The real estate market in Palm Springs is heating up again.  At The Paul Kaplan Group, we had the best December in years, selling over 14 homes in December, which is normally the slowest month of the year.

The California Association of Realtors posted the following press release-  California home sales rise in December, posting 11-month sales high, C.A.R. reports

LOS ANGELES (Jan. 17) – California home sales rose for the third consecutive
month in December, marking the highest level since January 2011, according to
data from the CALIFORNIA ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS® (C.A.R.).  Sales also were up
from a year ago, marking the sixth consecutive annual increase.

“With the economy slowly improving, home buyers – investors and first-time
buyers alike – took advantage of affordable  interest rates and made a push to
close escrow by the end of year,” said C.A.R. President LeFrancis Arnold.
“Robust sales over the past few months signal the housing market is treading
above water on its own in the first full year without the government stimulus
that has helped housing in the last couple of years.”

Closed escrow sales of existing, single-family detached homes in California
totaled a seasonally adjusted annualized rate of 520,940 in December, according
to information collected by C.A.R. from more than 90 local REALTOR® associations
and MLSs statewide.  December’s sales were up 3.3 percent from November’s
revised pace of 504,420 and were up 0.1 percent from the revised 520,330 sales
pace recorded in December 2010.  The statewide sales figure represents what
would be the total number of homes sold during 2011 if sales maintained the
December pace throughout the year.  It is adjusted to account for seasonal
factors that typically influence home sales.

The statewide median price of an existing, single-family detached home posted
its second consecutive monthly gain, increasing 1.8 percent to $285,920 in
December, up from a revised $280,960 in November.  However, the median price was
down 6.2 percent from the revised $304,770 median price recorded in December
2010.

“Fourth quarter sales were stronger than we expected, thanks to recent
improving consumer confidence and an economy that’s slowly showing signs of
growth.  As a result, sales came in slightly above our fall projection,” said
C.A.R. Vice President and Chief Economist Leslie Appleton-Young.  “For 2011 as a
whole, sales reached a preliminary 497,860 homes sold statewide, up 1.1 percent
from the 492,290 homes sold in 2010.  However, the statewide median price
declined 6.3 percent for the year, to reach a preliminary $285,950, down from
the revised $305,010 recorded in 2010.

“Home prices are stabilizing for the distressed market, where we see robust
demand, but we continue to see downward pressure on home prices in some higher
end markets,” said Appleton-Young.

Other key facts of C.A.R.’s December 2011 resale housing report include:

• Housing inventory remains tight throughout California, with the Unsold
  Inventory Index for existing, single-family detached homes declining to 4.2
  months in December, down from 5.0 months in November and down from a 5.0-month
  supply in December 2010.  The index indicates the number of months needed to
  deplete the supply of homes on the market at the current sales rate.
• Thirty-year fixed-mortgage interest rates averaged 3.96 percent during
  December 2011, down from 4.71 percent in December 2010, according to Freddie
  Mac.  Adjustable-mortgage interest rates averaged 2.79 percent in December 2011,
  compared with 3.31 percent in December 2010.
• The median number of days it took to sell a single-family home edged up to
  58.7 days in December 2011, compared with a revised 58.0 days for the same
  period a year ago.

For more information on Palm Springs real estate, visit www.PaulKaplanGroup.com

Palm Springs Modernism Week Highlight:

Walk of Stars Dedication

FRIDAY, February 17, 2012  2:00 PM
William F. Cody, F.A.I.A.

William Cody’s indelible contribution to Palm Springs’s architectural resources is celebrated and honored at this free Modernism Week event in Palm Springs. Join Cody family members, city officials, architecture aficionados, and owners of Cody-designed residences in paying tribute to the architect recognized for his “less is more” approach to design. Landmark Cody projects in Palm Springs include the 1949 award- winning Hotel Del Marcos, L’Horizon Hotel, St. Theresa Catholic Church, Palm Springs Public Library, and the Atakian Building, as well as private residences; the Abernathy House, the Jorgensen/Mavis Residence, and the Racquet Club Cottages West condominiums. Enjoy a reception immediately following in the adjacent Palm Springs Art Museum’s Edwards Harris Center for Architecture and Design. Each attendee will receive a keepsake program with map.

The Paul Kaplan Group is thrilled to be representing one of William Cody’s signature style homes, in Rancho Mirage.  For more information, click here.   

This stunning architecturally significant property, and designed by renowned Architect William Cody and originally owned by golf pro Jimmy Hines. (See attached document for more info on the history of this home). Located in the much desired and very private 10 home neighborhood of Thunderbird North. The 3 bed 3 bath home opens out from expansive walls of glass to one of the most breath-taking, panoramic views available in the entire desert. The great room is the hub of this entertainer’s delight, with custom cabinetry, hidden TV cabinet, original rock pversized fireplace, and custom glass doors which open to the pool and views. A private cabana was built adjacent to the pool and spa, featuring an outdoor kitchen area, as well as cozy firepit. The house has been upgraded extensively, including spa inspired bathrooms, a contemporary kitchen which boasts top of the line stainless appliances. This is your opportunity to own a stunning piece of desert mid-century architectural history.  Offered at $849,000  For more information contact Paul Kaplan at 760-285-8559 or Click Here.

Mid-century Modern Fans:  Here’s a new event being offered this year at the annual Palm Springs Modernism Week celebration, coming up in February:

The Marriage of Commerce and Creativity:
Modernism in Banking
Palm Springs Historical Society Walking Tour

February 16.

This walking tour departs at 10 a.m. from the Union Bank Palm Springs at 500 S. Indian Canyon Drive Palm Springs, and lasts approximately 1 hour. Covers the area south of Baristo Rd bordered by Indian Canyon Drive and S. Palm Canyon Drive and examines the history of the development and design of the area, including banks designed by E. Stewart Williams and Gruen & Associates.

Enjoy refreshments provided by Espresso Cielo and free admission to the McCallum Adobe and Cornelia White House.

For tickets, go to www.ModernismWeek.com

The Paul Kaplan Group is happy to announce another epicurean event in Palm Springs-  this one sounds fun and great to see some creative minds at work bring innovative events to Palm Springs.

Circle the date and bring your appetite! Over 40 of Southern California’s most unique and skilled chefs will be setting up in the parking area of the Spa Resort Casino in Palm Springs this coming February 4th.

PBS TV Host and “Minister of Culinary Awareness” Cliff Young (of the “Out To Eat” show) is organizing the inaugural “Palm Springs Food Truck Festival” at the Spa Resort Casino in Downtown Palm Springs. It all happens on Saturday, February 4th.

Cliff says, “This is not your typical food truck festival, this event will offer cutting-edge culinary flavors from chefs who want to take your palette on a journey you won’t soon forget. We are creating an unbelievable festival of haute cuisine you don’t want to miss.”

For more info on the Palm Springs Food Truck Festival, click the attached link:

http://www.palmspringsfoodtruckfestival.com/

Frank Sinatra had a number of homes in the Palm Springs area over the years-  Probably the most famous is the one by E. Stewart Williams, Twin Palms, in the center of Palm Springs.

However this is his family estate that he built in Rancho Mirage, in the Tamarisk Country Club.  It just hit the market at a whopping $4.5 million!  Built in 1970, it consists of 4 bedrooms, 6 baths, in 6900 sf of living space on a lot that’s 21,344 sf. 

Heres the description from the actual listing:

Former FRANK SINATRA Family Estate – Built by Sinatra on land originally owned by JACK BENNY; Named WONDER ESTATES — This Upscale home has had guest Celebrities, Movie Directors, and the Rich & Famous! Expansive backyard on the 17th Double Fairway of Tamarisk Country Club; Tennis Cts in C.C. Over 6,900 sf., 4 Bedrooms, 6 Bathrooms — Elegant Versace Furnishings; Gourmet Kitchen w/triple Stainless Refrigerator for those who like to Cook, like Frank did! Pool Table, Gym, Big Screen TVS, Resort-Style Pool & Spa w/Waterslide; over 20,000 SF of pristine landscaped grounds; Outdoor BBQ & Party Island; Filmed for TV by CBS Channel 2! FULLY TURNKEY FURNISHED — Bring your Bathing Suit & Toothbrush! Located in CENTER OF PRESTIGIOUS RANCHO MIRAGE — 5 Minutes to The River, Eisenhower Medical; 5-Star Restaurants; Theatres; Agua Caliente Spa & Casino; Shop & Dine at The River or El Paseo. YES, IT’S THE GOOD LIFE!

Guess what, its offered furnished too!!  Ok, this isn’t the typical groovey mid-century home that we typically feature-  as you can see from the pics-  but if living in a home that has some celebrity pedigree sounds appealing to you, then this is your house!  (and no doubt it could be a great vacation rental that could most likely generate big bucks!)

Here are more pic’s:

Listed by Power Brokers International.  Listing informatin courtesy of the Desert Area MLS.  For more information, contact The Paul Kaplan Group.

One of my favorite Palm Springs’ galleries, Stephen Archdeacon Gallery, is presenting a collection of photos featuring images from the Hollywood studio archives.  A great celebration that conincides with the Palm Springs International Film Festival.  Here’s the info:

Coinciding with the Palm Springs International Film Festival, the Stephen Archdeacon Gallery will present a selection of limited edition, archival photography from the 1950′s through the 1970′s of Hollywood Cinema. A selection of images from curator and archivist Howard Askenase will be featured, including: a Warner Brothers Studio still of James Dean from ‘REBEL WITHOUT A CAUSE’ and a 20th Century Fox Studio still of Marilyn Monroe from ‘GENTLEMAN PREFER BLONDES’, along with an image portrait of Clint Eastwood from ‘HANG ‘EM HIGH’, a beefcake shot of Steve McQueen, and a busty Elizabeth Taylor together with costar Marlon Brando from ‘REFLECTIONS IN A GOLDEN EYE’ among many others.

Terry Hastings is a Palm Springs artist who will be unveiling a portraiture series of RuPaul’s Drag Race Winner: Bebe Zahara Benet that are based on classic Hollywood starlets.

Documenting the trip between Hollywood and Palm Springs, Eric Nash will have new drawings on view. Collected by contemporary Hollywood players, Nash can be found in the homes of Ellen DeGeneres and Portia de Rossi, Jerry and Linda Bruckheimer, Orlando Bloom, Hillary Duff, Mena Suvari, and entertainment attorney Jacob Bloom in addition to many others.

A portion of the proceeds from silent auction items at this evening event will go to CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocates) of Riverside County which provides thousands of advocates to children who have been removed from their families because of abuse and neglect. CASA of Riverside County has been a pioneer in developing programming catered to LGBTQ foster youth. http://www.casariversidecounty.org/

Saturday, January 7, 6-9pm 

Please register for this event Click Here     

Stephen Archdeacon Gallery      

760-673-7520      

865 N. Palm Canyon Drive, Palm Springs, CA 92262   

One of the highlights each year during Palm Springs’ annual Modernism Week, is the Palm Springs ModCom’s annual party.  This year’s soiree should live up to the reputation of the yearly popular event. 

GALA Palm Springs BENEFIT PARTY

Celebrate with a tribute to the
1968 Peter Sellers’ cult movie ‘The Party’

Date: Saturday Feb 18, 2012
Time: 8pm-11pm
Tickets: $125 per person

PS ModCom and Hurundi V. Bakshi invite you an evening of way out fun in an ultra-mod glamorous home as we pay tribute to the 1968 Peter Sellers cult movie classic “The Party.”

Transform yourself back to the groovy days of sexy cocktail dresses, white shoes and Nehru jackets. And no glam party would be complete without plenty of Birdie Num Nums and the dulcet tones of Ms. Claudine Longet and the swingin’ back beat of Henry Mancini.

Tickets and event schedule available at:  Modernism Week Website.

The Paul Kaplan Group is proud to sponsor the:

THESE EVENTS SELL OUT EARLY!  Order tickets now while they last.

My Chistmas present to myself, was purchasing a mid-century home in the Racquet Club Road Estates neighborhood of Palm Springs.  I’ve been promoting & selling homes in this neighborhood since 2001 and have been wanting one of my own for years!   Here’s an intro to the ‘hood I did in 2009:  Racquet Club Tour

The original home was a “flat roof” model, designed by Palmer and Krisel architects, and built by the famed, Alexander Construction Company.  The flat roof design tends to be less popular then the more iconic Butterfly Roof, or Pitched Roof models-  but for some reason, I’ve always been attracted to this plan.  This house on George Drive, done by my friend, Jennifer Dorn, has always been one of my favorites.   GEORGE DRIVE

Side Patio

The house is located at 439 E Racquet Club Road.  At the height of the market, the house was listed at $599,00!  (August, 2006)  Amazing that prices were actually that high back then!  Then came the recession-  this house went into foreclosure.  It had been sitting on the market since July, 2011, starting at $310,000.  I showed it to many of my own clients-  and admired it for the orientation, spacious back yard, pool shape and views.  There were a few price reductions, before I made a stab at it, and got it for $265,000, plus they paid 3% for my closing costs…a good buy in the current market for Racquet Club.

 Here are some of the “before” photos:

Facade of 439 E Racquet Club

Living Room

Master Bath

Modernism Week is an exciting 11-day celebration of mid-century modern design, real estate,  architecture, and culture in Palm Springs, California.  February 6-16, 2012

 This design aesthetic originated in the 1940s, 50s, and 60s, and was typified by clean, simple lines which came to define desert modernism.

Modernism Week is filled with a variety of events including architectural tours, films, lectures, an architectural symposium, educational events, and chic, fun parties in cool mid-century modern homes and boutique hotels.

The Paul Kaplan Group has been an active sponsor and participant of Modernism Week over the years.  This year, we’ll be hosting our Mid-Century Real Estate  information booth again at the Modernism Show at the Palm Springs Convention Center:

$15

10 AM-6 PM, Saturday, February 18 & 19th