WELCOME TO THE DESERT REAL ESTATE SITE

for Palm Springs, Cathedral City, Rancho Mirage, Palm Desert, Indian Wells, Bermuda Dunes,
La Quinta, Indio, Desert Hot Springs, and the rest of the Coachella Valley

Whether you are new to the area and have just felt the spark that comes with seeing your first desert sunset, or if you are looking to make a move within the desert area, count on Wayne to be your guide.  The value he puts on that personal connection will make a difference in your next move. 

NEW - Foreclosure Properties - Click on "Bank Owned" tab above

Updated May 1st. The list contains onbly 316 homes compared to 291 a month ago, showing a lot of buyers.

2008 - BUY NOW?

This is a Buyer's market - no doubt about that, but should you buy now?  Here are some reasons it may be a good idea.

1. Interest rates are still around 6% for a 30 year fixed - this is what started the last housing boom, and it should shorten this decline

2. Speculators are out or getting out of the market - this means more stable prices

3. Builders have pulled back so their influence on excess inventory will decrease

4. We are coming into our peak season which historically sees sales numbers and price increases, so the bargains out there will be sold

5. The feds are talking about increasing the value of federally insured home loans, another market stimulus

6. Although sub-prime defaults will continue for awhile, there are areas  here with fewer than in many other areas, and the effects of them are being addressed by goverments and business.  See the list of "Bank Owned" on this site.  If you like I can update this and send you short sales too.

7. There has been a median price contraction of 19%*.  Experts say a 25% contraction is required.  Some individual sales have met that   *CAR Palm Springs area sales March 2006 to November 2007.

So this may be a good time to buy if you can find what you want - and that's easier now than it will be in the future. There are some good deals around now.

Sell Now?

Yes, if you have a home in the Valley and you want to buy up!  If you bought in 2004 or earlier, you can sell and make a gain and buy that place you wanted but the price was always too high.   It may be at a price you like now.

CANADIANS: take advantage of your high dollar!

An Example: the average Sun City Palm Desert sale last year at this time for a 2 BR home was $245 USD/Sq Ft; this year sales are at $215/Sq Ft. Last year at this time the dollar traded at 1.13, and this year at 0.95.  Putting this together you will pay 26% less in Canadian dollars than last year for a 2 BR 1750 Sq Ft home in Sun City.  Prices may fall a bit more, but so might the loonie, so you may want to lock in soon. This graph shows you can buy now for what you would have paid five years ago!.

CAD update:  the loonie is around par, but it is historically very good, in the long term it could get worse.  Barrons says the lower limit is potentially the PPP value of about .80 USD as determined by the OECD.  A US investment is a good currency hedge, especially one you can use in the winter!

BUY HERE WITH CONFIDENCE

(why we're better than Arizona, Florida, Nevada, ........)

-  we are a two hour drive or less from Southern California's population, entertainment, business, medical and educational centers.  There is a huge pool of second and retirement home buyers.  There's always a market, and great places to go  - this is a strong population, business, agriculture and tourist growth area in itself

- this is a destination location where people come to holiday, and you can come to live.  Especially now with lower home prices.

- the Coachella Valley sits on an aquifer that can supply the population with water for generations - practically drought proof! 

- we have envious weather all year round, if you don't mind a bit of summer heat

- there are about 150 golf courses in the Valley's approx. 150 square miles of developed land - golfer's heaven

- the population is small and spread out enough to maintain a small town atmosphere, but large enough to have world class amenities

- Proposition 13

A purchase now at the right price would be a very good decision

This area is a must-see if you are looking at the Best Place to Retire

A Word About Tarbell Realtors

Tarbell is the largest family owned agency in Southern California, with dozens of offices, and has been in business for over 60 years.  It is NOT a franchise operation, so our responsibility to you continues even should our office close.

Buying Title Insurance?

MOVING?

If you are ready to do a long distance move, please check out this site.  I will when I move http://www.moveadvocate.com/ 

This is the only where you will get the real details on recently "Sold" Palm Desert properties.  Click Recent Palm Desert Sales to  show every Palm Desert MLS sale for the past month.  If you want more detailed sales information on these neighborhoods or any other Valley community, just ask Wayne.  mailto:wayne@waynelongman.com   or call direct (760) 413-4114.

   Get more info on all Desert Area MLS "For Sale" listings than you can from Realtor.com  Here

  Get immediate and anonymous comps from Here  (New!  and more accurate than Zillow)

Canadian   eh?