The Palm Desert real estate market showed mixed but mostly positive signals in the month of April, according to the most recent tracking figures.  A May 24, 2010 article from the Desert Sun found that “The California Association of Realtors reports that April sales fell, but the median is up nearly 21 percent across California. The state association reports that the Palm Springs, lower desert area, clocked in with an April median of single family homes and condos of $197,040.” The piece by Debra Gruszecki continued to say that “What triggered the fall in sales in what’s been reported to be a recovering market? Blame it on the state tax credit. ‘It’s likely that the state tax credit that went into effect May 1 created an incentive for many buyers to postpone closing escrow so they could take advantage of both the state and federal tax credits that were available,’ said CAR President Steve Goddard.”

This reported increase in the average purchase price of a Palm Desert home for sale was echoed in a May 25, 2010 report from the Desert Sun. Citing a different authority than the previous report, it noted that “The median price for Coachella Valley home sales in April rose 31 percent in April compared to the same time last year, Palm Springs Regional Association of Realtors data show. It rose to $197,040 from the $150,140 median in April 2009. Overall, sales dropped 4.5 percent last month compared to last year.” The piece, written by Debra Gruszecki, went on to say that “Scott Newton, president of the Palm Springs Regional Association of Realtors, said the April numbers show a market that is moving out of high-season and is so focused on median price that inventory is getting low.”

These tentatively positive indicators for the Coachella Valley and Palm Desert housing markets were most recently referenced in a May 29, 2010 report from KPSP 2 News. This piece by Jackie Pedroza noted that “If you’re trying to sell a home or condo in the valley there is some good news. Compared to the same time period last year home prices are up quite a bit.”