Bob Deville
Founded in 2001 in Palm Springs by real estate industry icons, Bob Bennion and Bob Deville, Bennion Deville Homes is a nationally recognized independent real estate brokerage and one of the top real estate firms in the Greater Palm Springs area. Bennion Deville Homes serves home buyers and sellers throughout Southern California, primarily in the Coachella Valley, Riverside and San Bernardino counties.
Coming from Seattle, where they first established a successful real estate brokerage firm, Bennion and Deville realized that the Pacific Northwest, along with other regions with cooler fall and winter climates, made the desert a natural place to explore opportunities for expanding their business.
Upon becoming Coachella Valley residents, Bennion and Deville were invested in the community and wanted to bring their unique vision for the real estate industry to an area that was ripe with potential. They sought to help clients “unlock the possibilities” for a home in the desert.
Enthusiasm for a fresh face in the market, along with the company’s professionalism and reliability, helped propel its momentum and draw agents of all caliber and experience. Professionals who serve clients from various walks of life is the company’s focus.
Their philosophy that “when agents succeed so does the brokerage” has proven to be a powerful concept that continues to attract top real estate agents to Bennion Deville Homes. By providing unparalleled support to agents, clients clearly benefit from more personalized service and extra oversight in all aspects of the transaction for a smoother, more enjoyable process.
In 2001, when Bennion and Deville established their first office in an historic Arthur Elrod designed building on North Palm Canyon, the heart of Palm Springs’ Uptown Design District was just beginning to flourish along with new appreciation for Mid Century Modern architecture and design.
Back then, the Coachella Music and Arts Festival was just three years old, Stagecoach was still on the drawing board, and Modernism Week was in its infancy.
The Greater Palm Springs area is long known as a world-class resort destination for its gorgeous weather, dramatic desert and mountain landscape and seasonal attractions such as major PGA and LPGA golf tournaments, the BNP Paribas Open Tennis Tournament, the Palm Springs International Film Festival – events that already drew a diverse audience.
Twenty years ago, a growing number of major cultural and sporting events meant the Coachella Valley was poised for a valley-wide renaissance – both in tourism and new residents.
As more visitors came to explore the desert resort cities, to stay and play on world-renowned golf courses and tennis courts, to trek on wilderness and desert trails, relax in exquisite spas, splash in turquoise pools, and dine on extraordinary cuisine, the momentum brought more part- and full-time home buyers.
As the demand for more housing grew, Bennion Deville Homes sales grew along with the influx of new residents. Today the company has offices in Palm Springs, Rancho Mirage, Palm Desert, Indian Wells, La Quinta and Garner Valley.
Bennion Deville Homes and the Coachella Valley are poised to continue the expansion. Exciting developments happening throughout the desert include a state-of-the-art arena set to house the new American Hockey League (AHL) Firebirds, an affiliate of the NHL’s Seattle Kraken. Surf parks are popping up in select cities, offering another refreshing option to enjoy an active lifestyle. Palm Springs International Airport continues to expand direct flights from every corner of the USA and Canada.
Beyond the Coachella Valley, the Bennion Deville Homes Luxe Collection is an exclusive luxury home marketing program that positions premium properties in front of luxury homebuyers from around the world. In partnership with Leading Real Estate Companies of the World ® and Luxury Portfolio ® these key affiliations help high-end properties gain exposure to an affluent international client base.
Visit Bennion Deville Homes website, BDHomes.com for a listing of available properties and top agents throughout Southern California and beyond.
Bob Deville: Questions and Answers
Q: What prompted you to start Bennion Deville Homes?
A: My first visit to the desert was back in early 2000, and I fell in love with the area. Not playing golf anymore and always enthusiastic about real estate, it just seemed like a natural fit for me to open a real estate office.
Q: What does it mean to you to be a locally founded company?
A: Everything! Who can better understand the local market than someone living and working in that market? While the desert market is evolving more and more into full-time homeownership, we are still a seasonal market. Understanding those dynamics is critical when counseling buyers and sellers.
Q: How does Bennion Deville Homes give back to the community?
A: We strongly believe in supporting and enriching the neighborhoods and communities we serve. Bennion Deville Homes agents have always risen to the many just causes and needs of our desert communities. Additionally, our agents donate a percentage of every commission they earn into our charitable foundation. Some of the charities we have supported over the years include the Boys and Girls Club, Martha’s Village and Kitchen, Desert AIDS Project, Coachella Valley Rescue Mission, American Cancer Society, and the Palm Springs International Film Society.
Q: What advice would you give to new agents in the business?
A: If you plan on enjoying a successful real estate career, be patient, consistent, get as much education as you can, and ALWAYS put your clients first.
Q: What has been the biggest game changer in the industry you have witnessed?
A: The biggest and most challenging time in the industry for me came with the failure of our lending institutions in 2008. Serious adjustments needed to be made. Those agents who could not adjust with the current market conditions disappeared. It was a stressful time for all homeowners and those working in the industry.
Q: If you hadn't gone into real estate, what career path would you have taken?
A: I like the outdoors and animals. It would be very hard to support yourself in farming and ranching today, but that has always been a passion for me. I currently have 12 horses, 3 cows, and too many chickens and turkeys to count, so I am very busy with what little free time I have. This is my therapy!
Q: When you aren't working, what's your go-to hobby or passion?
A: Horseback riding in the mountains or fishing (fresh or saltwater).
