I got a call yesterday from a man who is going to the court house steps and buying homes.  It seems the banks are now not buying the homes as much themselves. This man says in most cases as long as there is someone on the courthouse steps bidding on the home, the bank representative is letting them have it. Now this does save the bank money, but on our side it is driving down the price of homes in our market. One example is a home we sold on short sale for $165,000 and the sale did not go through as the bank said the home appraised for more. Neither the buyer or seller would bring money to the table so the home went to trustee sale. This man bought the home on the steps for $144,000. The bank did save the cost of the fixup and repair of the home, more downtime to resell, and the real es... 11/05/2009

HK Lane Real Estate co...the Fastest Growing in the Desert!  We've only been in business since July 1, 2009 and already we are 71 agents strong!  September saw 19 sales and October's last count was at 34 sales..this is unbelievable for a new Company.  "New" of course, is relevant.  Our CEO, Harvey Katofsky, and our Broker, Ron Gerlich, have between them about 30 years of real estate experience here in the desert area..so "new", they're NOT!HK Lane Real Estate Co., is opening a new office in Old Town La Quinta, (I'll be working out of this one), and it is fantastic!  Located in 3 suites across the Old Town Promenade from Devane's new restaurant venture, Viva!, it's perfectly situated for lots of traffic and exposure.  It is such a kick to be affiliated with a fun group that is as driven ... 11/05/2009

I am getting it all connected-- and once you do your work becomes easier.  Once you are connected-- your blogs, or tweets, or other content is shared thru all the networks and reaches the maximum number of poeple.  Now, all we have to do is come up with good, interesting content, be honest, and share with our clients, friends, family and fans.  Easy peasy.  And every once in a while... write a letter!  We are so lucky to be living in a time when we have so many tools available to us!  Stay connected-- get connected! 11/04/2009

La Quinta has so much to offer its residents and visitors alike.  Here is just another thing that The La Quinta Museum is offering. "On Earth To Stay" is a new exhibit in the Historical Lecture Series.  Alice Kotzen, an expert on Native American crafts, basketry and foods will be sharing with us the importance of native palms in the lives of our native desert people. This is a hands on experience and there will be so much to learn and appreciate.  Be sure to reserve your spot early as this is a free event.  &60-777-7170 Sat Nove 7th 10-2 La Quinta Museum 11/04/2009

The City of La Quinta and Helix Disc Golf have joined together to host this free day of fun.  Come out and play a round of Disc Golf with prizes and games.  Sunday Nov 22, 2009 from 10 am to 12 noonish.  This will take place at our beautiful La Quinta Civic center Park on Calle Tampico. This an event the whole family can enjoy together!  All ages welcome! The City of La Quinta always has something fun to do!   11/04/2009

The Coachella Valley Chapter of California Women for Agriculture is hosting a guided tour of the agricultural industry here in the Coachella Valley.  The tour is $50 per person and includes a guided luxury bus, narrated tour guide, lunch and fresh produce grown right here in our valley.  The bus will leave The La Quinta Museum at 8am and return at 3pm.  The La Quinta Museum is located at 77-885 Calle Montezuma. Enjoy the day learning about our local farming community, enjoy lunch in a date garden and learn about the worries of Coachella Valley Farmers. What a way to spend the day, learning and having fun.  If you need more info you can reach the La Quinta Museum at 760-564-1283 11/04/2009

I have been doing extensive research on our MLS this morning for homes in the $150,000- $250,000 price range in Indio and La Quinta. It seems homes in most of the lower price ranges are falling at least 5% and in many cases 10% since last week when I was showing homes. There seems to be more homes available. Not many that were for sale have gone into pending. This may be a function of time of year, loss of $8000 credit, and  higher interest rates. This is more good news for buyers in this price range. Boy, do they have it all- lots of homes to choose from- even more this week than last week and very nice homes, lower prices, and time to make a good choice before someone else grabs the home. It looks like we as agents are in a good position to sell lots of homes as our season approaches.... 11/04/2009

Golf Carts in the La Quinta Cove..Zipping Idea!!   What a great idea and one that Cove residents have been waiting on for a long time.  Looks like we may know by December 1..speed limit of 15 mph sounds about right.  There is a 7.2 mile biking/hiking/walking path around the cove and there shouldn't be a problem with carts sharing it.  I just love the idea of zipping down the hill from the La Quinta Cove, straight to Old Town.  Much easier to navigate back home with your fresh vegetables from the Sunday Farmer's Market, catching Art Under The Umbrella's or even sipping a glass of wine at the Wine Bar, Devane's, or Palmer's.  One could even take their pet in for their check up at Kathy's old town Vet bldg.  Oh..and don't forget the Museum!I like this idea and I think it provides opportuni... 11/03/2009

I live near Old Town La Quinta, and work in Old Town La Quinta, and love to shop, eat, drink and play there!  This part of the desert  is becoming a destination to rival the old Palm Springs, the foot traffic of El Paseo, the dining of the old restaurant row in Rancho Mirage--- Old Town La Quinta has charm and community.  Young people are finding it and making it a vibrant place--- and the locals are supporting it.  I love Old Town-- and the people we meet there.  From the Old Town Cellar to Devane's and Hog 's Breath... Palmers, Stuft Pizza, Solano Bistro, and all the other merchants! 11/03/2009

Open Houses Should Be FUN!!!  I just do not understand Agents that sit Open Houses and don't make it fun..both for themselves and for the agents or clients or looky-loo's who take the time to stop by.  What a great opportunity we, the Open House Agents, are missing here..Some ideas to consider for your next Open House. Attach balloons to your signs.  Hoist flags..movement is interesting! Open those Front Doors..INVITE people in. Bowl of colorful candy along side your Property Brochures. Personalized pens sitting next to your Sing-In book. All lights on, soft music playing and GREAT SMELLS.  Cinnamon sticks are good..anything to keep "stale" out of the air. Have area comps available and KNOW them. Most importantly of all, do NOT sit there as people enter your home.  GET UP!  I don't pers... 11/03/2009

I have just begun the e-pro class and have found most of the material very familiar--- With any web experience at all you can breeze through the first module.  But I have found some good ideas to put to use-- that I had'nt used before.  One of the ideas involves creating a domain with your property address:  eg.  123missiondrive.schoweproperties.com, that sends your clients and prospects directly to the specific page on your site for more info on the property.  To take this idea further-- I have created business cards that have a picture of my listing and the web address of my site and specific location for that property.  This particular property has prominent owners who are much more likely to pass out cards that have their own property on them-- than, say, my own business card.  This... 11/02/2009

If you are a local to our desert, you know that Marthas Village & Kitchen is a huge part of helping out the less fortunate in our Coachella Valley.  So here is the perfect opportunity to show our gratitude for what we do have and the blessings we have been given even in this tough year.  Date Thursday, November 26, 2009 @ 8:00 AM local time Address La Quinta Park79255 Westward Ho Drive Brief Description Help Martha's Village & Kitchen provide over 500,000 meals this year. You can help change the lives of your neighbors in need. Register or contribute today. Date November 26, 2009 Time 8:00 am Address 79255 Westward Ho Drive La Quinta, CA 92253 Fees Ages 13 & above: $25.00 through 11 /15, $30.00 after 11/15. Ages 6-12: $15.00 through 11/15, $20.00 after 11/15. Age 5 and under: Free!Dogs ... 11/02/2009

 Now that Halloween is over, Thanksgiving is right around the corner.  So I thought being it is November already, its time to think about Turkey Dinner.  There is an amazing place here in La QUinta, called Cooking With Class, which will teach you everything you ever wanted to learn about cooking and more.  So if you are making your first Turkey Dinner or just want to add a flair to your usual spread, check this place out.....Sure to be a hit....  Open for retail sales and walk in business Monday through Saturday - 10:30am to 5:30pm, unless a day class is in progress (typically Mondays and Tuesdays). Most evenings' we are closed for classes. Saturdays are available exclusively for Private Events. We are occasionally open on Sundays - please call first 760-777-1161.   Their address is:478... 11/02/2009

Nov 6th from 5-7 pm at the La Quinta museum is a night to attend Southern California Bird Singers perform traditional songs of our native Desert Cahuilla Indians.. Artist David Salk and  resident Dennis Wharton James, descendant of George Wharton James will also be there. Come out and experience what the natives knew about this beautiful valley, long before we existed. This exhibit presented by the La Quinta Arts Foundation and the La Quinta 11/02/2009

Well, I heard it hear first! That is saying something--- Sunday morning and an Active Rain blog notified me via auto featured blog e-mail--- that Google Maps was now featuring a Real Estate finding application. It is amazing! I checked to see if my listings in the La Quinta area showed up---- and they did! By using Postlets -- they were automatically fed to google maps--- There is also a share and embed option that I have added to my blog-- for whatever region you want to map. If you click on the map or zoom-- It automatically updates! Here is what our area of La Quinta, California looks like! View Larger Map 11/01/2009

As a member and homeowner in the La Quinta Country Club community we have waited over 3 years for the opening of our new Clubhouse-- Our old Clubhouse had been damaged by earthquake activity-- and we have been making do in temp facilites for a long time! Tents, trailers, mobile pods... you name it! But our wait has been worth it! To provide updates and as marketing tool for the residents here, I have recorded many videos of the property and the clubhouse to send out to fellow residents and members--- I have gotten many favorable e-mails and traffic to my site this way-- Check out the new Clubhouse--- and let me know what you think! 10/31/2009

I used to be a music fanatic--- and spent so much time downloading and burning and uploading to my ipod-- now I have become a social media and marketing nut- and spend alot more time working on my site-- livethedesertlife.com and keeping current with new and interesting stuff on the web! I found this embeddable player-- so I can share my latest favorites on my site and thru facebook and twitter-- check it out and see what's hot right now in desert music! MySpace Music Playlist at MixPod.com 10/31/2009

Palm Springs Follies..What a Show!!!  Just because I live in La Quinta doesn't mean I don't head into Palm Springs for some good night life once in awhile and today it was day life!  Took my mom to see the Matinee of the Palm Springs Follies.  What a great time.  Sounds kind of creepy I know..dancers in their 80's (60's and up), but I am here to attest to the fact that these guys and gals are jumping around up there in one professional production number after another.  It feels like Vegas..and I am not exagerating.  You have to understand that I couldn't do it..there will be no tap dance lessons and poundage dropping here, but these are ALL professional dancers and singers..they've all got resumes that kick ***!The oldest gal is 86 and the oldest man is 80.  I was with my mom and there ... 10/30/2009

I read a post from Shirley Parks about the top costumes for Halloween this year--- I must be out of touch, because I did'nt recognize most of them.... When I was a kid-- I picked the costume I could run the fastest in! That way I could cover more ground and come home with the MAX candy! I did'nt really care if I was spooky or cute... it was all about that pillow case full of loot! As long as I could wear my sneakers and wasn't covered in cardboard or wearing a dress.... I was happy! Wishing you a HAPPY HALLOWEEN and hope you come home with a full bag! p.s. Think I'll be a kitty this year! ( a fast one!) 10/29/2009

I have been working to get noticed online-- blogging, facebook, twitter, activerain, etc... I also have a Point2 web=site-- schoweproperties.com, to promote my listings and real estate services.  But where I am having my real fun is my secondary site-- livethedesertlife.com..... This site is for promoting life here in the desert-- and includes local events, golf news, dining, late=nite stuff,real estate, our country club news, etc.... I don't know if I will get business from this site--- but I sure am having fun working on it and posting videos, podcasts, and super current info--  Let me know if any of you are doing 2 sites--- and if it has impacted your business!  Kathy 10/29/2009