Victoria Falls 

Quorum Article - May 2004

Victoria Falls is located on 140 acres of fee land in Rancho Mirage at the Northwest corner of Bob Hope and Gerald Ford Drives. The lush and inviting waterfalls at the entryway are the community’s signature statement. The general area is residential but the Pavilions shopping center, fire station, and the Children's Discovery Museum of the Desert are in close proximity.

This is a new development of 340 single-family homes, which was started in 2000 and only recently completed in 2004. The developer is Peter Solomon of Regency Homes and the target market was the higher-end homeowner.

Prices at Victoria Falls originally started at about $500,000 but the current strength of the market is generating purchases in the $800 thousand to $1.1 million range. Needless to say, a Rancho Mirage address does nothing but help property values. The homes are in 5 models ranging in size from approximately 3,000 to 5,000 square feet.

The market is steady and, while there is some turnover, available homes do not stay on the market long. An interesting aspect of the market for Victoria Falls homes is that approximately three quarters of the Victoria Falls owners are full time residents. This is indicative of a Valley-wide trend.

Community facilities at Victoria Falls include tennis and basketball courts in four locations throughout the community as well as several large, landscaped areas frequented by walkers and picnickers. Everyone enjoys the wonderful views, lush landscaping, and beautifully manicured front yards.

Being a new development, the problems that attend aging landscaping in more mature communities do not concern Victoria Falls. Nor should they, because the style of landscaping adopted by the developer may be described as “modified desert landscaping,” so most areas of significance will never become overgrown or unsightly.  Several of the drainage basins are being turned into desert landscaping, in conjunction with the CVWD, to lessen future water usage costs.

A five member Board of Directors oversees Association operations. Moderately active architectural and landscape committees assist the Board. Among the Victoria Falls vendors and consultants are Pacific Western for roofing, Knapp Landscaping, Labarre/Oksnee insurance, Asphalt MD’s, Chris Horn for the waterfalls, Lasalle Electric, and attorneys Peters & Freedman. Association dues are a modest $153.00 per month, including cable.

The Board is considering the addition of a live security presence to achieve improved access control at the gate and provide an increase in the security environment in keeping with the value and status of the community

Says Board President, Tom Weil: “When my wife and I were looking for a new home we happened upon Victoria Falls. There were some 50 homes completed of a total 338 to be built. We met Peter Solomon, the owner of Regency Homes, the builder and were immediately impressed. The home we purchased was by far the best value in the entire Coachella Valley. It is proximate to Mission Hills Country Club, which is easily accessible by golf cart; it is comprised of young families, professionals and retirees. We love the privacy of our backyard. The views of the mountains are spectacular and the development is centrally located to everything that is important to us. We love it so much that two years ago we moved here permanently.”

Association manager is Mike Livingston of Personalized Property Management  - Mike Livingston thinks that what makes Victoria Falls different is the knowledge of the operation imparted by the developer during turnover to Association control and the gracious volunteering of time on the part of the board members, all of whom are active professionals. Mike’s co-Manager on the Victoria Falls account is Kimberly Pullis.

Says Mike, “This is truly one of the most special communities in the desert”