La Quinta, at the south edge of the Coachella Valley, has about 38,700 residents [1]. It is mostly detached houses (about 76% of homes), relatively new (median year built 1999, newer than every valley city we cover except Indio and Coachella), and about 28% of its housing units are held for seasonal or occasional use [1].
Housing types and prices
La Quinta ranges from older neighborhoods to gated golf communities such as PGA West and La Quinta Country Club [2][3].
Price context, September 2026 [4]: ZIP 92253, which covers La Quinta, had a median listing price of $760,000, 339 homes for sale, and a median 63 days on market. The Census estimate of median owner-occupied home value for 2020–2024 was about $662,000 [1].
Things buyers ask about in La Quinta
Can I buy a house here and rent it out short-term? In most of the city, no longer. Section 3.25.055 of the La Quinta Municipal Code is a permanent ban on new permits in the city's "General" and "Primary" short-term rental categories [5]. New permits in those categories are issued only in a short list of exempt areas published by the city [5]. Two other paths opened on January 4, 2024 [5]:
- Homeshare permits, where the owner stays in the home for the whole guest stay.
- Large lots of 25,000 sq ft or more, which can apply for an exemption that the City Council considers at a public hearing.
The city publishes a weekly list of active and suspended permits [5]. A seller's current permit is not the same as your right to keep renting, so confirm the address with the city's rental team before you count on rental income.
Which electric company? La Quinta is served by Imperial Irrigation District (IID), not Southern California Edison [6]. Water is Coachella Valley Water District [7].
Golf and HOA communities. Many La Quinta homes sit inside gated clubs with their own dues, membership rules and rental rules. Ask whether club membership is required, optional or separate from the HOA, and get the current dues in writing.
Moving from elsewhere in California at 55 or older? Prop 19 may let you bring your property-tax base with you. See our Prop 19 explainer and the Board of Equalization [8].
Public schools. La Quinta is served by Desert Sands Unified School District (dsusd.us) [9]. School assignment depends on the exact address, so check with the district.
Tom and Janet in La Quinta
The Tom and Janet transaction records we reviewed (seven closed 2026 sales) do not include a La Quinta sale. They serve La Quinta from their Palm Desert base [10][11]. Tom works mainly as a listing agent; his bio notes more than 35 years as a licensed California attorney [12].
Talk to Tom and Janet: (951) 201-6982 · Tom Callaway, DRE #01915294 · Janet Callaway, DRE #01897623 · LPT Realty, Inc.
La Quinta FAQ
Is La Quinta issuing new short-term rental permits? Only in listed exempt areas, for owner-present homeshares, or for qualifying lots of 25,000 sq ft or more that win a Council exemption; the city's code makes the ban on new General and Primary permits permanent [5].
Who provides electricity in La Quinta? Imperial Irrigation District [6].
What does a home cost in La Quinta? In September 2026 the median listing price in ZIP 92253 was $760,000 [4].
Sources
- U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2020–2024 5-year estimates (tables B01003, B25001, B25003, B25004, B25024, B25035, B25077), via Census Reporter: https://censusreporter.org/profiles/16000US0640354-la-quinta-ca/ (retrieved 2026-09-30).
- PGA West: https://www.pgawest.com/
- La Quinta Country Club: https://www.lqcc.org/
- Realtor.com® Economic Research, ZIP-level Inventory Core Metrics, month 2026-09 (file RDC_Inventory_Core_Metrics_Zip.csv, posted 2026-09-30). Data courtesy of Realtor.com: https://www.realtor.com/research/data/
- City of La Quinta, Short-Term Vacation Rentals (LQMC §3.25.055, homeshare and large-lot exemptions effective Jan. 4, 2024): https://www.laquintaca.gov/residents/short-term-vacation-rentals
- Riverside LAFCO, IID electricity service study (lists La Quinta among cities IID serves): https://www.lafco.org/studies/alternative-governance-structures-and-alternative-electricity-service-provision-imperial-irrigation-district/
- Coachella Valley Water District, About CVWD: https://www.cvwd.org/288/About-CVWD
- California State Board of Equalization, Proposition 19: https://www.boe.ca.gov/prop19/ ; TJ Callaway Realty, Prop 19 explained: https://tjcallawayrealty.com/blog/prop-19-property-tax-transfer-explained
- Desert Sands Unified School District: https://www.dsusd.us/
- Tom and Janet Callaway's own transaction records (Deals table, 7 closed sales, read 2026-09-30).
- TJ Callaway Realty, About: https://tjcallawayrealty.com/about
- TJ Callaway Realty, About Tom: https://tjcallawayrealty.com/about/tom