We talked with a colleague in the Pacific Northwest the other day and she said there's a hint of Fall in the air! Fall! Imagine!

Here in the desert, if you're looking for a cool way to cool down, check out the last two FREE films in the Palm Springs Art Museum's Free Summer Film Series.

Thursday, September 2 at 5:30 is the 1956 Hitchcock classic, The Man Who Knew Too Much, with Jimmy Stewart and Doris Day.

Thursday, September 9 at 5:30 is the marvelous semi-autobiographical Truffaut film, The 400 Blows, with Jean-Pierre Léaud in his debut role as Antoine Doinel.

For more information on the films, visit the Museum or its website. For information on keeping your cool in the Coachella Valley real estate market, call Scott+Jim!

Talk about buzz! This week's gloomy news from the National Association of Realtors (NAR) was more of a roar! But wait...don't panic. Here's our Coachella Valley perspective.

In case you missed it, NAR released figures that sales were down in July by 27% nationwide. A drop in sales wasn't entirely unexpected, as the federal incentives for buyers expired.

But guess what? Here in the valley, in our office, sales are up 18% this month over last August's figures. (And last August was way up over the previous August!)

Why? A few possible reasons. First, Palm Springs, Palm Desert and other Coachella Valley cities are primarily second-home communities. We have more retirees and are somewhat less affected by employment numbers. Very importantly, serious buyers are keeping their eyes on the prices and making their purchases before prices go up any more.

And prices? Yes, median prices are down from the peak (June 2005), but they're UP more than 32% over the April 2009 low!

The bottom line: we're optimistic. The Coachella Valley marketplace really heats up when the temperatures drop. So if August is any indication, get out the oven mitts!

If you're a serious buyer or a serious seller, we are always happy to give you the very best advice for making the most of your Coachella Valley real estate investment. Call us!

At a time when libraries elsewhere are cutting branches, hours and staff, it's encouraging to learn that the Palm Desert Library is booking upgrades and improvements. This may be a general sign of health for our region.

Though the library is only 14 years old, The Desert Sun reports that it is the second-busiest in the Riverside County Library System, which operates 34 libraries, including branches in La Quinta, Palm Springs and Indio. The Fred Waring Drive branch (which has its own page on Facebook!) will enjoy improvements such as new paint and carpeting, additional computer terminals and self-checkout stations.

Construction is expected to begin in about September 2011 and take approximately six months. The project architect, Tim Holt of Holt Architects, Rancho Mirage, anticipates that the branch will remain open during most of the construction.

A lively library is just one of the many perks of Coachella Valley life. We'll be happy to tell you more...just give us a call.

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 for homes within walking distance of amenities. Walking is good for the health and good for the budget; if you have the time, you save on gas. Proximity to shops and schools is important. So are sidewalks, crosswalks and safe neighborhoods.

If you'd like to know more about walkable communities and neighborhoods in Palm Springs, Palm Desert or other parts of the Coachella Valley, we would be happy to show you around. Give us a call!

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 Pierre Bonnard, Paul Cézanne, Marc Chagall, Edgar Degas, Roger de la Fresnaye, Alberto Giacometti, Juan Gris, Marino Marini, Henri Matisse, Henry Moore, Pablo Picasso, Pierre-Auguste Renoir, Auguste Rodin and many other Modern masters. It's a gorgeous and inspiring exhibition.

Get the details here, learn more about the Desert Lifestyle, or call and let us introduce you to the fine art of Coachella Valley real estate!

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, leaves, debris and lawn furniture that get carried pool-ward by the wind. Add up the cost of 30+ gallons of water daily, replacement chemicals and frequent cleaning and a pool cover starts to look like a really smart idea.

We have loads of ideas to help you make the most of the desert lifestyle in Palm Springs, Palm Desert and throughout the Coachella Valley. Give us a call! 760.567.1550

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 of the recent past in favor of renovations and other practical expenditures. They also predict that lenders remain extremely cautious, and even those with outstanding credit and tremendous equity may have to shop around.

For those smart enough to invest in the Coachella Valley real estate market-Palm Springs, Palm Desert, La Quinta, Rancho Mirage and Indian Wells-there's more good news: our market is bustling with buyers eager to find a second or third home, a romantic pied-à-terre or an all-amenities condo on the 7th green.

If you're thinking of selling or buying, or just curious about our desert communities we would be happy to show you around, introduce you to the desert lifestyle and answer your questions about real estate. We are your Palm Springs Realtors, so give us a call today at 760-567-1550.

In real estate, knowledge is power. Let us put our knowledge of Palm Springs and the Valley to work for you!

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 delicious line-up of celebrity chefs.

You can find lots of details, photos and ticket information at www.fashionweekelpaseo.com.

If you're curious about Palm Desert, check out our Palm Desert page. Palm Desert real estate is as hot as next season's fashion right now, and of course we'd be happy to take you on a tour of Palm Desert homes or condos for sale. We are your Palm Desert Realtors, so give us a call today at 760-567-1550.

Don't forget: In real estate, knowledge is power. Let us put our knowledge of Palm Desert to work for you!

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, drawing fans-and incomparable players-from around the world.Tickets are available online at www.bnpparibasopen.org or call the Indian Wells Tennis Garden box office at 800-999-1585.

Meanwhile, Spring is the perfect time for real estate shopping in Indian Wells. Small and affluent, Indian Wells is known for luxury living in a pristine desert atmosphere.

We would be happy to talk with you about current options and values and to show you what's available in this beautiful desert community.Give us a call today at 760-567-1550. In real estate, knowledge is power. We look forward to sharing our knowledge with you.