Palm Desert Real Estate

Palm Desert is Tom and Janet's home base in the Coachella Valley. About 52,000 people live here [1]. About 31% of its homes are attached single-family units, such as townhomes and many condos, the highest share of the valley cities we cover, and only 38% are detached houses [1].

Housing types and prices

About 27% of Palm Desert's housing units are held for seasonal or occasional use [1]. The median home was built in 1985 [1].

Price context, September 2026 [2]:

• ZIP 92260: median listing price $599,000, 244 homes for sale, median 69 days on market.
• ZIP 92211: median listing price about $517,000, 331 homes for sale. ZIP codes don't follow city limits exactly. 92211 also covers areas outside the city.

The Census estimate of median owner-occupied home value for 2020–2024 was $542,000 [1].

Things buyers ask about in Palm Desert

Can I use it as a vacation rental? It depends on the zoning and the HOA. Palm Desert defines a short-term rental as 27 nights or fewer, and every one needs a city permit [3]. Rentals where the owner is not on site are allowed only in certain zones, and not in the standard single-family zones (R-1 and R-2) [4][5]. In the Planned Residential zone, the HOA must allow them [4]. The city issues no new owner-absent permits in the Hillside Planned Residential zone, and existing ones there end December 31, 2026 [5]. The city publishes a property eligibility map, and HOA owners must submit an HOA approval letter every year [3]. Before you buy for rental income, check the address on the map and read the HOA's rules.

HOA dues and rules. If the home is in an HOA, read its current dues, reserve study and rental rules before you remove contingencies. The city's rental rules say an HOA's own restrictions still apply [4].

Downsizing from elsewhere in California? If you're 55 or older and selling a home elsewhere in the state, Prop 19 may let you carry your current property-tax base to a Palm Desert home. See our Prop 19 explainer and the state Board of Equalization [6].

Utilities. Palm Desert is split between two electric utilities, Southern California Edison and Imperial Irrigation District; IID's online map shows which one serves a given address [7]. Water is Coachella Valley Water District [7].

Public schools. Palm Desert is served by Desert Sands Unified School District (dsusd.us) and, in the north end, Palm Springs Unified (psusd.us) [8]. School assignment depends on the exact address, so check with the district.

Tom and Janet in Palm Desert

Tom and Janet's business address is in Palm Desert, 92260 [9]. Janet is the listing agent for 73422 Irontree Dr, a 2-bedroom, 1,502 sq ft condo listed at $489,000 as of September 29, 2026 (MLS SW26159347) [10]. They moved to the desert after years in Temecula [9]. Tom handles pricing and contract negotiation for sellers, and his bio notes more than 35 years as a licensed California attorney [11].

Talk to Tom and Janet: (951) 201-6982 · Tom Callaway, DRE #01915294 · Janet Callaway, DRE #01897623 · LPT Realty, Inc.

Palm Desert FAQ

Can I rent my Palm Desert condo on Airbnb? Only with a city permit, in a zone that allows it, and if your HOA allows it; HOA owners must file an HOA approval letter each year. Owner-absent rentals are not allowed in the R-1 and R-2 single-family zones, and no new ones are permitted in the Hillside Planned Residential zone [3][4][5].

What does a home cost in Palm Desert right now? In September 2026 the median listing price was $599,000 in ZIP 92260 and about $517,000 in ZIP 92211 [2].

Is Sun City Palm Desert inside Palm Desert? No. Sun City Palm Desert is in unincorporated Riverside County, north of I-10, so county rules apply instead of city ones [12].

Sources

1. 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/16000US0655184-palm-desert-ca/ (retrieved 2026-09-30).
2. 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/
3. City of Palm Desert, Short-Term Rentals: https://www.palmdesert.gov/businesses/short-term-rental
4. Palm Desert Municipal Code Ch. 5.10, §5.10.070 (permitted zones): https://ecode360.com/43773149
5. American Planning Association summary of Palm Desert Municipal Code Ch. 5.10: https://www.planning.org/knowledgebase/resource/9180246/ ; City of Palm Desert staff report on Ch. 5.10 amendments (2025): https://pub-palmdesert.escribemeetings.com/filestream.ashx?DocumentId=33976
6. 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
7. Riverside LAFCO, IID electricity service study (lists Palm Desert among cities IID serves): https://www.lafco.org/studies/alternative-governance-structures-and-alternative-electricity-service-provision-imperial-irrigation-district/ ; IID Power Service Maps (address search): https://www.iid.com/power/about-iid-power/power-service-maps ; Coachella Valley Water District, About CVWD: https://www.cvwd.org/288/About-CVWD
8. Desert Sands Unified School District: https://www.dsusd.us/ ; Palm Springs Unified School District: https://www.psusd.us/
9. TJ Callaway Realty, About (business address, Temecula history): https://tjcallawayrealty.com/about
10. TJ Callaway Realty listing records (Listings table, verified 2026-09-29), MLS SW26159347; public listing page: https://www.coldwellbankerhomes.com/ca/palm-desert/73422-irontree/pid_72637472/
11. TJ Callaway Realty, About Tom: https://tjcallawayrealty.com/about/tom
12. Desert Palms, California (Sun City Palm Desert, unincorporated): https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Desert_Palms,_California