Blog Entries

Very Cool

info@scottandjimhomes.com — Mon, 30 Aug 2010 00:00:00 +0100

We talked with a colleague in the Pacific Northwest the other day and she said there's a hint of Fall in the air! Fall! Imagine!

Here in the desert, if you're looking for a cool way to cool down, check out the last two FREE films in the Palm Springs Art Museum's Free Summer Film Series.

Thursday, September 2 at 5:30 is the 1956 Hitchcock classic, The Man Who Knew Too [...]

The Buzz on the Buzz

info@scottandjimhomes.com — Wed, 25 Aug 2010 00:00:00 +0100

Talk about buzz! This week's gloomy news from the National Association of Realtors (NAR) was more of a roar! But wait...don't panic. Here's our Coachella Valley perspective.

In case you missed it, NAR released figures that sales were down in July by 27% nationwide. A drop in sales wasn't entirely unexpected, as the federal in [...]

Keep the Faith

info@scottandjimhomes.com — Mon, 23 Aug 2010 00:00:00 +0100

If you're in the market for a mortgage loan, the lender is now required to provide you with a Good Faith Estimate. Starting in 2010, the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) is enforcing a borrower-protection ruling that makes a distinction between good faith estimates and informal worksheets.

A loan officer may provide an initial quote on a worksheet, which may be titled something like "estimated settlement costs." But worksheets carry no consumer protection. They are n [...]

Get the Lead Out

info@scottandjimhomes.com — Thu, 19 Aug 2010 00:00:00 +0100

Here's a reminder to home owners (and buyers) of houses built before 1978.

Many of those houses were painted inside and out with paint that contained lead. Now the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has started enforcing a ruling that was actually passed in 2008 regarding renovations to such homes.

If renovations will [...]

Sellers: Love That Curb Appeal

info@scottandjimhomes.com — Fri, 13 Aug 2010 00:00:00 +0100

This isn't big news, but always worth repeating: ‘curb appeal' has the capacity to draw in potential buyers.

Many buyers look at properties from the seat of their car before they ever request a viewing. And what they see from that position implies something about what they're going to find inside. A manicured entry with a swept walk, healthy plants, mowed lawn, clean windows [...]

Buyers: Know What You’re Getting

info@scottandjimhomes.com — Tue, 10 Aug 2010 00:00:00 +0100

There's an acronym in the computer world - WYSIWYG (pronounced wizzy-wig) - that stands for What You See Is What You Get. While home buyers may be tempted to apply it to their purchase, WYSIWYG does not apply in the world of real estate!

The problem is what you don't see. While honest sellers would never attempt to [...]

How's Your Credit?

info@scottandjimhomes.com — Fri, 06 Aug 2010 00:00:00 +0100

Thanks to federal law, you can easily check your credit report for free. Even if you aren't looking for a loan or mortgage, it's a good way to make sure your record doesn't include any errors that could count against you in the future. You can see whether there are any accounts open that you don't know about, or if anyone you don't know has recently asked for a copy of your report; either of these might indicate suspicious activity.

These Summer Days and Nights

info@scottandjimhomes.com — Tue, 20 Jul 2010 00:00:00 +0100

Feeling the summer blahs? Of course you can stay cool in the pool, at the mall and at nightclubs, casinos, restaurants and shops throughout the Coachella Valley. But here are a few other ways to enjoy summer in the valley:

Wednesdays and Saturdays, 4-10pm, Indio Evening/Night Market at the Riverside County Fairgrounds. Fresh produce u [...]

You Are So Cool

info@scottandjimhomes.com — Fri, 16 Jul 2010 00:00:00 +0100

Summertime, sunshine and it's hot hot hot! If you're a long-time desert dweller, you probably have your stay-cool methods in place by now. But if you're a newcomer or a visitor, here are a few tips that might just save you a few bucks on air conditioning.
Drink lots of water. Water cools you from the inside out. And if you're [...]

But Can You Walk There?

info@scottandjimhomes.com — Tue, 13 Jul 2010 00:00:00 +0100

Just when you were ready to plunk down some cash on that snazzy hybrid, the Wall Street Journal comes out with an article on the latest trend in housing: walkability. Apparently buyers at both ends of the spectrum - retiring baby-boomers and their first-time-homebuyer children - are looking [...]

The Fine Art of Desert Living

info@scottandjimhomes.com — Fri, 09 Jul 2010 00:00:00 +0100

If Palm Springs living is about mid-century modern, this summer's exhibition at the Palm Springs Art Museum is about what you might call Century Modern. Modern Masters Celebrate Line and Form (June 26 through September 26) includes drawings, prints, sculptures and paintings by such renowned artists as [...]

First Tuesday Art, Wine & Snacks

info@scottandjimhomes.com — Mon, 05 Jul 2010 00:00:00 +0100

Join the La Quinta Arts Foundation on Tuesday of July 6, August 3 and September 7 as the Old Town Cellar features delicious art along with complimentary wine and treats. 5-7pm, 78015 Main Street, Suite 109 in Old Town La Quinta.

Interested in learning more about living in La Quinta? Visit our La Quinta p [...]

Super-Luxury Desert Estates

info@scottandjimhomes.com — Mon, 05 Jul 2010 00:00:00 +0100

The super-luxury segment of the Coachella Valley market - estate properties priced $2.51-$9.0 million - is selling at exactly the same pace this year as last. The good news is that the price per square foot in this market segment has increased by 11% over the same period in 2009. Similar to luxury home sales, about 89% of super-luxury properties sell in all-cash transactions.

Our two favorite [...]

The Luxury Market at Mid-Year

info@scottandjimhomes.com — Thu, 01 Jul 2010 00:00:00 +0100

The Coachella Valley - the low desert region around Palm Springs in Southern California - has a substantial luxury market comprised of homes priced between $1.5 and $2.5 million.

The Desert Area MLS reports that this segment of the market experienced a year-over-year 49% increase in sales Valley-wide, January-June. Some 87% of these luxury-segment properties sell in all-cash transactions!

To see printed reports from the Desert Area MLS, or to talk about selling or purchasing a luxury p [...]

Mid-Year Report: Entry-Level Homes

info@scottandjimhomes.com — Mon, 28 Jun 2010 00:00:00 +0100

Are you ready for some good news? We have it! What we call "entry level" homes here in Southern California's Coachella Valley - those priced $500,000 and below - are selling at a brisk pace. Our Windermere office is processing about 500 escrows a month compared to 200-300 during the same period in 2009.

Foreclosures and Short Sales are down substantially year-over-year. While they continue to apply some downward pressure on prices, they're having less of an effect than last year and [...]

Pool Covers Are Cool

info@scottandjimhomes.com — Tue, 22 Jun 2010 00:00:00 +0100

You look out the window and there's your sparkling swimming pool. It's an appealing part of the desert lifestyle, right? But did you know that without a pool cover, you might be throwing money away? Yes, the sun helps to heat the water in your pool, but, especially in our low-humidity desert environment, it also evaporates gallons and gallons of water every day - to say nothing of the sand, lea [...]

Great Loooking Shorts!

info@scottandjimhomes.com — Thu, 17 Jun 2010 00:00:00 +0100

June 22 - 28: here comes the 16th Annual Palm Springs International ShortFest! Screening more than 300 short films from over 40 countries, ShortFest also attracts film buyers, industry representatives and the press, who come to check out 2,700 films at the ShortFest Film Market. There's an Opening Night Gala on June 22 [...]