CALIFORNIA
For generations, western Canadians have been drawn to California: the culture and cool of San Francisco or the glamour of Los Angeles. For snowbirds, it’s the desert communities of the Coachella Valley. Palm Springs is the cultural heart of the Valley, with its pedestrian-friendly streets, boutique shopping and wealth of alfresco dining options. Going southeast takes you through the golf havens of Rancho Mirage and Palm Desert to the increasingly suburban towns “down valley,” many surrounded by gated communities – preferred locations for many Canadian snowbirds.
Palm Springs
Single Family Home
Peak: July 2006
$531,000
Lowest: July 2011
$326,000
Recent: July 2014
$477,000
Two-Bedroom Condo
Peak: July 2006
$300,000
Lowest: July 2011
$173,000
Recent: July 2014
$231,000
Rancho Mirage
Single Family Home
Peak: July 2006
$824,000
Lowest: July 2011
$576,000
Recent: July 2014
$658,000
Two-Bedroom condo
Peak: July 2006
$404,000
Lowest: July 2011
$256,000
Recent: July 2014
$282,000
Alternative destination Located in the desert just 80 kilometres north of Palm Springs, the city of Twentynine Palms offers good value in a desert setting. It’s also home to one of America’s last drive-in theatres. Average home prices are in the $80,000 range with rentals weighing in at about $800 a month.