Palm Desert

Stunning views and world-class amenities make The Lakes one of the treasures of the Coachella Valley’s collection of resort communities. Founded in the early 1980s and named for the 23 freshwater lakes dotted throughout this gates community, The Lakes is much more than a golfing community; its offering of both cozy ranch-style homes and vast Spanish-style residences within a verdant community surrounded by nature brings out Palm Desert's greatest features. The Lakes is located within the resort town of Palm Desert, renowned for its thirty golf courses and hundreds of tennis courts. The Lakes is more than just a golf club, however. Homes in The Lakes tend to be expansive condominiums around the golf courses or skirting the club’s perimeter. Residents may choose to live in Spanish-inspired ranch homes with views of the course and the distant Santa Rosa Mountains. Units range from 1,300 to 2,800 square feet and are predominantly one story in height, many with modern amenities and interiors. Tall palm and shade trees populate the neighborhood and provide shelter to residents playing on the fairways. Homes vary in price from $400,000 for two-bedroom, two-bathroom ranches to over $1 million for sprawling, 4,600+ square-foot models. Realtor Angela Caliger of Surterre Properties, who has sold several properties in this subdivision, says, “Living in The Lakes is like a built-in vacation. This very active community offers a newly renovated clubhouse and fitness center, 27 holes of golf, 44 pools, tennis, pickleball, pop tennis, bocce ball, two dog parks, and many more amenities. There are clubs and get-togethers to satisfy all different interests.” This community is served by the Desert Sands Unified School District, which Niche considers to be among the top 50 California school districts for teaching quality, as well as among the top 75 for athletics. Students attend the A-rated James Earl Carter Elementary School, the A-minus-rated Palm Desert Charter Middle School, and the A-rated Palm Desert High School, all of which are located within a 2.5-mile drive. Palm Desert High not only features highly rated teachers, but also a variety of career programs in fields from music and theatre to engineering and biomedical sciences. Membership to The Lakes Country Club is complimentary for residents. Locals can play through one of the club’s three golf courses with panoramic views of the Santa Rosa Mountains and any one of the freshwater lakes on the property. Afterwards, they can head over to one of the club’s quality athletic facilities and later to its top-notch dining halls. Residents will also have plenty of opportunities outside The Lakes to connect with nature. The Civic Center Park is the largest in Palm Desert, with several public art installations and space to host musicians and public speakers. The area has no local grocers or retailers, but nearby neighborhoods have those bases covered. Franchises like Ralph’s Fresh Fare are in the Desert Springs Marketplace near Desert Willow. While there, locals can grab a hot cup or a tasty treat at the IW Coffee & Chai Bar. Cork Tree offers refined California fare in a cozy and romantic setting for quality dining. Access to major highways such as Interstate 10 puts residents of The Lakes within a 120-mile and approximately 2-hour drive from Los Angeles, while the picturesque desert of the Coachella Valley Preserve is a mere 8 miles to the north. Residents can therefore both enjoy proximity to “the Entertainment Capital of the World” and the attractive quiet of the Coachella Valley.

Palm Desert Country attracts homebuyers who desire immediate access to golf courses, restaurants and highly rated schools. Homebuyers often choose Palm Desert over Palm Springs, which is 14 miles away, because housing is less expensive. “There’s a lot of families, but a lot of older people with no kids. Very popular amongst snowbirds,” says Anthony Caronna, a Coachella Valley native and broker for 4th Dimension Real Estate.<br><br>The architectural features of many houses include clay tile roofs, stucco exteriors and backyard pools. The properties offer enough yard space for grilling or lounging with friends under the shade of palm trees. You can find a two-bedroom, two-bathroom condominium overlooking the second hole of Palm Desert Resort Country Club for $340,000. In Golden Sun Estates, a gated community developed in the 1980s, you can buy a two-bedroom house with a covered patio for $410,000. You can purchase a five-bedroom early 2000s Mediterranean-style home with a spa and backyard putting green for $1.2 million. <br><br>Many of Palm Desert’s children are educated at Ronald Reagan Elementary, with an A rating from Niche and a 15-to-1 student-to-teacher ratio. Palm Desert Charter Middle School has an A-minus rating from Niche and offers a curriculum that focuses heavily on art and STEM. Students can move on to Palm Desert High School, which has an A rating from Niche and offers Advanced Placement courses. <br><br>The area includes the Palm Desert Country Club and Resort, which offers a public golf course and The Cactus Club, a pub-style restaurant serving classic American fare like prime rib and meat loaf. The houses alongside the golf course do not belong to a gated community and HOA membership is not required. Sixty-nine two-bedroom villas are in the early stages of construction. They will feature front and back terraces offering views of the 18-hole course and the Santa Rosa, San Jacinto, and San Gorgonio mountains beyond. Woodhaven and The Oasis are two nearby clubs that offer private membership but are still open to the public. Both locations include gated communities where HOA fees are required. <br><br>If you need a break from the golf, the centrally located Freedom Park offers public access to eight pickleball courts, three baseball/softball fields, three basketball courts, two volleyball courts, two multipurpose fields, a dog park, multiple playgrounds and a picnic shelter. “The City of Palm Desert offers really easy living,” says Honey Guleria, executive premier director of Windermere Real Estate and 20-year resident of Palm Desert. “The whole community is geared towards resort-style living. It’s a big change for people driving out from L.A. where there’s a lot of traffic. Everything here is so much more convenient.”<br><br>Palm Desert Country offers grocery stores, restaurants and boutiques. Many residents knock out their weekly shopping at Albertsons. Cups Café, a neighborhood coffee shop, specializes in shrimp frittata and chilaquiles, a Mexican breakfast dish with fried tortillas, sauce and cheese. Pacifica Seafood Restaurant offers homey open-air dining and vegetarian options. Color Pop Boutique specializes in candles, cosmetic grade micas and body and bath supplies. Or stop by OMG Collectibles & Sports if you like buying and selling Pokémon or MLB cards.<br><br>The neighborhood also provides convenient access to Route 10 to drive 20 miles to Palm Springs or 124 miles to Los Angeles. The yearly Coachella Valley Music and Arts is also a significant tourist draw for the city. The neighborhood is also five miles from Acrisure Arena, a 10,000-seater that opened in December 2022. Chris Rock and Dave Chappelle have performed there, and the Lakers have played there. Locals also enjoy visiting the Living Desert Zoo and Gardens, which features about 50 distinct gardens and 150 species of animals.

Life in Palm Valley revolves around golf—literally. This serene community is centered around Palm Valley Country Club, and every home in the neighborhood features panoramic views of the course. “It’s a community that has been around for several years and has kept its luster in terms of the way it’s taken care of and maintained. It’s in a good area near lots of other clubs of distinction,” says Mark Weissmann, a Realtor with Pellego, Inc. “They have good facilities for golf and other activities.” Residents of Palm Valley have convenient access to the country club if they choose to become members, offering them a spot for golf, tennis, relaxing by the pool or enjoying a meal with neighbors. The meticulously landscaped streets and the well-kept Spanish-style condos add to the grandeur of the neighborhood, providing a feeling of permanent vacation for residents in the Coachella Valley. Palm Valley residents don’t have to get a membership to the country club, but those that do have access to an array of recreational activities. The club has two 18-hole golf courses—the par-72 Championship Course and the par-63 Challenge Course. Golfers can work on their game at the full-service driving range and short game practice area before teeing off. The club also has 13 tennis courts and 12 pickleball courts for residents who enjoy racket sports. Members can work on their fitness at the indoor gym, cool off in the pool or enjoy a relaxing massage in the spa. Non-members still have plenty of ways to relax and enjoy the outdoors, with 46 swimming pools scattered around the neighborhood available to residents. Just east on Country Club Road, Freedom Park is a large green space with baseball fields, basketball courts and pickleball courts. The park also has a playground and walking paths, making it a popular spot to spend time with friends and family. Residents have plenty of options nearby for shopping and dining. The country club has two restaurants, offering a convenient spot for a meal in the heart of the neighborhood. The club is well-known for its pasta dinners, which it serves every Friday night except the last Friday of the month. These dinners include a salad bar, garlic bread, soup and a pasta buffet. Residents enjoy dining outside the neighborhood at Cork Tree, an American restaurant serving California cuisine in a cozy, upscale setting. Groceries are available at Ralph’s Fresh Fare in the Desert Springs Marketplace shopping center. If locals venture a little further from home, they can visit the famous El Paseo shopping district, about 6 miles from the neighborhood. This area is home to popular high-end stores like Gucci, Tiffany & Co., Williams Sonoma and Pandora. Acrisure Arena is just north of the neighborhood and provides a spot for popular events year-round. The arena opened in 2022 and hosts a variety of concerts and performances, including professional wrestling shows. The arena is also home to the Coachella Valley Firebirds, a professional hockey team that is part of the American Hockey League and is affiliated with the NHL's Seattle Kraken. Homes in Palm Valley are primarily Spanish-style condos, some with two units attached and some with up to four units. Most are one story, but a few in the neighborhood’s northern end are two stories. The homes often have spacious built-in garages and are situated close together, making it easy for residents to get to know their neighbors. Mature palm trees and vibrant plants add to the tropical vibe. “Every street is a flower name, and they landscape accordingly. I’ve never seen such a huge crew of gardeners in my life. It’s part of what drew us there,” says Jason McAfee, a Palm Valley resident and broker at Reagan Properties. Nearly every home has a backyard patio overlooking a portion of the golf course, adding a serene spot for residents to relax, host friends for a cookout and enjoy a sunset over the desert mountains. Palm Valley also has 24-hour gate attendants, adding a sense of security for residents. The neighborhood has a crime score of 3 out of 10, according to the CAP Index, lower than the national average of 4. The condos in the community come in one-, two- and three-bedroom floorplans and typically range from $500,000 to $800,000. Buyers in Palm Valley will also be responsible for a homeowners association fee of $936 per month. Students in Palm Valley will likely attend Ronald Reagan Elementary School, rated an A-minus by Niche; Colonel Mitchell Paige Middle School, rated a B; and Palm Desert High School, rated an A. The elementary school is conveniently located just 1.5 miles east on Country Club Drive. Palm Desert High serves approximately 2,100 students and has a student-teacher ratio of 27-to-1. The school offers several career and technology education pathways, including engineering, health and broadcasting. Students can also enroll in the Aztec Arts Academy to study dance or theatre. Palm Valley’s location puts residents close to everyday essentials and major highways that make commuting through the Coachella Valley easy. The closest grocery store is just 2 miles west on Country Club Drive, and there are other shopping centers about 3 miles east of the neighborhood. Interstate 10 is just north of Palm Valley and is accessible from Washington Street to the east or Cook Street to the west. The highway gives residents a main thoroughfare through the valley.

With lush fairways and a variety of amenities, Indian Ridge is a premier country club community in Palm Desert. This gated community was established in 1993 and has significantly expanded, giving residents plenty of resort-style comforts to enjoy. “Indian Ridge is one of the best high-end country clubs in the Valley,” says Barbara Merrill, Indian Ridge resident of 27 years and Realtor at Bennion Deville. “It’s super friendly, down-to-earth and very financially secure. Everyone wants to be here.” Indian Ridge streets are lined with tall palm trees, offering scenic mountain views beneath bright blue skies. Luxury single- and multi-story Mission Revival homes feature meticulous landscaping, stucco walls and terracotta roofing. Spacious floor plans between 1,500 and 4,600 square feet balance indoor and outdoor space and offer views of the green fairways and freshwater lakes. “Indian Ridge has 27 models and all of them are timeless, with high ceilings and contemporary designs,” Merrill says. Three-bed, four-bath homes range from $1.1 million to $2.35 million, the latter of which includes a private pool, hot tub, fire pit and outdoor kitchen. Condos are also available starting at $1.29 million. Indian Ridge is strictly residential, so there are no shopping centers. However, adjacent neighborhoods have those bases covered. The El Paseo Shopping District, known as “the Rodeo Drive of the desert,” offers a bevy of luxury retail options, Saks Off 5th to Sephora. When it comes to groceries, locals can head to Ralph’s at Washington Square Shopping Center. And for dining out, residents can opt for spaghetti in a homey and Italian-themed setting at Mario’s Italian Café, or choose among the many fine and casual dining options within the El Paseo Shopping District. Indian Ridge Country Club also has six different dining venues, including The Arroyo Bar, which overlooks the San Jacinto Mountains. Through the country club, residents have access to two Arnold Palmer Signature golf courses, a fitness center and courts for tennis and pickleball. The neighborhood’s central location in the Coachella Valley gives residents access to plenty of parks, like the Palm Desert Freedom Park, and nature preserves, like the Coachella Valley Preserve. Indian Ridge Country Club hosts events like men’s and women’s tennis days and weekly sunset socials. With Joshua Tree National Park to the east and Mount San Jacinto State Park to the west, there is plenty to explore outside of Indian Ridge as well. Every year, events like the Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival and Palm Springs International Film Festival bring more entertainment and attention to the area. The Desert Sands Unified School District serves close to 27,000 local students. Ronald Reagan Elementary is rated by Niche as the No. 5 Best Public Elementary School in the Palm Springs area and scores an A-minus. Colonel Mitchell Paige Middle is rated by Niche as the No. 5 Best Public Elementary School in the Palm Springs area and scores a B. Palm Desert High is rated by Niche as the No. 1 Public High School in the Palm Springs area and scores an A overall. It has a variety of active clubs, from the Latino Student Union to the mock trial club. The flat, well-paved streets of Indian Ridge make for pleasant biking, particularly when summer temperatures aren’t peaking. As there is no public transportation, the area is car-dependent. There is easy access to Interstate 10, which goes all the way to Los Angeles, and Route 111, which stretches through Palm Desert and Palm Springs. One of several area universities is the University of California Riverside—Palm Desert. Palm Springs International Airport is about 14 miles northwest and John F. Kennedy Memorial Hospital is just 7.5 miles southeast.

Renowned for its high quality of life and views of the Santa Rosa Mountains, Desert Willow began as a golf course instead of a neighborhood. Built in 1997 to increase the city of Palm Desert’s tourism, the resort-like area has won numerous accolades as one of the best public golf courses in Southern California. And there’s not just one championship course; there’s two: Firecliff and Mountain View. Used as a tank battalion training ground in WWII, the area transformed into The Golf Capital of the World in the post-war years. Today, the neighborhood is home to families, retirees and seasonal residents called “snowbirds.” Homes in Desert Willow begin in the $700,000 range and continue to more than $1 million. They’re split between two gated communities: The Retreat at Desert Willow and Montecito. The houses in Montecito take their prairie-style architecture from the work of Frank Lloyd Wright, while The Retreat specializes in Spanish-inspired single-family homes and condos. Each style gives the area a uniform but unique look enhanced by the neighborhood’s meticulously landscaped lawns. Paved golf paths snake through the courses, leading straight to the clubhouse and restaurant. It can take some planning to live in Desert Willow as housing is very limited. Dwellings sell for a median price of $983,000 after 75 days on the market, longer than the 42-day national average. “The weather is almost always perfect, so you have a ton of outdoor activities. There’s a lot of hiking and biking trails all over the valley. Spring is beautiful here,” says Taylor. Palm Desert’s Freedom Park stretches over 26 acres and includes a dog park, playgrounds and walking trails. It’s also home to numerous athletic fields and courts for pickleball, volleyball and basketball. Hovley Soccer Park is immediately recognizable thanks to the giant soccer ball sculptures lining the space. The 21-acre park contains horseshoe pits, a disc golf course and five full-size soccer fields. Back in Desert Willow, several pools and a sidewinder waterslide are available for residents to enjoy on warm days. However, the real recreational attractions in Desert Willow are the two golf courses. Firecliff opened in 1997 and was named for a local supper club. It’s the more challenging of the two courses, with difficult fairways and numerous water features. The Mountain View course opened a year later and remains a more beginner-friendly option for golfers. “Palm Desert is kind of a magnet. There are probably more golf courses here than anywhere else in a small area. In Desert Willow, the courses are public, so it’s not a country club. Everyone can use it, and it’s a very nice facility. It’s a very popular area, and the housing market is active but stable at the moment,” says William Taylor, a Broker with nearly 50 years of experience and the owner of Desert Elite Properties, Inc. Palm Desert is centrally located in the Coachella Valley and has become known as the area's retail and cultural center. Cork Tree Restaurant, Waldo’s Ristorante and Katsuyama are adjacent to the Desert Springs Marketplace, which also has the neighborhood's grocery store, Ralph's. Katsuyama features Japanese tavern food, while Waldo’s Ristorante creates authentic Italian dishes. Cork Tree Restaurant focuses on California cuisine with locally produced wines and ingredients. El Paseo Shopping District is famous for its luxury boutiques filled with high-end designers and fine jewelry. Often compared to Rodeo Drive, this upscale shopping district features sculpture installations and a First Friday art walk from November through May. Desert Willow is centrally located in Palm Desert, just five miles from downtown and 15 miles from Palm Springs. The neighborhood is near Interstate 10 and State Routes 74 and 111, but bike lanes and sidewalks are plentiful, too. The nearest public transportation is found just south of the neighborhood at Cook Street and Country Club Drive. That bus route takes riders to The Shops at Palm Desert, Town Center Square Shopping Center and the Palm Springs Art Museum in Palm Desert. Licensed drivers can use golf carts on some Palm Desert streets for trips to government offices, businesses, schools and parks. The Palm Springs International Airport lies 12 miles from Desert Willow, while the John F. Kennedy Memorial Hospital is a 10.5-mile journey. The Desert Sands Unified School District serves Desert Willow, and students can attend James Earl Carter Elementary, Colonel Mitchell Paige Middle and Palm Desert High. The elementary and high schools earned an A from Niche, while the middle school has a B. Carter Elementary teaches kindergarten through fifth grade and is known for its active parent-teacher organization. Paige Middle educates sixth through eighth graders and hosts the Bright and Early Club to help students with homework before school each day. Palm Desert High has a career technical education program with courses in healthcare, broadcasting and engineering. For higher education options, California State University, the California Indian Nations College and the University of California each have campuses just outside the neighborhood. The Palm Desert is a fragile ecosystem, so the designers of Desert Willow carefully planned landscaping to be beautiful and considerate of the environment. At the same time, extreme heat can be a fact of life in the summer months, with an average high of 106 degrees. Those doing outdoor recreation or work are advised to take frequent breaks and drink water regularly. Earthquakes are possible in Desert Willow, and residents can download the free MyShake app from the Earthquake Warning California program. The system sends alerts when an earthquake is detected to give people extra time to take cover before the shaking starts. The Riverside County Sheriff's Department also looks out for residents’ safety with neighborhood watch and citizens-on-patrol programs. The neighborhood has a CAP Index score of 3 out of 10, meaning Desert Willow’s crime risk is below the national average.