This Month In Real Estate

This Month the news covers the dramatic increase in First Time homebuyers in the market place.

KW Golf Classic Benefits Boys & Girls Club

Once again this year Keller Williams Realty is hosting a Charity Golf Classic in Support of the Boys and Girls Club of Cathedral City. The Club provides a structured safe environment for kids who otherwise may be on their own or without any adult supervision. Last year thousands of dollars were raised at the Golf Tournament for this worthy Charity. With your help we want to do it again this year.

Mark your Calendar for Monday the 15th of March 2010 at the beautiful Palm Valley Country Club in Palm Desert. Have a fun afternoon of golf, some great food and support a good cause all in one enjoyable day.

Registration and Check in is at 11:30am and there is a putting contest from 11:30-12:45 followed by the start of the tournament at 1pm.

Cocktails, awards and the dinner and auction start at 6pm. Entry in the tournament is just $149 and Dinner and drinks only tickets are $50.

If you would like to donate and auction item or even sponsor a hole please call Bruce at 760-408-6776. Click here for an entry application registration form.

Palm Springs CA Sales Stats January 2010

Palm Springs	January 2010
Houses Sold	63
Houses In Escrow	59
Houses Available	463
Condos Sold	40
Condos In Escrow	58
Condos Available	493
Notes:	4 homes over 1 million sold

Palm Springs entered the new year with a respectable showing. A slight inventory increase and mixed results in the pending category - more condos went into escrow than December but slightly fewer homes.  The most expensive home sold in Palm Springs was a 1.7 million dollar view estate in Las Palmas heights.  Overall there were 4 homes over a million dollars sold for the second straight month. 

To see more  million dollar homes in Palm Springs click here

January 2010 Sales Stats Palm Desert

Palm Desert California experienced a slower than expected start to the new year. We are seeing  such a high level of activity these numbers surprised me a bit. I attribute it to the fact that at the first of the year many people put their properties on the market - condo inventory went up by about 44 units - homes by 73 units.  The lower sales figures for homes I would attribute to buyers taking longer to make up their minds plus short sales really slow the system down taking three times as long, in most cases, as bank or regular sales.  Condo sales increased in total units from December.

Palm Desert	January 2010
Houses Sold	35
Houses In Escrow	49
Houses Available	443
Condos Sold	56
Condos In Escrow	49
Condos Available	533
Notes:	3 homes over 1 million sold

The most expensive home sold in Palm Desert so far this year was an eye popping $8,000,000 - 8,885 square foot property at Big Horn in South Palm Desert.  This beautiful country club frequently takes the award for most expensive home sold.

See more million dollar homes in South Palm Desert California

What Does The Home Of The Future Look Like?

What type of home do you want in the future?

This decade will see a full 25% of the US population over the age of 55. Current estimates have it that percentage households where the primary resident is over 55 will increase from the current average of 38% to 45% in the next decade. Homeownership by this demographic is the highest of any and is pegged at over 80%. Needless to say it is an important segment of the market.

While current economic realities have made downsizing a general trend – the list of wants and needs of the senior population is actually growing. Builders who want to appeal to this segment of the market need to tap into these needs as they prepare to build the next generation of homes.

With all the emphasis in recent years on high tech homes it is interesting to note that the majority of wish list items for senior buyers are for much more practical things. Home that feature single level living, large baths, wide doors and hallways and easy to use/read thermostats are on the list. Predictions are that as the baby boomers see their parents through this stage of their lives they will be making notes of the things that make life easier and looking for that in their future retirement homes.

It is not just the seniors looking for a change in what they want from their home. New trends are developing where flexible space and more casual living space is in demand by all age groups. Think about it, when was the last time you really had a use for a formal living room or dining room? Open, free flowing spaces are what it is all about. Another big change is the home office or study space. With the computer now a common household appliance a flexible space that can be used for this is highly desirable. The days of having to sacrifice a whole bedroom for a home office may soon be fading.

Outside more people are looking for outdoor living spaces and the traditional golf course communities may be threatened. Studies are starting to show more people looking for green space – bike paths, walking trails than golf course off limits to all but golfers.

Green homes or energy efficient homes are not yet highly in demand. Most consumers understand and will go for energy efficient appliances and windows and doors but there is not a large movement yet toward a demand for the more expensive “green” building technologies. I predict that these things will only catch on as the price comes down and the builders can incorporate it for the same or little extra as standard materials. Much like the first electric cars were strange oddities that we looked at at car shows. Now every automaker is falling into line with a mass market hybrid version to market.

Think about what you would change about your house you have now if you could. What new technologies would you want to see? What rooms would add/change or delete all together? What would make up your list of “must haves” and what would be a “could do without”? Interesting for sure!

Something for Everyone At The 64th Annual County Fair

The name actual says it all. The Riverside County Fair and National Date Festival has something for everyone. Sure to be unlike any other fair you are likely to have attended.

This event features everything from ostrich and camel races to a monster truck rally, to musical acts from Country music, Latin music and even Rock and Roll. Of course there are Dates and livestock and carnival rides, fun foods and all the other things you would expect to see at a county fair.

This year musical headliners include Graciela Beltran, Kansas , Night Ranger and Rodney Atkins. With many more acts scheduled during the ten day run of the Fair. Admission specials as low as five dollars make this an easy to attend event!

Held at the riverside county Fairgrounds right on Hwy 111 in Idio. Click on the logo to get the Fair website and get even more information.