Celebrities, Wealthy Buyers Flock to La Quinta

High-ticket homebuyers and Hollywood A-listers are moving into the Southern California desert city of La Quinta in droves.

La Quinta has quietly become one of the most sought-after luxury markets in the country with a constant stream of sales, Realtor.com reported. Last month, former “Full House” star Lori Loughlin and estranged husband Mossimo Giannulli sold their home for $16.5 million, up from the $13 million they paid for it four years earlier.

Apple CEO Tim Cook, singer Justin Bieber, reality TV personality Kourtney Kardashian and her mother Kris Jenner, supermodel Cindy Crawford and music mogul Scooter Braun have also planted flags in La Quinta, per Realtor.com. The median home listing price there is $875,000. There are currently 188 homes listed for $1 million or more and 24 listed for $5 million and above.

The golf communities and mountain backdrops offer a “balance between resort-style living and a true residential community” as well as “an exceptional level of privacy that attracts high-net-worth and celebrity homeowners,” Karen Ahaesy, a Compass real estate agent and La Quinta resident, told Realtor.com. Wealthy residents have access to The Thermal Club, an exclusive private motorsport club; the Jacqueline Cochran Regional Airport for private jet access; and the ritzy Zenyara events venue.

Buyers from Los Angeles, Orange County, San Francisco and out-of-state markets like Texas and the Pacific Northwest have been attracted to La Quinta because of the space, privacy, amenities and newer construction, according to Aheasy. The uptick of remote and hybrid work, as well as low inventory in top luxury communities such as The Madison Club, Hideaway, Tradition and The Quarry have driven up home values in La Quinta. There’s also a strong demand for second homes in the town.

La Quinta, in contrast to nearby Indian Wells, Palm Springs and Palm Desert, offers a unique living environment. The mix of high-end living, privacy, natural beauty, contemporary homes and access to golf, tennis, equestrian sports and private air travel is “rare not just in the Coachella Valley, but anywhere in California,” Aheasy said.

“Palm Springs is more urban, midcentury and nightlife-oriented,” Aheasy said. “Nearby Indian Wells is elegant and established, but smaller and more traditional.” Palm Desert serves as the retail and commercial center of the Coachella Valley. “La Quinta is quieter, newer and known for high-end gated communities and custom architectural estates,” Aheasy said.

— Chris Malone Méndez