Blog Entries

These Summer Days and Nights

info@scottandjimhomes.com — Tue, 20 Jul 2010 00:00:00 +0100

Feeling the summer blahs? Of course you can stay cool in the pool, at the mall and at nightclubs, casinos, restaurants and shops throughout the Coachella Valley. But here are a few other ways to enjoy summer in the valley:

Wednesdays and Saturdays, 4-10pm, Indio Evening/Night Market at the Riverside County Fairgrounds. Fresh produce u [...]

You Are So Cool

info@scottandjimhomes.com — Fri, 16 Jul 2010 00:00:00 +0100

Summertime, sunshine and it's hot hot hot! If you're a long-time desert dweller, you probably have your stay-cool methods in place by now. But if you're a newcomer or a visitor, here are a few tips that might just save you a few bucks on air conditioning.
Drink lots of water. Water cools you from the inside out. And if you're [...]

But Can You Walk There?

info@scottandjimhomes.com — Tue, 13 Jul 2010 00:00:00 +0100

Just when you were ready to plunk down some cash on that snazzy hybrid, the Wall Street Journal comes out with an article on the latest trend in housing: walkability. Apparently buyers at both ends of the spectrum - retiring baby-boomers and their first-time-homebuyer children - are looking [...]

The Fine Art of Desert Living

info@scottandjimhomes.com — Fri, 09 Jul 2010 00:00:00 +0100

If Palm Springs living is about mid-century modern, this summer's exhibition at the Palm Springs Art Museum is about what you might call Century Modern. Modern Masters Celebrate Line and Form (June 26 through September 26) includes drawings, prints, sculptures and paintings by such renowned artists as [...]

First Tuesday Art, Wine & Snacks

info@scottandjimhomes.com — Mon, 05 Jul 2010 00:00:00 +0100

Join the La Quinta Arts Foundation on Tuesday of July 6, August 3 and September 7 as the Old Town Cellar features delicious art along with complimentary wine and treats. 5-7pm, 78015 Main Street, Suite 109 in Old Town La Quinta.

Interested in learning more about living in La Quinta? Visit our La Quinta p [...]

Super-Luxury Desert Estates

info@scottandjimhomes.com — Mon, 05 Jul 2010 00:00:00 +0100

The super-luxury segment of the Coachella Valley market - estate properties priced $2.51-$9.0 million - is selling at exactly the same pace this year as last. The good news is that the price per square foot in this market segment has increased by 11% over the same period in 2009. Similar to luxury home sales, about 89% of super-luxury properties sell in all-cash transactions.

Our two favorite [...]

The Luxury Market at Mid-Year

info@scottandjimhomes.com — Thu, 01 Jul 2010 00:00:00 +0100

The Coachella Valley - the low desert region around Palm Springs in Southern California - has a substantial luxury market comprised of homes priced between $1.5 and $2.5 million.

The Desert Area MLS reports that this segment of the market experienced a year-over-year 49% increase in sales Valley-wide, January-June. Some 87% of these luxury-segment properties sell in all-cash transactions!

To see printed reports from the Desert Area MLS, or to talk about selling or purchasing a luxury p [...]

Mid-Year Report: Entry-Level Homes

info@scottandjimhomes.com — Mon, 28 Jun 2010 00:00:00 +0100

Are you ready for some good news? We have it! What we call "entry level" homes here in Southern California's Coachella Valley - those priced $500,000 and below - are selling at a brisk pace. Our Windermere office is processing about 500 escrows a month compared to 200-300 during the same period in 2009.

Foreclosures and Short Sales are down substantially year-over-year. While they continue to apply some downward pressure on prices, they're having less of an effect than last year and [...]

Pool Covers Are Cool

info@scottandjimhomes.com — Tue, 22 Jun 2010 00:00:00 +0100

You look out the window and there's your sparkling swimming pool. It's an appealing part of the desert lifestyle, right? But did you know that without a pool cover, you might be throwing money away? Yes, the sun helps to heat the water in your pool, but, especially in our low-humidity desert environment, it also evaporates gallons and gallons of water every day - to say nothing of the sand, lea [...]

Great Loooking Shorts!

info@scottandjimhomes.com — Thu, 17 Jun 2010 00:00:00 +0100

June 22 - 28: here comes the 16th Annual Palm Springs International ShortFest! Screening more than 300 short films from over 40 countries, ShortFest also attracts film buyers, industry representatives and the press, who come to check out 2,700 films at the ShortFest Film Market. There's an Opening Night Gala on June 22 [...]

Are We Moving More?

info@scottandjimhomes.com — Mon, 14 Jun 2010 00:00:00 +0100

The U.S. Census Bureau says Yes! The Bureau measures how often people (ages one year and older) change residences - what they call the "national mover rate" - and in 2009 a greater percentage (12.5%) of us moved than in 2008 (11.9%). Where are people moving? In general, not too far. The Bureau's Geographical Mobility study shows that in 2009 67.3% of all movers stayed within the same county; 17.2% moved to a different county in the same state; 12.6% moved to a different state; and 2.9% [...]

It's Buying Time Again

info@scottandjimhomes.com — Wed, 09 Jun 2010 00:00:00 +0100

Talking about the current market outlook, California Association of Realtors® President Steve Goddard recently commented, "Mortgage interest rates continue to hover near their historic lows, and many buyers are out in force to take advantage of the combination of low interest rates and affordably priced homes. It's an ideal time for many families to purchase their first home even though they may face stiff competition."

If you're looking for a way to get an edge on the competitio [...]

Restaurant Week!

info@scottandjimhomes.com — Tue, 25 May 2010 00:00:00 +0100

Ladies, sharpen your forks...here comes Restaurant Week! If you're into flavor, June 4-13 is one of the best times of the year to dazzle your taste buds.

Something like a hundred restaurants all over the Coachella Valley will be participating by offering prix fixe dinner menus for either $24 or $36 (plus drinks, tax and tip). [...]

What Do Buyers Want?

info@scottandjimhomes.com — Mon, 24 May 2010 00:00:00 +0100

We weren't terribly surprised to see what surveys from the National Association of Homebuilders (NAHB) and Better Homes and Gardens had to say about buyers' wish lists. Their figures tally pretty well with what we hear from Palm Springs-area real estate buyers every day.

The big word is GREEN. Between a slowly recovering economy and a growing awareness of environmental [...]

Palm Springs Realtors Honor Harvey Milk

info@scottandjimhomes.com — Wed, 19 May 2010 00:00:00 +0100

In 2009, Governor Schwarzenegger signed into law the Harvey Milk Day bill. Sponsored by Equality California (EQCA) and authored by Senator Mark Leno, the bill designates a day each May to honor Harvey Milk, one of the nation's first openly LGBT elected officials.

This year, on Sunday, May 23, we are extremely pleased to be co-hosts for an official Palm Spr [...]

It's About Time!

info@scottandjimhomes.com — Tue, 23 Mar 2010 00:00:00 +0100

Whatever your portfolio, whatever your equity, the past couple of years have been economically nasty. Now-at last!-there's a dribble of good news: Bloomberg News reports today that lenders can be expected to loosen the purse-strings on home-equity loans in 2010.

What that means is homeowners with equity-those who owe less than their property is worth-will be able to bank on their home's value for loan funding. Forecasters predict that those who seek such loans will forego the luxury spending [...]

How Gorgeous is Really Gorgeous?

info@scottandjimhomes.com — Mon, 15 Mar 2010 00:00:00 +0100

Whether you enjoy the fashion shows, the champagne, the shopping, the exhibits or just all those really, really stunning models, Fashion Week El Paseo is the place to get your gorgeous on!

From March 20 through March 28, Palm Desert-always style-savvy-turns into fashion central with a packed event schedule that includes everything from trunk shows to a bachelor auction! For those with a real taste for fashion, this year's Fashion Week dresses up with two days of culinary events featuring a de [...]

Oh Dinah!

info@scottandjimhomes.com — Fri, 12 Mar 2010 00:00:00 +0100

As the ladies are swinging (their golf clubs) in Rancho Mirage at the Kraft Nabisco Championship, the ladies are just plain swinging at the Dinah Shore Weekend, known as "The Dinah." Stand back or jump in-The Dinah is considered the largest lesbian event in the world, attracting thousands of women from around the planet who come to Palm Springs to party, March 31 through April 4.

This is The Dinah's 20th year and it promises to be bigger, hotter and more glamorous than ever. Parties, [...]

Kraft Nabisco Championship: “Major Passion!”

info@scottandjimhomes.com — Thu, 11 Mar 2010 00:00:00 +0100

Here come the ladies! The first major tournament of the year on the LPGA Tour, the Kraft Nabisco Championship gets underway with practice rounds on Monday, March 29, and wraps up championship play on Sunday, April 4. Hosted at the Dinah Shore Tournament Course at the Mission Hills Country Club in Rancho Mirage for the 39th year, the 2010 tournament will see 2009 defending champion, Brittany Lincicome, defending her title against Lorena Ochoa, ranked number one in the world.

In addition to daz [...]

Spring in the Desert Means Tennis!

info@scottandjimhomes.com — Wed, 10 Mar 2010 00:00:00 +0100

We love Spring in the Coachella Valley. The temperatures are mild, the cactus and palms and wildflowers have started blooming and serious, fabulous, exciting tennis comes to town.In case you hadn't noticed, the BNP Paribas Open is now underway at the Indian Wells Tennis Garden. Competition continues for the next ten days, with the finals on Sunday, March 21.

One of the largest events in the Coachella Valley, the Paribas Open is also one of the Valley's largest sources of revenue, dra [...]