Choosing Well: Curating Your Desert Lifestyle
Josie Dvorken, DRE #02085290 – Equity Union Real Estate
Before we start touring properties, it’s important that I understand not just what kind of home you want — but how you want to live.
The Coachella Valley offers so many distinctive lifestyles — from hillside estates with sweeping mountain views to golf-course villas, high-rise luxury condos, and private desert hideaways. Each reflects a different rhythm and a different vision of home.
I want to dive deep and really understand what’s going to make you excited to be home.
What details will make your mornings brighter, your evenings more peaceful, your weekends feel complete? The more I know about your routines, your vision, and your priorities, the more precisely I can curate a home search that feels like it was designed just for you.
Together, we’ll define your must-haves and wish-list features so every home we visit feels like a real possibility — a place where your life in the desert can unfold naturally.
These questions help me understand the way you imagine life in your next home — not just what you need, but how you want to feel when you walk through the door.
Your Must-Haves
What are the non-negotiables — the features or qualities that absolutely need to be present?
Think about things like location, number of bedrooms, view orientation, HOA preferences, or layout.
Your Wish List
Beyond your essentials, what details or amenities would make the home feel truly special?
Perhaps a chef’s kitchen, spa-like bath, fireplace, private casita, or outdoor dining space for gatherings under the stars.
Timing and Lifestyle
By what date would you like to be in your new home?
Who will be living there — adults, children, pets?
Do you need outdoor accommodations for pets, such as a fenced yard or dog run?
Do you travel often and prefer a low-maintenance “lock-and-leave” lifestyle, or do you enjoy the rhythm of a full-time residence?
Home Type and Style
What type of property do you envision — a single-family home, condo, townhome, or luxury high-rise?
Do you have a preference for architectural style or era (mid-century, contemporary, Spanish, new construction)?
Are you looking for something move-in ready, or are you open to light renovation or design updates?
Form and Function
Approximately what square footage feels comfortable?
How many stories would you prefer?
What kind of parking or storage do you need (attached garage, golf cart space, tandem parking, or storage locker)?
Do you want a swimming pool, spa, or outdoor entertainment area?
Will you need any accessibility features or universal design elements?
Communication & Preferences
What’s your favorite way to receive updates — email, call, or text?
What time of day works best for you?
Is there anything else you’d like me to know — special hobbies, work-from-home needs, entertaining habits, or the feeling you’re hoping your home will evoke?
Curating Your Search
Once I understand your answers, I’ll begin compiling a personalized list of properties that meet your criteria and complement your lifestyle. You’ll also receive alerts for new listings, off-market opportunities, and communities that align with your vision.
Every showing will have a purpose — every home, a story.
Together, we’ll uncover the one that feels unmistakably yours.
Josie Dvorken is a marketing consultant, creative director, and licensed real estate professional serving the Coachella Valley. With a background in photography and design, she brings an innovative, story-driven approach to real estate marketing. As a Marketing Consultant for The Leiterman Group at Equity Union, she helps shape the team’s brand and community presence. Josie also founded Desert Nesting, a lifestyle magazine that celebrates the people, homes, and neighborhoods that make desert living so distinctive.
Josie Dvorken | DRE#02085290 | Equity Union Real Estate
44-495 Town Center Way, Suite B, Palm Desert, CA 92260
