We had lunch at Grill-A-Burger in Palm Desert, on Country Club Drive a few days ago.  It was our first time at this location and we arrived before noon and the place was pretty quiet.  In minutes the restaurant started filling up, including the outside patio.   I ordered the #9 PANCHO VILLA With fire roasted green chile, avocado, pepper jack cheese, onion, tomato, romaine lettuce, and chipotle mayo. Mucho delicious amigos! 9.95    My husband, Bob, had the #11 GREAT EGGSPECTATIONS With a farm-fresh fried egg, grilled onions, and Cheddar cheese and crisp hardwood smoked bacon. 9.95   Both burgers were cooked to order medium-rare and were flavorful and juicy!  We also shared the delicious  LORD OF THE RINGS – BEER-BATTERED ONION RINGS. Large: 6.50/Small: 4.95 When it comes to service... we... 10/20/2014

Kid Friendly Halloween Events Halloween is one of my favorite times of the year. Along with it comes fall, pumpkins, apple cider, and so much more! This year there are plenty of kid friendly events near Palm Desert, California. Below are a few of my recommendations: Pumpkin Patch & Amusement Park - October 10 and October 31 - 3:30 - 10 p.m. Westfield Mall, Palm Desert, CA This pumpkin patch is perfect for little ones. Nothing scary about it, just good old fashion fun with kiddie rides, a giant slide, fun house, snacks, games & prizes, and of course a pumpkin patch! Located in the parking lot of Westfield Mall on the corner of Highway 111 & Monterey. Have fun and support Animal Samaritans at the same time! Palm Springs Villagefest - October 30 - starts at 6 p.m. The City of Palm Springs ... 10/09/2014

Short Sale in Palm Desert CA Do you need to short sale your home in Palm Desert, California? Are you wondering if a short sale is still an option? It is. In fact, below is a short sale in Palm Desert we are currently negotiating on behalf of our client. There may not be as many short sales in the market now, But they are still an option for you. Have you: Missed, or will miss a payment? Suffered a hardship? Are upside down, or aren't sure if you're upside-down? We can help you short sell that Palm Desert house! We will market and obtain a buyer, then negotiate the short sale on your behalf, all without charging you anything upfront, or ever- even after the short sale is completed. We earn our commissions from your lender- you pay nothing. Call us and let's talk about your particular sit... 10/07/2014

Picture sitting on your patio looking over crisp cut greens.  The sun reflects perfectly over calm, peaceful and serene mountains within site.  And just within reach is a luxurious country club loaded with amenities, championship golf courses and activities galore.  Now imagine having the opportunity to make this picture reality as you need not look any further than the picturesque Indian Ridge.   Often times a country club is known for one particular feature or amenity that exceeds expectations while trumping all surrounding clubs.  At Indian Ridge, you will find a well-balanced menu of features ranging from exquisite decadent homes to golf courses designed by the late and great Arnold Palmer to tennis courts fit for night play.   If you are going to look into a new living situation, y... 10/01/2014

SOLD Palm Desert Bungalow This one is gone but we can find you another! Call today. OverviewMapsPhotosFeaturesDescription VideoNeighborhoodMarket Stats $279,000 Single Family Home Main Features 3 Bedrooms2 Bathrooms1 UnitInterior: 1,536 sqftLot: 4,792 sqft Location 77702 Calle Las Brisas NPalm Desert, CA 92211USA Michael Layton Big Block Realty(760) 408-5300michael@psagent.comhttp://www.PSagent.com         Listed by: Big Block Realty Our recent listings Having It All Above It AllLuxury Palm Springs Pool VillaTriple Garage Pool 4 BedroomGolf Course Lot In South Palm Springs Subscribe to our listing feed Nearby properties for sale 09/30/2014

Best Dog Parks in and Around Palm Desert, Indio and La Quinta California We get hot around here and we certainly don’t want to neglect “play” time with our four legged friend. No matter the weather, there’s always a great dog park or off-leash park around Palm Desert to let Fido run free. Here are the best dog parks in and around Palm Desert California.   Freedom Park - this park is located at 77400 Country Club Drive and features over 26 acres with multiple sports fields, volleyball and tennis courts, a skate park, playgrounds, trails and picnic shelters. Of course, there's a fabulous dog park perfect for letting your pooch profits leash and frolic in the green grass. It is a smaller dog park with not a lot of trees or water features but locals say that it's never very crowded in the a... 09/24/2014

Toering & Team represented the buyer on the purchase of a home in Palm Desert located in Desert Greens Country Club.  The two bedroom home located in the gated community was recently remodeled.   The buyer is delighted with her new digs and loves the new kitchen as the one she left behind was in need of a complete remodel.  For her, the best decision was to leave the remodeling for someone else, and find a move-in ready home.   We are delighted we helped this client achieve her real estate goals, and we are here to help you do the same.  Contact Norma and Josh at toeringandteam@gmail.com or visit or our website at ToeringandTeam.com. 09/17/2014

I don’t know about you but I’m super excited for the grand opening of Whole Foods on September 24th here in Palm Desert. From 9:00am until 10:00pm they will offer a “Breaking Bread Ceremony” to celebrate the new market. If you’ve never heard of Whole Foods you might have been living under a rock for the last few years but they don’t advertise on TV or in a lot of print marketing so the only way you may have know about them is through word of mouth. This amazing national chain only sells organic food, from the produce to the processed, everything is natural and organic. It’s amazing. And not only will I be in attendance but the new market will also host a variety of events following the grand opening to give everyone the opportunity to experience and sample some of the best offerings of ... 09/10/2014

Top 5 Tips to Consider When Purchasing a Home Buying a home is a big decision and making sure you haven't overlooked something major before signing on the dotted line can be  overwhelming to say the least. Most home buyers have a hard time really looking at the home itself. Rather, they tend to focus in on  cosmetic issues like a bright green wall, maintenance issues needing attention or worse spend more time looking  at the seller's furniture or pictures on the wall rather than the space itself.   Some things are easier to change than others. Paint, carpet, and minor maintenance issues shouldn't be the biggest of concerns. Here are 5 things I like to remind my home buyers when shopping for a home. Top 5 Things to Look for When Purchasing a Home  1. Location - This is a big one. You can... 09/09/2014

What Not to Do When Applying for a Mortgage Most home buyers don't realize how important the communication is between their Realtor and mortgage broker. Your Realtor will need all the details of your preapproval before you begin your home search.   If you are considering purchasing a home in the near future, here are ten great tips to follow. My preferred lender at Vanmar Lending, Ron Saporito, in Palm Desert provides this to all of our clients when completing the mortgage application and I thought it would be great to share. The loan process can be overwhelming but the more prepared you are, the smoother it will go.  As funny as the presentation is, all of the "Commandments" hold truth.   10 Commandments for Applying for a Mortgage in Palm Desert, CA 1. Thou shalt not change jobs, beco... 08/14/2014

Villa Portofino - Palm Desert Active Adult Community Recently purchased by Family Development, Villa Portofino offers a healthy and carefree lifestyle for those 55 years of age or better in an Old World atmosphere of an Italian Village. Along with panoramic views of the San Jacinto and Santa Rosa Mountains, Villa Portofino offers a well-appointed lifestyle at an affordable price - search villas for sale. Villa Portofino offers one and two bedroom Italian Villas starting in the low $200,000's. Both floor plans come with granite countertops, stainless steel appliances, recessed lighting, coffered ceilings, a built-in wet bar, and a security system. The 1 bedroom, 1 bath villa presents 1,009 square feet with 10-foot ceilings, large living area, and a generous loggia. The 2 bedroom, 2 bath ... 08/14/2014

PALM DESERT California is experiencing a reduction in inventory and a rise in median sales price. Currently there are only  247 homes for sale in all price ranges.   Median listing price is Over $780,000 since 35 of the total homes for sale top the million dollar mark!  In June and July of 2014 we saw a whopping 13 properties close over one million dollars. (See Luxury Properties for sale in Palm Desert) Of course people can list their homes anywhere they want!  What they actually sell for is driven by the market. In this case June and July 2014 saw a $571,280 for single family homes.   Finding the Bargains: In the popular 3 Bed 2 bath single family home category there are just 132 total homes for sale (out of the 247 city wide)  but if you reign in the pricing and keep it under $300,00... 08/13/2014

Real Italian Deli is the REAL DEAL!  ****UPDATE ON THIS POST:  The Real Italian Deli now bakes their own bread!Wow!  Check out this sandwich! *** The Real Italian Deli in Palm Desert is the REAL DEAL!  We were excited to discover this hidden gem in the heart of Palm Desert!We stopped in for lunch and ordered a couple of Italian sandwiches... delicious!Serving up handmade Italian sandwiches, salads, and cheeses, the Real Italian Deli is authentic.  They have an abundant selection of Italian salamis, cured meats, cheeses, and olives.  The aisles are stocked with artisan pastas, Italian cookies, sardines, olive oils, balsamic vinegars, specialty flours, and sauces... and many more imported items.  If you are craving your Italian fix... then this is the spot for you.  Take home all the ingr... 08/09/2014

  A Sunset In The Desert     Being out of the direct sunlight makes for a cooler experience while outside. As the sun sets the winds have begun to picked up which does wonders for the hot desert air. All in all, the sunset brings much good, including a chance to snap a few shots.   07/21/2014

    I had the chance to get out for a walk this morning, we chose to walk along the golf course at Shadow Ridge. It is a beautiful course in Palm Desert, very green in this desert setting.   I got a shot of the greenery, the water, and the facilities here on the course. It sure makes walking easier when you have views like this.     07/21/2014

  A Room With a View? Of Course!     Golf Course that is!   If you have ever been to the Palm Desert, Palm Springs area of Riverside County, you know how many golf course there are to choose from here. I wouldn't know how to even begin to count how many there are but they are everywhere!   Pictured here is the Shadow Ridge Golf Course. I think it's the 16th hole.     07/20/2014

  Signs of Life in the Desert     Okay, it's not so bad here in Palm Desert, only 102 this afternoon. Looks like a slow introduction to the warmer days ahead. After checking into the beautiful room on the Shadow Ridge Golf Course we saw signs of life outside. This little bunny seems comfortable going about his business.   07/20/2014

    Do You Know That Is Hot In Palm Desert This Time Of Year?     When telling friends and family of are trip to Palm Desert today I’m asked. “Do you know that it’s hot there this time of year?” Yes, I’m well aware of that. In fact we were there the same week four years ago and it was hot. We had a blast and wanted to come back again. Today it that day. Looking forward to a great week in the desert. 07/19/2014

  Thought We'd Get Away To A Place Even Hotter Than Home     The temperatures have been pretty warm here in Placerville the last few weeks but my wife and I will be getting away to a place that is even hotter. We have been to Palm Desert before and enjoyed our stay there on the golf course. We will be heading down tomorrow for some hot summer days.   We like it HOT!     07/19/2014

Elaine Stewart, Top Producing Agent for RE/MAX Consultants has once again ranked in the Top 100 of 80,000+ Individual Agents in the United States for Residential Sales. The rankings for the first quarter of 2014 were posted and for the fourth year Elaine ranked in the top 100. For over 20 years Elaine has been a top producing agent in the Coachella Valley with the last 8 of those years with RE/MAX. Elaine Stewart was recently awarded the Remax Lifetime Achievement Award in 2013.  The Remax Lifetime Achievement Award honors highly successful agents who have 100 million in sales and over seven or more years of service with Remax.  Elaine Stewart was the #1 top producing Remax Agent in 2013, 2012, 2011 and 2010 for all of the Coachella Valley. Elaine was also the #2 top producing Remax Age... 06/16/2014