Friday News

Are we nearing the bottom? (NPR)
Better traffic flow and better air quality? (Desert Sun)

Palm Springs Open House

Open houses in Palm Springs CA, Sunday 3/30/08

1657 S Riverside Dr., Palm Springs

3 bdrm, 2 bath in just under 1800sf. Expansive backyard with swimmer's pool and big mountain views! Walls of glass to the south-facing garden and pool. Click here for more photos and listing details.

Come by and say "hi" on Sunday!

Russell Hill 760.902.3121 RussellHill.net

"Spare" landscapes around Mordernist Palm Springs Homes

Ann Japenga writes in today's Los Angeles Times that she doesn't quite care for the trend of homeowners in Palm Springs bringing modern design to the outdoors. In her article, which I liked a lot, and happen to agree with her on many fronts, she talks about owners of modernist homes ripping out mature landscapes and replacing them with landscapes that are sparer than the natural desert itself. In doing so, she adds, they are destroying habitat for birds, lizards, owls, etc.

I love and appreciate desert landscaping. I have many cacti and succulents in my garden, both front and back. However, my cactus garden is "lush", with a combination of textures and colors. I also have not stuck only with cacti, but have added other plants that offer more color and greenery. My desert garden is not spare by any means.

I think it's possible to design a "modern" landscape without it being spare. Obviously, not all plant materials will work, but just because it's cactus or an ornamental grass, doesn't mean they have to be presented in a sparse fashion or design.

Read Ann's complete article in today's LA Times Home and Garden section.

Russell Hill 760.902.3121 RussellHill.net

Thursday Morning News

Two big solar projects coming to the Southland (Curbed Los Angeles)
A good reason to drive out to Indio - Shield's Date Farm to expand (Desert Sun)
Is $489, 348. better than $489,000. when listing your home for sale? (NPR Radio - 89.3 in PS)

Palm Springs Homes Sold and in Escrow

From March 8 through March 16, 2008 there were 3 single family homes that sold and 12 that went into escrow! So far, sales are quite strong in March. April should be strong for closings. For this current period, the South end saw the majority of the activity. Prices in parentheses are original list price.

North Palm Springs:

Sold:
2170 E Del Lago Rd., $225,000. ($309,900)

In Escrow:
3928 Mission Peak, Mountain Gate, $299,000.
2280 N Hermosa Dr., PS Colony, $799,000.

Central Palm Springs:

Sold:
None

In Escrow:
None

South Palm Springs:

Sold:
299 E Ocotillo Ave., Tahquitz River Estates, $460,000. ($529,900.)
520 S Thornhill Rd., Warm Sands, $580,000. ($675,00.) A great buy at $580K!

In Escrow:
3532 E Mesquite Ave., Demuth Park, $227,900.
554 S Calle Encilia, Warm Sands, $399,000.
1344 E Camino Primrose, Warm Sands, $419,000.
767 E Sunny Dunes Rd., Warm Sands, $430,000.
1377 S Camino Real, Tahquitz River Estates, $579,000.
954 E San Lucas Rd., Tahquitz River Estates, $599,000
2170 E Pebble Beach Rd., Tahquitz Creek Golf, $739,000
670 E Ocotillo Ave., Tahquitz River Estates, $778,000.
1041 E Twin Palms Dr., Twin Palms, $799,000.
2401 S Yosemite Dr., Canyon North, $1,075,000.

Russell Hill 760.902.3121 RussellHill.net

Palm Springs Open Houses

Open houses in Palm Springs for Saturday, March 22, 2008.

1657 S Riverside Dr., Tahquitz River Estates, $489,000.

3 bedroom, 2 bath 1949 Trousdale with expansive backyard and swimmer's pool

Open 11-2, Saturday, 3/22/08

Click here for photos and property specs.

432 Village Square W., Village Racquet Club, Palm Springs, $369,000.

3 bedroom, 3 bath "townhouse" style condo beautifully remodeled. Resort-style amenities. Close proximity to downtown Palm Springs and to Warm Sands.

Open 12-2, Saturday, 3/22/08

Click here for photos and property specs.

Russell Hill 760.902.3121 RussellHill.net

Homes for Sale in Palm Springs

Warm Sands, Palm Springs, CA homes for sale. There are currently 11 houses for sale in South Palm Springs' Warm Sands neighborhood. They range in price from $299,500 to $699,000.

If you would like more information about any of these homes, or others, please contact me.

566 S Calle Santa Rosa, $299,500.

723 E Camino Paracela, $339,000.

607 S Camino Real, $449,000.

600 S Vista Oro, $450,000.

615 S Indian Trail, $497,500.

545 S Calle Palo Fierro, $539,900.

683 S Indian Trail, $598,500.

10 Warm Sands Pl., $599,000.

675 S Indian Trail, $650,000.

695 S Warm Sands Dr., $695,000.

538 S Indian Trail, $699,000.

Avg list price: $528,764.

Avg sales price last six months: $457,286 (7 sales)

Russell Hill 760.902.3121 RussellHill.net

Home for Sale Palm Springs - New Listing!

Palm Springs home for sale. New listing in Tahquitz River Estates. 1657 S. Riverside Dr.

3 bedrooms, 2 baths in almost 1800 SF. Expansive South-facing backyard with beautiful oversixed "smimmer's" pool. Fabulous mountain views of Mt. San Jacinto and the Santa Rosa Mountains. Click HERE for all the property details and more photos.

Listed at $489,000.

Russell Hill 760.902.3121 RussellHill.net

Palm Srings homes sold and in Escrow

From March 1 to March 7, there were 8 single family homes sold in Palm Springs and 8 that went into escrow.

North Palm Springs:

Sold:

475 W Vista Dr., $124,900. ($194,900)

751 Mira Grande, Mountain Gate, $270,000. ($395,000.)

1729 Hot Springs Way, Four Seasons, $395,000. ($569,000.)

442 Santa Catalina Rd, Racquet Club West, $420,000. ($699,000 - way back in '06!)

Median Sales Price: $332,500/ $151.02sf

In Escrow:

2070 N Whitewater Club Dr., Desert Park Estates, $249,900.

3670 Western Sky Way, Four Seasons, $269,000.

781 Alta, Mountain Gate, $383,900.

Central Palm Springs:

Sold:

445 N Farrell Dr., Sunrise Park, $215,000. ($379,000.)

In Escrow:

432 N Orchid Tree Ln, Sunrise Park, $709,000.

373 S Monte Vista Dr., Tennis Club, $1,099,000.

418 W Chino Canyon Dr., Little Tuscany, $1,245,000.

South Palm Springs:

Sold:

3184 Cajon Cir., Los Compadres (lease land), $450,000. ($475,000.

1920 S Caliente Rd., Twin Palms, $450,000. ($699,000.)

2294 S Toledo Ave., Canyon Estates, $735,000. ($769,000.

Median Sales Price: $450,000./$245.87sf

In Escrow:

1193 E La Jolla Rd., Twin Palms, $450,000.

1932 S Navajo Dr., Twin Palms, $570,000.

Some of these homes have sold very quickly. Good values are selling quickly....21 days, 26 days, 12 days.

Russell Hill 760.902.3121 RussellHill.net

Open House Palm Springs, CA

Palm Springs Open houses. Saturday, March 15th, 12-2pm.

2602 N Biskra, Desert Park Estates. Click here for additional photos and specs.

4 bedrooms, 2.5 baths, 2409sf. Pool and spa. Spacious master suite with direct pool/spa access.

Tile floors, two fireplaces.

Listed at $449,000.

Russell Hill 760.902.3121 RussellHill.net

Homes for Sale in Palm Springs

Palm Springs houses for sale in Vista Las Palmas. There are over 20 homes currently on the market in the popular Vista Las Palmas neighborhood. Buyers can choose from a fixer priced at $875,000. to a beautifully remodeled home listed at $2,495,000.

991 N Via Monte Vista, $767,495
1194 N Vista Vespero, $875,000
815 N Fair Cir., $985,000.
720 N Dry Falls Rd., $998,000.
790 W Via Vadera, $999,000.
699 W Regal Rd., $1,089,000.
697 Camino Sur, $1,125,000.
1105 N Paseo Dero, $1,747,777.
992 N Fairview Cir, $1,175,000.
1165 Abrigo Rd., $1,290,000.
1197 N Via Monte Vista, $1,295,000.
611 N Dry Falls Rd., $1,395,000.
1387 N Via Monte Vista, $1,449,00.
1050 W Capistrano Ct., $1,549,000.
1277 N Via Paraiso, $1,599,000.
1155 Los Robles Dr., $1,870,000.
1211 Los Robles Dr., $1,895,000.
733 N Dryfalls Rd., $1,975,000.
960 N Rose Ave., $1,995,000.
677 W Crescent Dr., $2,495,000
620 N Rose Ave., $2,500,000.
1164 Los Robles Dr., $2,595,000.


If you would like more information about any of these homes, or homes in another neighborhood, please give me a call, or send me an e-mail.

Russell Hill 760.902.3121 RussellHill.net

Palm Springs median sales price

Palm Springs real estate: the median sales price for single family homes for February 2007 and February 2008 are below. You may find these numbers surprising. Keep in mind that this is just a snapshot looking at 02/07 and 02/08. Please leave your comments!

Palm Springs:

02/07: 56 sales; $513,500/$319.80 per sf
02/08: 31 sales; $695,000/$293.57 per sf


North Palm Springs:

'07: 20 sales; $466,000/$294.81 per sf
'08: 11 sales; $334,000/$174.28

Central Palm Springs:

'07: 18 sales; $572,000/$334.51 per sf
'08: 7 sales; $1,350,000./$406.10 per sf

South Palm Springs:

'07: 18 sales; $536,500/$330.69 per sf
'08: 13 sales; $794,500/$$327.33 per sf

Russell Hill 760.902.3121 RussellHill.net

California Proposition 8

If you bought your home in the last two years, you might be able to benefit from California's Prop. 8. This proposition allows you to have a temporary reduction in your property taxes.

If you bought in '06 for $669K and today your home is worth $639K, Prop 8 will allow a temporary reassessment at the new reduced value. As values increase in the future, your tax assessment will go back to its Prop 13 purchase assessment.

Read Here for the details on getting your "decreased value" assessment and the process of future reassessments.

Russell Hill 760.902.3121 RussellHill.net

Palm Springs Homes Sold and in Escrow

It was a busy final two weeks in February '08 for real estate sales. There were 15 sold single family homes in Palm Springs and 20 that went into escrow. There are some great deals available and buyers are taking advantage of a great buyer's market! Prices in parentheses are original list pirce.

North Palm Springs:

Sold:

3842 Eastgate Rd., $237,500. (sold in 11 days!) ((listed for $448K in '07))
3555 Cliffrose Trail, Four Seasons, $331,990. ($368,990.)
3542 Cliffrose Trail, Four Seasons, $334,000. ($359,990)
1745 Hot Springs Way, Four Seasons, $380,000. ($499,000.)
341 Sepuvelda Rd, Racquet Club West, $380,000. ($495,000.)
1538 Julia Ct., Enclave @ Sunrise, $735,000. ($699,000 - sold for over asking price!)

Median Sales Price: $357,000.

In Escrow:

2170 Savanna Way, Four Seasons, $269,900.
3992 Mission Peak, Mountain Gate, $299,000.
3490 Tranquility Way, Four Seasons, $329,000.
1233 Mira Luna, Mountain Gate, $345,000.
2103 Milben Cir., Racquet Club East, $354,900.
1865 Hidalgo Way, Voctoria Park, $499,000.
2770 N Cardillo Ave., Chino Canyon, $499,000.
2648 Isabella Way, Enclave @ Sunrise, $649,000.

Central Palm Springs:

Sold:

465 N Monterey Rd., Sunrise Park, $675,000. ($739,000.)
505 W Vista Chino, Little Tuscany, $2,525,000. ($2,710,000.)

Median Sales Price: $1,600,000.

In Escrow:

535 N Burton Rd., Sun Villas, $399,000.
542 N Hermosa Dr., Ruth Hardy Park, $498,500.
1422 N Opuntia Rd., Ruth Hardy Park, 499,000.
499 N Orchid Tree Ln., Sunrise Park, $745,000.
1224 Mary Fleming Cir., Colony El Mirador, $1,269,900.

South Palm Springs:

Sold:

1767 Zafiro Ct., Pintura, $540,000. ($659,000.)
1391 San Mateo Dr., Los Compadres, $607,500. ($679,000.)
1132 E Marion Way, Twin Palms, $695,000. ($779,000.)
983 E Sierra Way, Canyon North, $720,000. ($810,000.)
752 S Palo Verde Way, Tahquitz River Estates, $730,000. ($799,000.)
688 S Palo Verde Way, Tahquitz River Estates, $794,500. ($975,000.)
780 Azalia Cir. W, Andreas Hills, $850,000. ($888,888. - listed in '07 for $950,500.)

Median Sales Price: $720,000.

In Escrow:

1065 E Sunny Dunes Rd., Warm Sands, $399,000.
520 S Thornhill Rd., Warm Sands, $599,000.
761 E Mesquite Rd., Tahquitz River Estates, $750,000.
2803 S Palm Canyon Dr., Canyon South, $899,000.
1537 Chico Cir., Canyon North, $1,089,000.
337 Neutra St., Alta, $1,549,000.
1745 Pinnacle Pt. Rd., Andreas Hills, $1,950,000.

Russell Hill 760.902.3121 RussellHill.net

Marketing your property for sale

I've noticed lately that some agents are starting to use lower quality marketing materials when they take new listings. A prime example is the property sheet that a majority of agents put outside next to the for sale sign. More and more are showing up in black and white, when in the past it was rare to see an agent not use full color. I will always use full color property statements for all my listings! Which one do you think looks the best?

I have not lowered my quality of marketing materials. In fact, I've increased my marketing budget; I'm now have property websites designed for my listings, along with professional photography. I also advertise each week in The Desert Sun in color and take out a full page full color ad in Lifestyle Properties magazine each month.

So, when considering listing your home for sale, it's really wise, especially in this "buyer's market" to select an agent who will advertise your property wisely and in a professional manner. Good photos and presentation can make a difference!

Russell Hill, 70.902.3121, RussellHill.net