Moving to Palm Springs, CA Advice anyone? (Vista, Chino: military, apartment complex)

[marinewife27]

My husband and I are moving to Palm Springs, Ca from Washington, DC very soon! and really need to know good areas and bad. We want to be in a safe area, so any advice would be great! We are looking for an apartment close to shopping and restaurants and want something nice, but not too expensive. My Husband is in the military, so we want an affordable place to rent, but also SAFE! I don't want to be afraid in my own home. Also any advice on apartments to stay away from would be great!

[GoodbyeCalifornia]

Marinewife:

First off since your husband is a Marine I am guessing he will be stationed at 29 Palms. That's a bit of a way from Palm Springs. But I will assume that you know this and intend to live in Palm Springs. To answer your question about areas that are good or bad, I will do my best.

While things are improving I personally still wouldn't live much north of say Racquet Club Drive. There are some nice areas but you still will be up against pockets of not so nice neighborhoods.

Your best bet would be to stick to Central and South Palm Springs. This will definitely put you closer to shopping and restaurants. As for Central P.S., there are are some decent looking apartment complexes below Sunrise on Tahquitz Canyon Way as you head toward the airport. There is a shopping complex that is on the opposite side of the street from most of them. Further down Sunrise at Ramon Road, there is another large apartment complex that sits behind another sizable shopping center.

South Palm Springs, the area around the Smoketree Shopping Center is nice. There are some nice apartments as well as condo complexes that you might find for rent. Further down E. Palm Canyon as you head toward Cathedral City, there are quite a few apartment complexes, still within range of shopping.

The problem that you might run into is price. I don't know what you consider affordable. A place in a nice area probably won't be much less than $1,000 a month. There are exceptions, but $1,000 a month I think is a good rule of thumb for Palm Springs.

A good resource to help you in your search for a place might be to go to mydesert.com, which is a website linked to the local paper, The Desert Sun. You can get a better idea of what is out there.

Lastly, if you are moving to Palm Springs, try and stick to Palm Springs. Avoid such cities as Desert Hot Springs, Indio, and Coachella. I don't particularly care for Cathedral City though you might find rents cheaper there, but crime a bit higher.

[booz30]

Get ready for 120 degree weather hot really hot hot hot in the middle of nowhere

[Paula Lynn]

Palm Springs is totally miserable in the summer - and the surrounding areas. Be prepared for 120 degree weather. Alot of golf courses, if you like to golf. Too bad he had to be stationed in that area, weather wise. Good luck on your move!

[Bill Richardson]

I have lived in the Palm Springs area for 19 years. Yes ie is hot in the summer and cold in the winter, however there isn't any place with some draw backs.
For a good place to live try "One Quail Place Apartments". They are in Palm Desert, Ca. Great & safe location plus they are owned by the city and offer lower rent to low income people.
Good Luck Bill

[Desertho]

South Palm Springs (south of E. Palm Canyon Drive)is one of the few places in the entire Valley that's nice, safe AND got lots of apartment options. 120-degree weather is rare. Cathedral City north of Vista Chino might be another option. It's closer to the base and the 10 freeway. There are more options in Palm Desert around the College of the Desert area.

[KarlaT2]

Canterra apartments in North Palm Desert are very nice too, though I wouldn't say they are inexpensive. Not sure if you want to stick only to Palm Springs, or venture east a little bit. I'm in La Quinta, and love it here and in Palm Desert. Yes, it's really hot from June-Sept, but the rest of the year is nice.
I'll agree with above poster about South Palm Springs and Smoketree area. Very nice.

[pschamber]

Originally Posted by marinewife27

My husband and I are moving to Palm Springs, Ca from Washington, DC very soon! and really need to know good areas and bad. We want to be in a safe area, so any advice would be great! We are looking for an apartment close to shopping and restaurants and want something nice, but not too expensive. My Husband is in the military, so we want an affordable place to rent, but also SAFE! I don't want to be afraid in my own home. Also any advice on apartments to stay away from would be great!

[SIZE=3]Palm Springs:[/SIZE]
[SIZE=3]http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Palm_Springs,_California[/SIZE]
[SIZE=3]Google map:[/SIZE]
[SIZE=3]http://maps.google.com/maps?q=Palm+Springs,+CA,+USA&sa=X&oi=map&ct=title[/SIZE]
[SIZE=3]History:[/SIZE]
[SIZE=3]http://www.ps4rent.com/articles/articles_more.html?id=99[/SIZE]
[SIZE=3]Palm Springs, Money Magazine, one of best places to live:[/SIZE]
[SIZE=3]http://money.cnn.com/magazines/moneymag/bplive/2006/snapshots/PL0655254.html[/SIZE]
[SIZE=3]Plans for a reborn downtown:[/SIZE]
[SIZE=3]http://www.palmspringslife.com/media/Palm-Springs-Life/Financial-Guide/Annual-2007/Palm-Springs/[/SIZE]
[SIZE=3]Monthly weather:[/SIZE]
[SIZE=3]http://www.weather.com/outlook/travel/vacationplanner/wxclimatology/monthly/graph/USCA0828?from=36hr_bottomnav_vacation[/SIZE]

[SIZE=3]Things to do:[/SIZE]
[SIZE=3]Golf courses:[/SIZE]
[SIZE=3]http://www.desertgolfguide.com/media/Palm-Springs-Life/Golf-Guide/Search-Golf-Courses/index.php[/SIZE]
[SIZE=3]Thursday evening “Villagefest”:[/SIZE]
[SIZE=3]http://www.palmspringsvillagefest.com/[/SIZE]
[SIZE=3]International Film Festival (January):[/SIZE]
[SIZE=3]http://www.psfilmfest.org/index.aspx[/SIZE]
[SIZE=3]Aerial Tram:[/SIZE]
[SIZE=3]http://www.pstramway.com/[/SIZE]
[SIZE=3]Living Desert:[/SIZE]
[SIZE=3]http://www.livingdesert.org/visitor_info/admission.asp[/SIZE]
[SIZE=3]Desert Art Museum:[/SIZE]
[SIZE=3]http://www.psmuseum.org/[/SIZE]
[SIZE=3]Air Museum:[/SIZE]
[SIZE=3]http://www.palmspringsairmuseum.org/[/SIZE]
[SIZE=3]Palm Springs Follies:[/SIZE]
[SIZE=3]http://www.psfollies.com/[/SIZE]

[SIZE=3]Coachella Valley:[/SIZE]
[SIZE=3]http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coachella_Valley[/SIZE]
[SIZE=3]Links to government and other services:[/SIZE]
[SIZE=3]http://cvep.com/community_resources.shtml[/SIZE]

[SIZE=3]Calendars:[/SIZE]
[SIZE=3]Calendar by month:[/SIZE]
[SIZE=3]http://www.palmspringslife.com/media/Palm-Springs-Life/Desert-Guide/Calendar-of-Events/[/SIZE]
[SIZE=3]Annual events:[/SIZE]
[SIZE=3]http://www.palmspringslife.com/media/Palm-Springs-Life/Desert-Guide/Calendar-of-Events/Palm-Springs-Ongoing-Events/index.php[/SIZE]

[SIZE=3]Palm Springs Chamber of Commerce:[/SIZE]
[SIZE=3]http://pschamber.org/[/SIZE]
[SIZE=3]Member companies: [/SIZE][SIZE=3]http://www.pschamber.org/directory.html[/SIZE]
[SIZE=3]Community calendar: [/SIZE][SIZE=3]http://www.pschamber.org/member_events.html[/SIZE]

[Paula S]

I will too be moving from the DC area to Palm Spring this fall in.. I dont know much about the areas so I can't help you there. I do know from several visits that this is the place to be. You wont have to worry about that afternoon thunderstorm coming thru everyday during the summer and you can get outside and enjoy the winter.

Safe travels on your move..
Paula

[SouthCoast604]

North of E. Tahquitz Canyon Way is a nice area. Very safe and very affordable. You can even walk to downtown (if you're the rare American who doesn't go everywhere by car) to the shops and restaurants