Buying a Home in Palm Springs

Los Angels real estate today revolves around escape. Here are homes for sale in Palm Springs, California
PALM SPRINGS HOMES FOR SALE | CATHEDRAL CITY | UNLISTED HOMESShow more

There are no lofts in Palm Springs. It’s the land of single family homes, hotels and resorts that offer a popular refuge from the big city and cookie-cutter suburbs of Los Angeles. A few tiny homes speckle the desert, but they tend to heat up too fast in the extreme climate.

The first thing to be aware of when considering the purchase of a home in the Palm Springs area is the wind. There’s a reason why the area is home to many large windmills. It’s a wind tunnel. Fall, winter and spring bring very substantial windy conditions and wind storms that can blow like a sand blaster. When the wind blows from the southeast, a few times a year, Palm Springs gets a big whiff of the Salton Sea, with essence of sea salt and dead fish. Chances are that you already know that the area is a desert with summer temperatures sometimes rising above the 120 degrees Fahrenheit. That’s hot enough to burn your hand when you touch a door knob or car seat, and hot enough to hemorrhage cheap car tires.

Palm Springs contains a variety of neighborhoods. The nature of these neighborhoods can change block to block, house to house. | Blog Video

Most homes in the area were built in waves, eras of time during the 1900s. This can be observed as bad plumbing problems in many of the houses built in the 1920s. When looking at homes of his period, always ask about electrical and plumbing issues. For 1970s construction, home buyers often find that they need to replace all of the windows.

This region is subject to flash floods. Some properties require a french drain to prevent briskly moving storm flows or accumulated ground water from intruding into the house.

Another unique facet of Palm Springs real estate is Native American ownership of much of the land — Indian land, which contains homes for sale on leased land, checkered throughout the area. Prospective home buyers must check to see if the land is leased land, or fee simple land, which means that the owner actually gets to own the land.

For those who would like to buy a house to rent out for retirement income, be aware that many landlords who attempt to make money from PS properties find that they do not make enough money. It’s not a cash cow for most. It takes knowledge and experience to make a profit from Palm Springs income properties and short term rental properties.

Some say that now is not a good time to buy a rental income property because short term tenants trash the house. They come in to party, and leave. Prospective home buyers looking at properties and neighborhoods to find that it is quiet on weekdays, but then the noisy parties erupt on weekends. Property damage and neighbor complaints are some reasons why renting out a house is not always extremely profitable.

Families in the area may find that resources are limited for parents with kids. Many of Palm Springs residents are mature singles and retirees with no kids.

Courtesy Savage Gallery
For many homes that are flipped and staged, the new landscaping plants are mostly dead by August. Palm Springs is known for artists, who also come and go. They arrive here and don’t always do well. A few artists do quite well, such as the Savage Gallery. This most successful diversified artist and gallery has been selling artworks and furnishings to repeat clients, cranking out diligently with a uniquely aggressive energy and distinctive style. Savage stands out as the zestful, spirited sprite in a crowd of mostly retiring artists who are largely to be found loafing amid slackened motivation.

While many tourists and visitors enjoy shopping, swimming, hiking and biking, the long-term folks have other ideas. For many Palm Springs residents, sitting, relaxing and enjoying cocktails is the name of the game. Now, more than ever before, people go to Palm Springs to get away from it all.

Artist Brother Andy, who has flipped several homes in the area, warns about the extreme wind tunnel effect of the topography. High winds cannot be seen in photos, and the blowing comes out of nowhere, weeks or months after home buyers close escrow. Other nearby neighborhoods include Cathedral City, Rancho Mirage, Thousand Palms, Palm Desert, Indio, LaQuinta and Coachella.

Get a free list of Palm Springs homes that are not on the internet, pocket listings and coming soon properties in your favorite neighborhoods. Fill out the online form:

PALM SPRINGS HOMES FOR SALE | CATHEDRAL CITY | UNLISTED HOMES

Contributing author Artist Brother Andy
Copyright © This free information provided courtesy L.A. Loft Blog with information provided by Corey Chambers, Realty Source Inc, BRE 01889449. We are not associated with the seller, homeowner’s association or developer. For more information, contact 213-880-9910 or visit LALoftBlog.com Licensed in California. All information provided is deemed reliable but is not guaranteed and should be independently verified. Properties subject to prior sale or rental. This is not a solicitation if buyer or seller is already under contract with another broker.