It’s Giving Tuesday, and I want to take a chance to give a shout out to some great local nonprofits that could use your help this holiday season:

• Joshua Tree National Park Association is a private nonprofit that works in partnership with Joshua Tree National Park to help in its achievement of programming goals. You’ve probably interacted with JTNPA at the park's visitors centers, and JTNPA offers classes through the Desert Institute and even has an artist-in-residence program! Click here to donate.​
• Friends of Big Morongo Canyon Preserve is a nonprofit that helps the advancement of programs at Big Morongo Canyon Preserve in Morongo Valley. At 31,000 acres, the diverse landscape of BMCP has been an important part of the Morongo Basin’s natural and cultural history for almost 2 billion years, and it’s one of the 10 largest cottonwood and willow riparian (stream) habitats in California. Donations help pay for trail maps, educational materials, trail maintenance, youth programs, and more. Click here to donate.
• Mojave Desert Land Trust has conserved over 100,000 acres of desert habitat, to date. Its mission is to protect the Mojave Desert ecosystem and its scenic and cultural resource values. MDLT offers great volunteering opportunities that are a wonderful way to learn about the desert ecosystem. The annual plant sale is also a good way to landscape your properties with native desert plants.  Click here to donate. 

Know of some other nonprofits in the hi-desert that deserve a shout out? Post in the comments to spread the word!

In these uncertain times due to the COVID-19 pandemic, you might be wondering if buying or selling a home is possible right now. The answer is, "Yes."

There are still buyers looking for homes, and inventory is low. The rural hi-desert is a desirable location in Southern California. For buyers, there are no better housing prices, and for sellers, there is a very good return on investment. As the CFO at my office says, the Morongo Basin "is a great place to make a reasonable investment at the lowest price for the highest return."  

Real estate is considered an essential business, so I am still able to work with buyers and sellers at this time. Here are some of the ways  I can help:

If you are considering buying home, we can do almost the whole process virtually. It is a great time to take advantage of the very low interest rates. From home tours to mortgage applications to signing escrow and title documents, real estate business is easy to do online! 

• Live video chat tours – You stay home, and I will tour the home with you on a video call. We will take time to look at every nook and cranny. I have lots of experience doing this for clients.
• Limited in-person tours – Don't bring the whole family. I am limiting in-person tours to only one or two people, and we all have to sign a "Coronavirus Property Entry Advisory and Disclosure" in advance. We must all wear masks and gloves, and always stand 6 feet or more apart.
• Secure digital signings – Realtors have been using digital contract documentation for years. We will discuss all the terms for the contract, then I will set it up and send it to you for eSigning. It's simple and secure, and all disclosures can be signed digitally.

If you are considering selling your home, there are still buyers shopping. We can talk about your listing over the phone and do all the paperwork digitally. Now more than ever it is crucial to capture the attention of online buyers. Here's how I can help:

• Website exposure – Your property will be syndicated to hundreds of websites to ensure buyers will see it online.
• Video tours – I will record video tours of your home so online viewers can see the space and imagine themselves in it. 
• Social media marketing – I will feature your listing on my social media channels with appropriate hashtags to reach potential buyers. 
• Virtual open houses – I can host a virtual open house, which can be advertised in the MLS. This will help potential clients "tour" the property and ask questions in real time.

If you are in the market to buy or sell at this time, please contact me. I'm happy to chat more about the process and ease any concerns you may have. Call or text me at 760-459-4663, or send an email to [email protected]. 

The dog days of summer are here, and school's finally out! As you plan your vacations, send the kids off to camp, or schedule poolside playdates, don't forget that now is also a great time to buy or sell a home!

If you're thinking about listing your home for sale, don't let the rumors of "summer is a slow selling season" get you down! Call me today to see how I will help market your home and find the perfect buyer for it.

Once you list your home, it's important to play up the season. Here are some tips on how to take advantage of "summer brain" and make your house appealing to prospective purchasers:

1. Play up the pool! It may seem obvious, but if you have a swimming pool, summer is a great time to showcase it. Make sure the pool is sparkling clean and that all required safety equipment is present and functional.
2. Highlight your outdoor living spaces. Do you have some nice shade trees? Place some matching patio furniture under the shade trees. Dress it up with some colorful pillows and bright place settings. Buyers will be able to envision sipping lemonade in the shade. Make sure your porches and patios are free of debris and dust. A few potted plants and flowers add color and intrigue, as well.
3. Take advantage of longer days and invite your Realtor® to hold twilight showings and evening open houses. The cooler temperatures are more appealing to buyers, and maybe you'll even be blessed with a beautiful sunset, only adding the the beauty of your home!
4. Go on vacation! After you list you'll house, you'll be keeping it in tip-top shape, clean, and decluttered. That way, agents can drop by to show the home when it works best for their clients. If you go on vacation, just clean the home before you go, and it's ready to show at any time. No more scrambling to straighten up for a last-minute showing! Plus, you'll get to enjoy some rest and relaxation!

​If you're ready to list your home for sale this summer, keep these tips in mind, and contact me to learn how I'll work with you to price your home to sell and how I'll help you sell your home. I look forward to working with you this summer!

Call me at 760-459-4663 or send me an email at [email protected].

Are you a first-time home buyer? The process can be daunting, but it doesn't have to be! From determining your budget to stating your desires and from making an offer to conducting inspections, this guide will help you understand the process and put your mind at ease.
Have more questions? Feel free to shoot me an email or give me a call at (760) 459-HOME. As a Realtor®, I'm always here to help! Click the link below to read this handy guide from the National Association of Realtors®.