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Sheri Dettman

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Sheri’s Palm Springs Area Blog

Whether it be real estate updates, restaurant reviews, events, or highlights of unique homes in Palm Springs, follow Sheri as she covers all that Palm Springs and the surrounding area has to offer.

Palm Springs Real Estate: The Listing Price Too Good To Be True!

Palm Springs Real Estate: The Listing Price Too Good To Be True!

Crazy things are taking place in our busy Palm Springs real estate market lately, and it can be hard to keep up with for someone not up to the challenge. Fortunately, I am. It helps me to face it by completing a lot of transactions each year, as I’m able to keep a close eye on the pulse of our market, the inventory and, just as importantly, I develop a good understanding of how other Palm Springs real estate agents operate.

Telling It Like It Is

When I meet with a Palm Springs area home seller about selling their La Quinta home, I believe in telling it like it is. When it comes time to value the property, I keep to that policy, always backing it up with data to support my professional opinion.

I recently met with the owner of a home in La Quinta who had also met with a couple of other local agents they were considering for listing their home. One agent told the owners that their home was worth about ten percent more than I did. I disagreed and worked with the owner in proving out why I did.

La Quinta Home For Sale, At The Correct Price

I wound up winning the listing for this home seller and at the price I had suggested. Fast forward thirty days later, and guess what? The same agent who had just told the owners that their property was worth a lot more presented an offer to me from one of his buyer clients. The proposed purchase price, however, is now well below our asking price.

Mr. Agent then did an about face and declared that this same property is now overpriced! Go figure! My home seller and I had a few chuckles, and then we promptly rejected the offer. A few days later a better offer arrived from another buyer and this offer was quickly accepted.

Selling Your Palm Springs Area Home? Keep This In Mind When Selling

If you are interviewing agents to sell your La Quinta or Palm Springs area property, and they suggest a price that seems to good to be true, it likely is. This practice is called ‘buying the listing’, and it is more common than you think. Since no agent can guarantee your final sales price, the listing agent who suggests a high listing price could be attempting to buy the listing now and convince you as a seller to later reduce the price. When selling your Palm Springs area home, look for an agent who suggests a realistic value range that’s not too good to be true.

In today’s sellers market there is little danger of under pricing a home. Desert homes that are under priced usually receive multiple offers, thereby bringing the price up to or many times exceeding market price.

From Sheri Dettman
In Sheri's Palm Springs Area Blog, Selling - Info For Sellers
Living On The Green In La Quinta

Living On The Green In La Quinta

On most days my client, Genni, stays busy from morning to night. From her morning round of golf or friendly game of tennis to dinner at the clubhouse with friends, Genni and her husband Jeff live the good life on the green. Living on the green in this case translates into their golf course home location, which happens to be on the seventh green of one of La Quinta’s luxury golf course communities.

95 Private Golf & Country Clubs In The Palm Springs Area

Genni and Jeff represent a growing segment of Palm Springs homebuyers who enjoy life at one of ninety-five private residential golf and country club communities–two decades ago there were less than half that number. Today there are also dozens of popular public golf communities to choose from, each offering numerous amenities to buyers.

Palm Springs area golf and country clubs have become a staple of desert life. Homeowners and their guests can choose to be active morning to night like Genni, or they can choose to enjoy a laidback resort lifestyle. Either way of life is encouraged and accepted in our golf and country club communities, as well as provided for.

What Golf & Country Club Amenities Are Important To You

If you're considering life on the green here in the Palm Springs area, you'll want to spend some time thinking about what is most important to you and what you really want in a community. Define the kind of lifestyle you desire and the important features you want in your new desert home and the amenities you like to enjoy in your community.

My team and I developed this Palm Springs area real estate website as your online guide to desert real estate because an informed buyer usually makes the best choices. Each of our community profiles offers an overview of the community, including recent home values, club membership, HOA information, photos, maps and more. Each profile also includes active listings of homes, luxury condos and even custom lots for sale within each community, making the viewing of available properties a lot simpler than trudging through the entire Palm Springs Area MLS.

Your Palm Springs Real Estate Newsletter

Consider, also, signing up for my monthly desert newsletter. Once a month you find valuable information in your inbox on the Palm Springs area real estate scene, including real estate market updates, new listings, dining around the desert, and much more.

From Sheri Dettman
In Sheri's Palm Springs Area Blog, Buying - Info For Buyers, Buying – Info For Canadian Buyers, Golf Communities
Buying Palm Springs Real Estate: How To Gain A Slight Advantage

Buying Palm Springs Real Estate: How To Gain A Slight Advantage

Here’s a question for you: where will you be spending time next winter?

Time does fly, and before we know it summer will have turned into fall and then comes that faithful friend–old man winter! People that are here looking at properties in the Palm Springs area now are likely on a mission. We see this every summer; summer buyers can be the most determined, the most serious, and the most prepared buyers because they want to be enjoying their new home or luxury condo here in the Palm Springs area next winter. They’re on a mission, and being here at this time just might give them a slight advantage.

With Fewer Summer Buyers In Town, You Can Gain An Advantage

La Quinta Golf Home Master Suite

Let’s imagine that you’ve discovered a home that interests you. OK, it really interests you, and you can imagine your family and friends enjoying the resort lifestyle in that home throughout the coming winter. Here’s your advantage: there are fewer buyers in town today. So, instead of two or three other buyers interested in that same home you like, right now it’s just you and say one other buyer who’s phoning it in from out of state.

Even if buyer number two submits an offer for the home from out of state (which happens more often than most buyers think it does), all things being equal, the seller will likely give more attention to the offer from the buyer who is in town. That’s a clear advantage.

Summer Brings Our Most Serious Buyers To Palm Springs

I often tell my Palm Springs area home sellers this time of year that the buyers who are here now and during the summer are the most serious buyers we see all year. They are determined, and many say they won’t leave until they’ve found their new Palm Springs area home.

Since the inventory of Palm Springs homes for sale continues to tighten, every advantage you can give yourself as a buyer is worth considering. And it’s our job to give you as a buyer every potential advantage we can.

May looks to be another record-breaking month for our Sheri Dettman & Associates real estate team as buyers continue to take advantage of great Palm Springs area real estate opportunities. Can we help you find your place in the desert sun before next winter? We’re here to help when the time is right for you.

From Sheri Dettman
In Sheri's Palm Springs Area Blog, Buying - Info For Buyers, Buying – Info For Canadian Buyers
What’s Your Reason For Not Buying This Year?

What’s Your Reason For Not Buying This Year?

Palm Desert Golf Homes

My team and I have helped hundreds of buyer clients find their dream home in the Palm Springs area over the last few years, so believe me when I say I’ve heard countless reasons from people getting in their own way of buying and enjoying the desert home they’ve been thinking and dreaming about. Here are some top excuses:

  • “I’m waiting for Palm Springs real estate prices to go back down.”
  • “I’ll think about buying next winter.”
  • “The economy might decline again.”
  • “I have trouble making big decisions so I’ll rent for another year.”

What Recent Buyers Are Saying

We follow-up with our buyer clients on a regular basis to ensure they’re happy and that we’ve done the best job possible. We ask questions like: Are you enjoying your home? Are your family and friends happy with your purchase decision? Are you glad you invested in the Palm Springs real estate market?

These clients often tell me their stress levels have come down a few notches as they now have a desert home to escape to! Whether they’re getting away from winter or gloom, or just simply knowing they have a place to get away from it all with family or friends, all that stress just seems to dissolve as soon as they step into their new home.

So What Are You Waiting For?

So what are you waiting for? Contact us today and we'll be happy to help you find the perfect home for you. We’ll match you with the right community, the right lifestyle, and the right home and hopefully have some fun doing it together.

From Sheri Dettman
In Sheri's Palm Springs Area Blog, Buying - Info For Buyers, Buying – Info For Canadian Buyers
Palm Springs Real Estate For Canadians: Is The Loonie Headed South? Should You Be?

Palm Springs Real Estate For Canadians: Is The Loonie Headed South? Should You Be?

The Globe And Mail reported today that Toronto-Dominion Bank is forecasting a big drop in the Canadian dollar. TD bank believes that the loonie, now at near par, will tumble to ninety cents by early in 2014 before recovering to ninety-three cents by the end of the year. We’ll see if these predictions prove out in the coming year. According to the article TD joins a growing number of analysts who are predicting that the Canadian dollar’s long run up, which began in 2003, is now about to come to an end.

Canadians Buyers Are Taking This News Seriously

Locally, Canadians who are interested in Palm Springs area real estate seem to be taking this news seriously, as we’ve seen another uptick in interest from our Canadian buyers.

If Palm Springs area home and condo prices continue to rise as they have over the last eighteen months, and if the Canadian dollar does hit around 90 cents in 2014, the combination could equal in realty a price adjustment of fifteen to twenty or more percent or more.

On the flip side, Canadians buying real estate this year, who can take advantage of the still strong loonie, coupled with ongoing price increases in the Palm Springs real estate market could reap a double digit gain on their investment as their property here is valued in US dollars, which significantly increases the value of your investment.

Time will tell if these Canadian bank predictions come true, but based on our Palm Springs real estate market trends over the past 18 months, now would be a great time to take action on today's opportunity if you are ready.

Disclaimer: Sheri Dettman & Associates is not offering any financial advice or advice on how to time the currency market. We just tell it like it is!

From Sheri Dettman
In Sheri's Palm Springs Area Blog, Buying – Info For Canadian Buyers
Sheri Dettman In The Vancouver Sun On Palm Springs Real Estate

Sheri Dettman In The Vancouver Sun On Palm Springs Real Estate

Reduced Palm Springs Real Estate Prices

I had the privilege of being featured in the Vancouver Sun, in a section entitled, “South of the Border, a Home in the Sun.” Little did they know how in sync they were with us—our newsletter was titled “Your Home in the Sun”! Sun must be a popular word for Canadian homebuyers in the Palm Springs real estate market.

Anyway, I’m quoted about Canadians buying in the Palm Springs real estate market in an article entitled “Cross-border Home Shopping.” The article covers how the strong Canadian dollar and reduced housing prices are among factors which have driven real estate sales south of the border, and, for Sheri Dettman & Associates, down to the Palm Springs real estate market.

Vancouver Sun Writer Steven Threndyle quotes me: “People tell us they just want to be warm. Year-round golf, tennis, swimming and our unique indoor-outdoor living is high on most Canadians’ lists.”

The Canadian Dollar And Palm Springs Real Estate

In a related article on my Palm Springs real estate blog this week, I talk about the recent news from Canadian banks predicting that the loonie is headed south, and how this could effect Canadian buyers of Palm Springs area real estate.

From Sheri Dettman
In Sheri's Palm Springs Area Blog, Buying – Info For Canadian Buyers
Palm Springs Home Buyers & Sellers: Don’t Take It Personally!

Palm Springs Home Buyers & Sellers: Don’t Take It Personally!

Golf Homes At Andalusia, La Quinta

Here's a little advice for Palm Springs area homebuyers and sellers. Never take purchase negotiations personally. No property is ever sold unless there's a willing buyer and a willing seller. And getting to that point can be a dance, and sometimes it can be a little tougher. But please don't take it personally.

I do this almost everyday, and every transaction can be a bit different. Every buyer and seller has a unique personality. Some people buy and sell homes as often as cars, while others might buy or sell just a few times in their lifetime. People's situations and their reasons for buying or selling here in the Palm Springs area can also be varied.

Your Palm Springs Realtor's Job: Part Guide, Part Negotiator

Part of an agent's job is to guide their buyers or sellers through the negotiations while keeping their sanity and their cool. It's counterproductive to take anything personally. Yes, there can be some stress involved, but an agent's job is to keep their clients stress level to a minimum and to do any heavy lifting for them.

A seller receiving a low-ball offer simply needs to submit a counter offer. We're here to help guide you with that. If a buyer gets no response to their submitted offer, their agent can find out why and go from there. But if there is no offer on the table because on side or the other took it personally, then negotiations cease and both sides can lose.

Don't Hit The Panic Button Unless I Tell You To! 

After completing hundreds of client transactions, the one thing in common that I share with our clients is 'don't panic until I tell you to!'  That little 'fire' during negotiations today, or during escrow tomorrow might seem like a big deal now, but it will likely be water in the swimming pool in just a day or two!

Most Palm Springs area real estate transactions actually flow pretty smoothly. The ones that don't are a bit more work but that's my job, and my team's job, to put forth what ever is needed on our client's behalf.

Know that I work with and therefore get to know a lot of the local real estate professionals, and as such I usually know in advance which transactions will be more work than others. That's when our team rolls up our sleeves up so you don't have to. You can get ready to move, and don't forget the sunscreen!

And during negotiations, like I said, please don't take anything personally, unless I tell you to!

From Sheri Dettman
In Sheri's Palm Springs Area Blog, Buying - Info For Buyers, Buying – Info For Canadian Buyers, Info For Sellers
Palm Springs Home Buying: A Tip From A Buyer Client

Palm Springs Home Buying: A Tip From A Buyer Client

Janet, one of our recent buyer clients, and her husband recently closed on their new La Quinta home and here are some of her comments: “Sheri, Thanks for everything as we couldn’t be happier! It is amazing that we weren’t even going to look at this property (the property that they purchased) and it was the first one you took us to see–and, of course, our favorite!”

Beginning Their Palm Springs Home Search Online

Here’s what happened: Janet, like many of our clients, started their La Quinta home search online on our website. I also set them up with their own Palm Springs MLS listings portal so they could view new listings as they came on the Palm Springs MLS, as well as those that matched their criteria.

The home that Janet and her husband fell in love with was as home that they didn’t originally think they wanted to go see. But based on their input and their feedback, I thought they should see it. As you know, once they saw this home, that was it–they loved it!

Asking The Right Home-Finding Questions

After helping hundreds of people find their home in the sun, my team and I have gotten very good at asking our buyer clients the right questions, and then listening to their feedback.

We retain a good idea of what our home buyers are interested in, even when they’re not entirely sure yet. After taking buyers to view a few selected properties, I get a good sense of what type of Palm Springs area community they’d like, and the kind of home which would be a great match for them. It’s what we do everyday. Our job is to be part guide and part negotiator. How can we help you?  Email Sheri

From Sheri Dettman
In Sheri's Palm Springs Area Blog, Buying - Info For Buyers, Buying – Info For Canadian Buyers
Palm Springs Real Estate: Looking Back 3-Years Ago This Month

Palm Springs Real Estate: Looking Back 3-Years Ago This Month

One of many PGA West Community Pools In La Quinta

Flash Back To May 2012: Bank Owned Home Inventory Down

In May of last year I posted an article here about how our local inventory of Palm Springs area bank owned homes was slowly disappearing from the desert. One year later foreclosure properties in the Palm Springs real estate market are really scarce.

I also mentioned that inventory “continues to tighten up throughout the desert” so now would be a great time to take action. One year later now I’m still saying that it’s still a good time to take action. And while we can’t go back in time to last year’s home prices, we can take action today, right now and then talk about it again next year.

May 2011: Woulda, Coulda, Shoulda!

Two years ago this month my buyers tip was entitled “Woulda, Coulda, Shoulda’!” I wrote about some ways to avoid woulda, coulda, shoulda’ in the buyers market we were experiencing during 2011.

I’m remember 2011 as being a year in which our buyer clients had a ton of choices in choosing which home or luxury condo they wanted to buy. But if you snoozed in 2011 as a buyer you generally also lost out to other buyers of 2011 who didn’t snooze.

May 2010: 11,000 New Boomers Everyday!

Three years ago this month I wrote about the growing boomer generation in the U.S. and Canada, and how many boomers are now looking, or would soon be looking at the Palm Springs area as a primary residence, second home, vacation home or rental/investment property. And how the Palm Springs area offered the climate, amenities, and lifestyle that many boomers were looking for, with resort lifestyle communities and properties in a wide variety of price ranges. I mentioned that as the economy hopefully continued to recover, we expect the release of pent up demand from boomers and others for resort lifestyle properties.

And Back To Palm Springs Area Real Estate Today

Three years later in May of 2013 we are seeing a release of that pent up demand. Some buyers that didn’t act yet are not saying woulda, coulda, shoulda! And here in the Palm Springs area our inventory of available homes and luxury condos continues to shrink.

God willing, we’ll take a look back at May of 2013 one year from now. Stay tuned!

From Sheri Dettman
In Sheri's Palm Springs Area Blog, Real Estate Market Updates
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