Q: If you are stranded on a desert island with Adolph Hitler, Atilla the Hun, and a lawyer, and you have a gun with only two bullets, what do you do?

It was a week with no air conditioning in the hot desert. 

I have come across multiple "deals" via the MLS (targeting the Palm Desert and La Quinta cove areas).

I lived through that one.but like others said full scale desert storm .. don't think so.. 

Palms Springs is heavily regulated and typically at a higher price point than most other desert cities.

Off hand, I know that BofA, Wells, Midfirst, Arizona Bank & Trust, Desert Schools and Credit Union West offer HELOCS. 

Prices in LA are going to be high unless you live out in the High Desert or by San Bernardino.

As a Southern California native in the early 90's I would drive out to Vegas often for weekend getaways and I remember driving up 15 when the Hacienda was literally the only structure south of Tropicana down there all by itself, aside from a random motel/gas station, and that was the beginning of the wide open desert. 

We are interested in purchasing a single family home on the coast between Portland area and Desert Island area to use as a vacation home/possible future retirement spot for our family and to Airbnb/VRBO when we are not present. 

Be certain to do all your homework about the Desert (Palm Springs) area.