Toscana: a taste of Italy in the California desert
California’s Toscana Country Club lures wealthy Canadians
Indian Wells, Calif. – Edmonton couple Tony and Daniela Franceschini had no intention of buying a home when they first rolled into the spectacular Toscana Country Club outside Palm Springs, California.
“We were just looking around,” says Tony with a laugh. “But not long after we went through the gates we were sold. By the end of the weekend we had bought a place.” And what a “place” it is. The three-bedroom Early California-style home measures 3,250 square feet and is right on the Jack Nicklaus Signature Golf Course.
There’s also a separate guest house.
The interiors are spacious and sumptuously furnished.
But the outdoor living is just as important, with elegant courtyard, pool and palm-tree landscaping.
The price tag: a cool $1.5 million US, which includes the $150,000 initiation on the golf membership.
“We weren’t looking to spend that much either,” says Tony with a chuckle. “But really it was good value for money. It came furnished and we didn’t have to change a thing, just move in. It was perfect for us. And it included the golf membership.”
This purchase happened in 2009, shortly after Tony retired at age 58 as CEO of Edmonton-based engineering and consulting firm Stantec.
“Since then it’s only exceeded our expectations,” says Tony.
“We use it as a winter place, mainly November through May. The golf is important, but we also play tennis, cycle and hike. We didn’t know a soul when we moved in, but Toscana is very social and we’ve met great people that have made all the difference. You want great real estate, but you also want great things to do and great people to do it with.”
Non-stop three-hour Edmonton-Palm Springs flights on WestJet and the ability to share with family also played into the Franceschinis’ decision to settle at Toscana.
“We also have a time share in Maui,” explains Tony.
“We found it’s just too hard to get there for a long weekend, especially for our two married children and our first grandchild. But Palm Springs is easily accessible and perfect for a long weekend.”
Tony continues to sit on the Stantec board of directors and other boards.
But now he has the flexibility to be based out of Palm Springs instead of Edmonton during the winter and fly from California to wherever he needs to be for meetings.
Toscana Country Club is a master-planned community 200 kilometres east of Los Angeles just outside of Palm Springs in the town of Indian Wells, which is considered one of America’s most prestigious zip codes for its tony homes around pristine golf courses, luxury shopping and exquisite dining.
Since it opened in 2004, a total of 350 upscale single family homes have been built around the two Jack Nicklaus signature golf courses.
At full build-out, Toscana will have 650 homes.
As its name suggests, Toscana mixes some Italian flair with the California desert locale.
All homes are either Early California or Tuscan styled and that flavour shows up in the clubhouse, restaurants, boutique, spa and tennis and sports club too.
“Because our homes start at $1 million, we’re looking at people with significant means to spend on a vacation home,” points out Phil Smith, the president of the Coachella Valley Division of Sunrise Company, the firm developing Toscana.
“They really are buying a lifestyle. The homes are beautiful and highly customized. But the golf, club atmosphere, spa, amenities and other residents are just as, if not more, important.”
Pre-recession homes at Toscana sold very well. But when tough times hit, sales were very slow for a couple of years.
“The whole climate is just better now,” Smith says.
“Momentum has been building and 2011 was better. This year is significantly better with 43 homes sold so far. That’s a value of $75 to $80 million.”
Sunrise Company has also developed other golf communities in the vicinity, such as Indian Ridge (home of the Bob Hope Classic) in Palm Desert and PGA West in La Quinta, as well as Siena and Red Rock Country Club, both in Las Vegas, and Royal Oaks Country Club in Houston, Texas.
With its proximity to heavily populated southern California, the majority of buyers at Toscana are from Los Angeles and Orange County.
However, Western Canada — mostly buyers are from Calgary, Edmonton and Vancouver — are the next biggest contingent.
Like the Franceschinis, most of those Canadian buyers are after the sun and warmth the California desert serves up year round.
If it can come with a luxury home, golf and a long list of other amenities, so much the better.
Check out ToscanaCC.com or call 760-772-7000.