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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.

Enjoying Our Nearby Beaches And Mountains

One of the great things about living in the Palm Sprigns area is the great proximity to a many popular destinations. You could literally be in the mountains in the morning and then enjoying southern California’s beaches that same evening.

Surf And Sand Resort Laguna Beach

Just yesterday (Sunday) my husband Bill and I took a leisurely drive to the beaches of Southern California. We drove from the desert to Long Beach and we followed Pacific Coast Highway all the way from Long Beach where we saw the Mexico Cruise ships getting ready to sail down south to Laguna Beach.

Lunch On The Beach In Laguna

We stopped in Laguna Beach where we enjoyed a nice lunch literally on the beach at the Surf And Sand Resort before heading back to the desert on Sunday evening.

The previous Sunday we drove up to Big Bear Lake at an elevation of around 7,000 feet and spent some time driving around the lake and exploring Big Bear. We drove up to Big Bear via what locals refer to as ‘the back way’ through Yucca Valley and highway 247. Coming back later that day we took the front way down from the mountains via highway 18.

Our next mini trip will likely be San Diego.

Former Merv Griffin Estate In La Quinta Listed For Sale

The estate and former home of the late Merv Griffin was listed for sale recently on our Desert Area MLS and is priced at $9,500,000. This is the largest residential compound in La Quinta.

View This Property at 81345 Avenue 54, La Quinta

  • 39 Acres
  • 2.5 Acre Private Lake
  • 14 Bedrooms and 12 Baths (4 separate structures)
  • MLS #41451660

Listing courtesy of Captis Sotheby's International Realty

Dining Around The Desert: The Nest, Indian Wells

First, a little background is in order. The Nest in Indian Wells opened in 1965 and quickly became a favorite for local residents and celebrities alike. Everyone from Arnold Palmer to The Rat Pack hung out at The Nest. If you don’t know those names, The Nest might not be for you!

Dodi Henry managed The Nest until Arnold Palmer convinced her and her musician husband Kevin to open the new Arnold Palmer Restaurant in La Quinta. Being at Arnold Palmer’s worked out just fine until November of 2010, when Dodi and Kevin were given the opportunity to purchase The Nest.

 

Nest owners Kevin And Dodi

The Newly Improved Nest

My husband Bill and I have now been to the Nest twice. The first time was when it was under the previous owners and last Sunday under the new ownership of Dodi and Kevin, who have made numerous improvements. The dining room is new and the wait staff was very friendly and knowledgeable about the menu.

The menu varies from comfort food to more interesting and unusual items. I started with an excellent Beet Salad and then enjoyed the Spinach Knish that was baked in filo dough and stuffed with spinach and feta cheese. Bill ordered the Petite Filet Mignon. His entrée included soup and salad, which were excellent, as were the mashed potatoes and fresh vegetables. His steak, however, lacked the juices that flow from great steaks when freshly cut into at the table. We naturally had to sample desert and I’ll simply suggest that you don’t miss the Banana Cream Pie!

Bottled Wine At 50% Off Sunday's & Monday's

Bottles of wine are 50% off on Sunday and Monday. If you’re not looking for the crazy weekend scenes, these are two of the best days to visit. We enjoyed a wonderful bottle of 2010 Molly Dooker (Aussie for left handed) “The Boxer” Shiraz from Australia.

While we didn’t stick around for the nightly music, Bill and I agree we would return once in a while for dinner. The bar scene is full of intrigue, dancing and lively conversation, and you can read countless stories / reviews about the Nest on ‘Yelp’.

The Nest is located at 75188 Hwy 111, Indian Wells. (760) 346-2314

Location, Location, Location At PGA West, La Quinta

> View This Golf Home At 56565 Riviera, La Quinta

  • 4 Bedrooms / 4-1/2 Baths
  • Casita off the rear patio
  • 2,745 Square Feet
  • Located on The Private Jack Nicklaus PGA West Course
  • Offered at $525,000

This PGA West golf home is located on highly sought after Riviera Drive on the Jack Nicklaus private golf course. Riviera homes facing the mountains offer dramatic views of both the golf course and the Santa Rosa Mountains beyond. Even better, this home features a large landscaped buffer area between the patio area and the golf course.

And Then There Were 51 Bank Owned Homes

And Then There Were 51 Bank Owned Homes

PGA West, La Quinta

Available inventory of Palm Springs area bank owned homes here in the desert continues to decline. On March 25th I mentioned a new low of just 70 bank owned homes listed in our market priced at $200,000 and higher. Today that number is down to just 51 bank owned homes and condos (view them here). Only seven of these bank owned homes are priced above $500,000.

Regular Sales Very Active

Inventory continues to tighten up throughout the desert and multiple offers are more common every day. So, if you have been considering a home or luxury condo for the coming winter, and winter always does have a way of showing up, the coming summer months would be a great time to take action.

My Crystal Ball On 12/31/2011

Based on market indicators at the time, in my December, 31, 2011 blog entry I predicted 20% sales growth for us in 2012. To date this year our sales have increased 60% over 2011 and we have a record 15 properties in escrow today. Contrary to what most people think, the spring and summer months are a very active time in our desert market.

Stay tuned!

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