What the First Winter in La Quinta Is Really Like If You Just Left Orange County
If you are leaving Orange County, LA or San Diego for the desert, the question under all the others is simple: what will I actually do here in the winter? Summer gets the headlines. Winter is why a lot of people move. Here is what a first winter in La Quinta looks like, and where I want you to hear
Who Pays What at Closing When You Buy a Coachella Valley Home, Line by Line
You sold a home on the coast, or you are about to, and now you are looking at a closing statement for a house in La Quinta or Palm Desert. Two sets of numbers, two sets of fees, and a real question: who actually pays for what? I am going to walk through it line by line. This is the buyer side. If yo
Selling Your Desert Second Home From the Coast: What Every Net Sheet Line Means
If you own a second home in the desert and live on the coast, the first number you want is simple. What will I actually walk away with? A seller net sheet answers that. It is also the page that confuses people most, because it is full of lines they have never seen. Here is every line in plain words.
The Compass vs. MLS Fight Is Now in Court. Here Is What It Means in the Desert.
The biggest industry story of October is close to home. California Regional MLS, the MLS that serves the Coachella Valley, is now in a federal court fight with Compass over how homes get marketed before they reach the MLS. Here is the short version. CRMLS has a rule that says members must submit a l
First Friday on El Paseo: A Plain Guide for Anyone Thinking About Moving to Palm Desert
Moving to the desert is a big decision, and a listing photo cannot tell you what an ordinary Friday evening feels like. One first Friday on El Paseo can. I am not saying one night will decide anything for you. I am saying it gives you a real evening in Palm Desert to hold up against the picture in y
The Real Downsides of a 55+ Community
A 55+ community is not right for everyone, and I would rather you know the tradeoffs before you buy. 1. More rules. Age policies, guest limits, and rules on renting are written into the governing documents. 2. HOA dues. Dues cover amenities you may not use. 3. A smaller buyer pool at resale. Fewer b
The 80/20 Rule in a 55+ Community, Explained
If you are shopping in a 55+ community, you will hear about the 80/20 rule. It is simple once you see it. Under federal housing law, a 55+ community can qualify as housing for older persons if at least 80 percent of occupied units have at least one resident who is 55 or older. The remaining 20 perce
How Far Is Palm Desert From LA, Orange County and San Diego?
If you are thinking about leaving the coast, the first question is usually how far you would be from family. Here is how it looks from Palm Desert. Los Angeles: From LAX it is about 133 miles and around 2 hours 24 minutes with no traffic. With Friday afternoon traffic on the 10, add an hour or more.
The Hardest Month to Sell a Desert Home (And What to Do About It)
If you own a second home in the desert and live on the coast, you have probably noticed the market has a rhythm. The valley fills up in winter and spring, and it empties out in summer. That rhythm matters when you decide when to list. The short version: the slowest stretch for buyer traffic tends to