Question for the Thermal exhibitors

[Mozart]

DH and I are toying with the idea of buying rental/vacation/retirement property in the Palm Springs area. I believe he is counting on the proximity of Thermal as the carrot to dangle before me. He definitely has my attention.

Q: Where do Thermal exhibitors tend to stay? Hotels or rental homes? Any particular area they prefer to rent in? How close to the show grounds do they have to be? How much do they expect to pay to rent a house for a month?

Q: Any words of advice or warning for someone looking at property in that area?

Thought of another one:
Are exhibitors more likely to rent a house with multiple bedrooms so that more people can rent together?

[*DS*]

I always stay in the PGA West with multiple bedrooms, though The Palms is a new area that is very close to the show grounds. I am going to try renting a place there next year.

[3Dogs]

I think both are used - most trainers I know get houses/large condos as close as they can (ie where one can find nice condos/houses - not Thermal lol - ) and I guess if you are an exhibitor who can stay down for loads of time, a circuit rental would work too - but I always stayed in one of the closer hotels for the weekend.

Heard from trainers that this year, rentals very depressed (good for them!)

[findeight]

Mozart, are you familiar with the general area?

I grew up out there. Not a bad place for a vacation home but, unless it has really changed, Thermal is still aways from Palm Springs and not a...ah...prestigious address. Oh, it's better then Brawley but do be careful to research long time property values once you get to Indio and on south.

Horrific in the summer too-hence the name Thermal and the fact it has not built up until recently. Unlike Palm Springs which has been a spa for nearly 100 years. Or even Twenty Nine Palms. Once you get on south along the Salton Sea, it's not so desireable.

[Tex Mex]

La Quinta is probably the most popular area for competitors to rent. Condos or houses that can sleep at least three are preferred so that people can share. Most horse people have dogs so hotels can be an issue. Most of the 3 bedrooms I heard of rented for around $6500 for circuit this year.

[findeight]

Yep, La Quinta has been popular forever, vacationed there waaay back when I was still a kid. Good for golf too.

[forward ride]

i third la quinta :) driving out tomorrow, can't wait :D

[AndNirina]

La Quinta is your best bet, especially PGA West. You can double-dip and rent out your place for the Bob Hope Golf tournament as well, which is played on PGA West Palmer & Nicklaus Private courses.

[Dun Ciarain]

La Quinta is your best bet, especially PGA West. You can double-dip and rent out your place for the Bob Hope Golf tournament as well, which is played on PGA West Palmer & Nicklaus Private courses.

There are also a number of tennis tournaments done there as well.

[MILOUTE55]

we're renting a house, cheaper and more fun for the reps after a long day at the show :yes:

I wish I had time to go for at least a few days, every year I say I will go and I end up stuck in my office writing the checks for the rent :no:

[Mozart]

Thanks for the pointers everyone. I'm not too familiar with the area but we have vacationed in the area (not specifically Thermal) a couple of times and liked it a lot more than I thought I would. I initially wasn't keen on the area (thinking it was full of seniors in bad golf pants) but I was pleasantly surprised.

We are Canadians so we would not live there year round, we would just be there for part of the winter, to escape our winter. Today, -40 Celsius with the wind chill....anything "thermal" sounds really good....

[3Dogs]

Mozart - I was just there and ran into nothing but Canadians :D - given the weather your describe at your home, why the heck NOT! :yes:

Tennis starts this week? La Quinta is most loverly, pricey, but loverly.
I stayed one place this year where several of the Canadians I met rent condos for 3-4 months every year. An option?

[Mozart]

Yes, renting is an option but the housing prices are making a lot of otherwise sensible and cautious Canadians go "hmmmm...." I know of a number of people that have already bought rental/retirement homes in California, Arizona and Florida.

I dunno, I'm the financially cautious type but I have to admit I am intrigued. My husband is even more cautious than I am so if he is interested we'll give it some serious thought.

Thanks again for everybody's input.

[chukkerchild]

I dont have much to say, but I was just there (at Eldorado polo Club) and I loved it so much, its gorgeous and the Thermal show was amazing :)

[NumberTenOx]

Joining the chorus, I almost always stay in La Quinta. Rented a one-bedroom condo this year for my daughter and me (I slept on the pull-out couch, her back doncha know...), $1600 a month, I made that deal the day before we showed up down there. My impression is that there were tons of places empty and prices were really low.

Could be a great time to buy, hopefully attendance will improve by next year...

[Horsesport]

Hello,
I am a hunter jumper person and about 4 years ago also got in to Real Estate...(Bad timing, I know!) I had a nice sales business and used to do the whole circuit every year. I have seen the market go from modest, to ON FIRE and back to, well, modest at best.
There are screaming deals in PGA West, La Quinta and Indian Palms, as well as many other, smaller, brand new developments. The real deals come in the forms of Short Sales or Foreclosures. If you are interested to just have a peek, shoot me an e-mail and I can send some current listings. heatherfogarty@aol.com.