The Palm Springs Valley is known for the plethora of world-class country clubs and golf courses that make up its desert landscape.  The Palms Golf Club in La Quinta ranks high on the list and is considered one of the best golfing experiences and most unique developments in our area.

The Palms course, designed by part-time resident Fred Couples and Brian Curley, features a “core golf layout” – meaning the golf course is in the center of the community and its 101 luxury homes are located around the perimeter.  Thousands of date palms, mesquite and citrus trees grace the landscape and three creeks meander through the property, giving it a lush and stately appeal.

The golf at The Palms is phenomenal !!!  Fast bentgrass greens and lush fairways define the course and its single member structure eliminates the need for tee times.  All rounds are played under four hours out of the club’s commitment to courteous play and players may walk or ride a cart.  Club membership is available to homeowners, but is not required.

The real estate opportunities at The Palms are available to suit every lifestyle.  They include Golf Villas, semi-custom homes, custom estate homes and custom lots. The Golf Club is separate from The Palms home development . . . and for residents’ enjoyment, a private dog park with a refreshing  water feature is available and convenient.

So, whether you’re a lover of the game or just looking to live in an exclusive country club atmosphere in La Quinta that offers beautiful views and a luxury lifestyle, then The Palms may very well be for you.  If you are interested in finding out more about the available properties at The Palms or would like to take a tour, please give Kim Kelly, Realtor with HK Lane Realty in La Quinta a call now and make an appointment.

Watching the La Quinta market recover

Even I, however, am beginning to think that we will be looking in our rear view mirrors and saying, “2011..that was the bottom.”  It does appear that the housing market is stabilizing..all over California according to this article from the LA Times today..   In my own area of the Palm Springs Valley, I am experiencing this upswing daily.  The Low End-say $250,000 and under is incuring multiple offers on nearly every home.  If a Buyer is trying to purchase with an FHA loan, they will be offering way over List Price and even then, the odds are low they’ll be chosen.  Cash & Conventional Loans kick FHA to the bottom of the pile for Sellers.

Even Investors are seeing the market changes.  They can no longer make their numbers work..why?  Because there aren’t any obscenely under priced homes for sale!  The middle tier..$500,000-$850,000 is settling too.  Great views and locations are being snapped up.  The Luxury Market is still in flux and those Buyers are still pretty fickle..believing they can get a better price if they just wait.

La Quinta and the Palm Springs Valley in general is on the upswing..

How lucky are we here in La Quinta and the Palm Springs Valley to have a world class resort venue like the La Quinta Resort & Club  literally in our own backyard?  Living in La Quinta Cove like I do, making a trek down Eisenhower to the spectacular La Quinta Resort & Club takes . . . say, maybe 5 minutes?  Once you turn off Eisenhower onto the stately tree-lined entrance, you feel like you’re in another world.  This iconic, historic hotel is always abuzz with people and activity – living the good life of ease and amenities.  It feels like a vacation just being there on those beautiful grounds and taking in this elevated lifestyle offered to visitors from all over the world.

Congratulations to the La Quinta Resort & Club and PGA West for recently earning top honors among Hilton’s hotel chains worldwide as Luxury Resort of the Year.  What an honor !!!  La Quinta Resort is part of the Waldorf Astoria Hotel chain and was judged among 300 hotels and resorts.  In addition, Gary Sims, managing director for the resort, also was recognized as general manager of the year.

The executive director of sales, Rick Blackburn, said this about the resort’s recent honor – “This is a tremendous honor for us.  It truly reflects the increasing quality of our resort and its many services and amenities, as well as the vision of our management, dedication of our staff and overall commitment to providing our guests with exceptional levels of service.”

If you haven’t been to the La Quinta Resort lately, treat yourself to a gourmet dinner prepared by Award-winning chef Jimmy Schmidt at Morgans in the Desert . . .  or a fine cigar and a haircut at Havana . . . or some long-overdue pampering at the spa.  Even for us locals, there is much to experience here.

Take a Staycation today . . . at our very own La Quinta Resort & Club !!!

Homeowners in La Quinta and across California will be getting help soon, as approx. half of the $410 million coming to the state from the overall settlement with the nation’s five biggest banks (due to accusations that they improperly or fraudently foreclosed on homewoners) has flowed into its coffers.

State Atty. General Kamala D. Harris disclosed on Friday that this money will be put into funding the state’s housing counselors and legal service agencies that help struggling homeowners. She also plans to spend the rest of the money on reaching out to and educating homeowners stuck in the hardest-hit parts of the state, on further investigations and oversight of the settlement funds and on helping borrowers who aren’t able to stay in their homes.

Over half a million California households are currently in the foreclosure pipeline.  State authorities say they realize the importance of getting funding into those communities where they are needed and assisting the homeowners who were most affected by the crisis.

Community organizers have voiced that the money needs to go towards helping homeowners and not to help lower the state’s budget deficit, as has happened in other states.  They state that the settlement was intending for homeowners who are dealing with the foreclosure crisis.   Many housing counseling agencies across the country are struggling as the demand for their services has gone up.   This financial boost could be the shot in the arm that is needed to bring homeowners back into good stead in California.

My question is, what about all the homeowners who have already lost their homes, how does this help them?  Couldn’t anything be done to help them to get back into home ownership again?  I know people in La Quinta and elsewhere… I’m sure you do too… who were caught in the timing of this foreclosure crisis such that they lost their homes, are now having to rent and have ruined credit.  What is being done to help them to get back into the home ownership saddle, so to speak???

A significant change is being made by state officials to the Keep Your Home California program.  They are dropping a requirement that banks match taxpayers’ funds when homeowners receive mortgage reductions through the program.  Previously, the program was facing lackluster participation and lender resistance, but now that the requirement that banks provide matching funds, well . . . let’s just say that now the banks are more willing to participate.  Hmmmm . . ..

Hopefully, increased participation by Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac will provide a major boost to the Keep Your Home California program.  Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac own about 62% of outstanding mortgages in California, but neither institution has elected to participate in principal reduction due to concerns about adding additional costs to taxpayers.

Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac were seized by the Feds in 2008 when bordering on bankruptcy – we, the taxpayers, have provided $188 billion to keep them afloat.  These two institutions last year made it their policy to participate in state-run principal reduction programs such as Keep Your Home California – as long as they or the mortgage companies that work for them didn’t have to contribute funds.

Housing advocates have argued that reducing mortgages of underwater borrowers would boost the housing market by giving incentive to homeowners to keep paying off their loans – And would reduce foreclosures by lowering the monthly payments for underwater homeowners, giving them hope that one day they would again have equity in their homes.

Other requirements of financial institutions will be to make other modifications to loans such as reducing the interest rate or changing the terms of the loan.  The changes to the Keep Your Home California program will roll out in early June . . . so Hang In There, underwater borrowers . . . sounds like help is on the way !!!

A little of the history – in the late 1950s, a father and son team of George and Robert Alexander of the Alexander Construction Co. built over 1200 “tract” homes designed in what is now called “Southern California Modern”  style  in the Palm Springs area.

For the times, the homes they built were very modern and included soaring rooflines with elegant minimalist facades – inside they boasted post and beam construction, walls of glass and spacious, open floorplans, capitalizing on the Sou. Cal. lifestyle which flows from the inside to outside.

The Alexanders began constructing homes in the southeast end of Palm Springs, but as they grew more successful, they were building in the Vista Las Palmas area on the northwest side of town near Las Palmas where the wealthy Hollywood crowd had been building Spanish Revival homes.

Also, the firm of Palmer and Krisel built about 330 homes in Vista Las Palmas.  Krisel is known for his iconic “butterfly” roof design and their architect is responsible for the distinctive “Swiss Miss” A-frame style found there as well.  The mix of design styles  in Las Palmas has created one of the most architecturally diverse, yet cohesive communities in Palm Springs.

Also to be mentioned is “The House of Tomorrow” located in Vista Las Palmas- a futuristic style house for the time.  It was featured in Look Magazine in 1962 and set a new standard for luxurious living in Southern California.  The home became the secret getaway for Elvis & Priscilla Pressley in 1968 – it was where they honeymooned.

In the 1950s, many celebrities from Hollywood designated their homes in Vista Las Palmas as their desert retreat.  Some of the elebrities who once lived and played there include Marilyn Monroe, Dean Martin, Peter Lawford, Debbie Reynolds, Joan Collins, George Hamilton, Kirk Douglas, Dinah Shore and more.

Today, Vista Las Palmas has become a symbol of Mid-Century Modern design for the distinctive homeowner who wants the relaxed lifestyle of the desert. Owners include full-time residents, Snowbirds and weekenders from nearby Los Angeles.  The residents in this iconic picturesque neighborhood share an interest in preserving the history and architecture that is unique to Palm Springs and so perfectly complements our desert landscape here.

Should you be interested in looking at Homes for Sale in the Vista Las Palmas neighborhood in Palm Springs, give Kimberley Kelly, Realtor with HK Lane a call and set up an appointment today.

The Estancias does not have its own golf course . . . BUT, residents do have the convenience of being just a quick golf cart drive away from all of the amenities offered at Rancho La Quinta Country Club.  Along with the estate sized lots and magnificent mountain views, these 49 special homes at The Estancias at Rancho La Quinta offer just about everything one needs for the perfect desert lifestyle.

If we’ve piqued your curiosity and you’d like to visit The Estancias at Rancho La Quinta and tour the incredible homes for sale there, feel free to contact Kim Kelly to arrange your private tour.

B of A gives principal reductions???

Bank of America NEVER “gives” anything away for nothing.  So..I suspect the devil will be in the details with this new little gig.  Part of the 26 billion dollar governement settlement, Bank of America is offering 200,000 lucky homeowners that qualify principle reductions.  Isn’t that nice of them???

Unfortunately, alot of things must happen…

1.  The borrower has to receive, open and read their letter that they are sending in the mail.  I would suspecst that many of these “select 200,000 borrowers” have already jumped ship.  If they are still there, they are pretty much hiding from their Lender and are OVER getting mail from them.  Wonder how many will even open the letters?

2.  You have to qualify.  We all know about the qualifying process with B of A for Loan Mods and Short Sales.  I suspect the paperwork is huge and the negotiator numbers are not.

3.  They will write off up to $100,000..yippee!  That will help some, but in my area of the Palm Springs Valley, $100,000 isn’t much..in ANY price point.

Let’s see if this program is a little more efficient that Bank of America’s 48 hr. buyer substitution program is.  That is a complete disaster.  But..I’m an positive thinker and I choose to believe this one is “going to work!”  Good luck to all!

On more than one occasion, I’ve heard friends say that if they could own a home in any country club in the Palm Springs Valley, it would be at Tradition Golf Club.  Just the name conjures up a feeling of someplace familiar, someplace with class, someplace that is lasting and true.  Tradition sets itself apart from many other country clubs in several ways… one is its coveted location tucked up against the base of the Santa Rosa Mountains in La Quinta, affording magnificent panoramic vistas, privacy and unparalleled serenity.  This unique enclave of luxury residences sits on land which once served as a ranch getaway for Hollywood celebs and heads of state, adding to its glamourous mystique.

If you’re a golfer, you’ll be interested to know that Tradition is rated as one of America’s top 100 golf communities by Travel and Leisure Magazine. Designed by Arnold Palmer, it features an 18-hole championship course and a 9-hole par 3 course, each impeccably designed by Arnold Palmer with a look and feel unlike any other desert course. Tradition also features a fitness center and spa, with social/fitness memberships available for non-golfers.

Real estate available at Tradition includes custom homes, Village homes, Bungalows and custom estate home sites.  The impeccably designed luxury residences built in Spanish Revival, Early California and Mediterranean architectural styles afford visual harmony and comfortable luxury.

Two words aptly describe Traditions – exclusive and low-key.  If that’s the lifestyle you’re seeking, then you’ll want to be sure to visit Traditions and see for yourself how very special it is.  Feel free to contact Kim Kelly to arrange a private tour of Tradition Golf Club and to view any Tradition properties for sale there.

Six years later in 1982, a group of area residents led by Fred Wolff tried again for incorporation . . . and this time cityhood was voted in.  Fred Wolff would go on to become La Quinta’s first mayor.  The incorporation process wasn’t easy – it required that a petition be signed by 25% of registered voters and that a feasibility study by approved by Riverside County Local Agency Formation Commission before being place on the ballot.

On the day the board was to vote on the incorporation of La Quinta, they were also considering a petition by the city of Indian Wells to annex the commercial area alng Washington St. and Hwy. 111.  Indian Wells was attempting to secure the four corners at that intersection to try to keep commercialization out of their city.

The incorporation organizers took two busloads of people down to Riverside for a face-to-face meeting with Indian Wells’ attorneys and the people spoke out to support their stance.  The LAFCO board also heard testimony from the Indian Wells contingency and from the commercial businesses at the four corners who did not initially support La Quinta becoming its own city.

The LAFCO board then voted – unanimously in favor of placing the measure on the ballot.  Still, there were protestations from certain groups, but voters approved the measure to incorporate in a 3 to 1 vote.

Now the fastest growing city in the Coachella Valley, La Quinta is home to more than 37,000 residents and runs with a city budget of more than $40 million.  The La Quinta of today plays host to world class events such as the BNP Parabis Tennis Open and the Humana Challenge (once the Bob Hope Classic).  The La Quinta Arts Festival held every spring is considered one of the best of its kind in the country. Hollywood famous have made their homes here, such as Merv Griffin and Frank Capra.

La Quinta residents live here in the Gem of the Desert, as it’s known, for a reason . . . and they will tell you, they live here because it’s friendly, it’s about family and it’s beautiful and affordable.  Nuff said.