Speechless Sunday:  Citrus Club La Quinta Photo Contest Our parent company asked the agents in our office for help in finding great real estate photos of homes in The Citrus Club La Quinta.  First prize is dinner for 2 at one of the restaurants at La Quinta Resort & Spa.  I sent them several photos, but I think this is my favorite! *Contest only open to California Lifestyle Realty agents.  Happy Sunday! 09/15/2013

Many people have been waiting for 5 years or more to sell their home and move up to a larger home. Finally, the time is here. Interest rates are low. Most homes have increased in value enough for sellers to have adequate equity to do a move up buy and get a larger home without a huge increase in payment and monthly costs. Interest tax deductions are still in place . Don't miss your chance to  move up now to a larger and more compforatble home for you and your family. 09/15/2013

Infinity Hair Design in La Quinta:  A Salon with Heart   I have been going to the Infinity Hair Design salon in La Quinta since 1997.  I was spending the holidays in the desert and was not able to make it home before Christmas and New Years... and I was in need of a color and cut.  I walked in and asked if anyone would have time to do my hair and Lori Conners at Infinity said YES.  They are located in the Vons shopping center at the corner of Hwy 111 and Washington.     You may not realize that our desert area is extremely busy in the winter months, and you must make appointments weeks out in order to get in to see sytlists. I had a few friends recommend their salons, and no one could take me until late January.  The girls at Infinity care.  They fit me in and I have been going there ev... 09/12/2013

Many people feel that now is the time to flip houses and they may be correct. They want to buy a house fix it up and sell it within a few months for a profit. This is always risky but right now it seems more risky to me for these reasons and more: 1. The prices are increasing but not alot 2. Costs to buy and sell can quickly eat the profits 3. Higher interest rates lower the prices that buyers can qualify for 4. More new homes are becoming available which attract buyers more than flip homes 5. Many times the homes bought to flip have more issues than are know when they are purchased. 6. Lenders have many requirements and appraisals for flip homes 7. Your profit is also based on comparable nearby recent sales. If these home are not as nice, yours may not appraise as high as you need to f... 09/12/2013

You do have options if you cannot make your house payment. Here are some ideas for both long term and short term solutions: 1. Call your lender right away. 2. Many times they will give you a 1-3 month grace period where you do not have to make your payment and it will be added onto your principal owed 3. You also can apply for a loan modification if you have a legitimate hardship like ill health, divorce, death, loss of employment , or having to move due to employment and other reasons too 4. Some lenders will give you a principal reduction so your payments can go down an dyou will owe less too. This is more challenging than a loan modification most of the time and also less likely in most cases, but it is for sure worth a try. 5. If you feel you will not be able to ever make your payme... 09/12/2013

Prices are going up in La Quinta, California.Each day as I review the new listings and sold listings I am shocked at the prices. I feel I follow the market very closely and I see homes that I feel are way overpriced and guess what, they sell quickly. Listings are like gold. Listings bring lots of buyers to the listing agent. I am so happy to see prices rise. I feel like each day that passes, I am getting a pay raise. After many years of decline this is welcome for agents and sellers too. We do not have a shortage of listings, we just have more buyers who are willing to jump into the market. This is all good news for real estate in La Quinta, California. 09/11/2013

Many years ago I was at a real estate meeting and they were honoring a woman with over 40 years in real estate. They asked her what she saw a key to her success in real estate. She said that she learned early on in her career to know the inventory so she looked at least 10 homes a day and still was looking at 10 homes day. She said this really helped her with buyers, values, and in listing appointments too. Thanks to her, one day I was driving down the street looking for homes to view and I saw a guy looking at a flyer box. I stopped and asked him if he had an agent and if he would like to view the house. He did not have an agent and wanted to view the house. I showed him the house and sold him the house. It was the first $1,000,000+ home I had sold. I really thank her for sharing this ... 09/11/2013

The end of summer here has been full of cloudy skies and late afternoon storms. Very unusual for our normal dry desert climate.  Although we suffer with the humidity added to our 100 + temps,  the clouds do provide the most amazing sunsets for our viewing pleasure!  I captured this on Firday evening!  09/08/2013

Ernie's at PGA West has great Food and Views!   Ernie's at PGA West is a great spot for lunch before golf, or happy hour after!  With the wide windows opening out to the Nicklaus tournament course finishing holes the  views are spectacular.  The mood is casual and the atmosphere is fun!     Ernie's Bar & Grill in the recently redesigned Tournament Clubhouse at PGA WEST, has quickly become the coolest new upscale sports bar. Choose from a distinct selection of beers on tap, wine, and a menu offering pub fare prepared with local natural ingredients. Follow your team or favorite sport on one of the many high-definition flat screen TVs featuring the best in DirecTV sports programming. Enjoy al-fresco dining on the terrace while enjoying fabulous views of the TPC Stadium and Nicklaus Tournam... 09/07/2013

California Lifestyle Old Town La Quinta Office  California Lifestyle Realty is a full service brokerage, specializing in golf communities in La Quinta, California.  The Old Town California Lifestyle Realty office is located right on Main Street across from the Old Town Coffee Shop, and adjacent to the Hog's Breath Inn Restaurant.       California Lifestyle also has 3 other locations in La Quinta, including the Dunes Clubhouse, the Tournament Clubhouse at PGA West, and on the Plaza within the La Quinta Resort & Spa! 09/07/2013

Our home has a ZAGUAN...Does yours?     If you live at La Quinta Country Club it might... because they are very popular here.  If you live in the southwest US or Mexico, and have a "hacienda" style home, it might have a zaguan! I learned a new word yesterday while reading an article from HOUZZ.com.   ZAGUAN is defined : a vestibule or passageway leading from the entrance door to the central patio in houses commonly found in the southwestern U.S. and Mexico. Traditionally these entry ways were created as a passageway for wagons and animals to be brought into the central courtyard for shelter from intruders or weather.  Today it serves as an architectural detail that enhances the charm and beauty of hacienda style homes.   Many of the homes at La Quinta Country Club have zaguan entries, s... 09/05/2013

There are many reasons to buy a home TODAY! Here are 7 that come to me all the time: 1. Prices are still low 2. Interest rates are still low 3. Moving up to a home to suit your needs makes sense\ 4. Mortgage deductions are still available 5. Higher priced home increase in value more ( a $100,000 hom eincreases 10%= $10,000. A $400,000 hom eincreases 10%= $40,000) 6. Prices are increasing and have been increasing slowly for awhile 7. Interest rates are increasing steadily 09/05/2013

  Wordless Wednesday:  Summer skies over La Quinta If you are looking for mountain views and beautiful desert skies, La Quinta is the place for you! La Quinta, California is located east of Palm Springs and is know for it's golf courses, gorgeous mountain views and resort style living!  SEARCH FOR HOMES IN LA QUINTA   09/04/2013

The Haciendas at La Quinta    The Hacienda's at La Quinta is a gated-community of 65 homes surrounded by the lush, green landscapes of the Dunes Course at La Quinta Resort, located in La Quinta, California.   Reminiscent of the Haciendas of old, these quaint, ranch-style homes are spacious and have been designed to encourage family life as well as active entertaining.   The homes built in 2002 have 3+ bedrooms, many with casitas and 4 bathrooms.  They range in size from 2600-2900sq.ft. and feature open floor plans for entertaining.  This close-knit community has a security gate- accessible with a key card entry off of 50th Street. Currently there are 2 homes listed for sale for $719,000 and $799,000.  The views and the location at the Haciendas are both spectacular.  The neighborhood is... 09/04/2013

Duna La Quinta is all about Location!   Duna La Quinta is a gated golf community featuring homes and condos, many of which are located on the Dunes golf course. Duna La Quinta is adjacent to the La Quinta Resort & Spa and the Dunes Clubhouse. The Duna La Quinta neighborhood features community pools, tennis court, and wide-open wonderful views of the Santa Rosa Mountains! Duna La Quinta Condos: Two and three bedroom floor plans ranging from 1,555 to 2,613 square feet. Condos were built in '84 and '85. Condo HOA's include trash, basic cable and outside maintenance. Duna La Quinta Homes: Two and three bedroom homes range from 1,830 to 3,049 square feet. These single family homes are very popular and rarely last long on the market when priced right.     SEARCH FOR HOMES IN DUNA LA QUINTA   09/03/2013

Whether I am showing leases or homes for sale and people seem indifferent, I ask them why they do not want the house. It is so helpful to know how to handle their objections. Some objections can be handled and some cannot. Here are some reasons I heard recently and how I answered them: 1. I do not want carpet in the hallway. answer- How about the owner replaces the carpet with pergo in the hallway and the den? Result: done deal 2. I don't like the trees in the back yard so overgrown. Answer: We will trim the trees. Result: done deal 3. I don't like 2 islands in the kitchen. Answer - this is perfect. One island is for prep and one is for clean up. When cleaning up you can stand between them and use bith. The extra counter space is really an advantage. Result - done deal 4. I need 4 bedro... 09/02/2013

The rural end of the Palm Springs Valley starts in La Quinta, and moves easterly through the cities of Vista Santa Rosa, Indio, Thermal and Coachella.  It's much more rural than the Westerly border of our Valley...the City of Palm Springs, and a unique place.  It is made unique and special because of the startling Views, the proximity to the Western Mountains, tons of golf courses and ONLY in the East Valley, the HITS horseshow, polo fields and of course our Internationally acclaimed Coachella music festival.  Wow! The end of the muggy, hot summer is coming up..we made it through our Monsoon like flash flood, and are heading into our last REALLY hot month of summer.  September.  I tell all my new buyers to button down and be prepared for their first August and September experiences beca... 09/01/2013

    Speechless Sunday:  Lavender Skies! We have had cloudy skies this summer for a few weeks, and although they bring some humidity to our area, they also provide us with stunning sunsets!  Every evening I check the sky and capture another beautiful moment to share with you! Come find your sunset here in La Quinta!   Visit:  SchoweProperties.com! 09/01/2013

Welcome to La Quinta Country Club Founded in 1959, La Quinta Country Club members enjoy a rich heritage other clubs only dream of possessing. Most people are drawn here by golf and quickly fall in love with the beautiful desert ambiance and camaraderie among members. Although the spectacular golf and weather are the initial attraction to our club, genuine respect and interest in each other is the foundation that binds our special membership. Today, La Quinta Country Club has embarked on its newest chapter, the new Santa Barbara style clubhouse which opened the Fall of 2009. The new clubhouse is stately, sophisticated and inviting, qualities that are expressions of who we are as a club.   The Golf Presidents Eisenhower and Ford favored it. The pros rave about it. And, it has been a Bob H... 09/01/2013

I am grateful to have alot of business, but I just want people who are not real estate agents to know what our typical work day is like whether it is a Saturday or not. 7:30 am - answer emails and send listings 8:00 am - go to office and get signed for open house and flyers 9 am- Show rental 10 am- I have driven 50+ miles to a rental referral from a past client and speak with them about their home 12 noon - be back in La Quinta for a home inspection and meet decorator for home 1 - 2 pm - stop by an open house in Indian Wells 2 pm - Meet a renter moving out in Trilogy 3 pm- Meet buyers to get some disclosures signed 4 pm- Meet buyers to get a counter offer signed In between - video 3 homes for an out of area buyer and email them to him Then home to make dinner and watch some football wit... 08/31/2013