Bing Crosby’s former Palm Desert home hits the market for $13.5M

Listed over the holidays, the timing couldn’t be more fitting for a home once owned by the voice of Christmas himself.

Georgie Mihaila
Photo credit: One Point Media Group / Compass / Wikimedia Commons

Just as Bing Crosby’s timeless White Christmas was playing on repeat over the holidays, the crooner’s former Palm Desert estate was being brought to market — a rather fit timing for a listing once owned by the voice of Christmas himself.

The 2.53-acre property, located less than 20 miles away from scenic Palm Springs, was originally built in 1955 and has been thoughtfully restored in recent years by its most recent owners.

On the market for $13,500,000 (Susan Canavan and Deirdre Coit of Canavan Coit & Associates at Compass hold the listing), the home is part of the exclusive Ironwood Country Club in Palm Desert, California.

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A Spanish Ranch-style home with a storied past

Photo credit: One Point Media Group / Compass

The idyllic Palm Desert property has Spanish influences and a one-level ranch-style design, with an outdoor pool area surrounded by towering palm trees that gives it a true “desert oasis” vibe.

Supremely private — which made it a perfect choice for Crosby, one of the biggest stars of his time — the 2.53-acre property enjoys beautiful views of the Santa Rosa and San Jacinto mountains.

Consists of a main house plus 3 casitas

Photo credit: One Point Media Group / Compass

With a total of 6,100 square feet of living space, the former Crosby estate features 5 bedrooms and 7 baths in the main house alone, with 3 casitas adding more space to accommodate guests and family.

Extensively renovated in recent years

Photo credit: One Point Media Group / Compass

The house’s current owners — healthcare executive Randall Burt and his attorney wife, Julia — paid $2,800,000 for the 5-bedroom spread in late 2012, then proceeded to fully revamp the 1955-built home.

The down-to-the-studs renovation aimed to honor the home’s legacy and heritage and addressed subpar prior remodels that failed to reflect the quality of the home or its remarkable grounds.

Photo credit: One Point Media Group / Compass
Photo credit: One Point Media Group / Compass
Photo credit: One Point Media Group / Compass
Photo credit: One Point Media Group / Compass
Photo credit: One Point Media Group / Compass

Timeless charm with subtle modern finishes

Highlighting the home’s Spanish bones, character-rich elements like earthy tiles, beamed ceilings, and fireplaces complement more modern features like marble countertops.

But every design element seems to have been carefully picked so as not to infringe on the house’s legacy. Even for the kitchen cabinets and bathroom furniture, the current owners opted for a muted wood design instead of sleek furnishings that might have taken away from its timeless charm.

Photo credit: One Point Media Group / Compass
Photo credit: One Point Media Group / Compass
Photo credit: One Point Media Group / Compass
Photo credit: One Point Media Group / Compass
Photo credit: One Point Media Group / Compass

Amenity-rich outdoor areas make it a true retreat

With three guest casitas, a large pool surrounded by palm trees and lush greenery, a jacuzzi, a bocce ball court, and a lighted tennis court, the outdoor areas look nothing like you’d expect from a desert home.

Photo credit: One Point Media Group / Compass
Photo credit: One Point Media Group / Compass

Nevertheless, the Palm Desert property has a vibrant, beautifully landscaped backyard that turns it into a bona fide retreat, complete with outdoor lounging and dining areas. There’s even a covered living area with a fireplace.

Photo credit: One Point Media Group / Compass
Photo credit: One Point Media Group / Compass
Photo credit: One Point Media Group / Compass

See also: Merv Griffin’s legendary $36M desert estate in La Quinta, California

One of Crosby’s several charming homes

The Palm Desert estate was not the only home that the crooner owned in the area.

He also owned a 1.36-acre property in nearby Rancho Mirage where Marilyn Monroe and John F. Kennedy reportedly spent time together, with many speculating that this was the place where their rumored love connection may have blossomed. After bouncing on and off the market in recent years, it finally sold for $4.15 million in early 2022.

Crosby also owned a charming English Tudor-style home in the affluent San Francisco suburb of Hillsborough. That property, a 10-bedroom home built in the 1930s and sitting comfortably on a 3-acre lot, was brought to market too in recent years, with an asking price similar to that of the current Palm Desert listing, $13.75 million.

Photo credit: One Point Media Group / Compass

A $13,500,000 desert oasis

The property, which also features a spacious motor court flanked by an attached three-car garage and has been equipped with solar panels, is currently listed for $13,500,000 with Susan Canavan and Deirdre Coit of Canavan Coit & Associates at Compass.

Photo credit: One Point Media Group / Compass

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With a decade-long career as a digital content creator, Georgie started out as a real estate journalist for Multi-Housing News & CPExecutive. She later transitioned into digital marketing, working with leading real estate websites like PropertyShark, RENTCafé and Point2Homes. After a brief but impactful stint in the start-up world, where she led the marketing divisions of fintech company NestReady and media publisher Goalcast, Georgie returned to her first passion, real estate, and founded FancyPantsHomes.com