Coachella Valley-Why is DHP so cheap? (Indio, San Jacinto: rental car, for sale, rental)

[Chelito23]

I would like some perspective from the residents of the Coachella Valley as to why Desert Hot Springs (DHS) is so much more affordable than the rest of the Coachella Valley? It seems to be slightly higher(elevation) and closer towards L.A. (better location for getting away)...so I don't understand why this community isn't the center of the new development? I have checked out homes for sale on the internet, and there is a large range of price and quality...and some homes are quite nice. I would appreciate anyone who could shed some light on the subject and give their overall view of DHS. Thanks.

[greatbasinguide]

I cannot tell you the answer to your question, but, remember that Desert Hot Springs is built on an alluvial fan, and is in motion, slowly to be sure, but everything build in DHS will one day be on the valley floor.

[Deserter]

Desert Hot Springs has an extremely high crime rate. I believe there is a lot of meth production there. I often hear of carjackings and home invasions on the news.

The city is in dire financial straits and there is constant turnover and scandal in the local government.

The city itself is unattractive and lacking in basic services. It is also quite windy on that side of the freeway. When there is rain there are a lot of flashfloods and road closures out there.

You'd be better off looking in North Indio where prices are somewhat affordable and the city appears to be doing its best to improve.

[TonyT]

As a former Coachella Valley resident I would agree with most of what Deserter said in regards to DHS. The saying goes the the only people that live in Desert Hot Springs are either on pension or parole. There is alot of building going on in the Indio area but Indio itself is hardly a notch above DHS.

[LivingLikeAGradStudent]

Development north of the freeway is not nearly as nice as that south in the Coachella Valley. Desert Hot Springs also suffers from its relative isolation, winds, corrupt (and broke) government and lack of upscale amenities.

[compltlyme]

all of the above is right.... put quite nicely I might add. Having lived there for a total of 6 months and fled, moving faster than I ever thought I could move!!! I grew up for the most part in the Coachella Valley. I knew it had a rep but I thought..."how bad could it really be?" WORSE than I ever could have imagined.

The only good things I could say about it is if you get something stolen and tell your neighbor.... eventually they will steal it back for you after it making it's rounds through several households.

There are so many drugs in that area...especially meth... so much so you can smell it on your skin if you walk down the wrong street. Hey if you get high... it can be free if you stand there long enough.

The winds on the up side will blow the sand so hard that you can save on a facial peel if you stand there long enough!

When it floods... great excuse to be late for work... only a couple routes in and out and the traffic is insane on those routes.

They have been talking about cleaning it up but that was even 12 years ago.. so far, it is the same.

as for North Indio... It is a bit nicer. Mostly because they are for the most part newer homes. Indio seems to be primarily a hispanic area and if you get into the right area it is very family oriented. But like in any mostly affordable place... you have your down sides. Tagging seems to be a problem all over down there. Things have changed on the east side of the valley... a lot of growth and it seems to be raising the bar for the city governments there.

Personally after baking in that area for so many years... I am now in Western Wa and loving it! Have a bit of snow today.... feels like the holidays up here!

[cantblameme]

I moved here to DHS 10 years ago bought a nice house after searching all of the Coachella valley at the time. Got a nice home for a great price too.
I have to tell you I have raised my 2 children here in public schools both honor students now ready to go off to college and to date we have not been touched by the so called high crime that is said to be here. I have never even witnessed any crime in the 10 years I've lived here and I moved here from LA where you see crime daily.
We walk the dogs in the evenings because the temperature is much cooler here at 1100 feet. I know most all of my neighbor's we all watch-out for each other.
I especially enjoy the view the San Jacinto Mountains out my front door and we can see the lights of the aerial tramway operating at night. No where else in the valley can you do that. And the wind? well we get the wind but down below they get all the dust our wind is clean air most of the time.
Cat City usually has to dig out after a wind storm.
We do have a "Bad part of town" Browns town! we just don't go there just like in LA we never went to East or South LA because it was rough and not our way of life. DHS has a north east south and west to it as well. The best place to live in DHS is in the north east and west NOT THE SOUTH END!!! Mission Lakes is in the North West built around a very nice golf course. We now have several other gated communities here as well if thats what you like. The east coachella valley isnt highly recommended . The gated communities in Indio are now installing cameras around their homes because of all the break-ins they are experiencing Indio has always been and always will be a bad place to live no matter what they try and build there. They cannot relocate 4 generations of bad element that has always been and will always be there.
DHS has had its growing pains due to the law suets against the city that really hurt its growth. Its roots are solid and the element that passes through here is only doing just that passing through they dont have roots like in Indio. So the more good that come here and settle that makes less room for the bad right?
DHS has the best water in the country and it isn't in short supply, we have recreation right out our back door, the air is clean the sky is always blue.
If you have children they will attend some of the best schools PSUSD has to offer and there are 2 new schools being built in the city right now. The High School is only 10 years old. Indio high is 50 years old.
As for amenities we get something new everyday. There's plenty of fast food, starbucks, rental car, Sears/Kmart and the one thing DHS is most famous for that brings travelers from all over the world are the SPAS for the natural hot mineral baths thats what I moved here for.
www.deserthotsprings.com Desert Hot Springs Chamber of Commerce
Use this link for up to date info

[Twinkle Toes]

Just check the Desert Sun every day - you'll start seeing a pattern DHS = crime. But don't just take our word(s) for it - get into the habit of checking the Desert Sun everyday.

[Jay100]

DHS is ghetto. I would never live there.

[Charles]

Originally Posted by cantblameme

We walk the dogs in the evenings because the temperature is much cooler here at 1100 feet.

Much cooler?

Temperature drops due to altitude range from about 3.5F to 5F (depending on humidity) per 1000 feet of elevation.