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.

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

After selling Real Estate for over a decade now in Palm Springs, every once in a while I’m delighted to see new funky never-before-seen listings like this….  As most know, Palm Springs is known for the Rat Pack night club era, and its plethora of mid-century and modern architecture, but the rare treats are properties such as this gem, known as the “Versailles of the Desert.”  Located in the posh Movie Colony neighborhood near downtown Palm Springs, this crazy kitschy home was just listed for $1,100,000

Here’s the agent description:

“An authentic Rat Pack home featured in Palm Springs Life magazine as the Versailles in the Desert. This is one of the largest homes on one of the choicest corner lots in the Movie Colony. First time on the market in 35 years, this property now needs a major upgrade to bring it to its new heights of excellence. The main house features 3 bedrooms, a huge walk in closet, 3 baths, large living room and salon, screening/TV room, formal dining room, sitting room with bar, small chapel, dinette overlooking the pool and kitchen. Additional structures (some unpermitted) include a carport; guest house consisting of a foyer, living room, bedroom, bathroom and kitchen; a large enclosed gazebo; and a storage shed. Magnificent mountain views surround this enchanted property with its pool/spa, covered patio, rose garden, fountain, and a multitude of palms, fruit trees and other plants.”

The homes four bedrooms, and some over the top baths, as you can see from the pics.    Over 4,000 Square feet on a lot that’s over 17,000 SF.

Check out the mini-Hearst Castle inspired pool  Do you love it?

All this can be yours.  Are you glamorous enough to own this?  (I can’t wait for the Broker’s Open house myself!)  Oh, and did you see it has its own Chapel here too??  Wonder what other stories those walls can tell…

For more info, call me at 760-459-1396.

or visit my site www.MidCenturyModernPS.com

Listing is courtesy of the Desert Area MLS, listed by Tarbell.

We had a great turnout Saturday night for our One Year Anniversary Party.  It was wonderful seeing so many of our friends and past clients.

After running my own real estate biz since 2002, I decided to form The Paul Kaplan Group in 2010.  All of our Buyer’s Specialists were chosen to join our team, because of their expert customer service, knowledge of Palm Springs real estate, and extensive experience.  Since forming our team, we have sold more homes in Palm Springs in 2011, then any other real estate group in town!  Thank you to all of our wonderful clients as well as our team, for a very successful and fun year.

We were fortunate to be able to host this year’s event  at our latest listing, at 1910 Berne Drive, a spectacular updated mid-century home located in the Racquet Club Estates neighborhood of Palm Springs.  We’re currently scheduling private viewings of the home for anyone that’s interested in seeing it. Just call me at 760-285-8559.

To see more party pictures, please click here.

Special thanks to architect, James R. Harlan who donated a copy of his 2011 Alexander Tribute journal, which high-lights the work of  The Alexander Construction Company in Palm Springs.  (Click here to purchase a copy from the Palm Springs Preservation Foundation).

Other gifts that were raffled off, included gift certificates from Wil Stiles, Trio and Koffi, and items from Not Nuetral, all located in the Uptown Design District.

Thanks to everyone that attended to join us in our first year’s celebration!

In Palm Springs, we’re fortunate to have one of the greatest collections of mid-century modern architecture in the world.  Modern architects continue to explore Palm Springs and the desert with new ideas and innovations-  thus is the case of Desert One, built by Jim Jennings, AIA.  At The Paul Kaplan Group, we specialize in Mid-Century and Modern Architectural Real Estate in Palm Springs, and share unique listings with our clients.  Listed at $725,000, this is truly one of the architectual gems of Palm Springs.  Here’s info from the listing from the Desert Area MLS:

Desert One, Jim Jennings, AIA 2005: Architectural Digest, September 2009. Rarely, dating back to ‘Case Study’ houses of the midcentury, do we find a new but timeless expression of architectural art that truly captures the essence of the era, one that is sure to be appreciated well into the next century. At first look, a sculpted monolith rising from the desert floor, perfectly sited and firmly rooted into 2/3 acres of untouched natural desert terrain. Private, protected behind tall walls, ‘Desert One’ is a 2,800 sq ft compound of seamless indoor-outdoor living and entertaining space, executed in concrete, steel and glass, constructed with exacting fit and finish. Once inside the wide front door that automatically clicks shut with precision, you’re in another world. Here, Jim Jennings created a tranquil modern sanctuary, ideally suited for one or two, that is Palm Springs: Open and Exciting!

Photography courtesy of Joe Fletcher Photography via the Desert Area MLS

Jim Jennings has been twice honored by Architectural Digest as one of the “AD 100″ [the top international architects and interior designers]. ‘Desert One’ was featured in the USA edition of Architectural Digest, September 2009, and here in an international edition in October 2009 was the cover

For more information on this stunning property, please call or text Paul at 760-285-8559.

Listed by Architecture Properties.

For those desert dwellers that have lawns Palm Springs, now’s the time for the yearly question:   To scalp or not to scalp.   The following information and link is from Moller’s Garden Center in Palm Desert.

Fall brings the age old tradition of over-seeding the lawn. Have you noticed a change in the process over the last few years?? What used to be an overnight process, spewing countless allergens into the atmosphere is now a gradual process. For more information, follow thi link:  http://www.mollersgardencenter.com/mollers-tip.asp

Mid-Century Vacation Rental Home

Palm Springs is an international vacation destination.  Mid-Century homes are very desirable for many visitors coming to town, who  rent by the weekend, week, month or longer.

Many  owners of vacation homes  in Palm Springs, rent out their homes on a part time basis. Income can be generated by renting out their Palm Springs homes when they’re not using it themselves. The rental income often supplements their mortgages, making owning a 2nd home in Palm Springs more affordable for many.

There are numerous property management companies in Palm Springs that handle all aspects of managing vacation rental properties, from advertising and marketing, checking in guests, and cleaning the homes between tenants.  The average management fee is approximately 25% of the rental amounts.

The Racquet Club Road Estates area is a popular neighborhood of mid-century vacation rental properties in Palm Springs.  The photo above is of a home located in the Racquet Club area, that is a very popular vacation rental, grossing approximately $40,000 per year.  Click here for more information.

For more information on Palm Springs Vacation Properties available for sale, please visit The Paul Kaplan Group at our website.  We specialize in vacation properties in neighborhoods throughout Palm Springs.

Read more: http://moneywatch.bnet.com/economic-news/blog/daily-money/7-reasons-why-nos-a-good-time-to-buy-a-home/2834/#ixzz1RLasiJ81

Great video from the CBC. The Looney is at an all-time high, with many homes that formerly would have cost Canadian buyers two million Canadian Dollars are now available for one million Canadian or less! We’re experiencing it in our office, too, as Canadian snatch up fabulous properties! Watch the full video: Canadian Buyers in Palm Springs Land Grab