Today on the Roggin Report, Fred Roggin and contributors Stephanie Green and Aaron Aldarizio look at three very different topics: the cost of HOA fees in the Coachella Valley, an upcoming private gathering of the Mongols Motorcycle Club in Cathedral City and a dating trend called “pheromone maxing.”
For people shopping for a condo in the Coachella Valley, the purchase price is only part of the monthly cost.
The typical HOA fee across the Valley is about $394 a month. In Palm Springs, the average is about $448, followed by Rancho Mirage at $436, La Quinta at $413 and Palm Desert at $367.
But some communities have HOA and related monthly charges that are significantly higher.
Published figures discussed on the program include about $1,357 a month at Big Horn in Palm Desert and as much as $1,735 at Desert Island in Rancho Mirage, although current listings can vary depending on the unit and what is included.
At The Springs Club in Rancho Mirage, mandatory community and social charges total roughly $1,826 a month before golf.
Marrakesh Country Club in Palm Desert has published monthly charges of around $1,860, while The Lakes in Palm Desert has mandatory monthly charges of about $1,887, or $22,644 a year, before a mortgage, property taxes or golf dues.
Those fees do not simply pay for landscaping. Depending on the community, HOA charges can cover security, roads, pools, building maintenance, reserves, insurance, cable, internet, fitness facilities and social amenities. Country club communities can also include extensive recreational facilities.
That means buyers need to consider what they are receiving in exchange for the monthly cost.
A $1,800 monthly HOA adds $21,600 a year to the cost of owning a property. Over five years, that is $108,000. Over 10 years, it reaches $216,000, assuming the dues never increase.
And unlike a 30-year fixed mortgage, HOA fees are not fixed. Insurance, labor and maintenance costs can rise, reserves need to be funded, older communities may require major repairs, and special assessments can add additional expenses.
Green said buyers should look beyond the monthly number and determine what the HOA actually covers.
Aldarizio agreed that $2,000 a month sounds like a significant expense, but noted that buyers should also consider expenses they would otherwise pay separately, including landscaping, pool maintenance and pest control.
The contributors also discussed how high HOA fees could affect the marketability of a property. Green recommended that prospective buyers attend an HOA meeting before purchasing to get a sense of how the board operates and whether homeowners have concerns about the community.
The program then turned to a private event planned for this weekend involving the Mongols Motorcycle Club.
About 1,000 members are expected to gather Friday through Sunday at the DoubleTree Resort in Cathedral City. Cathedral City officials say the booking was made directly between the hotel and event organizers and that the city had no role in arranging the event.
Cathedral City Police will be joined by the Riverside County Sheriff’s Office, California Highway Patrol and other local agencies as law enforcement prepares for the gathering.
The increased police presence follows a similar gathering in the Coachella Valley last year. Roughly 1,000 Mongols members attended a gathering in Palm Springs, where 22 people were arrested on alleged weapons and drug offenses.
Police say the increased presence this weekend is intended as preparation rather than an indication that officials expect specific problems.
That raises a question about the public cost of responding to a private event.
Aldarizio questioned whether the hotel should have consulted with the city before booking the event, while Green questioned whether additional permits or approvals might apply. Both contributors also raised the issue of who should pay for additional security associated with a private gathering.
The discussion also considered whether a large police response would still be justified if the weekend passes without arrests or major incidents. Aldarizio said the previous gathering provides a reason for law enforcement to prepare for multiple possibilities.
Finally, the Roggin Report took on a very different subject: “pheromone maxing.”
The online trend promotes the idea that people can attract potential partners by allowing their natural body odor to become more noticeable, including by reducing showers or skipping deodorant.
The reaction from the panel was skeptical.
Roggin pointed out that the Coachella Valley heat may not be the ideal environment for testing the theory.
Viewers also weighed in after the segment. One viewer said excessive perfume can be just as unpleasant as body odor and suggested simply taking a shower. Another referenced public transportation in Rome as evidence that natural body odor is not necessarily attractive.
Online responses were similarly mixed. Some people defended the idea that showering every day is not always necessary, while others said there is a significant difference between natural body oils and going several days without bathing.
One viewer offered a different approach to dating: having a good job, a sense of humor, being respectful and having a good personality.
The segment ended with a question for director Max, who was asked whether he was “pheromone maxing.”
“No, Fred, I’m a real boy, and I shower like an adult,” Max responded.
The message from the segment was straightforward: whatever your dating strategy, personal hygiene remains part of the equation.
The Roggin Report also featured Good Neighbor requests from viewers.
Jackson in La Quinta is looking for an affordable vehicle for his granddaughter, with reliability being the primary concern.
Jet in Rancho Mirage wants to buy old Pokémon collections.
Stephen in Cathedral City is looking for recommendations from viewers who have had good experiences with dentists in Mexicali providing full-mouth replacement work.
And Corinne in Palm Desert is looking for recommendations for gentle, non-heated yoga classes.
Viewers can find Fred Roggin on Facebook, Instagram and X at Fred Roggin or send an email to thedesertdean@gmail.com.
Explore: NBCPalmSprings.com, where we are connecting the Valley.
