In the desert, we are finally seeing the possibility of temperatures under 100 degrees! And, next week should show some signs of fall! This is after the first 2 weeks in September were well above 100, and the desert was usually the hottest spot in the country.

And, just as every other year, the lifestyle offered in the desert is the main reason more and more people are attracted to our area. Whether these people are current homeowners, potential homeowners, or coming as visitors, they all agree on one thing: There is no better place to spend the winter than the Coachella Valley!

As we draw closer to the seasonal market, it is becoming more evident that the troubles in the overall real estate market will affect the desert to some degree. The high-end luxury home market will be less affected than the lower prices homes, but the inventory of high-end homes for sale will probably increase until mid-January, making for a very competitive real estate market this season.

It appears to me that this slowdown will probably take several years before we see signs of real improvement in the national housing market. It looks as if the Fed is ready to do whatever it takes to soften the impact of this slowdown. And, while most of the foreclosures will be in the lower-priced market, the luxury homes may see some decline in values as well.

This month I have included these articles, which I hope you will find interesting:

•	Born to be Number 1: This article from USA Today was picked up and run by many media sources, and it was one of the most down-loaded articles at USA Today. It is not real estate related, but since Andrea McGinty is a friend and client, I have included it.
•	UCLA Anderson Forecast: This article is from Inman News and is fresh off the press! Not exactly what we want to hear, but it will be quoted often. The projected interest rate cuts will be very helpful.
•	The Secret to Pricing Your Home to Sell: This article does a good job discussing the importance of pricing your home correctly if you want to get it sold. Many Sellers are not willing to listen to their Realtor’s advice regarding the right listing price.
•	The 10 Most Expensive Homes Sold in the Desert in August 2007: A large home on 8 Acres sold in Thunderbird Heights. Bighorn is well-represented, Mirada had a sale, and a home in Old Las Palmas, Palm Springs, sold.

If you enjoy receiving and reading this e-Newsletter, please let me know. And, if you have any friends who might be interested, just let me know. If you have any real estate related questions, please feel free to give me a call or send an email: Direct Line: 760.779.1653 or bruce@bruceblomgren.com.

Sincerely,
Bruce