We are Looking at Rancho Mirage (Indio, Palm Springs: for sale, real estate, 2014)

[T.Winter2001]

Greetings City-Daters!

Once again it's that time again to ask and inquire so my wife and I are looking around Rancho Mirage to possibly buy a primary retirement Condo. Researching the area we like the IW and Vintage Country Clubs. SO suffers from chronic issues so medical marijuana is part of our life now. We've never been to the Coachella Valley so any advice you have is greatly appreciated. we are flying down from Billings next month passing 2 weeks looking with a Realtor. Rancho Mirage, La Qunita and Palm Desert. We are looking for, ....

2/2 Condo
Budget: $350k -/+
Golf Community
Security / Gated
Amenities
2 Car Garage

Finally, as SO is ill, being near Medical Marijuana Dispensaries is a big plus.

Ps. If you are a typical crazed and bored liberal and want bash us then please just don't bother to respond.

Thanks

Jimmy & Mary

[nightlysparrow]

Although the real estate prices are still reasonable, what kills you for condos in all the Coachella Valley are the monthly HOA fees; $500-$800 per month not at all unusual, with the higher end for golfing clubs. And the a/c costs are very high (and you need it 9 months of the year), and water rates due to the drought are poised to skyrocket. Don't know how the clubs will keep their greens green. Plus, add in earthquake insurance if the HOA doesn't carry it. The older the condo, the least stable for quakes (a regular occurrance there, of course you know). Sorry, don't mean to be a downer. Love the area and go there a lot.

But, on the positive side, lots of dispensaries! Some CA counties don't even have them! Here's the map for the dispensaries:

https://weedmaps.com/

Also, make sure you have a good Medicare plan:

http://www.desertsun.com/story/news/...rges/12263451/

[Twinkle Toes]

Those HOA dues include a golf membership. HOA dues with no golf membership (usually optional) are not that high.

[desertlover14]

Originally Posted by Twinkle Toes

Those HOA dues include a golf membership. HOA dues with no golf membership (usually optional) are not that high.

Thanks Twinkle Toes, where are they?? NO PALM SPRINGS

[T.Winter2001]

We don't play golf due to my wife's ill health but we do want a view of the pretty greens! Our HOA budget is $500 - $800. We hear Indian Wells Country Club is nice. We are keeping our HMO Florida based as usual. Please keep the comments coming and Mary says " muito obrigada ".

Jim & Mary

[desertlover14]

Jim and Mary,

I drove right by the entrance to the IW Country Club today. I was so tempted to see if I could get in to look around. Wanted to see what was for sale. Well, I didn't so I haven't seen it. I've heard great things about it and Indian Wells is top notch here in the valley. It seems like there's a great variety of condos in there from 532 sq ft to ???

Pretty sure the HOA are high. I'd say at least five hundred. IW offers it's residents special benefits and discounts with proof of ownership. Like, it seems some country clubs there don't have workout rooms, so you can go to the Hyatt and us theirs, maybe the pools. too. But from what I have read, most of the condos have pools nearby.

It seems some condos didn't have garages there. So, if that's important to you, check it out. It's a deal breaker for us. The sun will destroy your car quickly.

Good luck. Bear with me, I'm new on this forum and haven't actually seen IW Country Club, or even lived there, but I've been in the valley since 1986.

[jamieccc]

Not sure if you would be interested in 55+communities. My husband and I are moving to Del Webb Sun City Shadow Hills in Indio within the next 2 years. (Retiring)They also have one in Palm Desert. We have been several times to the desert area to see where we want to retire and have chosen the Indio Del Webb. Homes are nice, beautiful golf course, we don't golf either. The place is kept up very nice. People we have met on our several trips have been very nice. Love the idea of having the beautiful grounds and we are not maintaining it. :-). We picked Indio over Palm Desert community because Indio is a younger crowd, Palm Desert seemed to have an older crowd. The HOA fees are around $250 in Indio and I think Palm Desert was Around $300. Hope this helps you. Not sure about the marijuana clinics, but if you find let me know. My husband may be headed that direction for his pain. Thanks.