A photo my Standard Poodles

Here's a pic of my two Standard Poodles, Wolfie and Kosmo. Wolfie is Black, Kosmo silver. Wolfie hates the summer heat in Palm Springs, but, Kosmo, loves it since he's an avid swimmer.

Palm Springs Homes Sold and in Escrow

For the week ending 7/29/07, there were five properties (single family) in South and Central Palm Springs that sold, eleven that went into escrow.

Sold:

2484 S Pebble Beach Dr., $480,000. (Tahquitz River Golf)
261 E Ocotillo, $610,000. (Tahquitz River Estates)
1155 E Cactus Rd., $919,000. (Deepwell)

Median price: $610,000.

Pending or contingent:

821 N Mission Rd., $2,395,000. (Las Palmas)
241 N Luring Dr., $625,000. (Sunrise Park)
2190 E Terry Ln., $700,000. (Sunrise Park)
542 S Calle Santa Rosa, $499,000. (Warm Sands)
1500 S Farrell Dr., $609,000. (Los Compadres)
1070 E Mesquite Ave., $570,000. (Tahquitz River Estates)
1069 E La Jolla Rd., $574,900. (Twin Palms)
1242 S Calle Marcus, $579,000. (Deepwell)
2827 S Palm Cyn Dr., $629,000. (Canyon South)
2915 Guadalupe Rd., $868,500. (Los Compadres)
3219 Las Brisas Way, $1,735,000. (Estancias at South Canyon)

Not a bad week for sales.

Russell Hill, 760.902.3121, RussellHill.net

Palm Springs homes for Sale

Palm Springs houses for sale: Deepwell neighborhood.

There are currently 28 active listings in Deepwell. Below are just a few of them.

1317 Driftwood Dr., 2 bedrooms, 2.5 baths, 1735sf, $725,000.

1062 Paseo De Marcia, 3 bedrooms, 3 baths, 3062sf, $850,000.

1104 E Cactus Rd., 3 bedrooms, 2.75 baths, 3302sf, $899,000.

1298 S Manzanita Ave., 4 bedrooms, 4.5 baths, 3250sf, $1,225,000.

Russell Hill, 760.902.3121, RussellHill.net

*these lisitngs are not listings of Russell Hill's and may not be listings of Zephyr Real Estate

Open House, Palm Springs, CA

2602 N Biskra, Desert Park Estates, Palm Springs. Saturday, 7/28 11-2pm

4 bedrooms, 2.5 baths. Built in 2002. Pool/spa, outdoor shower. Tile, carpeting in the bedrooms. Large laundry room. Family room, formal living and dining. Over 2400sf living space. Listed at $499,000.

Russell Hill: 760.902.3121. RussellHill.net

Open House, Palm Springs, CA

Palm Springs open house, Los Compadres

2193 E Amarillo Way, Palm Springs, Saturday, 7/28/07, 12-3pm

4 bedrooms, 3 baths, pool/spa, vaulted ceilings, large 13K sf + lot with fantastic mountain views. Listed at $599,000.

Russell Hill, 760.902.3121 RussellHill.net

Solar Power in California

Pacific Gas and Electric (PG&E), a Northern California utility company, announced today that they will buy solar produced power from Solel Solar Systems, a company who will install 1.2 million mirrors on 9 square miles in California's Mojave desert. The power produced by the sun in expected to power the equivalent of 400,000. homes.

The system is Solar thermal energy. It's different from the photovoltaic panels that individuals and government agencies put on rooftops. Read the entire story at USA Today.

This is a huge step forward in our adoption of solar power. If 9 sq miles can produce enough clean solar power to power 400,000. homes, just imagine 100s of sq miles of solar mirrors in our Southwest deserts and midwest plains. Solar mines. Solar farms.

Closer to home, imagine if every new bigbox shopping center were required, or at least incented, to install photovoltaic panels to provide the majority of their power needs. Perhaps there would be enough to feed back into the grid to reduce our communities' power consumption. We live in an ideal climate to produce solar power.

Of course, individuals can do their part, as well, by installing photovoltaic panels on their rooftops. The State and Federal Governments still provide financial incentives to do so. Energy prices will likely not go down in the future. Using solar power is really an "insurance policy" against high energy costs in the future. Personally, I'm still trying to figure out how to get panels on my home. I do plan on making the investment in the near future.

Russell Hill, 760.902.3121 RussellHill.net

Housing Inventory Up. Sales Down. Foreclosures Up

The LA Times lead story today was that foreclosures are way up in California. Countrywide Mortgage also announced that some of their prime borrowers are starting to have difficulties making mortgage payments. It was a bad news day for real estate.

What does this mean for sellers and real estate agents? Sellers, if they indeed want to sell, must be realistic and price their home accordingly. We are in a "buyer's market". Real Estate agents must do a better job explaining professionally to potential sellers that price is key.

Even in the "bad" market, people are going to buy and sell real estate. Buyers are there for homes priced well. Realistic sellers are going to sell. Resonably priced homes are selling.

What can sellers do to sell in a reasonable time and with as little stress as possible? Price their homes competitively, create curb appeal, make your home as accessible as possible for showings and keep it clean.

Russell Hill 760.902.3121 RussellHill.net

A really good buy (sell) in Deepwell, Palm Springs

This home at 1224 E Deepwell Road was last listed at $609,000. With a price reduction to that price, it became a very good deal. I sent the listing off to a few of my buyers, but with no luck. Someone got a great deal on a cool house in one of Palm Springs' most sought-after neighborhoods.

* this home is not listed with Zephyr Real Estate or Russell Hill

Russell Hill, 760.902.3121 RussellHill.net

Mt San Jacinto Sunset

I took this photo the other evening from my back yard in Palm Springs. One benefit of the monsoonal moisture is the beautiful sunsets.

The new Jensen's and Ralphs' Fresh Fare, Palm Springs

Jensen's will be opening a new store in the Smoke Tree Commons Shopping Center, scheduled to open this fall, or next spring. In the Smoke Tree Shopping Center, built in the 1960s and located to the west of the new shopping center, Ralph's has closed to remodel and will reopen in three or four months as Ralph's Fresh Fare.

Will these two "upscale" grocery stores located on Palm Canyon Dr. positively affect the values of the local neighborhood? The western section of Los Compadres (single family homes), and several condo developments (Saddle Rock Gardens, Saddle Rock Estates, The Versailles, The Biltmore) all stand to gain value, I believe, with their proximity to these "up scale" grocers. It could only be bettter if one were a Whole Foods.

As more boomers move to the desert, they are demading "higher end" shopping options. And many of them want to be close to those shopping amenities.

I think it won't be long before local real estate agents are pointing out the great location that Los Compadres and area neighborhoods have to these two sought-after stores

Russell Hill
RussellHill.net

Contractor's Special located in Warm Sands

10 Warm Sands Place, Warm Sands, Palm Springs

Project started on almost one half acre lot with geogeous views of Mt San Jacinto. Oversized lots in Warm Sands are rare. Sellers choose not to finish project. You can continue with existing approved plans and finish to your tastes. Concrete and slab work with plumbing stub-out are complete, as is a new irrigation system.

Russell Hill: 760.902.3121
RussellHill.net

Mid century condos and homes for sale - Palm Springs

Park Imperial South

There are just two condos for sale in the Park Imperial South development, built in 1961. These condos are loaded with cool mid century architectural details, most notably the "folded plate roofs"

The lowest price is $329,900. (and I understand there are multiple offers as I write this).

The other unit is priced at $399,000.

RussellHill.net

Homes for Sale - Palm Springs, CA - Los Compadres

There are currently eight homes for sale in Los Compadres in Palm Springs. This is the fewest we've had in quite a while. Los Compadres is ideally located in South Palm Springs close to shopping, restaurants and shopping, yet is quiet.

2193 Amarillo Way, $599,000. 2122sf 4 bedrooms, 3 baths
1500 S Farell Dr., $609,000. 2520sf, 3 bedrooms, 3 baths
1287 S San Mateo Dr., $624,000. 2200sf, 4 bedrooms, 3 baths
632 S Beverly Dr., $649,999. 2294sf, 4 bedrrooms, 2.75 baths
655 S Roxbury, $729,000. 1701sf, 3 bedrooms, 3 baths
1550 S San Mateo Dr., $749,000. 2300sf, 3 bedrooms, 3 baths
1554 S La Reina Way, $789,444. 2260sf, 3 bedrooms, 2.75 baths
2915 Guadalupe Rd., $868,500. 2840sf, 5 bedrooms, 3 baths.

*lease land excluded

Mondrian Hotel

The Palm Springs city counsel has just approved Mondrian Hotel's plans to build in Palm Springs. The hotel, a Morgan Hot'el Group company, plans to construct a "green" hotel here in Palm Springs. The video I saw depicting the project was quite impressive. The hotel would be located near the Palm Springs convention center at Amado and Ave. Caballeros. The hotel would be completed sometime in '10.

Ginny Foat: "first class hotel"
Steve Pougnet: "I will support"
Mayor Ron Oden: "The brand and marketing will be good for tourism"

Real Estate Merger

Zephyr Real Estate - Palm Springs announced today that they have acquired Canyon West Real Estate. Canyon West has roughly twelve agents who specialize in Palm Springs, Rancho Mirage and Palm Desert real estate sales. They also have represented developers in sales of new projects. Zephyr Real Estate is excited about having Canyon West agents join them and the growth opportunities this merger allows.

-Russell Hill

Open House, Palm Springs, CA

2336 Girasol Ave, Chino Canyon, Palm Springs, CA. Sunday, 7/22, 11-2pm. Three bedrooms, two baths. Beautiful new pool, Grand mountian views. Saltillo tile. Southwest architectural detail. Listed at $679,000.

Russell Hill: 760.902.3121. RussellHill.net

Palm Springs Open House

2602 N Biskra, Desert Park Estates, Palm Springs. Sunday, 7/22 12-3pm

4 bedrooms, 2.5 baths. Built in 2002. Pool/spa, outdoor shower. Tile, carpeting in the bedrooms. Large laundry room. Family room, formal living and dining. Listed at $499,000.

Russell Hill: 760.902.3121. RussellHill.net

Real Estate: location, location, location

I was holding an open house at my listing at 2193 Amarillo Way the other weekend when a couple came in to see the house. After few moments, they commented that they could buy a brand new house at Escena in Palm Springs for $700K to $800K. My listing, a 1974 California ranch, is listed at $599K. It's a cosmetic fixer.

I thought to myself, it's all about location, location, location. Escena, while I'm sure it's going to be a lovely community, is located in a less desirable location. 2193 Amarillo Way, on the other hand, is located in the desirable south end of Palm Springs, close to shopping, dining and other amenities. Plus, this 1974 house is well-built and sits on an oversized 13,000 + square foot lot and offers gorgeous mountian views. A new Escena house is going to have a small lot and will always be in a less sought-after area.

Of course, every buyer is different. They want different amenities, neighborhood "feel", etc. But location, is always going to be the ultimate deciding factor in a home's value.

Lady Bird Johnson

I met Lady Bird Johnson when I was a junior in high school. I was in the same American History class as her grandson, Lyn Nugent. Our teacher, Ms McMillan, with Lyn's help I assume, arranged for a tour of the LBJ Presidential Library and a lunch with the former First Lady. As a 17 year old, after a brif introduction of hello and it's nice to meet you, I decided that Mrs. Johnson was pretentious.

Today, and after her death, I don't think that way at all. I wish really that I had never shared my thoughts with friends, family and loved ones.

I respect her goal of beautifying America and maintaining regionalism in landscape and architecture. I only wish that she had been more successful, or that someone with as much clarity and influence would take up her cause today.

I've visited the Lady Bird Wild Flower Center in Southwest Austin; it's beautiful and remains true to the Central Texas landscape. I'll make certain that I visit again on my next trip to Austin, later this summer.

Though I understand that Lady Bird didn't like to be called an "environmentalist", I think she was one, certainly not radical or unyielding to the realities of times, but an environmentalist all the same. I think she liked her landscape, natural and built, to be pretty, to be pleasant to senses.

I think I share her type of environmentalism. While I'm concerned about how pollution affects our physical health, In my gut, I hate pollution because it's ugly. Clear , blue skies, crisp mountain views are what I want. I actually like development, but I want it to be pleasing architecturally and environmentally; I want the landscape to be beautiful.

More to come later......

Rancho Mirage Open House

7 Majorca Dr., Sunrise Country Club, Rancho Mirage. Open Saturday, 7/14, 11-2pm, hosted by Russell Hill, 760.902.3121

2 bedroom, 2 bath condo with single car garage. Vaulted ceilings, no popcorn.washer/dryer. Private courtyard entry. $307,000.

Palm Springs Open House

2193 Amarillo Way, Palm Springs. Open Sunday, 7/14, 12-4pm. Hosted by Kelly Ettleman.

4 bedrooms, 3 baths, pool/spa, vaulted ceilings, large 13K sf + lot with fantastic mountain views. Listed at $599,000.