Palm Springs California Real Estate Guide

With 300+ sunny days per year and perfectly mild winter temperatures, Palm Springs is the ultimate Southern California desert oasis.

This city of 45,000 – one of the largest in the Coachella Valley – offers something for everyone: Warm weather, fresh mountain air, great shopping and dining and a thriving arts scene.

Thanks to its ideal weather, Palm Springs encourages active lifestyles. Hiking, golf, camping and a year-round calendar of cultural events give visitors, second-homers and families things to do from January to December. But beyond the incredible weather and the endless fun, real estate in Palm Springs remains affordable. That’s why snowbirds, families and second-homers have been retiring and/or settling in Palm Springs for decades.

Are you considering buying a home in Palm Springs? Our short buyer’s guide will give you an insider’s look at the climate, neighborhoods, and various attractions Palm Springs offers. 

Hollywood’s Playground

Palm Springs is situated in the San Jacinto Mountains 105 miles east of Los Angeles. And thanks to its location, since the 1950s, the city has become a hangout for celebrities, studio execs, and directors.

Many of Old Hollywood’s biggest stars like Marilyn Monroe and Bob Hope owned estates in the city. Neighborhoods like Movie Colony were haunts for celebrities, and Frank Sinatra was such a fixture that Palm Springs has roads named after him. (You can also rent his former estate for events.) 

Today the city still has strong ties to Hollywood. Each year, the Palm Springs International Film Festival beckons many of the biggest names in the movie business. The festival, which is held each year in January, was founded by former mayor Sonny Bono, and the city’s numerous four- and five-star resorts remain popular hangouts for Hollywood insiders.

Palm Springs Homes: Mid-Century Modern Stunners

Palm Springs came of age in 1940s and 1950s, and it was during this period that a distinctive form of architecture took over the landscape: Desert Modernism.
Closely related to mid-century modern architecture, Desert Modernism utilizes glass walls, clean lines, open floor plans, indoor/outdoor spaces, and steel to create elegant, simplistic profiles. Today, many homes for sale in Palm Springs have this distinctive look, and you’ll notice it with all types of properties, including residential, Palm Springs hotels and civic buildings like the Palm Springs Art Museum.

Several Palm Springs’ neighborhoods showcase this distinctive architecture including:

•    Movie Colony – Within walking distance of Palm Springs’ bustling downtown, Movie Colony is home to a range of mid-century residential and commercial spaces.

•    Twin Palms – Located in South Palm Springs, many of the original mid-century Alexander homes were built here in 1956 and 1957.

•    Indian Canyons – This neighborhood – home to the Canyon Country Club golf course – was developed in the 1960s, and features numerous Desert Modern homes and buildings. 

•    Vistas Las Palmas – When construction began in 1958, Vistas Las Palmas was known for its modernist architecture and celebrity residents. The Swiss Miss homes are quite popular in Las Palmas.

•    Deepwell Estates – A central Palm Springs neighborhood, Deepwell features a mix of mid-contemporary and newer green homes, with wide streets great for bikers and dog-walkers.

Year-Round Warm Weather in the Coachella Valley

Planning to buy a house in Palm Springs? Well, be sure to pack the sunblock. The city boasts 300-350 sunny days per year. And Palm Springs’ unique desert climate receives just 5 inches of rain. That makes it perfect for year-round golf and outdoor adventuring.

Temperatures tend to fluctuate between hot, dry summers and mild winters. In winter, early spring and fall, temperatures average about 70-80 degrees. This is one reason the Coachella Valley is popular for snowbirds and winter retirees. In fact, the population of the entire valley peaks at about 800,000 in January, and drops to about 200,000 in July.

Summers can be hot in the desert, with temperatures hovering in the 90-115 degree range. 

Amenities Galore: Shopping, Dining, Events, Arts and Outdoors

Palm Springs is popular among active vacationers, families and homeowners. The reason is simple: There’s just so much to do, see and experience in this desert paradise. 

•    Nature: Joshua Tree National Park is about 45 minutes away, offering an escape for nature lovers. Looking to get outdoors without the drive? The San Jacinto Mountains, which rise just outside the city, offer numerous hiking and dog-walking trails.

•    Arts and Culture: Downtown Palm Springs boasts a lively events schedule and great dining and shopping options. Villagefest – a weekly street faire – draws vendors, artists and more downtown each week during the winter. Weekly wine tastings, concerts, yoga classes, shopping, and restaurants serving up everything from Mexican and Italian, to fresh seafood – you’ll find them all here. 

•    Golf: Golf is probably one of the biggest draws to Palm Springs. The city and the entire Coachella Valley are home to dozens of award-winning golf clubs and resorts. Nearby, you’ll find public courses like Indian Wells Golf Resort and Escena Golf Club.

Search For Palm Springs Properties

This is the only website you will need to search for homes, condos, land and foreclosure properties in the Palm Springs area. It is easy-to-use and updated every 15 minutes by the official MLS database. You can save searches, and get daily email alerts for new listings, price changes, properties sold, and market reports. Our Interactive Map Search allows you to view properties on a map or refine your search by drawing the boundaries around the area you desire.