We have big news: we bought a house in Palm Springs. It’s a three-bedroom, two-bath home from the 1950s with solid bones, beamed ceilings, a central courtyard and a huge backyard. It needs a lot of work, but it has so much character and potential. Below is the longer story of how it came to be ours.
We were looking in Los Angeles…
For nearly two years we searched in Los Angeles — sometimes casually, sometimes seriously — and often felt overwhelmed by the market. At the same time I’d been watching Palm Springs real estate for years. It was always a dream to own something there, but we thought we would first settle into the right place in LA and then save for a second home.
Palm Springs listings tend to fall into a few familiar categories: classic mid-century modern homes, which I admire but don’t want to buy and alter, or newer, builder-grade houses from the 1990s and 2000s. The 1920s gems are few and very expensive. So when a “coming soon” listing appeared that described a 1950s hacienda with a courtyard and beamed ceilings, it immediately caught my attention.
Until Something Else Popped Up…
Most of the houses in our price range didn’t appeal to me, but this one stood out. It was in a great location and the description promised original features and charm. For weeks I checked the listing to see if photos had been posted. When it finally switched to “For Sale,” there still weren’t any images, which made me more curious.
After a few days I asked our agent — my sister-in-law, Eileen — if she could get any inside photos. The seller’s agent sent a couple of images and said more were coming. A few days later the full set finally posted, and we knew we had to see it in person.
Love At First Sight
We booked a last-minute hotel and drove out to Palm Springs to tour the house the next morning. The owner happened to be home, which gave us a chance to hear his stories about the house and explain why we loved its different, eclectic feel. We left feeling optimistic.
That Monday we secured a mortgage pre-approval and submitted an offer. The listing was above our original budget, but the home’s uniqueness and our promise to preserve its character made us confident. After some negotiation, the seller accepted our offer.
Two months later we closed on the house. It’s perfectly imperfect: it needs major updates, but it’s exactly the kind of place we imagined having in Palm Springs. This is the second time our house hunt surprised us — our LA home ended up in a neighborhood we hadn’t planned on, and this time the right house showed up in a different city altogether.
Apparently my constant real estate browsing paired with Jeff’s ability to be spontaneous can work out in our favor. We’re thrilled to have a place to escape to and a long-term project to transform.
Are you moving to Palm Springs?
No — we’re keeping Los Angeles as our primary residence. The Palm Springs property will be a vacation home for our family, friends and guests.
Will you rent it out/Airbnb it?
Yes. We’ve wanted to design and renovate a vacation rental for years, and this project feels like the right opportunity. There’s no timeline yet — the house needs significant work before it will be ready for guests — but we’re excited to make it available once renovations are complete.
Are you staying in your home in Los Angeles or still looking to move?
We’re undecided. Our LA home appreciated significantly and that gives us options if we decide to move, but we love our neighborhood, our friends nearby and the sense of community we’ve built. Remodeling our current house to improve the layout would require gutting it and would remove much of its character, which we don’t want to do.
We’re still watching the market for a house that meets our layout needs within or close to our neighborhood, but our standards are specific, so opportunities are rare. For now we’re happy where we are because of the community around us.
How did you afford a second home?
We’re fortunate to be in a position that made this possible, and we want to be transparent about our approach:
- We had been paying for a separate studio/office, which we no longer need, so taking on a second mortgage feels more manageable.
- Both of our careers give us opportunities to collaborate with companies and partners that can help bring the renovation and design to life.
- Palm Springs has a strong rental market. We bought at a price we felt comfortable with and expect rental income to help cover the mortgage.
- We had been saving for a down payment, including gifts from family, and applied those funds here instead of waiting for a different pivot in LA.
- If renting doesn’t work out, we believe improvements and renovations will increase the property’s value, and we would have the option to sell.
I’m already picturing bold colors, a dedicated bunk room, and introducing arches where they fit. The original wooden doors and beamed ceilings are non-negotiable — they’re what sold us on the house. We’ve met with a few contractors and are refining a renovation plan and design vision.
I’ll share the entire renovation and decorating journey here as it unfolds — before photos, plans and progress updates. If you have name ideas for the house, please share them. Stay tuned for more updates and the next steps in transforming this Palm Springs oasis.