I just updated the foreclosure page on my website.  There are some great deals out there, but fewer than I expected.  I came across a few that I particularly like.  Also, in the past week, while showing property, I came across a couple regular sales that I liked.

I found the first due to my contemporary listing at 12240 Skyline Drive in Desert Hot Springs.  I have clients that are very interested in that property, but wanted to see what they could get across the valley.  I took them to see the newly reopened Escena. I really like these homes, but they aren't hard edged contemporary.  They have that developer feel. They have great views and good prices.  I haven't seen views that top the Skyline property,  but Escena's are pretty good. I registered my clients and left them at Escena.  They were there for four hours. 

While they were there, I took other clients to see a couple foreclosures and regular sales. 
The first one was a bust for these clients, but I loved it.  I remember seeing it when they were new.  It is located at  Royal Desert Palms Court in Palm Springs.  Listed for $717,750. It sold for $1,670,000 in July of 2006.  Now I have to admit, I thought they were overpriced.  But I see opportunity at the $717,750 price.  Who knows in this market, but I see upside. I see that there are two offers on the property already. 

Our second property was another contemporary, a little bit dated, but great bones. Normal sale, I think. The property is located on Rim Road in Palm Springs. This is in Araby. It is located down the hill from Bob Hope's famous house. This one is another circular home.  Designed by noted Palm Springs architect, James Cioffi .  The kitchen is the center of this home. Big piece of property. Offered for $859,000. Really interesting home.  Another bust with my clients, but not as big as the first. 

They ending up offering on a Tuscan style in a development in the south Palm Canyon area called Monte Sereno.  It's a short sale.  I'll write another blog about short sales later.  This house is spectacular.  Great views.  Wonderful outdoor kitchen.  Fantastic pool, spa and water feature.  I like any architecture with a point of view.  This home has it. The risk is a development with 1/3 of the homes up or partially up.  Who knows what the future holds?

Back to my first set of clients, I met them at the home on Royal Desert Palms Court.  They loved it, but it is above their price range.  Made the DHS house look like a deal.  We will see where that leads.

Another contemporary that I came across while updating my website was on Birkdale Circle in Stone Ridge Estates, Mission Hills Country Club in Rancho Mirage.  I love this street.  Huge green space in the middle of the street with putting greens.  Contemporary homes on a golf course.  Big mountain views. I just pulled it up on Zillow.com.  Huge price drops in this neighborhood.  Last time I showed there - $1,000,000 and up. Hard to find one valued over a million now. You should look at this neighborhood.

I took a look at my foreclosure lists and couldn't find a Pamilla listing in La Quinta.  Well the problem was I was looking too high in price.  This is my favorite development in the desert.  The style is desert contemporary.  Before I became a realtor and lived in Thousand Oaks, my partner and I came out a dozen times to look at this development.  The market was hot, the staff there was not.  If they had returned our calls, responded to our registration, we would have bought one.  Alas they did not.  Oh well, I guess that was to our advantage, there is a bank owned property there for $564,900.  That's a lower price than when we were looking there 4 years ago. Take a look at the links.  Bottom line, there are deals out there.  They all seem to be getting multiple offers, the market is changing.  Don't miss this opportunity. I have a number of doom and gloom clients, I think the market is passing you by.

Alvin Greenwalt Ca DRE License 01715823