The “best” time to move to Palm Springs depends on whether you are prioritizing comfortable weather for the heavy lifting, saving money on a rental, or finding the most available housing.
1. The Best Weather Window: November to April
If you want to avoid the physical strain of moving in triple-digit heat, late autumn through early spring is ideal.
- The Sweet Spot: November or March. These months offer highs in the 70s and 80s, which is perfect for moving boxes without heat exhaustion.
- The Trade-off: This is “Peak Season.” Traffic is heavier, and if you are renting, short-term availability is scarce and expensive due to festivals like Coachella and Modernism Week and so too is the long-term rental inventory.
2. The Best Financial Window: June to September
If you are looking for the best deal on a home/condo/apartment or lower moving company rates, the “off-season” is your target.
- The Benefit: Real estate rental competition drops. You are more likely to find motivated landlords and price reductions (roughly 20% of rental housing stock saw price drops recently).
- The Warning: This is the “Sizzling” season. Average highs in July and August hit 106°F to 108°F. If you move during this time, you must schedule your movers for 5:00 AM or 6:00 AM to finish before the noon heat becomes dangerous.
3. The “Secret” Window: October
Many locals consider October the best transitional month.
- The Strategy: The extreme summer heat begins to break, but the “Snowbirds” haven’t fully returned yet. You can often snag a property that didn’t rent over the summer before the winter prices historically kick in.
Finding the best rental for your best life 