The Racquet Club Road Estates was built by the Alexander Construction Company between 1959 and 1962, and designed by William Krisel of Palmer and Krisel Architects. ·The HousesThe first homes at Racquet Club Road Estates were completed in 1959, coinciding with space-age optimism, the apex of tailfins, and the height of popularity of the nearby Palm Springs Racquet Club. William Krisel designed the 1225 square foot houses as weekend getaways, on slab with single pane glass and without insulation. The beauty in these houses, however, is the post and beam construction allowing soaring rooflines, an open floor plan, and an indoor/outdoor relationship to the generous 1/4 acre lots dottted with poodled olive trees and fan palms. Though considered modestly sized by today's standards, the hou... 08/10/2007

 August 23 - 29, 2007 Join the party at America's biggest and best festival of short films, featuring over 350 great new short films from around the world. Comedy, Romance, Action, Sci-fi, Thrillers, Animation, Documentaries and more take center stage on the big screen for seven fabulous days of screenings, parties, and seminars. Join the filmmakers for post-screening discussions! Enjoy the best short films available from the four corners of the world! And rub shoulders with the major filmmakers of tomorrow at festive post-screening soirees! Tickets & PassesInsider Passes, 6-Packs, and Opening & Awards nights are on sale now. Click here for Insider Pass and Opening & Awards NightClick here for 6 Packs The schedule will be announced and the Box Office will open for online, web and phone ... 08/10/2007

August 8th-  this is the latest information from NAR.  Below is a summary of their latest forecast:    Near-Term Home Sales to Hold in Modest Range National Assn. of REALTORS Economist Says that Resale Market Will be Steady Written by: National Assn. of REALTORS August 8th, 2007 - 7:17 am The Housmarket is expected to hold clost to present levels in the months ahead. The forcast is: "Existing-home sales should be relatively stable over the next few months, holding in a modest range, with some pent-up demand growing from buyers who've been on the sidelines," he said. "Mortgage disruptions will hold back sales over the short term, but long-term fundamentals are favorable. A modest upturn is projected for existing-home sales toward the end of the year, with broader improvement to include t... 08/09/2007

From time to time, I take on a mid-century remodel project myself.  With a background in architecture, restoring houses has been a great hobby.  Additionally, it provides a valuable information resource and learning experience regarding what it takes to remodel a mid-century home here in Palm Springs.  I employ a number on contractors and use a variety of resources during the process.  I'm always willing to pass this information on to my buyers who are looking to restore a home of their own too. Here are some pics of my most recent renovation project just completed.  This home was built by the Alexander Construction Company in 1959, located in the Sunmor Neighborhood of Central Palm Springs.  Before:After:Living Room....before:After living Room:Other Misc. Photos:                 If you... 08/08/2007

  Another summer month has come and gone in the city of Palm Springs.  During the month of July, we endured high temperatures, humidity, and rain for the first time since last September.  Even though it was only a trace, less than 1/4 inch, we'll take any water we can get. The Fourth of July Festivities at Sunrise Park was a big hit this year, and the Palm Springs Power Baseball finished their season on July 28th with 33 wins & 11 losses.  This makes the Power the SCC (Southern CA Conference) Champions!!!  They will go on to play in the West Coast World Series in San Luis Obispo from August 5-10.  Good luck to the team....The city of Palm Springs is behind you all the way!!! The real estate market in Palm Springs was also very active, with 114 homes and condos that sold during the month... 08/03/2007

Do you remember the theme song for the TV show "Cheers"? The song went something like this:  "Sometimes you want to go where everybody knows your name."  Now don't laugh, I never was a good singer!!   If you don't remember the song, you were probably born after 1983 and don't get the TV Land channel in your area.  As my friends will tell you, I have got a mind for useless TV & movie trivia.     Anyhow, that theme song is the same feeling I get when I go to my favorite hangout, Palm Springs Koffi.Opened in 2002 as an 800 square foot store by owner John Abner, Koffi is now twice its original size and has become the place where everyone goes to start their day.  It is located at the Corridors Shopping Center, on the corner of Alejo & N. Palm Canyon Dr, at the beginning of Downtown Palm Spr... 08/01/2007

1) High-tail it up the Tramway:  When kids are bored, it's so tempting to tell them to go take a hike, and in some cases, that wouldn't be such a bad idea, especially if the trails are in a cool place.  Check out Mount San Jacinto State Park, where volunteers are available to take adventurous tram visitors on free guided nature walks every Saturday and Sunday through Labor Day.  A walk on the 1 1/2 mile Desert View Trail begins at 10:30 a.m. and loop around the 3/4 mile Long Valley Nature Trail is offered at 1:30 p.m. both days.  The first tram up on Saturdays and Sundays is 8 a.m. and tickets to ride are $21.95 for adults and $14.95 for children 3-12.  For more information call 888-515-TRAM or 325-1391 or visit: http://www.pstramway.com/.2) Attend a Party for the Stars:  Forget Hollywo... 07/31/2007

 Our little valley is growing with leaps and bounds!  New construction continues, but not at the pace of the past years, home sales slightly declining and with that we must continue to reinvent ourselves!  Downtown Palm Springs continues to honor old school Hollywood!Interesting that our little slice of California, collectively referred to as Riverside County, will be the second largest county in the state by 2050.  Looks like there's no stopping our growth!The president of the Palm Springs Walk of Stars announced today that actors Tab Hunter and Rhonda Fleming will be honored with their own stars during a fan appreciation fair and film festival late this year.Hunter and Fleming are among dozens of celebrities scheduled toparticipate in ``Starfair'' and the ``Palm Springs Classic Film F... 07/09/2007

The old saying "It was so hot, you could fry an egg on the ground" is alive & well in Palm Springs.  The temperature today was 115 degrees, and is expected to top out at 121 degrees for the 4th of July.Having lived in the Desert for a number of years, I am suppose to know the importance of drinking plenty of water.  During the course of my work today, I was all over town looking at homes for my clients when I started to feel weak & nauseous.  I realized that I was starting to get dehydrated. Luckily, I was close to home to pick up plenty of water to last me through the day.  Don't let dehydration ruin your visit to Palm Springs.  Always carry a large bottle of water with you, and avoid alcohol & caffeine.  Hear are some the signs to look out for: flushed face extreme thirst, more than n... 07/03/2007

  The month of June in Palm Springs went by so quickly this year.  Even though the temperatures are above 100 degrees these days, it has not stopped the activities around town.  Some of the Palm Springs events that occurred in June included the Film Noir Festival, the Palm Springs Fire Departments Annual Fish Fry, and the start of the Palm Springs Power Baseball season.In one of my blog posts a few weeks ago, I said that real estate in Palm Springs is normally slow at this time of year.  As I was preparing the market numbers for this post, I realized that this statement was wrong.The month of June was very active for the Palm Springs Real Estate market.  There were a total of 143 homes and condos that sold in Palm Springs during the month of June.  The lowest priced home was $100,750, a... 07/01/2007

  Independence Day honors the birthday of the United States of America and the signing of the Declaration of Independence on July 4, 1776. It's a day of picnics and patriotic parades, a night of concerts and fireworks, and a reason to fly the American flag.  There will be plenty of festivities happening in Palm Springs for the 4th of July.  Here is a list of what's happening in town:The Palm Springs Power Baseball team will be playing the Davis-Monthan Mustangs at Sunrise Park starting at 6pm.   The Mustangs are from the Davis-Monthan Air Force base in Tucson, AZ, so this should be a patriotic game.  2 F-16's from Edwards Air Force Base will be doing a fly-over during the game.  After the game, the Fireworks show will be starting at 9pm.  Come by the park for an evening of fun.Across to... 06/29/2007

Historical Palm Springs CA - a desert hideaway that holds countless treasures of Modern architectural design. Palm Springs has joined an elite group of cities around the country designated as distinct historic destinations. The city was named by the National Trust of Historic Preservation as one of 12 travel destinations for 2006. Each city represents a slice of America in some unique way.Considered one of the oldest cities in the Coachella Valley, Palm Springs population is estimated at 46,858. In the 1920's, Hollywood studios came to Palm Springs to shoot their movies and the Hollywood elite became attracted to this quiet haven, first-class hotels, and excellent shopping. The Racquet Club, The El Mirador Hotel, and The Biltmore Hotel were the choice for many stars in the mid 1930s.In ... 06/26/2007

 June 21, 2007.  The first day of summer, and the longest day of the year has arrived in Palm Springs.  The temperature was a sweltering 112 degrees, and heat advisories are already in effect.  People always ask me how can you live in a place that is so hot.  I just drink lots of water, jump in the pool every morning, or take a trip up the Palm Springs Aerial Tramway.  It is usually 20 degrees cooler at the 8000 ft. elevation. This week's Palm Springs Real Estate Market Update was an active one.  There were 49 homes and condos listed for the week ending June 21, 2007.  The lowest price listed was a 1 bedroom condo for $112,500, and the highest priced home listed was $2,895,000 at the Alta Development.  There were 10 homes & condos that went into escrow this past week.There were some int... 06/23/2007

  June is traditionally the slowest month for real estate in Palm Springs.  I know many agents who take their vacations because they say there isn't any business here.  The "snowbirds" & their friends all have gone home and nobody wants to be in Palm Springs during the extreme temperatures of the Desert.  I beg to differ on this point.I was out on Thursday night for Palm Springs weekly Villagefest, and could not believe how many people were out for the event.  It was still 105 degrees at 730pm!!!  People walking down the street, buying fruits & vegetables from the local farmers, and sampling the food from the downtown restaurants.All this activity in Palm Springs has also resonated in this weeks real estate market update.  There were a total of 83 homes & condos that went into escrow th... 06/16/2007

The official start of summer is not until June 21st, but it has already started here in Palm Springs.  All of the snowbirds have packed up & returned home, the roads are easier to navigate, and the heat of the Desert has arrived.  Even though the mercury is rising, it has not stopped people from buying their dream home in Palm Springs.  Here are the real estate figures for the week ending June 7th, 2007.New Listings: 5729 homes & 28 condosLowest Price:  $99,000Highest Price:  $ 2,795,000 (S. Palm Springs)Median Price:  $395,000Avg. Price per Sq. Ft.:  $298In Escrow:  2714 homes & 13 condosLowest Price: $139,000Highest Price: $1,169,000 (Canyon Country Club)Days on Market: 114Sold: 2712 homes & 15 condosLowest Price: $139,900Highest Price: $1,825,000 (Old Las Palmas)If you would like to ... 06/11/2007

A few months ago, my friend Brett, who is an Air Traffic Controller in Palm Springs, announced that the Radar system will  be moving down to San Diego.  I said to him, "What does that mean?"The Terminal Radar Approach Control, or TRACON, guides airplanes within 50 to 75 miles of an airport.  The TRACON for the Palm Springs Airport was scheduled to be relocated to Miramar, which is 14 miles north of San Diego, on June 5th.  The Miramar TRACON is the busiest system in the world, guiding in more than 2.1 million planes per year.  Palm Springs International brings in about 1.5 million visitors to the area every year.What does this mean for the general public?  Having a partner who is a private pilot, I asked him what the implications be by having the TRACON move to Miramar.  His concern as ... 06/06/2007

   May was a busy month in Palm Springs.  There was the Evening Under the Stars benefit for the Aids Assistance Program, the Desert Rainbow Foundation awarded 18 scholarships totalling over $46,000, and the Palm Springs Fire Department had their annual Fish Fry which brought out over 800 people for the event.The Palm Springs Real Estate market was also very busy.  There were a total of 134 homes & condos that have sold in Palm Springs, including 9 homes over $1,000,000.  Here are the complete figures for the month of May:Homes & Condos Sold: 13456 homes and 76 condos Lowest Price:   $132,000 Highest Price:  $2,000,000 (Old Las Palmas)Average Price per Square Foot: $260.99% of List Price to Sales Price: 97.05%Median Price: $479,248Homes Sold:  56Lowest Price:  $255,500 Highest Price: $2,... 06/03/2007

I wanted to type a quick blurb on Palm Springs Vacation destinations. Since my wife and I tend to favor going to either Las Vegas, NV or Palm Springs, CA  for our quick weekday or weekend get-aways, I wanted to give some of my recommendations on Palm Springs.  We both really enjoy the many great amenities that the Palm Springs area have to offer. Our last two trips have been to the Parker (Le Meridien) and Viceroy.  These two hotels offer the eclectic style that we enjoy and love in our get-away destinations.   Both of these landmark hotels in Palm Springs have a cool chill atmosphere, yet have the hip, savvy modern style mimicking some of L.A. trendiest hot spot hotels.  We have enjoyed the pool cabanas, excellent dining, great selection of drinks, comfortable beds and a hotel geared t... 06/02/2007

I spent last Tuesday night in Palm Springs, at the Wyndham to be exact.  Many times when you book a hotel it looks and sounds better in the brochure, pictures or website than it does in person.  In this instance, it was BETTER in person.The first thing I noticed when I flew into Palm Springs Airport was how small and un-airport-like the airport was.  The next thing I noticed was how clean the airport, and everything else was.The Wyndham was very pretty, very clean, the staff was friendly and courteous, my room was large and it had a balcony and a view and it was very reasonably priced.  It was close, only a few blocks. to Palm Canyon Drive, which seemed to be the main downtown area.  The town was also laid out in a user-friendly, logical format.  I found my way around easily, and I was ... 06/01/2007

 Memorial Weekend has come and gone, but the real estate market here is still moving forward.  Every week in this blog, I will give the most accurate and updated information on what is happening in the Palm Springs real estate market.  No hype, just the facts.  Take what you like, and leave the rest.New Homes Listed:  9351 homes and 42 condosLowest Price:   $109,000Highest Price:  $4,500,000 (Movie Colony)Homes in Escrow:  2413 homes and 11 condosLowest Price:  $129,500Highest Price: $1,695,000 (Old Las Palmas)Average Days on Market:  126Homes Sold:  209 homes and 11 condosLowest Price:  $200,000Highest Price: $1,999,000 (Central Palm Springs)Median Price:  $350,000Average Days on Market:  141% of List to Sales Price:  95.15%If you want to know what is happening in your Palm Springs nei... 05/29/2007