About

Three generations of Realtors. One valley.

The McLennan Team is a luxury real estate partnership at Desert Sotheby’s International Realty in La Quinta, California. Laurie McLennan is part of three generations of Realtors, and her connection to the desert dates to 1960. She founded the team after more than 25 years representing buyers and sellers across the Coachella Valley, and works alongside her daughter and business partner, Cailin McLennan. Together they specialise in private golf and country club estates, equestrian property and second homes throughout La Quinta, Indian Wells, Palm Desert, Rancho Mirage and Palm Springs. Laurie holds the Board of Regents territory for Palm Springs and Riverside County within Who’s Who in Luxury Real Estate.

Laurie McLennan and Cailin McLennan of The McLennan Team at Desert Sotheby’s International Realty, photographed in a La Quinta residence
Laurie McLennan and Cailin McLennan · La Quinta, California

Laurie McLennan

Founder

Laurie is part of three generations of Realtors. Property has run in the family for as long as she can remember, and her own connection to the desert dates to 1960. For 25 years she has helped buyers and sellers navigate the Coachella Valley’s most exclusive real estate, and she has built the business the old fashioned way: through results, referrals and relationships that outlast a single closing.

She is best known inside the desert’s premier communities. The Madison Club, The Hideaway, Tradition Golf Club, PGA WEST, Rancho La Quinta, BIGHORN Golf Club, The Reserve, Indian Wells Country Club, The Quarry, Andalusia and Griffin Ranch. She has represented buyers and sellers in most of them, often more than once, and the relationships she has built there are the reason clients hear about properties before they list.

Her clients range from first time desert buyers to seasoned investors, and they all get the same thing: someone who has seen this market through every cycle and knows exactly how to position a deal to close. A California native, she is licensed in both California and Nevada.

She is also one of the Valley’s most trusted resources for equestrian property near Desert International Horse Park, working with riders, trainers and seasonal residents who need someone who understands the lifestyle rather than just the listing sheet. She rides herself, and donates her time and a portion of her commissions to organisations in the communities she sells in.

Board of Regents, Who’s Who in Luxury Real Estate. Laurie holds the Board of Regents territory for Palm Springs and Riverside County, a seat held by a single member firm per market across the network’s global membership.

Cailin McLennan

Sales Associate

Cailin’s background is in global hospitality and VIP operations for Formula 1, Riot Games and Fortune 500 brand activations. Environments where every guest interaction, every transition and every detail has to be right the first time, because there is no second take. That is the operating standard she applies to every transaction: the same precision, the same responsiveness, the same intolerance for a detail slipping.

Working alongside Laurie, she has built firsthand command of the Valley’s luxury market, from private golf communities and country clubs to equestrian estates and custom desert retreats.

She is also one of the few agents in the Valley who lives the equestrian lifestyle herself. A competitive polo player with active ties to Empire Polo Club and Eldorado Polo Club, she gives riders, trainers and equestrian buyers a resource who knows the circuit from inside it rather than from a listing sheet.

A former NCAA Division I athlete, Cailin brings the same composure under pressure to a negotiation that she brought to competition. Clients consistently name her responsiveness and attention to detail as the difference between a stressful transaction and a seamless one.

  • California DRE #02121998
  • Who’s Who in Luxury Real Estate
  • View profile

What we do

Specialists, not generalists.

Twenty five years in one valley means we know a narrow set of communities extremely well rather than the whole of Southern California a little. That is the trade, and for the buyers and sellers we work with it is the right one.

  • Luxury homes and estates
  • Golf course homes and country club properties
  • Midcentury modern and architectural residences
  • Gated and resort style communities
  • New construction and custom homes
  • Equestrian estates and horse properties
  • Homes near Desert International Horse Park
  • Second homes, vacation and investment property
  • Coachella and Stagecoach season rental property

Reach

Local knowledge. Two global networks.

Many desert buyers arrive from outside California, and a meaningful number from outside the country. Reaching them is not something a local brokerage can do on its own.

Every listing is placed through the Sotheby’s International Realty network, which carries it to qualified buyers in markets most agents here cannot access, alongside professional photography, video and international marketing.

Every listing also moves through Who’s Who in Luxury Real Estate, where Laurie holds the Board of Regents territory for Palm Springs and Riverside County. Two networks, two sets of qualified buyers, one team handling the transaction.

Clients

What clients say when the transaction is done.

“Laurie and her team exemplify what the Sotheby’s company stands for. Sheer excellence at every stage of the process.”
John Jensen
“Laurie McLennan, and now her daughter Cailin, has handled countless transactions for our family and friends.”
Larry Langner
“Laurie and Cailin were outstanding to work with. Extremely proactive, professional and willing to go above and beyond from start to finish.”
Alec Burger
“I was very fortunate to choose Lauri as my broker in finding our desert dream house. She did a perfect job and I would highly recommend her.”
Tony Sherman
“Laurie and Cailin were the most amazing real estate agents we’ve ever worked with. Their attention to detail, diligence…”
Fadi Mourad
“My husband and I walked into Cailin’s office unannounced to chat about property in the Coachella Valley. She spent the…”
Katherine Dockser
“It has been our pleasure to have Laurie McLennan represent us as both a buying and a selling agent…”
Roger Ervin
“I would never go with another agent. Laurie McLennan goes above and beyond whether you buy or sell…”
Jeroen Sparreboom
“Laurie is a knowledgeable professional. She understands the market and the prices. We had fabulous results on our sale…”
Dorothy Graham

Common questions

The things buyers and sellers ask us first.

Who is Laurie McLennan?

Laurie McLennan is the founder of The McLennan Team at Desert Sotheby's International Realty in La Quinta, California. She is part of three generations of Realtors, her connection to the desert dates to 1960, and she has represented buyers and sellers across the Coachella Valley for 25 years. She is licensed in California and Nevada and holds the Board of Regents territory for Palm Springs and Riverside County within Who's Who in Luxury Real Estate. California DRE #01424382.

How long has the McLennan family been in real estate?

Real estate runs through three generations of the family. Laurie McLennan has practised full time in the Coachella Valley for 25 years, with a connection to the desert dating to 1960, and works today with her daughter and business partner, Cailin McLennan.

What areas does The McLennan Team serve?

La Quinta, Indian Wells, Palm Desert, Rancho Mirage, Palm Springs and Indio, across the Greater Coachella Valley.

Which communities does the team know best?

PGA West, Madison Club, The Hideaway, Tradition Golf Club, Rancho La Quinta Country Club, Indian Wells Country Club, BIGHORN Golf Club, The Quarry, Andalusia at Coral Mountain and Griffin Ranch.

Does The McLennan Team handle equestrian properties?

Yes. The team works on equestrian acreage, barn and arena properties and homes near Desert International Horse Park. Cailin McLennan is a competitive polo player with active ties to Empire Polo Club and Eldorado Polo Club, and Laurie rides herself.

What is Board of Regents in Who's Who in Luxury Real Estate?

Who's Who in Luxury Real Estate is a global network of independent luxury brokerages. The Board of Regents is its territorial tier, with a seat held by a single member firm per market. Laurie McLennan holds the territory for Palm Springs and Riverside County.

Do they work with buyers from outside California?

Yes. A large share of Coachella Valley buyers are second home owners and relocating buyers from outside the state or outside the country. Listings are marketed through both the Sotheby's International Realty network and Who's Who in Luxury Real Estate.

How do I contact The McLennan Team?

Call 760.413.6190 or request a private consultation through the contact form. The office is at 78065 Main Street, Suite 101, La Quinta, California 92253.

Enquire

Start with a conversation.

Whether you are buying, selling, relocating or looking at a second home in the desert, the first conversation costs nothing and usually saves something.

The McLennan Team at Desert Sotheby’s International Realty
78065 Main Street, Suite 101, La Quinta, CA 92253
760.413.6190  ·  laurie.mclennan@sothebysrealty.com
California DRE #01424382