(760) 861-0625 - http://www.YourDesertHomes.com Here's what is happening in the Palm Springs area real estate market in the last 24 hours. For more information about Palm Springs real estate, call Dave Watkowski at (760) 861-0625. DaveW@KW- Market Report as of Friday, 10-5-12 7:15 AM New Listings: 46 Back on the Market: 15 Went under Contract: 50 Sold: 37 Click here to see the newest listings for sale in Palm Springs. 10/05/2012

Congratulations to Mood Wine (Patrick Bartlett & Jake Stanford) for another enormously successful and fun event at Just Modern (our store and showroom in Palm Springs, California)          Pics courtesy of Jake Stanford - Mood Wine 10/04/2012

SHORT SALE HOUSE PALM SPRINGS CA If you are facing foreclosure and you can no longer afford your home, you may qualify for a Palm Springs CA Short Sale, even if you don't think you can or don't think your home can be sold in today's market. What is a Palm Springs CA Short Sale? A Palm Springs CA Short Sale, also known as a pre-foreclosure sale, is when you sell your Palm Springs home for less than the balance remaining on your mortgage. If your mortgage company agrees to a short sale, you can sell your Palm Springs CA home and pay off all (or a portion of) your mortgage balance with the proceeds. You may also be eligible for the government's Home Affordable Foreclosure Alternatives Program (HAFA) which offers incentives for sellers to complete a short sale. A Palm Springs CA Short Sale ... 10/03/2012

Wind Turbines in California....Beautiful and so Practical A wind turbine is a device that converts kinetic energy kinetic from the wind, also called wind energy into mechanical energy. This process is known as wind power. That is about as technical as I am going to get about this subject. I call them “windmills”. I love to see them when I go to the desert near Palm Springs, Rancho Mirage, La Quinta and Indio. Recently I saw that Rancho Cucamonga put one up near Etiwanda Avenue.   My guess they are here to stay as we are always trying to find ways to reduce the cost of electricity and alternatives for the future. There are few problems; fires with the old ones, sometimes one will collapse and they tend to kills birds flying at night into the blades which really upset the environmentalis... 10/02/2012

On Tuesday, September 25, 2012, Governor Jerry Brown of California signed into law SB 1474 giving the attorney general authority to impanel a statewide grand jury to investigate and issue indictments for alleged financial crimes, including mortgage fraud.  Also signed Tuesday was AB 1950 which extends from one to three years the legal statute of limitations for prosecuting mortgage-related crimes.  Lastly, also signed Tuesday was AB 2610 which provides guarantees to renters that they can stay longer in foreclosed properties purchased by new owners.Hopefully, we are getting closer to seeing this financial mess come to an end. On Wednesday, September 25, 2012, a new Housing Report was released indicating NEW Home Sales were up as well as Existing Home Sales and Home Prices. And those figu... 10/02/2012

(760) 861-0625 - http://www.YourDesertHomes.com Here's what is happening in the Palm Springs area real estate market in the last 24 hours. For more information about Palm Springs real estate, call Dave Watkowski at (760) 861-0625.  DaveW@KW- Market Report as of Tuesday, 10-2-12  8:44 AM  Wow! Busy day yesterday in Palm Springs real estate! Almost a hundred new listings!!! New Listings: 91 Back on the Market: 22 Went under Contract: 47 Sold: 34 Click here to see foreclosure bargains! 10/02/2012

Events in celebration of DOCOMOMO National Tour Day Double-Decker Architectural Bus Tours Palm Springs Modernism Week has expanded its reach by participating in the tour day for the International Working Party for the Documentation and Conservation of Buildings, Sites and Neighborhoods of the Modern Movement — Docomomo for short — and used the tie-in to promote the February event. Check in: Hilton Hotel, 400 E. Tahquitz Canyon Way, Palm Springs When: 1 p.m. Friday, 9 a.m. and 1 p.m. Oct. 6-7 and 9 a.m. Oct. 8 Tickets: $75 Details: Tours include St. Teresa Catholic Church, Twin Palms and Canyon View Estates neighborhoods and the Ship of the Desert house. Homes on the tour those owned by Frank Sinatra, Elvis Presley and Cary Grant. Information:modernismweek.com Modernism Week Cocktail Pa... 09/29/2012

(760) 861-0625 - http://www.YourDesertHomes.com Here's what is happening in the Palm Springs area real estate market in the last 24 hours. For more information about Palm Springs real estate, call Dave Watkowski at (760) 861-0625.  DaveW@KW- Market Report as of Thursday, 9-27-12 8:37 AM  A busy day in Palm Sprigs Real Estate! New Listings: 49 Back on the Market: 14 Went under Contract: 48 Sold: 33 See the most popular listings in Palm Springs here!   License #01455963 09/27/2012

I decided that I would do my homework today.  For both myself and my clients and people that read blogs and may be thinking about buying a vacation home or investment property here in the Palm Springs Valley of California.  It's fun to see those Department of Real Estate Charts and graphs.  The trends are not really trending at all..they are pretty much flat-lining here in the desert over the past year to 15 months.  That's exactly how it feels on the street too.. This is the Average for all desert cities.  Average Price/SF:  August of 2011 it was $129/sf and August of 2012 we are at $143/sf  Up about 11% Inventory:  We are at a rather shockingly low inventory build up of only 3.7 months!  Down 30% from 1 year ago. Average Days on Market:  This number of 100 days has remained consistent... 09/25/2012

Recently I’ve been working with a Cash Buyer who also happens to be a Realtor in another city. I was showing homes in the Palm Springs Desert Area of California in a city called Rancho Mirage.  She and her husband are SERIOUS BUYERS, but they are NOT STUPID and NAÏVE BUYERS. Here’s the problem I’ve recently encountered when looking at many of the homes currently on the market.   Many of the Homes Are Grossly Over-Priced and the Sellers Refuse to Price their Homes REALISTICALLY. They will only sell if they get THEIR PRICE, not the price the market is telling them their home is worth!   We saw (3) homes the buyers liked. All three homes were $50,000 to $90,000 over-priced and in each instance, after discussing this with the Listing Agent, each agent said they had shown their sellers what... 09/25/2012

Just Modern and Mood Wine present another exciting White Wine and Food Pairing Event Date: October 2, 2012 Time: 7:00 - 9:00pm Venue: 901 N Palm Canyon Drive #105, Palm Springs, CA 92262 RSVP Online 09/25/2012

The Palm Springs Valley has become one of the "Places to be" if you like watching films.  Foreign Films, Documentaries, up-coming Directors and actors..some of them local, can be sighted in the Valley.  It's an exciting time and an interesting and diverse thing to do here in the Valley. The city of Palm Springs alone offers six film festivals during the first six months of every year, plus Cinema Diverse: The Palm Springs Gay and Lesbian Film Festival, beginning its fifth edition Thursday. That’s not counting the valley’s many weekly film series. The Palm Springs International Film Society presents screenings at the Palm Springs Art Museum. The Mexican-American Pioneer Families Committee of the Coachella Valley Historical Museum is launching a five-week “2012 Film Festival” of Latino-th... 09/23/2012

Barbie and Ken Love Palm Springs!  "Palm Springs I Love You Barbie" and her escort Ken look right at home in Palm Springs!       Malibu is so ... last generation!                 Part-time Palm Springs resident and principal designer for Barbie Consumer Products at Mattel,  JimHolmes,  created the two dolls to complement a gallery exhibit of photos, “Barbie Does Palm Springs” by Steven Henke, at the Savage Gallery later next month.         When: Saturday, October 20, 2012 - Sunday, October 21, 2012; All Day Where: Savage Gallery, 870 Research Drive, Suite 1 Palm Springs CA 92262 Phone: 760-464-5978 More Info: https://www.facebook.com/events/242813569165456/ Contact: daveprmarketing@gmail.com     Barbie Does Palm Springs Photography by Steven Henke Savage Gallery, 870 Research Drive, Pal... 09/22/2012

I have received many calls over the years, from Agents that don't want to handle their clients' Short Sale Listings.  They call me because I've been doing them for over 4 years, am certified and darned good at getting them CLOSED here in the Palm Springs Valley of California.  I'm flattered.  Here's my own personal rule for referral fees for Short Sale Listings.. I do not pay referral fees unless the value of the property is at least $500,000.  That's it in a nutshell.  If it is, then I will do the standard 25% referral fee.  For less priced properties, if it's a relatively simple Short Sale Scenario, I may pay a small flat fee at close.  It does not pencil out, and we are all in this to make a living, right?  The Agents are often a bit shocked, and several have taken them to other agen... 09/18/2012

Unfortunately, I wasn’t able to publish this in enough time to give you all the details of the fair which was held September 5th in Sacramento, California.   Organizations around the world lose an estimated 5 percent of their annual revenues to fraud, according to a survey of fraud experts conducted by the Association of Certified Fraud Examiners (ACFE). It is against this backdrop that the ACFE urges organizations worldwide to participate in International Fraud Awareness Week, Nov. 11-17, 2012 to help cast a spotlight on this urgent problem.   It’s sad when we need to attend Fraud Awareness Fairs in order to become more aware of all the cons and scams increasing each year in our neighborhoods, businesses and in our homes. The Internet has become a great tool for obtaining information t... 09/18/2012

Realtors and their buyers..loyalty required!  I vet my new Buyers carefully, yet there is always the chance that they just may decide they can save money or make more money, (in their minds), if they go direct.  By direct I mean, they go directly to the Listing Agent after using you to educate them about the area.  Or..the Buyers again use you to educate them about the available inventory in the area and then ditch you for another realtor.  Loyalty is HUGE for me.  In every aspect of my life, so it is gobsmacking to me when this happens!  I simply cannot fathom treating a person that is doing their job, working hard and producing results, anything other than with loyalty.  But..it has happened a couple times in my career as a Realtor.  It happened in my past career as a professional ath... 09/14/2012

We all know that 5 of the largest Lenders were spanked slightly with a 20 billion dollar settlement about 5 months ago by the Federal government.  I am not sure how the settlement system works exactly, but I understand that Short Sale approvals count as "X" toward their settlement amount and principle reductions count as a larger "X".   My own Short Sales have been moving along at about the same speed for approvals as in 2011, so I have not seen the speeding up of the Short Sale process that I had thought would happen.  Joseph Smith is the Mortgage Debt Oversight manager and he sent this update out recently.. “The report discloses that the banks have granted $10.56 billion in consumer relief to borrowers between March 1 and June 30, 2012. Additionally, first lien principal reduction tri... 09/12/2012

A Magnificent View at Canyon View Estates No: 3, Palm Springs, California Canyon View Estates - Mid-Century Modern Homes by Palmer & Krisel Canyon View Estates is an immaculately manicured and beautifully maintained PUD (Planned Urban Development) located in South Palm Springs, ideally situated next to the desert mountains. This 1960's development of 22 homes was designed by renowned architects Palmer and Krisel and built by well-known developer Roy Fey. The sophisticated two and three bedroom single level homes feature high ceilings and clerestory windows providing for an abundance of natural light and breath-taking mountain views. This magnificent tranquil setting offers residents rolling landscaped lawns, a swimming pool and spa. For additional information please call Resident Assoc... 09/12/2012

With rules that take effect (in June 2012), federal regulators have hopes of greatly streamlining the short-sale process. Related Starting June 15, the Federal Housing Finance Agency, which regulates Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, will require both agencies to give short-sale buyers a final decision within 60 days. (In a short sale, a lender agrees to accept less than the balance on a mortgage.) Fannie and Freddie must also respond to initial requests for a short sale within 30 days of receiving the buyer’s submission. “Short sales are huge right now,” said Peter Spino, the foreclosure services manager for Community Housing Innovators in White Plains, N.Y., a housing counselor certified by the Department of Housing and Urban Development. Distressed homeowners often prefer them to a foreclo... 09/11/2012

I do many short sales..have for almost 5 years now.  Short Sales can be a fight..no doubt about it.  I've worked with a variety of Lenders, large and small.  First Liens, second liens, IRS liens, Mortgage Insurance and on an on.  The commonalities are many, but it took me several rejections to truly accept the following when it comes to Short Sales.. ALL YOUR DOCUMENTS must match up exactly.  What does this mean exactly? LIST DOCS:  Sellers names have to be the same on every page. OFFER DOCS:  Buyers, Sellers, Agents all have to sign consistently SHORT SALE PKG. DOCS:  Make sure your submission package is consistent and correct.  Middle initials have to stay initials, not names throughout the entire pkg. of documents. GRANT DEED:  The name on the Grant Deed MUST match the name on the lo... 09/04/2012