldwell Banker has several referrals for Canadian homebuyer loan programs.

• No social security number required
• No U.S. residence required
• No credit scoring - no credit report
• No income verification
• No employment verification
• 70% loan to value
• Loan amounts to U.S. $1.5 million

Now is a great opportunity to buy that dream home in the sun!

If you are interested in searching for homes in the Coachella Valley, researching the current value of your home, viewing our Desert Real Estate Website, or learning more about the current housing market please give us a call at (760) 567-9100.

Copyright © 2008 Susan Laxson. All Rights Reserved. "Canadians and the Coachella Valley Real Estate Market". Information from sources deemed reliable, but not guaranteed

DESERT FALLS COUNTRY CLUB is a 24 hour guard-gated community located in Palm Desert close to all the best shopping, dining and activities and featuring a Ron Frehm design golf course, 9 lighted tennis courts, a complete state-of-the-art fitness center, racquetball, pro tennis and golf shops located in a beautiful clubhouse. Desert Falls is one of the most sought-after, yet affordable country clubs in the desert.

The Desert Falls community includes 1,100 condos, townhomes and single family attached homes. Desert Falls was developed in the 1980s, but many of the homes have been remodeled and updated to reflect today's desert lifestyles. There are two story and single level villa condominiums with vaulted ceilings and views that overlook greenbelts, lakes as well as the Chocolate Mountains in the distance. Residents of Desert Falls Country Club appreciate moderate homeowner's dues which include tennis, fitness, exterior maintenance, insurance for the structure, all landscaping, common area maintenance, 32 pools (3 lap) & spas, 24 hour guard gate and patrol, cable tv (w/HBO) and more.

DESERT FALLS SEMI-PRIVATE GOLF COURSE in Palm Desert has been a member of ClubCorp since 1993 and the golf course was designed by Ron Fream in 1984. The golf course is considered "one of the most challenging and enjoyable courses in Southern California" according to Golf Magazine. The 7,070 yard course has multi-level greens, spacious fairways and water on seven holes. There are five sets of tees which make this a demanding, yet fair course for all levels of play.

Desert Falls membership is currently at 358 members with a cap of 375, according to the membership director, and offers a club that is open all year, active men's and women's clubs, and a club that has no assessment or food/pro shop minimums for members. The activities at Desert Falls include: men's and women's clubs that receive two days per week of play (in lieu of the convention 1 day at most clubs), men's and women's 9 hole club, putter's club, Bridge and Mahjong clubs, book club, art club, wine club and monthly social events at the clubhouse. As a member of ClubCorp Desert Falls Country Club members receive access to 170 private golf clubs throughough the United States.

DESERT FALLS REAL ESTATE

There are currently 55 available listings for sale in Desert Falls Country Club ranging in price from $214,900 to $2,295,000 for a Desert Falls Estates.

Currently there is one pending (in escrow) listing for $329,000 - 3 bdrms/2.5 baths, approx, 1,814 sq. ft.

Recent sales at Desert Falls from March 2008 through today include 26 homes priced from $260,000 to $1,550,000 for a Desert Falls Estates.

If you are interested in searching for homes in the Coachella Valley, researching the current value of your home, viewing our Desert Real Estate Website, or learning more about the current housing market please give us a call at (760) 567-9100.

Copyright © 2008 Susan Laxson. All Rights Reserved. "Desert Falls Country Club - A Golf Course Community in Palm Desert". Information from sources deemed reliable, but not guaranteed. Listing information is from Desert Area MLS and is subject to change without notice.

On Saturday September 14th many supporters turned out for the Rally for the cure in Palm Desert at the Classic Club. Founded in 1996, it is a great humanitarian program dedicated in spreading the awareness of breast cancer. This is a grassroots program established with the partnership of Condé Nast Publications and Susan G. Komen for the Cure. This program is a platform for the people to fight against breast cancer and also to find out ways and means to eradicate it. It also supports fund raising programs for the Rally for the cure.

It has been successful from the time of inception in 1996. During the first year, the Rally for the cure got registration of 356 clubs and the awareness program got 16,278 participants. After a decade of successful campaigns and awesome works among the needy, it has been in the high echelons of spreading and disseminating the messages of early warnings of breast cancer.

This is a praiseworthy life saving program spreading through the awareness driven campaigns and prepares the participants equipped with the knowledge of early detection of breast cancer. It has already made the awareness messages to more than million active participants of the Rally for the Cure Program. The volunteer Rally for the Cure ambassadors visit many people and ask them to participate in the early detection awareness message campaigns. In 2007, a whopping number of 3,300 Rally volunteer ambassadors signed up more than 200,000 people. All a part of disseminating the awareness of breast cancer, its symptoms, origins, early detection techniques and the importance of spreading awareness amongst women.

Rally for the Cure can be arranged at ease. If you want to arrange a rally, Golf or Tennis, you can contact the coordinator at the Rally headquarters. The ambassadors will help you to organize the rally and it works in a fantastic way. You can arrange the event as part of a regular play day, as part of a tournament or a separate tournament can be arranged for the Rally as well.

RE/MAX is committed to supporting Susan Komen for the Cure to help save lives and end breast cancer forever.

SAVE-A-PET Animal Shelter is hosting their first Wine Tasting and Food Pairing Party Fundraiser on Thursday, September 18th from 5 pm to 7 pm at the Cork Tree California Cuisine Restaurant on the corner of Country Club and Cook Street in Palm Desert. For the cost of $100, this tax deductible donation will enable you to enjoy 8 different wines with different foods throughout the evening. To reserve your seat, contact Ann Woods at Save-A-Pet at (760) 329-8510.

Save-A-Pet is one of two "NO KILL" animal shelters in the Coachella Valley. The shelter takes in adoptable (young and healthy) dogs and cats when they have room and the required intake fees help to offset the costs of spaying or neutering the pets, vaccinations, micro-chipping, care and feeding of the animals until a loving home is found for them. It is reported that they help around 600 dogs and 600 cats a year to find homes. The pets are spayed or neutered, vaccinated and micro-chipped and they come with a 14 day health guarantee. Interested in adopting a pet? You can visit the Save-A-Pet animals every Saturday and Sunday from 11 am to 4 pm at the Petsmart Store at the Rancho Mirage Walmart Shopping Center. Volunteers are welcome and donations are desperately needed - contact Save-A-Pet at 67-600 18th Avenue, Desert Hot Springs or call (760) 329-8510 for details and information.