Even though winter does not arrive to the desert until December 21st, it sure felt like winter last night at the 16th annual Palm Springs Festival of Lights Parade.  Thousands of people weathered the low temperatures to claim a spot on Palm Canyon Dr. to view the parade.Every year, the staff of Scott Lyle Realtors always gets into the holiday spirit in anticipation of the parade.  Our office, a small Spanish hacienda, is located at 483 N. Palm Canyon Dr., right in the heart of Downtown Palm Springs.   Earlier this week, we decorated our front yard with hundreds of lights. This year, there were 89 entries in the parade.  Every entry, whether its a float or a marching band, has to be illuminated in Christmas lights.  The lights usually must be white. This year, multi-colored lights made t... 12/02/2007

 The Christmas season has arrived in Palm Springs. I love this time of year in the Desert.  The holiday lights illuminate the Dowtown corridor, and there is a nip in the air that's quite exhilerating.  People here are getting into the holiday spirit, and going into full throttle shopping mode.   Last night, my office at Scott Lyle Realtors had a tree trimming party to get ready for the Holiday Lights parade this weekend.  If you have never been to this event, it is a sight to see.  There will be 89 entries in this year's parade.  Here is a list of events to enjoy during the month of December in Palm Springs:Dec 1- Palm Springs Festival of Lights Parade- This annual holiday tradition is entering its 16th year.  For more information, go to the website:  Parades of Palm Springs.com  The pa... 11/28/2007

Yep, believe it or not!The California Association of Realtors (CAR) reported today that sales in the Palm Springs area are up 16.4% from last month....good news!  Although sales are down from the same period last year, at least things seem to be recovering from the mortgage difficulties from this past August. Although home sales are lower then at this point last year, the Palm Springs market is doing 10% better then California's statewide figures.  Palm Springs and the Coachella Valley ontinues to be affordable by California's standards, having a lower median price for homes.   The majority of homes sold are in the $200,000 to $400,000 price range - which tanslates to great buys on condos!!  The over $1 million market remains steady still. Although September was a slow sales month, the ... 11/28/2007

                          Richard Neutra's Kaufman House (1946) in Palm Springs, California. Located at 740 W. Chino Canyon Road, Palm Springs When you think of architectural photography, the only thought that comes to mind is buildings, and pictures. You are actually right on the mark, and Julius Shulman was the man to call for those pictures. What was once a stark and somewhat boring occupation, Shulman snapped his way to the top, completely unanticipated, and became the most widely known architectural photographer, with most of his work being photographed in Palm Springs, California.   The main rule in this type of photography is to keep people out of your pictures. Shulman took that idea, and turned it completely around and began including people, in small personal groups, in his ph... 11/28/2007

No matter where you choose to move or live, everyone is concerned about the weather.Whether there will be snow, or at least the chance of it, whether there will be loads of rain, or hail, or whether or not the heat will be unbearable. With global warming rapidly becoming a threat to our daily weather, during all of the seasons, we find ourselves more and more confused over the seasons, and why it still seems cold in the beginning of spring, or why we're sweating outside during our Thanksgiving holiday. What better way to find out the current forecast, than to find the best weather sites or stations located for this beautiful Desert area. For a list of current weather conditions there are news stations that specifically list Coachella Valley and the current and fore-casted conditions. L... 11/24/2007

With the rate of population growing daily, not many small or decent sized towns, cities, or states are actually quite ready for the anticipated growth explosion in the rapidly arriving New Year.  Coachella Valley is one of those towns that is taking it one step at a time, and planning on being prepared for population growth in the Coachella Valley, and how it will impact the current residents. This impact on these residents is what some of the city managers are using as a basis for their planning. Experts say the valley's population is expected to double in the next 25 years to about 800,000. By 2066, it should surpass 1.1 million. The Coachella Valley's population grows by 53 people daily.    We Have Grown 59 % in the past 15 years, to our current 410,974.  That growth rate tops those ... 11/24/2007

  Finding a truly historical and authentic theatre house can be a challenge, but in Palm Springs, the home of the Palm Springs Follies, you find this and more.  Surrounded by a history of famous viewers, intelligent artists, and loads of supporters, the Plaza Theatre, offers you the entertainment and taste of history you crave. The Palm Springs Folliesfirst opened in December of 1936, Earl Strebe the manager/owner, offered Camille, a now historic and classic picture show as the first performance given.  Not only did the Plaza Theatre immerse you in a bygone culture and way of entertainment that is difficult to find today, but also they boasted performers such as Frank Sinatra, Donald O'Connor, and many others.  These well known actors and performers were the limelight of the shows, and ... 11/24/2007

Selling a home in Palm Springs? Whenever you are selling a house, you usually want it to sell quickly, so that you can move into your new home.  Sometimes, homes can be on the market for months before a buyer comes along that wants to purchase it.  Why do some homes sell faster than other homes?  There are many reasons whys some homes will sell faster than others. Location and price are some of the biggest factors.  There are many things that you can do to improve your chances of selling you home quickly.  Here are some tips that will help sell your home in Palm Springs even faster.The first thing that you have to do is to let go of any emotions that you may have associated with your home.  You have to treat your home like a common product that is being sold on a shelf.  When you are se... 11/24/2007

 View property in most communities is generally considered to be from up looking down, as in hills or bluffs above an ocean or city. Think Malibu, for instance. In fact, historically the house on the hill above any town or village has always been the king's castle or the feudal lord's compound or the bank president's mansion or the like.In the Coachella Valley the reverse has mostly been true. Our views mainly look up. Up at the gorgeous San Jacinto and Santa Rosa Mountains, up at the desert sunsets or the swaying Palm Trees or the Indian Canyons.  Beautiful homes tend to have crystal clear views of natural vistas, other than city lights or street scenes.Some of this is changing now, as more development is cautiously allowed in the lower hills. A Palm Springs Real Estate Broker or Palm ... 11/20/2007

Is there a place in your town that you go by, day in & day out, and have never have stopped there to visit?  It could be a museum, a historical building, or even a restaurant that you have not been to.  Why haven't you stopped to take a look?   Last summer, I wrote an article called "What's in Your Backyard".    It was a story about how many places in Palm Springs I have not visited since moving here nearly 9 years ago.  My goal for the upcoming year is to visit as many places in Palm Springs, and to write about my experiences. I've been living in the Las Palmas neighborhood of Palm Springs for nearly 2 years.  Every day when I go to work, I drive by the Welwood Memorial Cemetary. The cemetary is named after Dr. Welwood Murray, the man who built the first hotel in Palm Springs, The Pal... 11/19/2007

 Palm Springs is one of the most wonderful places in the world to live.  Palm Springs is located in the Coachella Valley in southern California and boasts warm and pleasant temperatures all year long.  It does not matter if you have a young family or if you are looking to retire, Palm Springs can offer whatever it is you desire.  Palm Springs has some of the most renowned golf courses in the world, but if you would rather do something else besides golf, then you can choose from many other activities like tennis, biking, swimming, hiking, and horseback riding.  Now that you have decided to move to Palm Springs, it is time to enlist the help of a Palm Springs real estate agent. Buying and selling a house can be very difficult, but with the help of a professional Palm Springs real estate a... 11/19/2007

There's a special place on the southern edge of Palm Springs called Indian Canyons where surprisingly few people visit when in the desert. These gorgeous Palm-lined canyons are where the ancient Agua Caliente Band of the Cahuilla Indians summered. I've taken clients and friends up just to see their faces as they take in the massive groves of Washingtonian Palms, the only-native grown Palms in North America. In the Spring, with the rain and snow run-off from the San Jacintos, the setting is even more magnificent, as cascading waterfalls and swimming holes pop up seemingly around every corner. There's a traditional Indian Trading Post, and many hiking trails of all skill levels. But more than that, this is where the place-name Palm Springs partly originates. The Palms thriving here and t... 11/17/2007

  Whether you are searching for the perfect holiday, or somewhere permanent to settle down, Palm Springs is the place for you. Offering such a variety as old Indian museums, an air tramway, living deserts and zoos. Where else will you find such varied and awe inspiring attractions?  Only in Palm Springs California can you find these things!  Palm Springs is home to the world's biggest circulating tramcar that takes you on a ride to the peak known as Chino Canyon where you can feast your eyes and your stomach at the restaurant known as the "Top of The Tram" with an 8,000 foot down to bring you to the surrounding area. Following an afternoon on the tramcar, perhaps another attraction you would like to view would be a breath taking scenic drive from the middle of the town, to the land own... 11/15/2007

If you have never been to Palm Springs or just want to reminisce, here is a look at our beautiful desert area. This video will give you a look at our 8 major cities here in the Coachella Valley is. Included are the cities of Palm Springs, Palm Desert, Indian Wells, Rancho Mirage, La Quinta, Cathedral City and Indio. Includes information of these unique desert cites, the amenities as well as attractions, events, golf, restaurants, spas, shopping and more. Hope you enjoy it. 11/13/2007

 The natural beauty of the desert brings thousands of tourists to the city of Palm Springs and the Coachella Valley every year.  When I moved to Palm Springs nine years ago, one of the first activities that I immersed myself in was hiking. Being a "city boy" most of my life, I never had the opportunity to go to any of the National Forests or Desert to indulge in this sport. I heard about the Lykken Trail, the Bump & Grind, and the Mecca Hills.  I wanted to jump right in, and start exploring everything that the desert had to offer. I didn't start my journey hastily though.  The sport of hiking comes with some responsibility.Hiking in the open wilderness or desert can be a fun and exhilarating experience, but it can also be a dangerous  one if you are not prepared.  This week alone, there... 11/13/2007

Selling a home can be a very stressful experience.  Many times individuals that are selling their homes try to get it sold as quickly as possible because they often already have purchased another home or they are having a brand new home built and it will be ready for closing in a very short amount of time.  There are some things that you can do to make your home selling experience less stressful.Before you put up your Palm Springs house for sale, you should hire a good real estate agent.  It is very important to try and find a good real estate agent because a bad agent can make your home selling process even more stressful than if you were to try and sell your home by yourself and the worst part is that you will end up doing all of the work and your real estate agent will still end up c... 11/12/2007

Palm Springs Buyers:You can become a VIP Buyer and Beat Other Buyers to Hot New ListingsHow To Receive email of ALL New Listings That Match Your Home Buying Criteria emailed to You FREE of Charge Without ObligationHere's how it works...We email you new listings (complete with pictures) of ALL MLS properties that match your home buying criteria. So instead of having a realtor drag you from house to house wasting your time showing you many homes that don't interest you... Our exclusive Buyer Profile System allows you to pick which homes you want to view before other buyers even know about them. As a VIP buyer: You get updates of all new home listings that match your criteria FREE of charge. You get first pick of homes that interest you and the ability to beat other buyers to an offer. Bec... 11/12/2007

Selling a home can be a very stressful experience.  Many times individuals that are selling their homes try to get it sold as quickly as possible because they often already have purchased another home or they are having a brand new home built and it will be ready for closing in a very short amount of time.  There are some things that you can do to make your home selling experience less stressful.Before you put up your Palm Springs house for sale, you should hire a good real estate agent.  It is very important to try and find a good real estate agent because a bad agent can make your home selling process even more stressful than if you were to try and sell your home by yourself and the worst part is that you will end up doing all of the work and your real estate agent will still end up c... 11/12/2007

It might seem a cliche', maybe even passe', the image of Palm Springs as a nonstop martini pool party, but there is a certain more modern truth. Palm Springs and the Coachella Valley do encourage a lifestyle change, especially if you're coming from a fast-paced stressful city life. That is, simply, to slow down. Live more for the moment.That's not to say that all your troubles will go away because suddenly you're in Shangra-La. But, from the first day, you will sense a decided difference in attitudes and demeanor from, say, folks in Los Angeles or San Francisco. Great cities, both of those, but not the mellow image of California the world believes to be true. Now, Palm Springs? Well, as the iconic Eagles song goes ... "Take it Easy"....The contemporary resident or visitor might not indu... 11/11/2007

   The town of Palm Springs is already in full swing for "The Season".  The palm trees along Palm Canyon Dr. are already decorated with the annual lights, which makes Downtown magical at night.  This weekend we have the Veterans Day Parade, where the city will pay tribute to all those who gave their lives to protect the United States of America. There will also be events taking place at the Palm Springs Air Museum to commemorate Veteran's Day as well.  The Real Estate outlook for the month of October was much better than the month prior.  There were 84 homes sold (51 condos & 33 homes)  in Palm Springs for the month, according to the Desert Area MLS.  This is represents a decrease of 37% over last October, which 104 homes were sold in October of 2006.   Homes in Palm Springs are staying... 11/09/2007