There are luxury foreclosures available throughout the Coachella Valley, from La Quinta to Palm Springs. Check out the best of these high-end bank-owned homes which have just come on the market and give me a call if you'd like further information.
This custom-built home in La Quinta's Tradition Country Club boasts incredible south-facing vistas of the 3rd hole of the Arnold Palmer signature golf course and the stunning Santa Rosa Mountains against which this exclusive community is nestled.
As you cross the cobblestoned courtyard—with its burbling fountain and hand-wrought iron gate—you realize you’ve entered a special abode, one replete with luxurious touches—from the chiseled limestone and hardwood floors to the soaring arches and ceilings. Walls of retractable glass welcome the vaunted desert indoor/outdoor lifestyle.
The extra-large patio features an outdoor kitchen, fire pit, and pool/spa and rich tilework. Vistas of manmade and natural beauty augment the home’s architecture.
This home was on the market last year at $2.65M and is now lender-owned for $1.649M. A detached casita provides wonderful guest accommodation.
This Alta home in south Palm Springs features the community's distinctive sleek, contemporary style. 3323 sf ft home with 4 bedrooms/3.5 baths, including a media room. Spectacular views of the formidable San Jacinto Mountains.
Listed last year at $2.5M, the home is now lender-owned and has already been reduced to $1,034,550 since coming on the market a few weeks ago.
One of the largest floorplans in PGA West, this Ventana boasts a hefty 4057 sq ft ($245/sf) with 3 bedrooms and 4 baths. Overlooking the 2nd hole of the Greg Norman course with incredible mountain views, this property is unusual in offering both vistas and privacy. The home is light and bright with many custom upgrades including pool and spa.
Once on the market for $1.45M, this home has now been reduced Nov 10 to $995K. Lender-owned by a small mortgage company, it is not a typical bank-owned property and is offered furnished. Nearby homes are currently priced up to $2.1M.
How about a foreclsoure in exclusive Bighorn Golf Club? This 7200 sq ft estate boasts 4 bedrooms and 4.5 baths on an elevated lot commanding sweeping vistas of the Coachella Valley and the encircling Santa Rosa Mountains. Floor-to-ceiling retactrable glass sliders allow the vaunted indoor/outdoor desert lifestyle and a separate casita encourages guests. Swim-up pool bar, sunken BBQ, outdoor fireplace and two separate garages are a few of the amenities of this never-lived-in estate in truly one of the most gorgeous desert communities.
Originally listed at $6.575M, this new home is now lender-priced at $5.85M.
Here’s an amazing foreclosure in The Quarry, La Quinta’s most exclusive community. Originally priced at $3.5M last year, this palatial estate offers 5140 sq ft of sumptuous elegance for $1.95M.
Oriented to the morning sun, the custom-built 4 bedroom/5 bath home boasts cast-stone columns and fireplace, chiseled travertine flooring laid in a Versailles pattern, arches, textured walls, and lots of French doors opening to the remarkable patio, pool and spa.
Rough-hewed beams call attention to the vaulted ceilings while rare Brazilian walnut graces the living room floor. 
The formidable kitchen features Wolf, SubZero and Thermador appliances. Tucked on the other end of the sprawling property lies the private 1,200 sf guesthouse with living room and two bedrooms.
Here's my first profile on a home in The Renaissance, a lovely gated community in Rancho Mirage off Clancy Lane. This veritable compound offers 7535 sq ft on a 1.3 acre lot with panoramic mountain views. A total of 5 bedrooms and 7.5 baths. Retractable sliders frame imposing views while a bonus room has been theatre designed. Separate casita can either accommodate guests or serve as a poolside cabana.
Priced at $4.3M earllier this year, the estate is now bank-owned and on the market at $2.995M.
This home in Waterford is another Rancho Mirage REO. The open floorplan is 5200 sq ft with 4 bedrooms and 4.5 baths on a huge 20,000 sf ft lot. Overlooking one of the development's signature lakes, this home boasts a casita, theatre, pool and spa.
Originally listed last year at $2.85M, the home is now bank-owned at $1.831,500.
Here's another lovely listing in south Palm Springs. This new-construction home is located in Estancias at South Canyon on fee land (no lease). Offering 4 bedrooms and 5 baths, this 4360 sq ft home has a separate casita, 5 fireplaces, gated courtyard with pool and cascading spa, retractable walls of glass for seamless indoor/outdoor living, 3-car garage, on a huge 18,000 sq ft lot.
Originally listed this year at $1.6M, the home is now bank-owned at $1,099M and all offers are encouraged.
And, one final beauty in south Palm Springs. Located in prestigious Andreas Hills, this contemporary home, also on fee land, was built in 1985 and offers soaring ceilings, walls of glass, and marble flooring on almost half an acre. Scaled large for living large a la Palm Springs, the home boasts incredible views of the embracing San Jacinto Mountains.
Originally listed at $2.25M, the home was on the market earlier this year at $1.385M. Now lender-owned, the price has been reduced to $974,900 (only $185/sf). View this listing
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The Living Desert's annual fall plant sale takes place this weekend so Kirk and I headed over there yesterday after the eventful morning on El Paseo. We'd breakfasted at the newly-opened Italian-themed cafe, Il Sogno, where we spied a favorite artist in town from Flagstaff. Connie Townsend, an artist who specializes in animal portraits, had just delivered new canvases to her desert gallery, The Christopher Morgan Gallery, a few doors up the boulevard.
Contentedly stuffed with quiche and coffee and glowing from the unexpected artist rendez-vous, Kirk and I continued our memorable outing at The Living Desert, located just a few blocks north of El Paseo. The wildlife and botanical park, founded in 1970 by Karen Sausman, straddles both Palm Desert and Indian Wells and features the flora and fauna of the world's distinctive desert regions—from the Colorado (our Coachella Valley), Mojave and Sonoran regions all the way to the other side of the world to the Sahara and Madagascar.
Regarding the latter, yesterday's LA Times ran a front-page story detailling the heartbreaking demise of the unique island due to forest destruction, climate change and now drought-induced famine.
In light of the seeming inexorable self-destruction of our fragile planet, The Living Desert's robust species protection program offers a slim ray of hope that desert animals will not go extinct in our lifetime. The 30-year result is a world-class desert conservation and education facilty.
But, I digress. Back to happier subjects. The Palo Verde Nursery offers the most comprehensive array of desert-thriving plants and has been our go-to venue when the paltry and often inappropriate offerings at Lowe's and Home Depot are dispiriting. Glenn Huntington, horticulturist and manager, can always be counted on for expert planting advice.
Once a year all plants, pots and gifts are reduced 20%. Kirk and I surveyed the well-stocked aisles and happily found a few plants new to us. Our goal was to find replacements for those plants which succumbed to the summer's brutal temps.
The gardens are always fun but this year Glenn has wrought a magical transformation with the addition of strategically-placed niger-filled socks. Hordes of tiny yellow-breasted verdins, not much bigger than hummingbirds, now swoop in to devour their favorite seed, constantly scattering and regrouping, filling the sky with color and sound. It's llike being in a giant atrium without the walls. Truly mesmerizing.
After Kirk and I selected our new plants, we did a quick stroll around the grounds, savoring the warm autumn sun on our shoulders and exploring the many tempting dirt paths veering off the paved road. As long-time members, we can enter the zoological park whenever we wish but don't go nearly enough. The Eisenhower Peak Loop commences here, near the Desert Bighorn Sheep mountain, and I'll be crossing off that 6-mile trail later this season.
Here is a new garden featuring varieties of barrel cacti. I was especially pleased with how this photo turned out.
This is part of the Colorado Desert scape, replete with my favorite desert plant, the Ocotillo, a flamboyant flourish of spiny fronds that erupt in orange flowers during the spring.
What I love about The Living Desert is its continual emphasis on growth. Each year brings new exhibits, large and small, and the level of charitable support is truly inspiring. There is a veritable army of volunteers, from docents to animal care. I volunteered here years ago, feeding and cleaning the hooved animals in the African section. But, that's another story!
Docent Maggie is holding Chollo, an African Hedgehog. The tiny creature had been rudely awakened from his normal daytime slumber and was a little grumpy to find himself on display.
Every time I visit, I mentally chide myself for not coming more often. Members are accorded early-morning entry as well, perfect for peaceful hiking and experiencing the animals during their feeding time.
A garden staffer nicely brought our plant wares to the front curb for us and home we went to introduce the foliage to their new La Quinta home.
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Picture this. I'm happily tucking into a Saturday breakfast repast of savory Quiche Lorraine and French-press coffee at brand-new cafe, Il Sogno, overlooking Palm Desert's scenic boulevard El Paseo when I spy a familiar face approach the outside bistro tables. "Surely that can't be Connie Townsend," I wonder aloud to Kirk. When I see the curly-haired woman snapping close-up photos of a bandana-wearing pooch, I realize it has to be a favorite artist who specializes in canine portraits.
Connie spies me staring at her through the plate-glass window and mouths, "Mary?" Although we've met only once early last year at a gallery event on this same boulevard—when I was instantly smitten with her whimsical, colorful acrylics of endearing dogs and cats—we've gotten to be friends via email and animal snaps. After hugging, she said she recognized me right away from my photos. Even Kirk got a hug: "I feel like I know you, too."
Seems she slipped into town yesterday to hand deliver some new artwork to her Coachella Valley gallery and was departing later today. During the brief desert visit, she was savoring our bucolic autumn weather, sipping a foamy cappuccino alfresco and enjoying one of Il Sogno's delectable pastries.
Connie, an LA native, now resides in Flagstaff with partner, Gail, where she braves the cold—12° yesterday—and nourishes her passion for painting. Upon turning 50 a few years ago, she decided to explore the medium of paint, instantly found her new metier, and quickly established herself as a respected west-coast artist with a devoted national following. I know since I'm one of them. I bought my first piece from The Christopher Morgan Gallery, a few doors down from Il Sogno, where I'd first chatted her up as a visiting artist during an El Paseo Artwalk.
The canvas, entitled, "Deja Moo," depicts two happy dogs driving a fire engine-red Mini Cooper, a bovine watching enviously from afar. It was one of those times when you knew instantly that the spied object would soon be yours.
That led to a commissioned piece entitled, "Bloomin' Desert", starring my own beloved pooch, Angus MacDog, driving a British 1955 MG, with dogpark-pal Harry, a huge, wild-eyed Irish Wolfhound, and two of my cats, Kirby and Percy, clinging apprehensively to the dashboard.
She's even painted a small portrait of Tully, a gigantic, imperturbable feline who waltzed across the street last year as a broken-tailed, skinny 6-month-old and decided the digs were decidedly better chez MacGregor. Connie liked Tully's tale and visage and and bestowed the gift of a headshot perfectly capturing the cat's insouciant personality.
As you've surmized, Connie has a predilection for dogs and cars. Her canvases usually depict estatic canines ensconced in distinctive vehicles—she favors vintage trucks, VW bugs, and Nash Ramblers. This felicitous merging of metal and fur proved propitious with gallery-goers and her art career was off and running.
You can view more of her unique artwork at her ever-changing website, Connie Townsend. Her work can be found hanging in galleries in Palm Desert, CA; Kirkland, WA; Flagstaff, AZ; and Scottsdale, AZ.
Back to breakfast. Il Sogno—Italian for The Dream—opened its doors 1.5 months ago, taking over the premises of The Wine Cellar at 73375 El Paseo. Inheriting a richly detailed venue of brick-lined walls, granite counters and dark-wood floors, Il Sogno slips perfectly into the narrow, intimate space. Small bistro tables grace the cafe front, beckoning boulevard strollers. 
Owner Mirjana Ilic serves up breakfast, lunch and dinner with local, organic and seasonal offerings. The menu encompasses baked goods, waffles and wraps, homemade soups, paninis and salads. Espresso drinks, fresh-squeezed fruit drinks and smoothies complete the beverages.
Our breakfast quiche was presented beautifully on china with a side of fresh fruit, a full carafe of dark-roasted coffee awaiting the definitive plunge. The decision process was drawn out because of the rich array of truly appetizing breads and pastries. 
Serbian-born Mirjana moved to the U.S. 27 years ago after living in Italy. I couldn't resist asking her how many languages she speaks. Four, including Russian. I marvel aloud at such sophistication while she performs the typical European-countries-are-so-close-together dismissive wave of the hand. I resolve to up my French practice.
She and her husband perfected their culinary and restaurant skills with their first Il Sogno in Pacific Palisades where they raised their two children. The 14-year tenure included a Zagat award honoring the area's top restaurants.
Although she is perfectly capable of making every pastry herself, the majority of her wide-ranging baked goods arrive daily from her LA patisserie connections while the fresh bread comes from local bakery, Artisan. She includes catering among her services.
"I want this to become the local hang-out place," she declares passionately. Let's hope her wish is fulfilled.
Here a few more Connie Townsend pieces to enjoy:
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Until today, I'd given my hometown of La Quinta short shrift in my autumnal quest to explore Coachella Valley's plethora of hiking trails. A few days ago, Sue, aka The Energizer Bunny, and I crossed off the trails crisscrossing the Rancho Mirage foothills on my hiking to-do list, adding them to those recently tackled in the Coachella Valley Preserve and the Palm Desert mountains.
So, today Marianne—a more sedate, stop-and-smell-the-roses hiker—and I decided to ease into La Quinta's hiking possibilities with the Bear Creek Urban Trail, a 6-mile loop circumnativing the homes nestled in the southernmost pocket, or cove, of the Santa Rosa Mountains. La Quinta Cove is the city's oldest residential area—with some bungalows dating back to the '30s—and offers an eclectic jumble of architectural styles. The majority of homes reside on small 5,000 sq ft lots, harkening back to a time of more modest residential aspirations. Newer homes usually occupy double-lots and the area is still replete with virgin land dotted with granite boulders and scrubby palo verde trees.
The last decade has seen an explosion of Santa Fe-style courtyard homes—frontloaded with small pools and spa—that has re-energized the entire Cove into a desirable community. Colorful stucco and handpainted mosaics highlight the warm and welcoming architecture.
The Bear Creek trailhead is found at the bottom of the Cove and the paved trail hugs the water-runoff channel at the base of the Santa Rosas' vertical thrust. As the trail undulates toward the top of the Cove where Martinez Mountain dominates the southern horizon, it gently ascends a 150 ft elevation and parallels a xeriscaped park of desert flora. Roadrunners and birds seeking breakfast scurried out of our way. This trail is popular with dog-owning locals and we passed many a happily-lolling canine tongue.
At the top of the Cove, you reach the trailhead for strenuous hikes such as the Boo Hoff and Bear Creek Canyon Ridge. From here, you can continue on the trail around the perimeter of the Cove, passing Arnold Palmer's ritzy country club, Tradition, as you wend your way back through residential streets to conclude the easy loop.
Sunrise in the Cove is a magical thing. Evanescent golden-hued vistas continually forced us to stop and admire as the sun rose inexorably higher, repainting the landscape. We walked in and out of mysterious but pleasurable warm air pockets.
I snapped these captivating exteriors as we trod along. Enjoy my lovely town and let me know if you wish a personal tour of this remarkable part of the city.
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Here's a foreclosure to jump on in Hidden Canyon of La Quinta. On the market today, this Ridge View 3 floorplan offers 3031 sq ft home with 4 bedrooms (plus den) and 3.5 baths. With a mountain literally rising up in the backyard, this home enjoys a unique setting and dramatic vistas.
This home's extensive upgrades include surround-sound, slate flooring, wood blinds, slab-granite kitchen with stainless appliances, wine fridge, wood flooring in the master bedroom, 70' rear covered patio, Pebble Tech pool/spa with tanning shelf, crushed-glass firepit and outdoor fireplace, 3-car garage with finished floors, Jacuzzi tub, custom closets, etc.
There's even a faux front lawn and a 3-hole putting green on the side!
Originally on the market for $925K, this home is now lender-owned at $598,950 (only $197/sf).
This is the only bank-owned home in this wonderful enclave and will go quickly.
You can also peruse the 16 current homes for sales within the community by going to my website, DesertRealtorMary, click on Featured Communities under My Listings. Scroll down to Hidden Canyon and hit the blue button.
Hidden Canyon is one of my favorite communities in La Quinta. Tucked in the curve of Eisenhower as it heads toward the historic La Quinta Resort, this non-guard-gated development is nestled in a canyon of the Santa Rosa Mountains. The perimeter homes in the comfortable enclave of 169 homes literally have a mountain in their backyards and all the homes boast formidable views. Even multi-million dollar clubs in the valley can’t match the magnificent setting.
Hidden Canyon debuted in 2005 and was built by TransWest, a local builder chosen by Merv Griffin to develop his own Griffin Ranch. They snagged the last choice undeveloped pieces of land in central La Quinta and the resulting project is wonderfully situated—within minutes of Old Town La Quinta, shopping and dining on 111, and SilverRock, the city’s championship-level golf course.
The development’s six home plans—either Ridge View or Ridge Gate floorplans—have a Mediterranean flair and range in size from 2390 sf to 3589sf. Many have casitas. The homes boast granite kitchens, 8’ paneled interior doors, smooth exterior stucco, formal dining room,s 9’- to 10’-height ceilings, and many energy savings features.
HOAs are remarkably low—$185—since residents do not support a golf course or 24-hour guards.
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I am a La Quinta Realtor in the Coachella Valley—land of historic Palm Springs, U.S. presidents, golf courses galore, significant architecture, and the enviable indoor/outdoor desert lifestyle.
I am a California native who arrived in the desert 13 years ago from the Silicon Valley, continuing my high-tech career in Public Relations until switching to the tumultuous world of real estate five years ago. Because of my long history with the desert—visiting for years before moving here permanently, I've witnessed the explosive growth of the Coachella Valley as well as the recent shift in property values.
As a golfer, I've played many of the Valley's 100+ courses which helped tremendously when I began selling property in the countryclubs. I cover all the desert cities and am enamoured of Palm Springs' unique mid-century architecture. This past year I've focussed more exclusively on my hometown of La Quinta since it offers such a rich array of communities:
• The Cove, La Quinta's oldest neighborhood with its colorful Santa Fe-style homes on compact lots encircled by the striking Santa Rosa Mountains
• North La Quinta's mid-level family-home neighborhoods
• South La Quinta's gated and non-gated communities and countryclubs, from Rancho La Quinta CC, Mountain View CC, Tradition, The Citrus CC, and Hidden Canyon, to equestrian-themed Griffin Ranch, La Cantera, and then sprawling PGA West, Andalusia, The Hideaway, The Quarry and active-retirement community, Trilogy—each of them nestled along the base of the beautiful Santa Rosa Mountains.
I work with buyers and sellers across the price spectrum. My preferred scenario is to list one or two homes at a time in order to provide focused marketing that quickly spotlights the home to the largest number of prospective buyers and generates a timely sale. Marketing efforts include social media networking such as blogging and Tweeting. Listings appear on more than 30 of the most popular online home-search sites.
Your home-sale will not get lost in the shuffle of an agent with a large, indiscriminate roster of properties—using ineffectual print advertising—none of which garner special attention.
For several years I've written a monthly newsletter—posted to my website and proactively sent to clients—that has attempted to supply the "big picture" on the Coachella Valley market as well as specific examples of property sales, bargains, etc. I now write a consumer-oriented blog so that I can impart relevant information on a more timely basis.
My blogs can be found here on ActiveRain and on WordPress
Education
B.A. UC Santa Barbara
M.S. Ohio University
Member
California Desert Association of Realtors
California Association of Realtors
National Association of Realtors
• "Owning a home in the desert became our dream. Mary led us past all the rough and dark edges of the whole transaction. That let us simply pay for it and enjoy it!"
Robert VanAncum, Amersterdam, The Netherlands
• "She was outstanding."
Greg Tcherkoyan, Alamo, CA
• "Mary was AWESOME—so intelligent, efficient, great attention to details, expedited the process beautifully and so VERY, VERY nice to be around."
Donna Green, Bonney Lake, WA
• "Mary is a terrific agent. She is attentive to details, a skillful communicator, bright, capable and supportive, and has continued to assist me in the details of taking possession of my new home."
Cynthia Bennett, Irvine, CA
• "Mary MacGregor is pure gold!"
Lou Armentrout, Columbus, OH
• "I just wanted you to know that we really appreciate your diligence and perserverance. It is only because of those traits that we ended up with a success in such short order. Mary, you are great and fun, too!"
Rod Bond, Lake Oswego, OR
• "Mary is a very take-charge person and I truly enjoyed working with her."
Karen Hanson, San Pedro, CA
• "Mary MacGregor was great every step of the way. First-time home buyers with fear will be calmed. She talked me off the ledge during escrow and for that and my new home I will be eternally grateful."
Kurt Scholler, Palm Desert, CA
• "It's great to have an agent like you that knows the area and will give us honest feedback on properties and insight to what's a good area or not. JC and I were most thankful to have you on our side."
Larry Zapatka, Mill Valley, CA
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