Hi friends,
October has been a reminder of how much can change when you start looking at things from a different perspective.
After more than 20 years in real estate, design, construction, and development, I've learned that there's rarely a straight line from where something starts to where it ends up. Plans change, unexpected challenges come up, and sometimes the direction you thought you were heading isn't quite where you end up. And honestly, that's often where things get interesting.
Lately, I've been thinking a lot about how much of this work comes down to experience, creativity, and knowing when to approach something differently. There's something really satisfying about finding clarity in the middle of complicated situations, making thoughtful decisions, and seeing how all the little pieces eventually come together.
As we move into the final months of the year, I'm feeling excited about what's taking shape, the conversations happening, and the opportunities still ahead.
Listings & Investment Updates
Featured Listing
141 Old Woman Springs Road, Yucca Valley
$65,000 | 1.11 Acres | Commercially Zoned
A rare commercial opportunity in Flamingo Heights, just north of Yucca Valley. This 1.11-acre vacant parcel sits along the Highway 247 / Old Woman Springs Road corridor and is zoned HV/SD-COM, offering potential for a future commercial use in one of the Morongo Basin’s growing desert communities.
With highway frontage, mountain and desert views, and established destinations nearby including La Copine and Giant Rock Meeting Room, this property offers an opportunity for an investor, developer, or business owner looking to establish a presence in the area.
4444 29 Palms Hwy, Joshua Tree, CA
Now Offered at $125,000
2.5-acre parcel in Panorama Heights with iconic boulder views. Includes working well, completed perc test, and full geodesic dome home plans (2-story, 2BD/2BA, 1,592 sq ft + 364 sq ft garage). Cash-only sale.
Highlights:
- Iconic desert scenery & boulder views
- Full set of architectural, MEP, structural, grading & septic plans
- Prime opportunity for STR, custom build, or long-term hold
- Minutes from Joshua Tree National Park & downtown amenities
1564 Luna Mesa Rd, Yucca Valley, CA
Offered at $498,000
Beautifully renovated 2-bedroom, 2-bathroom property on Yucca Mesa with sweeping 360-degree mountain views stretching from the Joshua Tree National Park ridgeline to snowcapped San Jacinto.
Currently operating as an active short-term rental generating approximately $77K gross income in 2025 (buyer to independently verify).
Designed with a clean modern desert aesthetic, the home features oversized black metal windows and doors, polished concrete floors, a fully renovated chef’s kitchen, updated bathrooms, and natural light pouring through every space while framing the surrounding desert landscape.
Outdoor amenities include:
• Fully decked above-ground pool
• Jacuzzi
• Outdoor BBQ kitchen area
• Shaded gazebo
• Multiple concrete patio + lounge areas
• Mature landscaping + numerous Joshua trees
• Fully fenced property for added privacy
Positioned approximately 15 minutes from Downtown Joshua Tree, Yucca Valley, and Pioneertown, this property offers strong rental appeal while still feeling deeply private and connected to the landscape.
Ideal as a short-term rental investment, second home, or personal desert retreat.
0 East Dr, Morongo Valley, CA
Offered at $849,000
Rare land development opportunity positioned within one of the High Desert’s most scenic and protected corridors.
Set across 27.5 acres in Morongo Valley, the property is surrounded by the preserved landscapes of the Sand to Snow National Monument with expansive views stretching toward the San Jacinto Mountains from multiple areas throughout the site.
Just across Highway 62, the Big Morongo Canyon Preserve contributes to the area’s open-space character, protected wildlife habitat, and quiet desert setting.
What makes this opportunity especially significant is the amount of pre-development and due diligence work already completed by current ownership, including:
• Surveying + mapping
• Preliminary engineering
• Utility research
• Environmental + biological review work
• Fire hydrant flow testing
• Tentative Tract Map preparation + submission materials
The property is currently involved in ongoing county and CEQA-related review processes, offering potential buyers the opportunity to step into a project already moving through early-stage planning and evaluation.
Located approximately:
• 20 minutes from Palm Springs International Airport
• 20 minutes from Joshua Tree National Park
This is a rare combination of accessibility, scale, larger acreage surroundings, and protected desert character.
Ideal for investors, developers, or long-term land visionaries looking to explore opportunities within one of the High Desert’s most naturally significant landscape
62625 La Brisa Drive, Joshua Tree
$425,000 | 2 Bedrooms | 1.5 Baths | 5 Acres
A little vintage character, a lot of desert space. Set on five acres in North Joshua Tree, this two-bedroom home pairs bright, open living spaces with cactus gardens, a sunroom dining area, and a cowboy pool.
Inside, a wood-burning stove and exposed wood beam bring warmth and character, while the retro-style kitchen is ready for slow mornings and meals shared with friends. Outside, the wide-open landscape invites you to settle in, spread out, and make the place your own.
A Joshua Tree retreat with room to breathe.
4638 Avenida La Mirada, Joshua Tree
$475,000 | 2 Bedrooms | 1 Bath | 0.44 Acres
Thoughtfully renovated and designed for desert living, this Joshua Tree home pairs polished concrete floors and custom cabinetry with mountain views and outdoor spaces on a corner lot.
The two-bedroom home has been extensively updated, including the roof, HVAC, septic, propane, electrical, and plumbing systems. Both bedrooms open to the outdoors, while patios on two sides offer space for morning coffee or open-air dining. A private hot tub adds another place to unwind.
The attached garage has been finished as a separate office, creating a flexible space to work from home or pursue creative projects.
A fresh, functional desert home with thoughtful details throughout.
63251 Chickasaw Rd | Rice Ave & Chickasaw Rd
Prime Joshua Tree land featuring iconic boulder formations, elevated terrain, and panoramic desert views with flexible parcel options ideal for investors and developers.
This highly desirable pocket of Joshua Tree includes four parcels on both sides of Chickasaw Rd, offering multiple development or long-term investment strategies.
Unmatched Views Include:
• Joshua Tree National Park
• Little San Bernardino Mountains
• Seasonal snow-capped Mount San Gorgonio
• Expansive high-desert valleys
• Golden sunsets, city lights & world-class night skies
Purchase Options:
• APN 0604-051-40 | 5 Acres | $300,000
• APNs 0604-051-60 / 051-58 / 051-57 | ~6.5 Acres | $249,000
đź’ˇ Why investors love this:
The southern parcels deliver that true boulder-forward Joshua Tree aesthetic, ideal for a high-design custom build or retreat, while the northern parcel allows for separation, flexibility, or phased development.
Perfect for a custom desert home, STR strategy, or long-term land hold in one of Joshua Tree’s most sought-after settings.
3786 Alta Avenue, Yucca Valley
$175,000 | Yucca Mesa Development Opportunity
A rare opportunity in Yucca Mesa with significant pre-development work already completed.
Formerly a single 5-acre parcel, this property has been through the subdivision process and is now a recorded 4-parcel subdivision, creating four legal parcels ranging from approximately 1.1 to 1.43 acres.
Located in one of Yucca Valley’s desirable high desert areas, this offering provides investors and developers a unique opportunity with a major head start compared to purchasing raw land.
Completed groundwork includes:
• Recorded 4-parcel subdivision
• Parcel mapping and boundary surveying
• Topographic surveying
• Fire flow analysis
• Joshua Tree survey and report
• Percolation testing and septic investigations
• Staking and additional planning efforts
A residential development concept has also been prepared, providing a strong foundation for future development possibilities.
With approximately 5 acres, available utilities, and completed due diligence, this property offers flexibility for investors, builders, or anyone looking for a strategic land opportunity in the High Desert.
GET INTERVIEWED | Kyle Hanson of Mindful Earthen Finishes
Some of the best creative collaborations begin by simply asking, "Who did this work?"
That's exactly how I met Kyle Hanson of Mindful Earthen Finishes. After seeing his beautiful plaster work in a custom Pioneertown home, I knew I wanted to work with him.
Since then, Kyle has brought his craftsmanship to projects including Bonita Domes, now Sandora Domes, where he helped with plaster repairs and refinishing, and an Avenida La Mirada property featuring a stunning aubergine tadelakt bathroom.
With eight years of experience in natural building and plaster techniques before starting his own business, Kyle brings together modern design and old-world craftsmanship through lime plaster, Venetian plaster, tadelakt, and other natural mineral finishes.
In this month's Get Interviewed, we're sharing his creative journey, his approach to thoughtful desert interiors, and even a little connection to the local music scene.
Read the full Get Interviewed feature with Kyle Hanson.
REAL ESTATE FIXES | EP. 02
When Property Problems Become Negotiating Opportunities
Not every great investment property looks perfect on paper. Sometimes the best opportunities are the ones with problems you know how to investigate and solve.
In Episode 02, I'm sharing how we approached the purchase of an active short-term rental with questions about potentially noncompliant work, needed repairs, and opportunities for negotiation.
The buyer had a clear investment goal, and we knew our numbers before getting emotionally attached to the property. By understanding the issues and using due diligence strategically, we negotiated a deal that made financial sense. The property ultimately appraised above the purchase price.
The takeaway: A property with problems isn't necessarily a bad investment. What matters is understanding the risks, the cost of solving them, and whether the numbers still work.
REAL ESTATE FIXES | EP. 03
When Your Short-Term Rental Is Legally a Recreational Cabin
A property can look like a house, operate as an Airbnb, and still not be legally classified as a single-family residence.
In Episode 03, I'm breaking down a Joshua Tree investment property where the owners wanted to add a pool and other amenities, only to discover that the existing structure was still classified as a recreational cabin.
Before moving forward, we had to investigate the permit history, navigate San Bernardino County requirements, address road dedication, and work through the recreational cabin-to-single-family-residence conversion process.
It's one of those details that can easily be overlooked when purchasing desert property, but it can significantly affect what you're allowed to do next.
The takeaway: Never assume a property's current use reflects its legal classification. Understanding its permit history before purchasing can save you significant time, money, and frustration.
Explore my Recreational Cabin Conversion Guide for more information on navigating this process.
REAL ESTATE FIXES | EP. 04
30 Days to Resolve a Code Enforcement Issue
What happens when a short-term rental faces a code enforcement issue, the work has already been completed, and there's only a limited window to resolve it?
In Episode 04, I'm sharing a San Bernardino County property where unpermitted improvements created a compliance issue that put the owner's short-term rental permit at risk.
Rather than immediately assuming an expensive after-the-fact permitting process or complete removal was necessary, we looked more closely at what was triggering the permit requirements and whether modifying the improvements could provide a more practical, code-compliant solution.
Sometimes the most effective fix isn't the most obvious one.
The takeaway: A good solution should resolve the underlying issue without creating another problem when it's time to sell, refinance, renovate, or undergo a future inspection.
Looking Ahead to NOVEMBER
As we head into November, I'll be continuing to share more of the real stories behind the work, from unexpected property challenges and creative solutions to the people and businesses making our desert community special.
I'm also continuing to build out The Curated Real Estate Fixer, bringing together the different sides of my work in real estate, design, development, permitting, and project management, while sharing more of the lessons learned along the way.
Whether you're planning to purchase an investment property, navigating an existing project, or simply curious about what really happens behind the scenes in real estate, there's plenty more to come.
Thank you for following along, supporting the work, and being part of this community. I love getting to share not just the finished spaces, but the people, decisions, and sometimes very complicated processes that bring them to life.
See you in November!
Jessica
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xx
Jessica Cure
Planning Commissioner | Real Estate Consultant | STR Strategist
www.curedesigns.com | @cure.realestate
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