Moving to Palm Desert Area this Summer (Monterey, La Quinta: for sale, homes)

[doghandler]

Hey All,

Husband got a job in Palm Desert. Now looking for a suitable home for our little family of three....my husband and myself and our 2 year old child. Plus three big dogs. I know....I have been here before asking questions. i'm back! An it is for real that we ARE coming out thee and I need any tips I can get!!! We are coming from the east coast and I know NOTHING about living in desert California! Except I have already been warned to avoid Desert Hot Springs.

I was hoping to get into the higher elevations...

How is Pinon Crest or Pinon Flats or whatever it is called to drive to and from the valley floor? Is 74 really a do-able drive for someone to commute into Palm Desert?

How about Yucca Valley and Joshua Tree? How is the commute?

We are coming out to look in a couple of weeks. As much as I want to live away from it all we do have a small child who will soon be school aged. Maybe living up in the higher areas isn't a great idea?? Any tips on where to look for NICE neighborhoods in a price range not exceeding $250,000?

What is up with "the cove" in La Quinta? Seems to be a lot of homes for sale there. What kind of area is that?

Please enlighten me!!!!!!!

Thanks!!!

[Twinkle Toes]

Pinon Pines is not far from Palm Desert at all. It is only about 15 minutes away. Just up Hwy. 74/Monterey Ave.

Yucca and Joshua Tree will be cheaper and you can find the land you are looking for, but it is further - about 45 minutes away.

Some parts of La Quinta Cove are quite nice, but there are other areas of the cove that you might want to think twice about.

You can go to Desert Area Multiple Listing Service and click on 'public access' and punch in your criteria and see what's out there. Also, if you don't read the local paper, you might want to start doing so, just so you have a feel for what's going on in the different parts of the valley. You'll start to see patterns of areas that you may not want to raise your kids in. www.thedesertsun.com.

Best of luck on your move. If you have any other questions, please feel free to DM me, if you want to.