I have a great listing in the Palm Springs Movie Colony.   There is so much to do and it is all within a few blocks. 

The listing is at 650 E. Alejo Road.  It is a 1980's ranch done in a Mexican Riviera style.  The floors are mosaic Saltillo tile.  Not surprising, since this is the home of the artist Jennifer Johnson.  She created the Fountain of Life in Cathedral City.  There are three bedrooms and three baths in the main house, with another two rooms and bath in the attached casita.  The floor plan is open and airy. The large yard includes a huge pool and spa and a large built in mosaic decorated seating area with views of Mt. San Jacinto.

This neighborhood is called the Movie Colony because it was home to many Hollywood stars.  It is reported that Marilyn Monroe, Cary Grant, Dinah Shore, Jack Benny and Al Jolson had homes here. One of the most notable homes in the Movie Colony is the 1947 Stewart Williams designed, Twin Palms, one of the former homes of Frank Sinatra in the Palm Springs area.

The Movie Colony is located between Tachevah Road on the north, Alejo Road on the south, Avenida Caballeros on the east and Indian Canyon on the west.  Ruth Hardy Park, one of many parks in Palms Springs, is located here.  The park includes tennis court, volley ball courts, a basketball court, barbeques and open fields. 

Within a short distance are some great restaurants, shops, a casino and a theater.  Two of my favorite places for breakfast or brunch are Cheeky's and Jake's.  Both are a couple blocks west of Alejo on Palm Canyon Drive. Cheeky's presentation is superb.  A lot of imagination went into the serving pieces.  There is usually a wait, but it is worth it.  Great bacon bar.  Jake's, a little further down Palm Canyon, has a great Bloody Mary.  I like the Nicoise Salad and the Monte Cubano Sandwich.  If the weather is right, there is a great courtyard patio for dining.  The Tropicale Restaurant and Lounge is even closer.  One of my favorite restaurants in Palm Springs. It is a great spot for happy hour or dinner. I had drinks at the patio bar there on Friday with clients.  The weather was perfect.  Across the street is the Spa Resort and Casino.  Aside from gambling, dining and shopping, there is a complete spa and fitness center with a mineral pool.  One of the most unique stores in the valley is House 849.  It is a pleasure to walk through.  Across the street is Asylum, another home furnishing store with some great product.  I was in there recently.  They had a couple super realism paintings of vintage Barbie's.  Very unique. Theater is also nearby.  I read in the paper today that the Palm Canyon Theater is opening its 2010-2011 season this week with a production of CATS.

Location, Location, Location.  This unique home has it.  Five bedrooms, four baths, open floor plan, gourmet kitchen with professional eight burner range with griddle and double oven, granite farmer's sink, walk in pantry,  expansive master suite with sunken tub, three walk-in closets,  two room casita or artist studio with bath, approximately 3,300 sq. ft. of living space and a 17,860 sq. ft. lot with a huge pool, spa and gigantic covered patio.  Architectural detail and artist touches throughout.  Offered for $799,500. 

Find more information at http://www.alvingreenwalt.com

Over the holidays, I listed two more properties in Palm Springs.  The first is a condo in Mesquite Greens.  It is a two bedroom, two bath, with a great room, eat-in kitchen at 1,646 sq. ft.  Fantastic mountain views and a large green belt separating the properties.  The development includes community pools and tennis courts.  The property is offered for $324,900.

The second is a single family home in Parc Andreas.  This is a contemporary by architect Wendell Veith.  It is a four bedroom, five and a half bath, with a formal living and dining room, breakfast room, family room with wet bar and entertainment center, two master suites, one with two baths, a music room and two other guest suites.  The home is approximately 5,546 sq. ft. The yard is 19,166 sq. ft. with a salt water pool and spa and over 600 sq. ft of covered patio.  Community amenities include tennis. The property is offered for $1,250,000.  These two great listings and the launch of the Palm Springs International Film Festival got me thinking about all the activities Palm Springs has to offer.

The Palm Springs International Film Festival started on January 5^th and goes through January 18^th.  The festival includes award galas, screenings and star sightings all over town.  This year's honorees include:  Jeff Bridges, T Bone Burnett, Mariah Carey, Marion Cotillard, Morgan Freeman, Anna Kendrick, Helen Mirren, Jason Reitman, Jeremy Renner and Quentin Tarantino. The screenings take place at The Camelot Theatres, The Annenberg Auditorium, Palm Springs High School and Palm Springs Regal 9. There is even a Gay!la event at Toucan's Tiki Lounge.  In addition, later in the year are the Shortfest and the Film Noir Festival. Check out my website for links to the film festivals.

On-going activities include the fabulous Palm Springs Follies and the Palm Springs VillageFest.  The Follies is a Palm Springs institution.  It is a three hour vaudeville style song and dance show.  The catch is that the performers are between 59 and 84 years young.  It is a must see.  The Palm Springs VillageFest transforms Palm Canyon drive into a treasure trove of artists and vendors every Thursday night.  It is dog friendly.  Another monthly activity is on the first Wednesday of the month, the Art Walk at the Backstreet Art District.  Great contemporary art. 

The Wexler weekend is coming up from January 22nd to 24^th.  This weekend event pays tribute to one of the desert's leading architects.  Did I mention that there is a home tour?

The Desert Arts Festival occurs on January 31^st in Frances Stevens Park on Palm Canyon Drive. This one is free.

The fifth annual Modernism Week happens from February 12^th through 21^st. This years event includes a tribute to Albert Frey, another contemporary architect with many ties to Palm Springs. 

McCormick's Classic Car Show and Auction will be held at the Spa Resort and Casino, a destination by itself, from February 26^th to 28^th.  What goes better with a mid century home, than a mid century car?

The White Party is back from April 9^th through the 12^th.  This is preceded by the Dinah Shore Week - aka the Palm Springs Women's Weekend from March 31^st to April 4^th.  These two venues bring thousands of gays and lesbians to the Coachella Valley.  Lots of A list parties, sun and fun.

There is always something going on here.  If it is gray, gloomy, cold and snowy where you are, you should visit Palm Springs - and maybe buy a house.  It was in the 70's here today. Take a look at the links for more information on the activities and my listings.

I recently sold another home at Sun City Shadow Hills in Indio.  Fantastic deal.  My clients bought a standing inventory home.  Pulte, the builder, is offering incentives to buyers.  They are serious about moving these homes.  I was told that Sun City Shadow Hills is the most successful new home development in California.  Don't know if it is true, but it would not surprise me.

Sun City is located north of the 10, between Jefferson and Monroe.  It is a 55+ golf course community with two clubhouses (one is soon to be under construction, the other is up and running) and a golf course clubhouse.  Their web site says that homes start at $228,000 for a two bedroom home with over 1200 sq. ft.  When I did a web search, I found one for $191,000. No doubt, one of their standing inventory homes. 

I just sold a condo in Quail Lakes Racquet Club, also in Indio.  Check out my web site.  Once the renovations on the condo are complete, this will be available as a vacation rental. Great tennis community with a meandering lake that the patios back up to. I was in Indio today to pick up a lock box.  Had lunch the other day at the new Jackalope Ranch.  So with all this Indio activity, I decided to divide up my blog about this desert city.  This one will be about Sun City Shadow Hills.  My other blog, http://www.callalvin.blogspot.com, will be about the festivals (It is the city of festivals), the amenities, and other great real estate deals. 

Sun City Shadow Hills Indio

Sun City Shadow Hills has 12 model homes.  They range in size from 1,257 to 2,971 sq. ft. two and three bedroom homes.  There are homes on and off the golf course.  The golf course is open to the public, so you don't pay for it.  You do get discounts as a resident.  I have played there.  Loved it.   It is an 18 hole par 71 course. The newest section of the development will feature a second course.  I have seen the signature hole, magnificent.  Fees on the 18 hole course range from $114 in season, down to $39 when it is hot.  Residents pay $59 down to $29.  There are more deals available to residents. 

The 35,000 sq. ft. Montecito Club House contains a premier fitness facility, indoor and outdoor pools, a restaurant, community rooms and loads of classes and clubs.  The classes include Challenge Step, Total Body on Ball, Sun Style 73, Aqua (Arthritis), Balance the Brain, Aqua, Fitness, Core Conditioning, Cardio, Beginners T'ai Chi, Interval Step and Weight Watchers.

The clubs include the following:

Afternoon Social Bridge                     Women's 18-hole Golf                       Women's 18-hole

Billiards Club                                   Opera Club                                       Bridge Club           

Pan Club                                        Community Singers                            Pet Club       

Computer Club                                Performing Arts                                 Concerts 4 U 

Couples Golf                                   Readers Ink                                      RV Club         

Creative Arts                                   Shall We all Dance                             Desert Life

Solos                                             Games Plus                                       Stitch in time     

Happy Tappers                                Table Tennis                                     Tennis                 

Kings and Queens Card Club             Lady Putters                                      That's Entertainment

Ladies 9-Hole Golf                            Topical Discussion                              Lively Liners      

Tutta Bella Vino                                Ukulele                                             Mah Jongg

Strummers                                       Men's Golf                                         Veterans Club      

Oke-dokey Karaoke

In addition to all this, there are organized day trips to locations in Los Angeles, Orange County and San Diego.  Lots to do.

Right now there are quick move in homes.  My clients were able to close on their home within a couple weeks.  The standing inventory includes several Granadas (1,099 sq. ft.), several Canteras (1,257 sq. ft), a couple Cordobas (1,294 sq. ft.), three Valencias (1,652 sq. ft.), five Avalinos (1,763 sq. ft.), five Maderas (1, 854 sq. ft.), two Del Oros (1,880 sq. ft.), three Santiagos (2,076 sq. ft.), a Sorrano (2,115 sq. ft.), four Castellanos (2,230 sq. ft.), three Meridas (2,370 sq. ft.), a Dorado (2,446 sq. ft.) and three La Paz (2,971 sq. ft.).  Prices start under $200,000.  The largest plan on the golf course is listed on Del Webs web site at $584,400.  Availability and pricing are subject to change and prior sale.

There are some great resale deals in Sun City Shadow Hills.  The lowest price is a San Ysidro (1,463 sq. ft.) asking $175,000.  This is a short sale.  All in all, there are 97 resales on the market.  Thirty-Seven of the listings are under $300,000.  Some of the benefits to resales include, window treatments, completed back yards and some have pools and/or spas.  I looked at resales listed around what my client's paid for their new home.  They could have bought a San Benito (2,147 sq. ft.) with a pool and spa or a Madera (1854 sq. ft.) with a firepit on the golf course. Instead they purchased a Dorado (2,446 sq. ft.) at a substantial discount from the listed price. 

It is the perfect time to buy a home in Sun City Shadow Hills.  The interest rates are low.  The builder's incentives are very attractive.  There are great deals on resales.  Give me a call for more information.