The Statewide median price of existing single family homes rose to $304,500 in November according to the California Association of Realtors as well as a 2.4% increase over the previous month and 5.8% higher that the same month a year earlier.

In Palm Springs the median price of a single family home was $319,000 in November according to the Desert Area Multiple Listing Service.  That represents an increase of 13% over the previous month but a decrease of 9% from November of 2008.  Of course the number of homes sold in Palm Springs is a smaller sample than California as a whole and prone to wider variation as one or two sales can greatly affect the median price.   Nonetheless, I would view this as a positive sign that the market in California as well as Palm Springs has rounded the corner and headed in the right direction.

  Look for my year end report shortly after the first of the year, detailing home sales in Palm Springs over the course of 2009 and some interesting information concerning the decade and Palm Springs home sales.

I found myself in a dentist chair a few days ago consulting with a periodontist who had been referred to me by my long time dentist.  As he was discussing his prognosis for me, I began to think about the faith I would be placing in this doctor’s hands.   Not only would the procedure involve anesthesia, surgery, and recover time but also a great deal of money.  Was I choosing the right professional and the right course of action? As I discussed my situation with my friends, they had a wide variety of suggestions for me from “just pull the tooth and forget it ”  to “you are making the right decision”.

I related my thoughts on this situation to meeting clients in my profession for the first time and how they might be feeling about their decision to work with me or another professional.  Of course, in real estate the commitment to a professional is not exactly like selecting a dentist.  Appointments are made with a dentist and paid for at the time of service.  Not so for the real estate professional.  Appointments are made and houses are shown, in some cases over a period of months or even years and no fees are collected.  I am sure during this process; friends and relatives are giving feedback concerning the search for real estate just as my friends did concerning my dentist.  They may have opinions about the Realtor, the city, the price point and the selection of a property once it is made. The client may move on to another Realtor, decide not to buy or move to another state to buy. Thus is the life of a Realtor.

When selecting a real estate professional, like selecting a dentist one is placing a lot of faith in the hands of the Realtor.  When buying there is the  search for the property, negotiating a price for the property, inspecting the property, obtaining financing for the property, and closing escrow on the property to mention a few of the  aspects involved in a real estate transaction.   When selling a property many of the same skills are also involved.   All this does take faith and trust in the professional as well it should.

I am asked time and time again what type of buyer or seller I prefer to represent.  Over my 28 years in real estate, the answer I give is simple.  I want to represent a seller or a buyer, no matter how larger or how small the transaction, who is as honest and as loyal to me as I am honest and am loyal to them.  This is the key to a great professional relationship whether with a dentist or a realtor.

If buying or selling real estate in Palm Springs is in your future, I would appreciate the opportunity to meet with you and discuss a professional relationship and of course, referrals are always welcomed.

Gary CarlsonDirect# 760.883.1453

Median price increases from October to November, 2009.

 Further, the median price-the price for which half the prices sold for more and half sold for less- increased from $284,904 ( 115 condos and sfr’s) to $311,760    ( 109 condos and sfr’s) from October to November, 2009 , a gain of 9% in the median sales price.

So, once again, does this indicate a shift in the Palm Springs housing market?  Dwindling inventories and median price increases seem to be telling the story at least for the last sixty days.