Harold's Palm Springs Real Estate Blog

Palm Springs' Most Expensive Home Sales for October 2009

Harold Watts' Palm Springs Real Estate Blog (Scott Lyle Realtors) — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 14:46:20 -0600

When you think of Palm Springs, what comes to mind? Palm trees, large estates, swimming pools, movie stars? Oh wait, that's the Beverly Hillbillies!! Jethro and Ellie Mae would have been right at home here in Palm Springs. Ever wonder about what these luxury homes in Palm Springs are selling for?

Here's some information about the most expensive home sales in Palm Springs for October 2009. All information was obtained through the Desert Area MLS.

Overall, there were 3 Palm Springs home sales topping $1 million during the month of October 2009, out- pacing the 2 homes sold in September and the 2 home sales in August 2009.

Currently, there are 98 homes on the market in Palm Springs with list prices topping $1 million. Despite all the activity of the lower priced homes in town, the luxury real estate market in Palm Springs is starting to gain some momentum.

Search for Homes in Palm Springs

Here are the 3 homes that sold for over $1M dollars in Palm Springs in October 2009:

3223 E. Bogert Trail- $1,500,000- 3 bedroom, 4.5 bath, 5000sf Desert Contemporary home sitting on 1/2 acre of land in the Andreas Hills neighborhood of S. Palm Springs. This home closed escrow on 10/13/09.

855 Via Las Palmas- $1,049,000- This 5 bedroom, 4 bath, 2800sf Mid-Century home is one of 15 "Swiss Miss" homes that were built in the Vista Las Palmas neighborhood. High ceilings, walls of glass, and views to die for are some of the features of the special home. Closed escrow on 10/30/09.

898 N. Avenida Palmas- $1,020,000- 3 bedroom, 3.5 bath, 3257sf home on a 1/3 acre lot in the Movie Colony district of Palm Springs. Home was built in 1999 and is within walking distance of Downtown Palm Springs.

Photo courtesy of Flickr

About the Author:

Harold Watts of Scott Lyle Realtors has been a REALTOR in Palm Springs since 1999. Focusing on the 2nd & Vacation home market, Harold has been helping Real Estate Buyers and Sellers achieve their real estate goals. If you want to know what is happening with the Palm Springs Real Estate market, give Harold Watts a call at 760-218-8209 or email him at Harold.ScottLyleRealtors@gmail.com

Palm Springs, CA- Foreclosed Homes in Palm Springs Continues to Dominate the Real Estate Market- Homes Sales in Palm Springs for October 2009

Harold Watts' Palm Springs Real Estate Blog (Scott Lyle Realtors) — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 16:50:32 -0600

Yesterday, it was officially announced the Federal Homebuyer Tax Credit of $8000 for first-home buyers has been extended past its expiration date of November 30, 2009.

Based on the information that is available, homebuyers have until April 30, 2010 to purchase a home and it must close escrow no later than June 30, 2010.

This is good news for the real estate community and for the many people who have been "sitting on the fence" and waiting for the perfect deal.

I have preaching to everyone since January 2009 that the time to buy real estate in Palm Springs is NOW.

Foreclosed homes have been driving the Palm Springs real estate market since the beginning of the year and the prices here "bottomed" out in August. Does this mean you have missed your chance on buying a home? No, it just means that the prices of homes has leveled out. Here is a look at the homes sales for the month of November in Palm Springs:

November 2009 Home Sales: 68 Foreclosures Sold= 34 Short Sales (Pre-Foreclosures)= 6

Avg. List Price: $381,814 Avg. Sold Price: $362,337 Avg. Price Per Sq. Foot: $171 DOM= 100

November 2009 Condo Sales: 50 Foreclosures Sold= 11 Short Sales (Pre-Foreclosures)= 2

Avg. List Price: $184,296 Avg. Sold Price: $171,215 Avg. Price Per Sq. Foot: $136 DOM= 82

As you can see, 50% of the homes purchased in the month of November were foreclosures and sold for 95% of the listing price.

Now is the time to take advantage of the extension of the Federal Homebuyer Tax Credit and buy the home of your dreams in Palm Springs.

Photo courtesy of Flickr

About the Author:

Palm Springs Calendar of Events for November 2009

Harold Watts' Palm Springs Real Estate Blog (Scott Lyle Realtors) — Sun, 01 Nov 2009 14:37:30 -0600

The fun and festivities of Halloween have come to a close in the city of Palm Springs. Last night, Downtown was packed with many people celebrating the one night they can be who they want to be & forget about the problems in their life and the world. I saw people dressed as pirates, drag queens, the Colorado "Balloon Boy", and a multitude of Hollywood celebrities.

Now that the revelry has died down and people still trying to tak off their makeup, it is the time to start going through my recipes and start planning the annual Diebley-Watts Thanksgiving bash.

We usually will have 12-16people come over and enjoy good food, good conversation, and being grateful for all the good things in our lives.

Life in Palm Springs is not all about dinners and parties during the holidays, it is about getting out and participating in all the activities that this town has to offer.

Here is just a sample of what's happening in Palm Springs during the month of November 2009:

Nov 2^nd- Palm Springs Follies- The 19^th season of the Follies opens with “Let The Good Times Roll”

For performance schedule & tickets, go to psfollies.com

Nov 3rd- Palm Springs Local Elections- Go and cast your vote at the many polling

stations throughout the city. For locations of the different polling stations, go

to the Registrar of Voters website and search by zip code & street name.

Nov 5th- Palm Springs VillageFest- Every Thursday night 6-10pm in Downtown Palm

Springs. For more information, go to the website at palmspringsvillagefest.com

Nov 6-7th- Palm Springs Gay Pride Festival- The annual Palm Springs Gay Pride

Festival is being held at the Sunrise Park Stadium. For more information,

go to the Pride Festival website at pspride.org

Nov 7th- Palm Springs Gay Pride Parade- The parade starts at 10am. The route starts at

Alejo Rd., and ends at Ramon Rd. For more information, go to the Pride Parade

website at pspride.org

Nov 11^th – Annenburg Theatre- Rita Moreno, Academy Award winning actress, per-

forms her one-woman show at the Annenburg Theatre starting at 6pm. For tickets

and information, go to the website at psmuseum.org

Nov 11-14th- Palm Springs Air Museum- Veterans Celebration & 13th Anniversary. Join the Palm Springs Air

Musuem as they honor America's veterans. In addition to the T-34 air shows, they will be having

demonstrations of their P-63 and T-33 throughout the weekend, along with reenactments, activities for the

kids, and plenty of food vendors. For more information, go to the website at

palmspringsairmuseum.com

Nov 11^th- Veteran’s Day Parade- Palm Springs celebrates Veteran’s Day with a parade.

The parade starts at 3:30pm, on Palm Canyon Dr. in Downtown Palm Springs.

Nov 20th-22nd- McCormick’s Classic Car Auction- Drool over you favorite cars from the

50’s, 60’s, & 70’s. The auction is being held at the Spa Resort Hotel. For

more information, go to the website at classic-carauction.com

Nov 26th- HAPPY THANKSGIVING!!!

Nov 27th-29th- Desert Arts Festival- See over 100 artists exhibit their work at Frances Stevens

Park. The park is located at the corner of Alejo Rd. & N. Palm Canyon Dr.

The hours of the festival are 10am-4pm.

About the Author:

Dead Owner Chooses Buyer- A True Halloween Real Estate Story

Harold Watts' Palm Springs Real Estate Blog (Scott Lyle Realtors) — Fri, 30 Oct 2009 17:58:32 -0500

To get into the spirit of the Halloween Weekend that is upon us, I wanted to re-tell my own "haunted house" story that I wrote about a 1 1/2 years ago here on ActiveRain. It's not exactly "The Amityville Horror" scary, but it is an experience I will never forget. Let me set up the story for you. I was reading a featured article written by Shirley Byrd-Solem of Roseburg, OR, and the title was "And Someone Was Murdered in my Garage"

Her story was about a home she had sold to her buyers and the call she gets 1 year later. The buyers inform Shirley that the neighbors told them that there was a murder committed in the home.

Nothing was in the original disclosures, Shirley calls the listing agent, who contacts the previous owners, and they don't know anything about a murder. The police are called, and they tell Shirley that there was not a crime committed at that address. The buyers are informed, and everything is fine.

A few months later, Shirley gets another call from her buyers. They inform her that they have been "hearing things at night", sleep disturbances occurring, and the family has been sick. Another call is made to the police department about the house, and it turns out that there was a murder in the home 5 years prior to them moving in.

This story got me thinking about one of my first listings that I procured nearly 10 years ago. It was a golf course condo in Palm Springs, and the estate was being handled by the attorney. The owner of the home was named Betty, and she recently passed away from lung cancer. Her husband had passed away several years before.

One of the first questions I asked, "Did either of the owners die in the home?" The attorney answered no, and I received the keys to the condo.

I opened the door and I understand why Betty died of lung cancer. The smell of stale cigarettes is overpowering.

I stepped into the condo and rush of cold air enveloped me. The hairs on the back of my neck stand up, and a chill went down my spine. The next thought that pops into my head is "I have to clean the patio" I grab a broom and I start sweeping.

After leaving the condo, I'm walking to my car and I run into one of the neighbors. I introduce myself as the Realtor, and the neighbor starts talking about Betty.

She tells me how nice Betty and her husband were, how long they lived there, and that Betty was a neat freak. She also informed me that her favorite spot of her was the patio. She kept it immaculate. I just cleaned the patio.

Now I start hearing the Twilight Zone song playing in my head.

Normally, I don't believe in the paranormal but strange things started happening. When potential buyers would come into the home, they also felt "the cold". Doors would slam shut when there was not any wind. And on several occasions, people were nearly hit with golf balls while standing on Betty's patio.

The condo was not selling after 2 months, and I was in a quandary.

I was talking to a friend about what was happening at the condo, and he told me about a woman he knows, who is "in tune with the spirits". I agreed to meet with her at Betty's condo to give me a "spiritual evaluation"

She immediately felt Betty's presence upon entering the condo. The "medium" informed me that Betty didn't "like" any of the people who were looking at her home, and that she couldn't let go. A ritual smudging needed to be performed.

The ritual of smudging can be defined as "spiritual house cleaning." In theory, the smoke attaches itself to negative energy and as the smoke clears it takes the negative energy with it, releasing it into another space where it will be regenerated into positive energy.

We wrap together pieces of lavender and sage, light it with a match, and we go through every room to cleanse & purify the home. The ritual of smudging and chanting lasts for about 45 minutes.

2 days later, I show the home to a lovely couple from the East Coast. They immediately fall in love with the condo, especially the view from the patio. I silently "speak" to Betty and tell her that these people love & will take care of your home.

I told the couple about Betty, the smudging, everything. Later that day, a contract was signed & escrow was opened. Betty had chosen the owners of her home.

The moral of my ramblings: Whether you bury a St. Joseph's statue in the yard, perform a smudging or exorcism, we Realtors do what we have to do to get a home sold. Happy Halloween!!!

Pictures are compliments of Flickr

About the Author:

Rancho Mirage, CA- Mid-Century Resort Home at 71653 Mirage Rd. $425,000

Harold Watts' Palm Springs Real Estate Blog (Scott Lyle Realtors) — Tue, 27 Oct 2009 14:29:57 -0500

Resort Living at its finest in this Mid-Century home nestled in the Magnesia Falls neigborhood of Rancho Mirage.

This 2 bedroom, 2 bath home is being offered turnkey furnished and would make the perfect 2nd home or vacation rental property. The interior of the home has high beam ceilings and walls of glass in the living room to bring in lots of natural sunlight.

The backyard of this home is the epitome of outdoor living.

Enjoy a sparkling pebble-tec pool with a custom rock waterfall feature, an outdoor kitchen with gas barbeque, fireplace, and the most spectacular unubstructed mountain views you have ever seen.

This neighborhood is within walking distance of The River, an upscale shopping center which includes many wonderful dining & shopping venues. For all you hiking enthusiasts, this home is only a short distance from the entrance to the Bump & Grind Hiking Trail.

Come and enjoy the peaceful atmosphere and serenity that the desert resort lifestyle has to offer. This home can be yours today for the listed price of $425,000.

A Palm Springs Thanksgiving- Gratitude, Balance & Serenity

Harold Watts' Palm Springs Real Estate Blog (Scott Lyle Realtors) — Tue, 25 Nov 2008 14:56:50 -0600

The holidays are a time of reflection for me. It is a time to think of where I've been, and where I want to go in the future. Thanksgiving is one of my favorite holidays. It's a time to give thanks for everything I have, no matter how much or how little. It's a time to celebrate and share your life with the people most important to you. I call this my Season of Gratitude.

I celebrate all the wonderful things in my life: friends, family, and health. I am very grateful for everything I have in my life. It's not about how many "toys' I have or how much money has been made, but the peace & serenity that has taken me most of my life to find.

Given the current economic climate, it has been difficult for me sometimes to look at the positive side of life. But I have to remember to that there are others who are suffering much more than I am.

My friend Sean, and his partner Jason, plan the entire Thanksgiving menu, while Jeff (my partner) and I supply our home for the festivities. There's turkey, ham, oyster dressing, and my world famous Roasted butternut squash soup. We invite all of our friends, and people who may not have anywhere to go during the holidays.

Last year, we had 16 people at our home, and but this year I anticipate a smaller crowd as people are staying closer to home. Its all about food and good times with the ones I love.

Creating balance with work and my life during the holidays can be a challenge, but not impossible. Time management skills are imperative, and sometimes saying "No" to people is a must. We can't be everything to everyone.

Here are some of my ways I will maintain my Holiday Balance (or sanity):

Giving Back to the Community- Being grateful means giving back to the communities we live in. I give food to the local food banks (Well in the Desert) to feed the homeless and the the less fortunate of our community. As a kid growing up growing up, it was the Salvation Army that helped my family when we hit one of "life's little bump in the roads" I have never forgotten this.
Set Boundries With My Clients- I set clear boundries with my clients on when I will be available for business, and when I am not. Realtors are professionals, and should treat their business as such. Try calling your Dentist or your Lawyer and say "I going to be in your office in 15 minutes to see you" and they don't have an appointment. See how far you get with that one.
Take Time for Yourself- With the onslaught of holiday parties & events, one must make time for yourself. Take the time to refocus & re-energize your life. Whether it's a day at the spa, riding a bike, or reading a good book, take the time to be good to yourself.

So during this holiday season, remember what's important in your life. Grab your wife, husband, your kids, your life partner, and give them great big hug and tell them how much you love them. Find the balance in your life during the holidays, and just remember how blessed you are. The economy will turn around and our businesses will flourish once again. Happy Thanksgiving to everyone!!!

7.8 Earthquake Hits Palm Springs, Thousands Feared Dead- That's the Scenario for the Great Southern California Shakeout

Harold Watts' Palm Springs Real Estate Blog (Scott Lyle Realtors) — Thu, 13 Nov 2008 11:55:20 -0600

November 13th, 2008 at 10am, a massive 7.8 earthquake hits Southern California, and the epicenter is located in Palm Springs. The shaking lasts for nearly 2 minutes. Buildings are falling, roads & bridges collapse, massive fires are engulfing the city. Thousands are feared dead, many more are injured, and there is no end in sight to the devastation. This is the worst case scenario for the Great Southern California Shakeout. The Great Southern California ShakeOut is based on a potential magnitude 7.8 earthquake hitting on the southern San Andreas Fault, located in the Coachella Valley— approximately 5,000 times larger than the magnitude 5.4 earthquake that shook southern California on July 29. Dr. Lucy Jones of the U.S. Geological Survey has led a group of scientists & engineers who have been studying this scenario in great detail for the last several years. This 7.8 earthquake will last for about 2 minutes, and the waves of the quake will spread all across Southern California. Over 2000 people are projected to be killed, 50,000 injured, and over $200 billion in damages. The video below demonstrates the power of this potential disaster: The Great Southern California Shakeout is the largest emergency drill in history, with over 5 million people participating. At 10am PST, people who have signed up for the Shakeout, people will Drop, Duck, and Cover, and "pretend" a real earthquake is occurring. Emergency personnel from the Fire Dept., Police, and Hospitals will be deployed in order to implement their disaster preparedness drills. The Shakeout is designed to increase your awareness of your need to prepare for this natural disaster. I wrote an article a while back called "Are You Ready for the Big One?", which details what I went through when the Northridge earthquke in 1994. Back then, I was not prepared. Here is a list of things that you can do to be prepared when a natural disaster strikes:

Water- Have 1 gallon of water per person to last you 2 weeks= 14 gallons of water
Food- Get plenty of canned tuna, vegetables, baby formula, and anything non-perishable. Make sure you have a 2 week supply per person and a can opener.
First Aid Kit- Have a well-stocked first aid kit, along with any medications you are taking. Also, it might not be a bad idea to get CPR & first aid training. You may have to take care of the injured, and the training could save someone's life.
Money- Keep a supply of money for purchasing items. The ATM's will not work, and you have pay for items you may not have. Beware of unscrupulous price gougers.
Meeting Place- Make sure you have a designated meeting place in case you & your family get separated. Cell phones will most likely not work during a disaster.
Tents & Sleeping Bags- Have tents & sleeping bags available in the event that your home is uninhabitable.
Your Car- Have similar items in your car in case you are stranded away from home.
Earthquake proof your Home- Make sure large pieces of furniture are bolted to the wall, and get rid of any potential hazards that could kill you & your family.

The question is not IF a 7.8 earthquake is going to hit Southern California, but WHEN. One last question: How prepared are you for a natural disaster?

Same article posted at Blog of the Desert

357 W. Mariscal Rd. Palm Springs, CA 92262- 2 Bedroom Condo with Garage

Harold Watts' Palm Springs Real Estate Blog (Scott Lyle Realtors) — Fri, 08 Aug 2008 14:52:30 -0500

This beautiful condo at Casa do Oro in Palm Springs is NOT a short sale or a bank-owned property, but it's just priced like one at $179,000. This home features 2 bedrooms, 1 1/2 baths, inside laundry room, ceramic tiled enclosed back patio, a single car garage, custom blinds, newer A/C and furnace, and so much more.

Front Entrance of Townhome Living Room

Kitchen with Eating Area Enclosed & Tiled Back Patio

Walking distance to the new Dink's Bar & Grille After dinner, go to Toucan's across the street

This is one of the nicest condos I have seen on the market, and would be perfect for a full-time or vacation residence. The lush, well-kept grounds of this commmunity have gorgeous mountain views, tennis courts, and huge swimming pool.

Centrally located, this home is a few minutes from Downtown Palm Springs, and is around the corner from Toucan's and the new Dink's Restaurant. Make 357 W. Mariscal Rd. your home.

About the Author:

Harold Watts of Lyle Realtors has been a REALTOR in Palm Springs since 1999. Focusing on the 2nd & Vacation home market, Harold has been helping Real Estate Buyers and Sellers achieve their real estate goals. If you are looking to purchase or sell a home in Palm Springs or anywhere in the Coachella Valley, give Harold Watts a call at 760-778-6200 or email him at Harold@LyleRealtors.com

Reversing the Tax on Your Home- Proposition 8 Deadline Approaching for Palm Springs & Riverside County Homeowners

Harold Watts' Palm Springs Real Estate Blog (Scott Lyle Realtors) — Tue, 05 Aug 2008 19:05:34 -0500

A few month ago, I wrote an article on how Propositon 8 can help Palm Springs & Riverside County homeowners reduce their property tax bill.

Proposition 8, passed in November 1978, amended Proposition 13 to reflect declines in property values. As a result, Revenue and Taxation Code Section 51 requires the County Assessor to annually enroll either a property's factored Proposition 13 base year value or its Market Value as of January 1 (lien date), taking into account any factors causing a decline in value, whichever is less.

With the current economic downturn, many Riverside County homeowners who purchased their homes after January 1, 2004 are taking advantage of this opportunity to save some money on their property tax bill.

The deadline to file the Proposition 8 application is Sept. 1, 2008

To download the application, click here

According the Riverside County Tax Assessor, Larry Ward, Decline in Value notices have automatically been sent out to eligible homeowners. On May 14th of this year, Larry Ward was interviewed by CNBC about Proposition 8. During the interview, he states some interesting points:

All homes purchased after January 1, 2004 are being automatically re-assessed
An estimated 250, 000 home to be re-assessed in Riverside County
70% of those homes will have their property tax reduced
175,000 homes with reduced taxes is a loss to Riverside County of 17 billion dollars

To see the CNBC interview, click here to watch the video.

Yesterday, I received a mailer from an out of area company who said they could assist me in reducing my property tax on my Palm Springs home using Proposition 8. For a fee of $95, this company will file the necessary paperwork with the Riverside County Assessor's office.

Don't fall for this scam!!! Everything you need to file your Proposition 8 Decline in Value application is available the Riverside County Assessors website, and it is FREE OF CHARGE.

Once again, the due date to file the Decline in Value Reassessment application is September 1, 2008. For more information on Riverside County Proposition 8 data, log on to http://www.RiversideACR.com

During these tough economic times, anywhere you can save money, especially taxes, is a good thing.

About the Author:

Picture courtesy of Flickr

Floods, Earthquakes, and Locust Can't Stop the Real Estate Market- A Palm Springs Real Estate Report for July 2008

Harold Watts' Palm Springs Real Estate Blog (Scott Lyle Realtors) — Tue, 05 Aug 2008 14:12:12 -0500

What a very strange month we have been having in Palm Springs and the Coachella Valley.

The weather has been more humid than normal for July in the Desert, and it has been extremely uncomfortable.

In mid-July, we had a freak thunderstorm that hit the valley. The thunder was loud & ominous and there were a few instances of lightning. The next morning, over 1" of rain fell in one hour on Palm Springs, which caused some major flooding in the city.

The following week, there was a 5.4 earthquake that hit the Chino Hills area of Southern California, and the shaking was felt in Palm Springs.

And top of this is the constant buzzing of the locust, or cicadas, that have inundated the town. With all of these occurrences happening, one would think that the "plagues of Egypt" have fallen upon us here in Palm Springs.

Even if the other "plagues" did show up here, it wouldn't have stopped the real estate market during the month of July.

Here's a breakdown on the Real Estate activity during month of July:

98 homes & condos sold, with a median price of $402,849
180 new listings on the market
Average days on market was 163 days
Average % of List Price to Sales Price was 94.7%

The number of pending sales was up once again for the month of July. Pending sale are properties that are currently in escrow, where all of the contractual contingencies have been removed and the sale of these homes are likely to go through. Currently, there are 64 pending sales for the month of July, which is up from the June 2008 total of 40 homes.

According to the Desert Area MLS, there are currently 1255 homes & condos on the market in the city of Palm Springs. Of the 1255 homes available, 194 of them are currently in escrow.

What does all of these statistics mean? It means that there is a 13 month supply of homes available for buyers to purchase in Palm Springs, and prices will continue to adjust as home sellers are realizing they need to aggresively price their homes in order to sell, which is reflected in a higher average percentage of list price to sales price.

In a nutshell, it's a great time to buy a home in Palm Springs.

See you next month for the August 2008 Palm Springs Real Estate Market Report, and watch out for the locust!!!

Photo courtesy of Flickr

About the Author:

Harold Watts of Lyle Realtors has been a REALTOR in Palm Springs since 1999. Focusing on the 2nd & Vacation home market, Harold has been helping Real Estate Buyers and Sellers achieve their real estate goals. If you are looking to buy or sell a home in Palm Springs or anywhere in the Coachella Valley, give Harold Watts a call at 760-778-6200 or email him at Harold@LyleRealtors.com

Being Grateful Everyday- It's Just Another Day in Paradise

Harold Watts' Palm Springs Real Estate Blog (Scott Lyle Realtors) — Thu, 31 Jul 2008 22:23:08 -0500

Palm Springs, California is one of the top resort destinations in the country.

The natural beauty of the desert, sunshine 325 days a year, the small town atmosphere, mid-century architecture, the Hollywood connection, are some of the many reasons people want to come to Palm Springs.

People see the "perfect little village" of Palm Springs as the ideal place to live, work, and play. And there are many people who want to keep up that facade, and don't want to see some of the problems that the city faces on a daily basis.

I am talking about hunger & homelessness in Palm Springs.

I recently joined the Special Events committee of the Palm Springs Regional Association of Realtor s, to help raise money for the various charities the Board sponsors every year. One of the charities that we sponsor is a organization called Well in the Desert.

This non-profit organization was created in 1986 to provide hot meals to the homeless, the working poor, and the seniors & children who are facing hunger. I haven't seen any official numbers, but I have heard there are about 300 homeless people in Palm Springs.

The committee recently launched our "Friends Feeding Friends" program for the benefit of the Well in the Desert. Each week at our Board meetings at the Mizell Senior Center, local Realtors have been bringing in non-perishable food items & cash. To date, we have raised over $1000 in cash and have brought over 500 items of food.

With the launch of Friends Feeding Friends, I felt I needed to do more. I spoke with the President of the Well, and became a volunteer food server. To be perfectly honest, I didn't know what to expect. It's one thing to write a check to charity, but to actually volunteer my time to an organization was foreign to me.

I have to say that this has been the most humbling experience in my life!!!

I have had the opportunity to speak with many of the clients during my food service. The stories I heard were heartbreaking.

One man had a stroke, his wife left him, and he became homeless.

An elderly woman comes in on a daily basis for food because she doesn't have enough money because of the cost of medication.

A 20-something guy was living on the streets because of his drug addiction.

A mother brings her 2 children to eat because their school doesn't serve lunch during the summer.

Hearing the stories of these people have put things in my life into perspective. Yes, I have financial problems due to the current Real Estate crisis, and I may have to get another job to pay the bills.

Everyday I am grateful to have a roof over my head, food on the table, good health, and the love of family & friends. Circumstances can change in an instant, and I could be "that person" on the street.

The next time you are walking on the street and see a homeless person, don't be so quick to judge them & their circumstances.

Remember, it's just Another Day in Paradise:

Ain't No Cure For My Summertime Blues- My Sounds of Summer for the July Inspired by Song Contest

Harold Watts' Palm Springs Real Estate Blog (Scott Lyle Realtors) — Fri, 25 Jul 2008 09:55:16 -0500

I have been living in Palm Springs for nearly 10 years. I moved from San Francisco to get away from the "Big City" to live in a more serene environment. I love the mountains, the desert landscape, the natural beauty of my community. At this moment, I'm getting sick of serenity!!!

Here it is the middle of July, it's 106 degrees, a dew point of over 50%, so it is getting very humid in Palm Springs. I want to be on the beach, kicking back with a good book, and maybe a couple of cocktails with those little umbrellas in them. I've got a very big case of the Summertime Blues.

So when Adam Waldman announced the "Sounds of Summer" contest, it brought up a lot of memories of my carefree, childhood days.

I grew up in San Diego, and some of my earliest memories were of my family taking all of us to the beach. There were 3 kids in the family. My older sister, Toni, me, and my younger sister, Cecelia. I remember my Mom & Dad packing up the 50 gallon Coleman cooler with hot dogs, hamburgers, soda, potato salad, and everything that you need for a day at the beach.

Once the Rambler station wagon was loaded with the Coleman, the lawn chairs, umbrellas, and our buckets & shovels to make sandcastles, we were finally off to the to the beach.

There are many great beaches in the San Diego area, but the one my family would always go to was Mission Beach. As a kid, the coastline seemed to go on forever. Lots of big waves, lots of sand, but my favorite part of the beach was Belmont Park.

The amusement park had been built at that location in the early 1930's, and the highlight was a wooden roller coaster called the Giant Dipper. I remembered the first time I had seen that rollercoaster, I was five years old and the year was 1970. It was the tallest thing I had ever seen and I knew I wanted to go for a ride. Sadly, I was informed that I was too short to ride the rollercoaster. I wanted to cry. I do remember the very first song I had heard that day at the beach, and it always reminds me that I couldn't ride the Giant Dipper:

Sly & the Family Stone's "Hot Fun in the Summertime"

End of the spring and here she comes back
Hi Hi Hi Hi there
Them summer days, those summer days

That's when I had most of my fun, back
high high high high there
Them summer days, those summer days

Hot Fun in the Summertime

To see the video, click here.

"California Dreaming" by the Mamas & the Papas was an iconic song for its generation. This song was always on the radio when I would be at the beach. Being the native Californian that I am, I never really experienced a cold climate. If I were living in Michigan in winter and I heard this song, I would want to be on a sunny, sandy beach.

All the leaves are brown
And the sky is gray
I've been for a walk
On a winter's day

I'd be safe and warm
If I was in L.A.
California dreamin'
On such a winter's day To see the video, click here.

This song had to be on mine, and everyone's Song List. This song automatically transports you to summer at the beach.

Nibblin' on sponge cake,
watchin' the sun bake;
All of those tourists covered with oil.
Strummin' my six string on my front porch swing.
Smell those shrimp
They're beginnin' to boil.

Wasted away again in Margaritaville,
Searchin' for my lost shaker of salt.
Some people claim that there's a woman to blame,
But I know it's nobody's fault. For video, click here.

If you had read my entry called "My Guilty Music Pleasures" back in December, you would know that Adam Waldman, Jason Crouch, and that prankster Paul Slaybaugh was having everyone dredge up the songs that we all loved, but didn't want anyone to know about.

Once again, "Rock Lobster by the B-52's" makes it to the #2 spot on my music list. I never know why it doesn't make it to number #1. There is always another song that is better. "Rock Lobster" is the ultimate summer song. It's Beach Blanket Bingo on acid!!

To see the video, click here.

My #1 spot for the Sounds of Summer had to be special, it had to be something that had a profound effect on me and a whole generation of beachgoers. It had to be good in order to beat out "Rock Lobster". So in honor of Estelle Getty (aka Sophia Patrillo of the Golden Girls) who died this week, I am going to set up the #1 Sounds of Summer.

Picture it, San Diego, June 13th, 1975. It was a beautiful day at Mission Beach. The skies were clear, kids were playing, people were riding the Giant Dipper at Belmont Park. There are thousands of people enjoying the gentle surf, without a care in the world. This scene was being played out all over the country.

Then on June 20th, 1975, everything changed. This was the sound that everyone on the beaches across the United States will never forget: Make sure to crank up the volume for this one: CLICK HERE.

Pictures are compliments of Flickr

About the Author:

Harold Watts of Lyle Realtors has been a REALTOR in Palm Springs since 1999. Focusing on the 2nd & Vacation home market, Harold has been helping Real Estate Buyers and Sellers achieve their real estate goals. If you want to know what is happening with the Palm Springs Real Estate market, give Harold Watts a call at 760-778-6200 or email him at Harold@LyleRealtors.com

Palm Springs Homes are Selling, News at 11

Harold Watts' Palm Springs Real Estate Blog (Scott Lyle Realtors) — Tue, 22 Jul 2008 17:56:17 -0500

When ever I am attending a dinner party or out for cocktails with friends, there are several topics that are usually off limits: Politics and Religion.

But when I meet someone new and they find out that I am a REALTOR, then the barrage of questions comes flooding in. Some of them go like this:

1. “What is the difference between a short sale and a foreclosure?”
2. “Do you think the Palm Springs Real Market has hit the bottom?”
3. “What is happening with Port Lawrence?”
4. “Do you think it’s good time to buy?”

I will usually answer these questions this way:

1. How much time do you have for an explanation?
2. The answer is yes.
3. Check out my blog, Blog of the Desert, and read my article on Port Lawrence.
4. The answer is absolutely!!

The number one question that I get asked by everyone is: “What homes are selling in Palm Springs?”

As you can see on the chart, there have been 292 single family homes sold YTD in the city of Palm Springs, with an average days on market of 109 days.

To answer everyone’s question, “What is selling in Palm Springs?”, here it is: Homes in the $250,000 to under $300,000 have been the top sellers in the real estate market in Palm Springs. In the last 6 months, there have been 42 homes in this price range that have sold, with average time on the market of 93 days. A very close second place has been the $350,000 to under $400,000 price range, in which 39 homes have been sold.

Many of these homes represent the short-sale (pre-foreclosure) and foreclosed homes that have been flooding the real estate market. Savvy buyers have been purchasing these homes at bargain basement prices, and will reap the benefits as long as they keep the home for a minimum of 5 years.

So what do these number mean to the potential Palm Springs home buyers and sellers?

Let’s take another look at the chart. Say you are selling your home in Palm Springs, and it is priced at $649,500. According to the data, homes in the price range of $600,000-$649,999 have an average time on the market of 159 days and 11 homes have sold in the 6 month time frame.

During the same time frame, 16 homes sold in the $549,000-$599,999 price range and were only on the market for an average of 85 days. As a seller, you need to really look at the numbers and price your home according to the current market data or it will just sit on the market.

For you buyers, I have some pearls of wisdom that you need to share with you as well. The chart to the right represents the total condo sales in Palm Springs for the last 6 months. There were a total of 362 condos that have sold, with an average time on the market of 144 days.

The $200,000-$249,999 price range did very well YTD, with a total of 77 condos sold.

Many people think that the days of multiple offers are a thing of the past. This is simply not true. If homes and condos are priced aggressively, the onslaught of multiple offers will occur.

For instance, my client wanted to place an offer on a mid-century modern home that was priced at $285,000. I knew that this home would sell quickly, so I informed my client that they needed to be aggressive with their offer. We made an offer of $295,000, $10k over the asking price, with a closing in 30 days. To our surprise, we were turned down. It turns out the winning offer was $285,000 cash, and a close of escrow in 10 days.

The moral of the story: Homes are selling in Palm Springs, News at 11. For the buyers, now is the time to take advantage of some of the lowest home prices that the Coachella Valley has seen in a very long time. If you wait for “the bottom to hit”, you are already too late. For the Palm Springs home sellers, the numbers don’t lie. Home prices have gone down. If you want your home to sell, you need to price your home aggressively.

Same article posted at Blog of the Desert

About the Author:

Harold Watts of Lyle Realtors has been a REALTOR in Palm Springs since 1999. Focusing on the 2nd & Vacation home market, Harold has been helping Real Estate Buyers and Sellers achieve their real estate goals. If you want to know what is happening with the Palm Springs Real Estate market, give Harold Watts a call at 760-778-6200 or email him at Harold@LyleRealtors.com

Heat, Humidity,Cliches, Oh My!!!- A Palm Springs Real Estate Market Report for June 2008

Harold Watts' Palm Springs Real Estate Blog (Scott Lyle Realtors) — Fri, 11 Jul 2008 18:05:21 -0500

There's never a dull moment living in Palm Springs. Summertime, and the living is not easy. The heat & humidity of the summer is upon us and it seems to be bringing out the worst in everybody.

People flying off the handle, City Hall fining honest business owners for having signs in their storefronts, and Fox News still telling the world the "Sky is Falling". Being bombarded everyday with depressing news will start wearing anyone down. I'm a pretty optimistic person, but there are some days that I just want to stay in bed all day.

Every so often, a random set of positive cliches start playing my head: "It's alway darkest before the dawn" "The glass is half-full, not half-empty", and "Winners never quit, and quitters never win".

As I was preparing the June 2008 Palm Springs Real Estate Market Report, another cliche just popped into my head: "Every cloud has a silver lining".

I am not going to post that this year's real estate numbers are lower than last year. We already know that, and why point out the obvious?

There are currently 1326 acitve listings in the city of Palm Springs. Of these 1326 listings, 104 properties are contingent sales in escrow and 108 properties are pending sales in escrow. Pending sales in escrow are transactions where all the contractual contingencies have been removed, and the sale will go through.

The first "silver lining" I discovered: Of the 108 pending escrows in Palm Springs, 40 of these transactions occurred during the month of June alone. That's huge!!!

The second "silver lining" of the Palm Springs Real Estate Market is the increase in the median home price. The average median home price last month was $403,360, which was a 5% increase over last month. The median home price for May 2008 was $381,665.

There were 102 homes & condos sold in Palm Springs during the month of June.

During this time, the homes were getting over 94% of the listing price. What the information is telling me: Homes that are priced to current market trends are getting the best prices, and are being sold sooner.

The last "silver lining" is how long homes are on the market. The average days on market of homes sold in Palm Springs for the month of June is 131 days. This is 11 days shorter than the YTD total of 144 days, and is 9 days shorter than the May 2008 of 140 days.

What does this all mean to you? If you are selling your home in Palm Springs, make sure you price your home competively, or it will just sit on the market. And to you, the Palm Springs home buyer? I will finish this blog post with my favorite cliche, just for you:

"Don't put off until tomorrow what you can do today."

About the Author:

Harold Watts of Lyle Realtors has been a REALTOR in Palm Springs since 1999. Focusing on the 2nd & Vacation home market, Harold has been helping Real Estate Buyers and Sellers achieve their real estate goals. If you want to know what is happening with the Palm Springs Real Estate market, give Harold Watts a call at 760-778-6200 or email him at Harold@LyleRealtors.com

Same article posted at Blog of the Desert

Palm Springs Association of Realtors Feed the Hungry for Well in the Desert

Harold Watts' Palm Springs Real Estate Blog (Scott Lyle Realtors) — Thu, 12 Jun 2008 16:28:37 -0500

As you all know, I am a member of the Special Events committee for the Palm Springs Association of Realtors, and we raise money for the various charities that the Board of Realtors sponsors.

Our biggest fundraisers this year have been the Valentine's Day cake auction and the Easter Basket auction. The money we raise goes to some our favorite charities, which include the Mizell Senior Center & Shoes That Fit. YTD, we have raised nearly $17,000 for our charities.

One of the other charities that we help raise money for is the Well in the Desert. This wonderful organization helps feed the homeless & less fortunate people of Palm Springs and the Coachella Valley. Yesterday, the Palm Springs Association of Realtors launched its summer food drive called "Friends Feeding Friends".

Every week through Labor Day, donations of non-perishable food can be brought to the Mizell Senior Center for distribution to the Well in the Desert.

These can everyday items that you would find in your pantry: beans, canned tuna, soup, canned fruit, cereal, oatmeal, granola bars, flour, etc.

This week, the generosity of the realtors of Palm Springs brought in over 200 items of food and about $179 in cash. The committee will be keeping an inventory of everything that is donated, and we will be matching dollar for dollar & can for can that is collected through the summer.

The food will be picked up by volunteers of the Well on a weekly basis & taken their distribution center.

The Well in the Desert provides meals to the homeless, veterans of war, families in need, and school children whose lunch programs are eliminated for the summer, and this may be the only meal they get during the day.

If you want to know more about the Well in the Desert, go to their website: Well in the Desert.org

I will keep you informed of our progress throughout the summer. Have a great day!!!

About the Author:

Harold Watts of Lyle Realtors has been a REALTOR in Palm Springs since 1999. Focusing on the 2nd & Vacation home market, Harold has been helping Real Estate Buyers and Sellers achieve their real estate goals. If you want to know what is happening with the Palm Springs Real Estate market, give Harold Watts a call at 760-778-6200 or email him at Harold@LyleRealtors.com

Same article posted at Blog of the Desert

Gas Prices & Home Sales Continue Making News- A YTD Focus on the 2008 Palm Springs Real Estate Market

Harold Watts' Palm Springs Real Estate Blog (Scott Lyle Realtors) — Mon, 09 Jun 2008 20:39:50 -0500

I cannot believe that we are nearly half way through the 2008 year. Where did the time go? It seems like yesterday that I was taking down the Christmas tree & packing away all the decorations.

Throughout the last six months, we have been inundated with the 24-hour media barrage about the state of the economy, gas prices going up, and home prices going down.

It's a wonder that I even get out of bed & go to work!!

Rather than focusing on the negative news that I get everyday, I try to look at the positive things that are happening around me and try to find a silver lining.

Our office, led by my broker Scott Lyle, procured the highest priced listing in the Coachella Valley. It is the home of Alan Hamel & Suzanne Sommers, called Les Baux de Palm Springs, and is being offered for a mere $27.5 million dollars.
The Palm Springs Real Estate continues to move forward, despite what is being reported in the news:

There are currently 1450 homes for sale in Palm Springs, which includes 218 homes & condos that are currently in escrow. Of these 218 escrows, 117 of them are pending sales. This means that the contingencies have been removed from the contract, and will move forward to a successful escrow closing.

There were 129 homes & condos that sold in Palm Springs in April 2008.

The average listing price of homes was $428,525, with an average time on the market of 138 days. This number is 11 days lower than the 2008 average of 149 days.

Of the homes that sold in April, the average home sales price was $396,087, which was 92.4% of the listing price. The number of 129 homes sold in April represents 35% of the YTD total of 363 homes & condos sold in Palm Springs.

May 2008 housing numbers were also impressive. There were 121 homes & condos sold during the month of May, which is 25% of the YTD total of 484 properties sold in Palm Springs.

The average sales price of the homes & condos sold in Palm Springs was $381,665, which is 92.52% of the average list price of $412,538.

What do all these statistics mean to you & me? It means that there is a 12-month supply of homes to purchase in Palm Springs, prices of homes continue to level off, which gives buyers like yourself more choices than ever to find the home of your dreams. Sellers, which include the banks that have foreclosed on homes, are more likely to be in the right frame of mind to negotiate on the terms of your purchase agreement.

Whether you are looking to purchase your full-time residence, vacation home or just starting your Palm Springs home search, let Scott Lyle Realtors' 30 years of experience help you every step of the way. See you next month for the June 2008 Palm Springs Real Estate Market Report.

Same article posted on Blog of the Desert

Richard Neutra’s Kaufmann House in Palm Springs, CA sells for $15 Million at Christie’s Auction in NYC

Harold Watts' Palm Springs Real Estate Blog (Scott Lyle Realtors) — Tue, 13 May 2008 19:42:49 -0500

On May 13th 2008, the world-renowned auction house, Christie's, premiered its Post War and Contemporary Art auction to a full-house at 20 Rockefeller Center. There were many of the world's best paintings up for auction, including Elizabeth Peyton's "Kurt Cobain" and Andy Warhol's "Four Jackies".

But the highlight of the evening was the auction of Richard Neutra's Kaufmann House in Palm Springs. I had never been to a live auction before, so watching the live video stream was the next best thing. There were 57 lots (items) that were up for auction, and the Kaufmann House was Lot 42. The opening bid for this architectually significant home started at $9 million. The bidding was fast & furious, but the winning bid for this came in by telephone for $15 million. This is now the most expensive piece of real estate sold in the city of Palm Springs.

Richard Neutra, a student of Frank Lloyd Wright, designed his modern "masterpiece" for Pittsburg department store tycoon, Edgar Kauffman Sr., in 1946. The home was designed as a desert retreat from the harsh winters of the East Coast.

The Kaufmann House is one of top 5 homes in the United States, and now has a new owner. Stay tuned for more info.

Same article posted at Blog of the Desert

About the Author:

Harold Watts of Lyle Realtors has been a REALTOR in Palm Springs since 1999. Focusing on the 2nd & Vacation home market, Harold has been helping Real Estate Buyers and Sellers in Palm Springs achieve their real estate goals. If you want to know what is happening with the Palm Springs Real Estate market, give Harold Watts a call at 760-778-6200 or email him at Harold@LyleRealtors.com You can also search for your dream home via the Palm Springs MLS through Harold's website, PalmSpringsFinestHomes.com

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Prop. 8 Can Help Palm Springs & Riverside County Homeowners Reduce Property Tax Bill

Harold Watts' Palm Springs Real Estate Blog (Scott Lyle Realtors) — Thu, 01 May 2008 12:56:28 -0500

Every Wednesday morning, the Palm Springs Association of Realtors has its weekly Board meeting at the Mizell Senior Center at 8am.

I always get to the meeting about 15 minutes early to get a good seat. When I got there this morning, the meeting room was packed. There was a TV news crew setting up in the corner, and was wandering what all the hoopla was all about.

Were we having a special guest speaker? Who was it? The Mayor? The Governator? My curiosity had piqued. It turns our speaker was Larry Ward, the Riverside County Tax Assessor. Now I thinking to myself "Why all the fuss? Death & Taxes are the only things certain in life."

I know that sounds a little pessimistic so early in the morning, but I did not have my morning cup of coffee yet. The topic that Mr. Ward was covering today was on Proposition 8, the amendment clause in California's Prop. 13 law to reduce property taxes when homes have decreased in value.

Mr. Ward went on to explain that in Riverside County, 15,000 Notice of Defaults on homes have been issued in the first 3 months of this year and that foreclosures are up 171% over last year. With property values down and the current state of the economy, the County Assessors office wants to be proactive in order to help homeowners relieve some of their financial burden.

How will this help the homeowners of Palm Springs & rest of California? The County Assessor is focusing on people who purchased their homes from January 1, 2004 to the present. This timeframe represents the height of the Real Estate boom and all of the buying frenzy that ensued. Take a look at the chart to illustrate how Prop. 8 would work.

If you purchased your home for $400,000 in 2004 (Year 1), Prop. 13 allows for for a maximum of 2% a year increase in your tax basis .

In year 2, your property value increased to $455,000, but your Prop. 13 basis is only $408,000.

But in years 3 & 4, the property values plummet but you are still paying the higher basis.

By filing a Decline in Value Reassessment application, you can petition the County Assessors Office to reassess the value of your home. If you look at Year 3 Prop. 13 Market Values, the basis is $416,000, which represents $5200 per year in property tax. By filing a Prop 8 reassessment and bring your basis down to $365,000, the new property tax would only be $4563. This represents a savings of nearly $700 per year!!!

Prop. 8 allows an annual reassessment increases (or decreases) based on current market data. You need to realize that Proposition 8 reductions are temporary and recognizes the fact that the current market value of your home has fallen below its Proposition 13 base year value.

If and when the market value of the previously reduced assessment (Proposition 8) increases above its Proposition 13 factored base year value, the Assessor will once again enroll its Proposition 13 factored base year value. Proposition 8 values can change from year to year as the real estate market fluctuates up and down.

Any property that has received a Proposition 8 reduction in the prior year will be automatically reviewed the next year to determine whether that year's lien date value should be maintained, decreased, or increased. Unless there is a change in ownership or new construction, your assessment can never increase above the factored Proposition 13 base year value.

The due date to file the Decline in Value Reassessment application is September 1, 2008. For more information on Riverside County Proposition 8 data, log on to http://www.RiversideACR.com

In these tough economic times, any money saving ideas can help us all.

Same article posted at Blog of the Desert

Photo courtesy of Flickr & Larry Ward of Riverside County Assessors Office.

Palm Springs, CA: Turnkey Furnished Home for Sale at 3505 E. Sonora Rd.

Harold Watts' Palm Springs Real Estate Blog (Scott Lyle Realtors) — Sat, 15 Mar 2008 16:15:43 -0500

Start enjoying the Palm Springs Lifestyle in your 3 bedroom, 2 bath turnkey furnished home.

This beautiful home is located in a great S. Palm Springs neighborhood, on Fee Land (no Indian lease) and has some of the best unubstructed southwestern panoramic mountain views in town.

The current owners have painstakingly added new touches to this home over the last several years, and their pride in this home really shows.

The gourmet kitchen has been opened up and has newer cabinets, appliances including a wine refrigerator, and granite countertops. The formal dining area seats 6 people, has a custom wetbar, and sliding & French doors leading to the expansive backyard.

Cocktails by the Poolside

Expansive Gourmet Kitchen with Granite Countertops, Newer Cabinets & Appliances

Sumptuous Master Bedroom Suite with Custom Double Vanities

This home would be the perfect full-time or vacation home for you in Palm Springs.

If you have been sitting on the fence on whether or not to purchase a home in Palm Springs, the time to move is NOW!! There are many deals to be had in Real Estate, and this is one of them.

This home is being offered turnkey furnished and it is priced to sell at the offering price of $679,000.

I only have 1 question to ask you:

"Are You Ready to Move to Palm Springs???"

Do You Hear What I See? What REALTORS need to know when working with the Hearing Impaired

Harold Watts' Palm Springs Real Estate Blog (Scott Lyle Realtors) — Wed, 20 Feb 2008 16:39:44 -0600

2 weeks ago, I received a phone call that was out of the ordinary for me. The call was from a company called Sorenson Video Relay Service, and it was a potential client who was inquiring about moving to Palm Springs.

Sorenson Video Relay Service (VRS) is a free service for the deaf and hearing-impaired community that lets anyone conduct video relay calls with family, friends, or business associates through a certified ASL (American Sign Language) interpreter via a high-speed Internet connection and a video relay solution (or VRS call option).

The call was awkward at first because there is a pause between what you say to the interpreter and what is translated back from the client. It has taken a few times to get used to this type of communication. The client is arriving in Palm Springs next month to look at a home to purchase.

Working with this client has got me thinking about my responsibilities as a REALTOR in working with disabled or hearing-impaired clients. I decided to brush up on my knowledge of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990.

The Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 is the wide-ranging civil rights law that was enacted by former President George H. Bush, to protect citizens against discrimination based on disability.

Disability is defined as "a physical or mental impairment that substantially limits a major a life activity".

According to Title III of the Americans with Disabilities Act, 42 U.S.C. 12181:

"Guarantees equal access to places of public accommodation, and equal access to the services of such places for individuals with disabilities."

Public accommodation includes any service establishment regardless of size & the number of employees. Service establishments included offices of lawyers, accountants, pharmacies, insurance companies, and any health care organization.

The Department of Justice's broad definition of public accommodation includes REALTORS & real estate brokerages.

These are the guidelines from Title III for REALTORS who are working with deaf or hearing-impaired clients:

Realtors and other business professionals must effectively communicate with their clients with disabilities. These service professionals must provide auxillary aids to their clients in order to conduct business. In the case of the hearing-impaired, this means you, the Realtor, must provide a certified ASL (American Sign Language) to your client.

Short of being an undue financial burden on the REALTOR, the deaf or hearing-impaired person is entitled to the services of an interpreter for their real estate transaction and you must provide for this.

Furthermore, Realtors may not charge the cost of interpreter services to their client, in the form of attorney's fees, closing costs, commissions, or any other such fee.

The regulation to Title III also states that auxiliary aids and services may not be financed by a surcharge upon the disabled individual. The cost of providing sign language interpreters for deaf or hearing-impaired people is part of the cost of doing business with such individuals, and may not be passed onto your client.

If you are unsure about your responsibilities as a Realtor when dealing with disabled clients or any part of the Americans with Disabilities Act, you should talk to your broker.

I am looking forward to meeting my client in person and to the learning opportunities I will gain from the experience.

photos courtesy of Flickr

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Palm Springs, CA: Real Estate Market Report for January 2008

Harold Watts' Palm Springs Real Estate Blog (Scott Lyle Realtors) — Tue, 19 Feb 2008 18:57:38 -0600

EXTRA, EXTRA, READ ALL ABOUT IT!!!

We all know bad news sells newspapers. Whether it is the latest celebrity going to rehab or the Dow dropping 150 points, we are fixated on the bad.

For the last year, we have been inundated by the media on how terrible the real estate market is across the country. We all have to remember that real estate market is local, and that was is happening in Michigan is not necessarily happening in Palm Springs. It drives me crazy when publications like the Desert Sun will report in bold headlines, "The Palm Springs Real Estate Market Continues Downward Spiral", but in small print on page 6, "home sales up for the month of December".

During my research in the Palm Springs MLS for the January 2008 home sales report, I found a silver lining:

Median Home Price in Palm Springs for January 2008 Up 8% over last year

The January 2008 median home price in Palm Springs was $409,383, compared to the January 2007 price of $379,186. This is an increase of nearly 8%!! The incremental increase in the average median home prices is attributed to the continued sales of $1,000,000+ homes in Palm Springs, in which 3 were sold last month. Here is the breakdown of the real esate business last month:

In addition, homes and condos in Palm Springs are selling nearly 94% of asking price. Again, what does this mean to you, the buyer? It means that the sellers of homes are continuing to adjust their offering prices to the reality of the current real estate market.

Whether you are buying a short-sale home or a foreclosure, there many investment opportunities to be had in Palm Springs. See you in March for the February 2008 Home Sales report.

Photos courtesy of Flickr

Same article posted at Blog of the Desert

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CSI Palm Springs: My Involvement with the Palm Springs Citizens Police Academy (Part 1 of 7)

Harold Watts' Palm Springs Real Estate Blog (Scott Lyle Realtors) — Sun, 17 Feb 2008 18:00:15 -0600

This situation happened to me a few month's ago:

I was driving across town to preview a home in Palm Springs for client, and I was in a hurry to make my appointment. I came to the intersection, but did not make a complete stop. I did what is called a "California stop", looking both ways to make sure there weren't any cars and kept driving. I didn't see the Palm Springs Police car sitting on the side of the road, and he proceeded to pull me over and issue me a citation.

After a expressing a few expletives inside my head, I was thinking to myself:

Doesn't the Palm Springs Police Dept. have anything else better to do?

I have been living in the city of Palm Springs for the last 9 years, but I really did not know anything about the Police Dept., including the name of our Police Chief. So I decided to do some research, and that's when I learned about the Palm Springs Citizens Police Academy.

The Citizen's Police Academy was started by the Palm Springs Police Dept. 15 years ago, in an effort to get the community more involved with the Police. The class is held 3 times a year, and each class lasts for about 12 weeks. The course is designed to teach citizens of Palm Springs about what police work is all about. The emphasis is to portray the reality of what the men & women of the police force encounter day & night, not what you see on TV.

The topic this past week: Crime Scene Investigation & Evidence Collection.

Shows like CSI and Law & Order make you believe that the police collect evidence at a crime scene, send it off to a lab, and all the answers who committed the crime are solved in 60 minutes.

This scenario is fantasy and not reality. The truth is that many police departments across do not have their own crime labs, and that the blood & trace evidence that is collected at a crime scene is sent to the DOJ (Department of Justice).

This process can take weeks, if not months to get the results back.

Officer Troy Castillo was our instructor for this week's class. We were able to study the actual crime scene photos from a murder that took place in Palm Springs in 1997.

The crime was brutal & the photos were graphic. This class was not for the squeamish.

Based on the evidence, we were given the opportunity to figure out what had happened to this 59 year old woman. Through an hour of discussion, we learned that this crime was committed by someone she knew and this person died before he was sent to prison. I was impressed how the police worked the clues and was able to solve the case.

This class has been an enlightening and eye-opening experience on what the Palm Springs Police Dept. experience on a daily basis. They do so much more than giving out traffic tickets.

Stayed tuned for part 2 of CSI: Palm Springs

Same article posted on Blog of the Desert

About the Author:

Photos courtesy of Flickr

Julius Shulman Exhibit Coincides With Palm Springs Modernism Week

Harold Watts' Palm Springs Real Estate Blog (Scott Lyle Realtors) — Fri, 15 Feb 2008 20:54:19 -0600

The Kaufmann House in Palm Springs is one the most architecturally significant modern homes in the United States.

Yesterday, the city of Palm Springs, the Palm Springs Modern Committee, and the Palm Springs Preservation Foundation

designated the Kaufmann House as a Class One historical site.

The home was designed by Richard Neutrain 1946, but the home came into prominence due to the photography of Julius Shulman.

Julius Shulman is a American architectural photographer whose works captured the California mid-century modernism movement and introduced it to the world.

Starting today, the works of Julius Shulman will be on exhibition at the Palm Springs Art Museum, in conjunction with Modernism Week.

Modernism Week is the annual collaboration between the Modernism Show, Palm Springs Preservation Foundation, Palm Springs Historical Society, Palm Springs Modern Committee, Palm Springs Chamber of Commerce and the Palm Springs Art Museum focusing on design and architecture events and programs in Palm Springs California from Thursday, February 15 through Saturday, February 24 2008.

The exhibition will consist of approximately 150 photographs, in black & white and color, of the many architectural buildings Julius Shulman photographed during his career. Some of the architects highlighted include Richard Neutra, Donald Wexler, John Lautner, Albert Frey, Palmer & Krisel, and many others.

In addition to the photographs (some that have not been seen in years), there will be a display of the magazine covers that show Shulman’s work.

The exhibition of the works of Julius Shulman will be featured at the Palm Springs Art Museum from February 15th through May 4th 2008.

Same article posted at Blog of the Desert

About the Author:

Harold Watts of Lyle Realtors has been a REALTOR in Palm Springs since 1999. Focusing on the 2nd & Vacation home market, Harold has been helping Real Estate Buyers and Sellers achieve their real estate goals. If you want to know what is happening with the Palm Springs Real Estate market, give Harold Watts a call at 760-778-6200 or email him at Harold@LyleRealtors.com You can also search for your dream home via the Palm Springs MLS through Harold's website, GreetingsFromPalmSprings.com

Local Palm Springs Realtors Give to Charity via Valentine's Day Cake Auction

Harold Watts' Palm Springs Real Estate Blog (Scott Lyle Realtors) — Thu, 14 Feb 2008 20:50:50 -0600

One of the perceptions that many people have about REALTORS is that all we do is show a few homes, write an offer, then collect a big commission check. That's it, end of story. For me, and my fellow REALTORS, it is so much more than that.

I have been selling real estate since 1999, and have always tried to maintain high standards for myself and my chosen profession of Real Estate. Since the beginning I have always believed in giving back to the community that has given me so much.

This year, I joined the Special Events committee of the Palm Springs Regional Association of Realtors. This committee plans the events for the year to raise money for the various community charities that we give to. Our first event for the season is the Annual Valentine's Day cake auction.

Every year, we get Realtors from the different real estate offices to bring in cakes that they made or purchased to our morning meeting to have auctioned off for charity. Here is a small list of the charities: Mizell Senior Center, Well in the Desert, Shoes That Fit, and several others.

This year, the committee wanted to keep things simple. We were concerned that we would not get as much participation this year because many Realtors may have much money to contribute because of the downturn in the Palm Springs real estate market.

To my surprise, we had many donations to our event. Not only did we have many homemade items, like the chocolate kahlua cupcakes, but we received many creatives entries for the auction.

I had the honor of judging the entries for best theme and most creative. The winner for best theme was Pati Cunningham of First American Title for her entry, "Love in a Box", and Joe Frazier of Frazier Pest Control for the most creative entry titled "Home for Sale". He brought in a homemade cake in the shape of a house, including the For Sale sign.

The auction was a success, and the Palm Springs Realtors came through again for a worthy cause. After the last cake was auctioned and the awards were handed out, we raised over $4000 for our local charities. Way to go!!

Our next event to raise money for our charities is the Easter Basket auction on Mar. 23rd, 2008.

About the Author:

Harold Watts of Lyle Realtors has been a REALTOR in Palm Springs since 1999. Focusing on the 2nd & Vacation home market, Harold has been helping Real Estate Buyers and Sellers achieve their real estate goals. If you want to know what is happening with the Palm Springs Real Estate market, give Harold Watts a call at 760-778-6200 or email him at Harold@LyleRealtors.com

Same article posted at Blog of the Desert

An Active Rain Success Story- I Have a New Escrow Because of George Tallabas & CraigsList

Harold Watts' Palm Springs Real Estate Blog (Scott Lyle Realtors) — Tue, 12 Feb 2008 16:07:49 -0600

Back in December, AR member George Tallabas wrote an article title "CraigsList Real Estate Ads with a Twist.

The article was about how he writes his Craig's List ads in a different way in order to drive traffic to his website. The idea was simple.

He would start with a catchy title, no pictures, enough wording to describe the property he was selling, and then he would direct his reading audience to his website via a link in the ad. On my ads, I place one picture as a teaser to get them to see more photos.

This way, people who are interested in a property will be looking at YOUR website, rather than ad on Craig's List. If they like your website, potential clients are more likely to continue going to your site for the information they need.

Now you are probably thinking to yourself, "I've typed in my website address on my ads, but it doesn't link. How did you do that?" Simple HTML code is all you need. If you are not a technical guru, don't worry. Anyone can do this.

Here is a sample of the code that I generated for my Craig's List Ad:

<a href="http://www.GreetingFromPalmSprings.com">Greetings From Palm Springs</a>

I place this code anywhere I want to create a link to my website. All you need to do with this code is to place your web address in the first part, and then title of your website in the second part. This will create your link to your website.

To see one of my Craig's List ads, click here.

Now to the good part of this story:

I have been following this techniques since I read the article, and last week I got a call from a potential client inquiring about purchasing a home in Palm Springs. They were interested in a Country Club property and found it on my website. This property was not one of my listings. We talked for a few minutes and we set up a viewing appointment to see the condo when they got into Palm Springs from Seattle.

Before I finished the conversation, I asked the client how he came across my website. He said he found my Craig's List ad and followed the link to my website. He had been using my Palm Springs MLS IDX search for about 2 weeks before he called me. He and his wife came down, I showed them the condo, they made an offer, and we are closing escrow at the end of next week.

The moral of the story: Use the information that is available to you here at AR. If it weren't for Active Rain and members like George Tallabas dispensing their knowledge & wisdom, I wouldn't be learning all of these great techniques that bring me business. Thanks George!!