May 2014 – Gallaudet Properties

May 23, 2014

Puttin’ on the Ritz!

A few brand names in American popular culture have become synonymous with the highest levels of quality and taste.

The Ritz-Carlton, Rancho Mirage – Scenic Views

Cadillac would be one of those. In “Get Shorty,” John Travolta refers to his Oldsmobile Silhouette as “the Cadillac of minivans.”

Another iconic American brand that has that kind of stature is The Ritz. We have all probably heard the song, “Puttin’ on the Ritz,” and whenever you want to point out something as being the best of the best, you might say, “It’s really ritzy.”

Hotel reopens
I mention this because just recently a big group of VIPs from local government, the hospitality industry and the community were on hand for the reopening of the Ritz-Carlton, Rancho Mirage.

It was a project that was a long time in the making. The hotel originally opened in 1988 as the Ritz-Carlton, but was rebranded as The Lodge at Rancho Mirage in 2001. It closed in 2006 to transform it back to the Ritz-Carlton, but the economy got in the way for a while.

Everyone at the rechristening will tell you that it looks better than ever and I know local residents are really glad to have the Ritz brand back in the Coachella Valley. And while visitors to the area will certainly enjoy their stays at the Ritz-Carlton, Rancho Mirage, it also has a lot of meaning for families in the area as well as the real estate market overall.

Property owners benefit
Homeowners in the Mirada Estates gated community are entitled to guest privileges from the new hotel! Also, as many as 150 condominiums will be built next to the hotel.

When you’re looking for a very exclusive area with great amenities—including the Ritz-Carlton—Mirada Estates should be on your radar. If the keys to great real estate are “location, location, location,” then Mirada Estates is truly great.

Sitting just above the newly remodeled and reopened hotel, Mirada Estates is perched on a plateau in the Santa Rosa Mountains, so many of the homes have a view out over the desert. Of all the beautiful vistas we have here, one of my favorites has always been the twinkling lights of the desert floor from the nearby mountains.

Nature protected
Mirada Estates is surrounded by the Santa Rosa-San Jacinto Mountains National Monument, so residents there know that the natural beauty will be forever preserved.

The homes are all distinctive, so you can find just about any style of architecture that you prefer. Of course, a variety of golf courses are just minutes away as well. If you download our golf course guide to La Quinta, Indian Wells, Palm Desert, Rancho Mirage and Indio, you can get a good feel for which courses are in and around Rancho Mirage.

And hey, if you’re planning to visit soon to look at some property, why not spend a few nights at the Ritz-Carlton, Rancho Mirage and see for yourself what an excellent job they did!

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May 9, 2014

Everything World Class, Even the Health Care

Visitors to La Quinta and the Palm Desert area expect five-star accommodations, excellent dining and a full-time concierge. And with the number of Hollywood celebrities that make their way here, rolling out the “red carpet” (literally) is a common occurrence.

However, in other parts of the nation that level of customer service isn’t generally associated with a medical center.

We’re blessed to have the Greg and Stacey Renker Pavilion at the Eisenhower Medical Center. Of course no one looks forward to spending time in a hospital like they do a vacation resort, but it’s great to know an upscale facility like this is available in our area.

Our family got a first-hand look at what they do at the Renker Pavilion recently when my husband, Tom, went in for back surgery. To say we were impressed by the level of care, the quality of the food, the privacy and all the amenities would be an understatement. As we navigated through the challenges that Tom’s surgery gave us, the care and support we received at the Renker Pavilion made a huge difference in our lives.

Access to excellent medical care is becoming increasingly important to families and individuals as they decide where they want to live. Newspaper headlines have shown us that there are some corners of our nation that are underserved by the health care system.

Fortunately, residents in La Quinta don’t have that problem. Top quality medical facilities are abundant and the Greg and Stacey Renker Pavilion might just be the “bloom” on the desert rose. It truly sets the standard for personal service and comfort as well as individualized medical care in the health care industry.

Giving back to the community
I might also mention that the Renker Pavilion exists because of the hard work and dedication of Greg and Stacey Renker. Both found themselves fighting life-threatening illnesses. They were so grateful for the treatment and heartfelt care they received at the Eisenhower Medical Center that they decided to spearhead the founding of this very special facility. Community spirit and philanthropy are a big part of life in the desert.

Many of us who love the fact that we have so many golf courses to choose from here also appreciate the fact that we have great health care options, like the Renker Pavilion at the Eisenhower Medical Center.

Maybe someday we should publish a map with health care resources just like we have our golf resource guide. What do you think? By the way, our golf guide is free and you can get it just by clicking the button at the bottom of this page. It gives you a great overview of La Quinta, Palm Desert, Indian Wells, Indio and neighboring areas.

If you’re looking for real estate on or near a specific course, it will get you off to a great start in your house hunting. We’d recommend using our powerful search feature as your next step, or grab the phone and give us a call.

La Quinta real estate
You’ll find that just as the Renker Pavilion sets the standard for catering to the needs of its patients, the country clubs in our area set the standard for satisfying their members. One that comes to mind is The Citrus Club at La Quinta Resort.

The amenities are incredible, including its three courses, a great pool, tennis, spa, fitness center and more. Homes in The Citrus at La Quinta are equally outstanding and a number of prime properties are available right now.

You can probably tell that we’re in love with this area and we truly enjoy sharing it with others. Give us a call and let us introduce you to the possibilities.

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May 2, 2014

A Mixed-Use Development for La Quinta?

Desert living, and the communities here, have always been a fascinating microcosm of the United States. Over the years, people have come here from everywhere—from as close by as the glitzy Hollywood hills to as far away as the snowy Northeast and beyond.

A development recently proposed for Old Town La Quinta might bring another dimension to life in this area—a mixed-use “live and work” project (click here for more information).

Many US urban centers have been revitalized in recent years by an influx of affluent home buyers who want to live in the city core for the sake of convenience and being “close to the action.” This has led to developments with retail on the ground floor and condos up above. It has been successful in a number of cities.

Bringing new retail
It will be interesting to see how this project proceeds. It would certainly be a good addition to all the other great options home buyers have in La Quinta and the surrounding communities. Further, we think everyone would enjoy the kind of retail stores and restaurants that typically come with these kinds of projects.

People have been doing interesting projects in our area for generations and one name that has been prominent is Indian Wells. The Indian Wells Country Club has been host to avid golfers since 1956. Everyone from retirees working to lower their handicaps, to celebrities, to the world’s greatest professionals have played the club’s two courses.

Homebuyers who want to locate near these renowned 36 holes have a lot of options today. And if tennis is your game, you probably recognize Indian Wells as the home of the BNP Paribas Open, often called the “Grand Slam of the West.”

Golf courses in Indian Wells
If you take a look at our free Palm Springs area Golf Resource Guide, you’ll find Indian Wells Country Club just a short distance from the La Quinta Resort. You’ll see that the area is very well situated for shopping and restaurants as well. You’ll also notice that the number of courses in this corner of the desert is truly impressive. Avid golfers don’t need to drive far when they want to test their skills away from their “home course.”

Folks looking for property in the area will discover a wide range of homes in communities such as The Reserve, Toscana Country Club, El Dorado Country Club, Vintage Country Club, Monte Sereno Estates and the Indian Wells Country Club itself, among others. With everything from condos to 8,000-plus square foot homes available, there is really something for everyone in and around Indian Wells.

A great place to start your adventure is with the search feature on our website and be sure to have our Golf Resource Guide handy as well so you can get an overview as you explore properties and communities.

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