Why has the Bob Hope Classic remained a PGA Tour and Palm Springs area favorite for over 50 years? When you combine championship golf courses, hot celebrities & sports legends, movie stars, amazing sunny warm climate, top PGA players, and the great town of La Quinta... you have a recipe for a timeless and enduring Classic event!   09/20/2010

Palmer's Restaurant in La Quinta  Welcomes You Back Welcome back to La Quinta this season and come taste the good life at Arnold Palmer's Restaurant! Experience their friendly atmosphere and  award-winning American cuisine served in a private club setting. This one-of-a-kind restaurant not only offers both indoor and outdoor dining , but also a putting green out back for a fun time before or after dinner. The dining rooms are filled with historic photos and personal items from Arnold Palmer's notable golf career and guests can also enjoy the exciting bar area known as Arnie's Pub, with live entertainment nightly!  There is also seating outside with beautiful mountain and sunset views on a relaxing patio...next to a cozy fire pit. Palmer's closed for a short time this summer and made a f... 09/20/2010

Andalusia at Coral Mountain, La Quinta, CA One of La Quinta's finest developments, Andalusia at Coral Mountain offers luxury golf course homes and exquisite Santa Rosa mountain views like no others in South La Quinta. Search Homes for Sale in Andalusia. From the entrance of Andalusia, a series of arches with a Mediterranean style, to the world-class amenities of the pool and spa, racquet club, and restaurant, Andalusia guides homeowners to a new world of tranquility all inspired by the distinctive architecture and lifestyle of Spain's Andalusia region.     Andalusia offers 18 combinations of floor plans ranging from 2750 square feet to more than 5000 square feet. Most homes feature elegant courtyards, wrought iron, covered patios, open great rooms and 12-foot sliding glass doors. Price ... 09/19/2010

Every year the state requires testing of all students to determine how the school is performing.  The results for the Academic Performance Index score range between 200 and 1000.  The state of California wants all schools to be ranked with an API of 800 or higher.  Many school districts are struggling with this score and are trying to find new ways to help students learn. La Quinta High School however seems to have it all under control.  The La Quinta High Blackhawks not only scored 815, but they also now hold the title of the best performing high school in the valley, based on these tests! Way to go Blackhawks! 09/16/2010

Short Sale Scams are coming... Short Sale Flopping; the next scam???  My cousin just sent me an article from the Modesto Bee talking about their Valley's problems with this new scam.  I have been working Short Sales for years now; long before it was popular.  I am just hearing of this scam recently.  Beware of your Loan Mod advisors, Realtors or other connections, telling you they are "experts in Short Sales", when they have only been working them very recently. (Courtesy of the L.A. Times )      "Short Sale Flopping.."  Bold comments are me! A flop works the opposite of a flip. Rather than inflate the value of the house, they deflate it so the lender will permit the borrower to sell the place for far less than what it's worth. Then the buyer or realty broker, who is often part of the ... 09/16/2010

The Bob Hope Classic is accepting applications for Classic Girls for th 2011 PGA Tour Event, to be held Jan 17-23.     The tradition dates back to 1960 when long-time Classic public relations director Cliff Brown developed the idea of having a Classic Queen to help promote the fledgling tournament. Among the earliest queens were such stars as Debbie Reynolds, Ann Blyth, Jane Powell, Donna Douglas and Jill St. John. In 1968 (and for the following seven years), the Classic had a Queen plus three Classic girls, making up the Queen’s court. Queens during that era included Barbara Eden, singer Gloria Loring and “Wonder Woman” Linda Carter. Three Classic girls have been our ambassadors since 1976. Each year, dozens of young ladies apply to be Classic Girls and three are selected based on thei... 09/15/2010

Looking for a Lease in La Quinta? Leasing Options in La Quinta! There are many leasing options available in La Quinta– gated, furnished, or un-furnished, private pools, or community pools, on the golf course or completely private.  We have homes in all price ranges– some for seasonal lease and others available for annual lease.  If you have a specific Country Club or area in mind-- even better! Come enjoy the wonderful weather, amazing views and all the Coachella Valley has to offer!  Give me a call and we will find your desert getaway! 09/10/2010

Enjoy the casual and relaxing lifestyle of this golf community. This spacious two bedroom, two bathroom condominium with beautiful views visible from the moment you enter the front door is located in the prestigious community of PGA West in La Quinta.     AccentPositives provides effective and economical Home Staging Consultations on site and on line. We are located in Corona and service the Inland Empire of Southern California and the Palm Springs area. Call 951 833 8529 or email staging@accentpositives.com. Visit www.accentpositives.com and www.accentingspaces.com.       09/08/2010

_____________________________________________________________Sip, See and Savor at Old Town Cellar!                 Tuesday, September 7, 20105 p.m. to 7 p.m. La Quinta Arts Foundation presents a series of artists creating intimate galleries at Old Town Cellar throughout the summer months.  The final gallery in this series will be set for four weeks, beginning Tuesday, September 7.  You are invited to stop by anytime to enjoy a glass of your favorite wine, a nosh, and take in the incredible art for sale. Join us at a reception on September 7 to meet the artists and representatives from the winery and enjoy complimentary wine tasting and tasty nibbles. Tuesday, September 7 - 5 p.m. to 7 p.m.Artists: Joanne Casey, Mixed Media & Leslee Adams, PainterWine: Rutherford Ranch WineryNibbles: Ho... 09/05/2010

I have heard many statistics about the number of days of sunshine in the Palm Springs area... over 350 is probably the most accurate!   We are blessed with so many ☼ sunny days ☼, that sometime we welcome the occasional cloud, or the rare thunderstorm!  To get a glimpse of today, August 28th, in La Quinta-- check out the short video below!  Enjoy!     08/31/2010

Free Moonlight Movie on the Lawn in Old Town La Quinta"School of Rock" Friday, September 3, 2010                                             Movie starts at dusk (Approximately 8 p.m.) What could be better than an evening under the stars in Old Town La Quinta?Bring a blanket, your family and friends and enjoy a free movie under the stars on the Old Town La Quinta Lawn.Come early and have dinner at one of Old Town's restaurants before the show - or order your food to-go and enjoy your meal with the movie! Old Town Artisan Studio will provide a free kids activity near Old Town Coffee Company starting at 7 p.m.  Children under age 13 must be supervised. About the movie:  The main plot in this musical comedy centers around hard rock singer and guitarist, Dewey Finn (portrayed by Jack Black)... 08/25/2010

Old Town La Quinta Summer Events "Studio After Dark" at Old Town Artisan Studio  Thursday, August 26, 20106 p.m. to 8 pm."Studio After Dark" featuring wine and cheese, great music and creativity will continue on select Thursdays throughout the summer. The next event will be Girls Night Out on Thursday, August 26 from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m.  Make fused glass bracelets and pendants, enjoy refreshments, share some girl time and a special display by a local artist. Cost is $30, inclusive. Email: info@otartisan.com or call 760-777-1444 today to reserve your spot for this fun event! 08/25/2010

  The Sun may be shining for deficiency protection!   SB1178:  Anti-deficiency Protections for Homeowners.. Hoping that the Gov signs this one.  Not asking for ALL homeowners who took out equity from their homes to have this protection.  What this bill will do is extend the anti-deficiency protection to Primary Homeowners who refinanced their original purchase money loans.  When Owners refinanced to get a better interest rate, lenders did not tell them that the protection is lost if they eventually lose their home to Foreclosure or Short Sale.  This is on Primary Residences only.  As it stands now, the Lender can not only take their home, but can also  pursue them personally for the difference between the current value of the property and the new mortgage balance.  This was unfair to al... 08/25/2010

INVESTORS RETURN TO TAKE OVER ABANDONED PROJECTS             A Paradiso model home by architect Jim Cioffi is seen in Palm Springs. Developers and investors are looking into finishing distressed developments. (Desert Sun file photo) We are pleased to see investors returning... and bringing an influx of funds and hope for the residents living in and near Indio, Coachella, and La Quinta! Within the past six months, though, Coachella officials have noticed interest from new investors and developers looking to finish partially completed subdivisions. Of 11 “distressed” tracts, about six are showing movement, said Coachella Mayor Eduardo Garcia. The marketplace isn't what was three years ago when customers wanted homes as large as 3,000 square feet.What developers are now proposing are more ... 08/22/2010

Tell your Realtor "no" and set your boundaries.. The Power of "No."  I had an experience yesterday that set me on my heels.  Not because it was bad, but because it happened in the course of something entirely unrelated to real estate and Short Sales, yet reminded me of something essential to the business...the power of "No."  I'm in Modesto visiting my most important and loved cousins, Lynn and Dave.  We had agreed to pick up two great friends of theirs and all go out to the paintball field to play.  My nephew, Rich Telford, is well known in the paintball world and owns a field so we had an "in" and couldn't pass it up... When we arrived at our friends' home to pick them up, Lynn and I sat in our car waiting to see who would need a ride, or who wanted to follow or whatever.  Tammy appr... 08/22/2010

Short Sales can be winners.. Short Sales...are they worth the wait???  I submitted two offers on the part of my Buyers the past couple days, for Short Sales.  Both have been hunting for quite awhile and are quite educated about the short sale process and what is REALLY involved.  They have been watching the market, have submitted past offers and missed out, are not in a hurry, are not emotionally attached to the property, but strictly speaking...."want a great deal!"  Short Sales are still, often priced lower/sf than any other homes in the neighborhood.  That's what drives the offers.  If you've been around in the Short Sale business as long as I have however, you KNOW that with the lower price/sf comes alot of excess baggage.  The price may not be worth the hassle for many, many buyer... 08/20/2010

More and more investors are buying foreclosed properties at auction..they aren't waiting for that clear title and inspections..just buying and trying to turn a profit quick.Here's the California state law extending the notice you MUST serve the tenants upon acquisition of your new foreclosed property....http://tinyurl.com/2az48cgFantastic information.  Just had this happen to me!  Working with some investors and we thought the condo was vacant..wrong!  The tenant's are actually buying the condo from the investors, but I learned that it can take MANY months to evict..longer than I had understood.  If they hire an attorney, watch out, even the 90 day notice could be extended into another 90 days.. 08/18/2010

With the economy keeping alot of us on our toes and having to stretch our money, here is something fun to do..  Cooking with Class located  at 47-875 Caleo Bay Drive in La Quinta, Ca is holding a wine tasting event on Sept 18th from 4-6 pm. For only $5 bucks you can come out and sample 5 different California wines.  Come out and support our community business as well as the economy, all well having a glass of wine.....  Life is what we make it right?    CHEERS!     08/18/2010

We finally got the team all together for a new group picture!  What an amazing froup of talented agents all on the team!  Not only top notch agents but like a family as well!  I love having a team!!!!!!!!!!! 08/16/2010

Can the second lien holder hold you hostage in your Short Sale? Yes... This is the hardest part of getting a Short Sale closed..getting the second lien holders to release their liens so the homeowner is not forced into Foreclosure.  They don't care about the primary lien holder, but since our Big Banks are the "servicers" of the secondary liens (HELOC's, Refi's), they can put the brakes on the Short Sale process entirely! If the Seller is able to pay something towards the 2nd, some cash, cash and a promissory note, why not negotiate it down in the Short Sale??  It makes sense since the "servicing Lender" would savea themselves the cost to pursue the deficiency after Foreclosure, and make some $ on the note NOW!  But, that is where the logic stops..they would rather collect servicing fee... 08/16/2010