Click here if you cannot see the embedded video. 1. What the seller paid for it. 2. What the seller needs to get out of it. The market value is what it is, and has no relation to what the seller got it for, or what they owe or need to get out of it. While it may determine whether or not a buyer wants to buy it, or whether or not a seller wants to sell, it does not change the current market value. Your thoughts? … [Read more...]
Best Doesn’t Mean Highest – The Truth Behind Multiple Offers
April 20, 2010 by 1 Comment
Bank owned listings are accounting for almost 50% of the sales in the Big Bear area. Multiple offers are becoming the norm on these aggressively priced properties and the buyers are having to learn a new strategy of making offers and counter offers. Gone are the days of endless counter offers back and forth between the buyers and sellers. Receiving a best and final counter offer is what a buyer can usually expect and there are some things that you should know when responding to these bank counters. Highest … [Read more...]
Is Your Big Bear Realtor a Local, or a Tourist?
April 12, 2010 by 4 Comments
Using a Realtor that lives and works out of the Big Bear area, is like hiring a tourist as a site seeing guide. They can't tell you about the history of the homes that you are interested in since they have never seen them before. Chances are, they may not even be able to find them to show them to you. They may not know the difference between a raised perimeter foundation and a slab. They might tell you that all areas of Big Bear are the same. How can they tell you about the recent homes that have sold, when they … [Read more...]
Five Mistakes Buyers Make When Buying In Big Bear
April 9, 2010 by Leave a Comment
Buying a home can be a confusing process for somebody who has not been through it several times. There are so many things to consider and so much paperwork to be completed before a transaction can be fully completed. If a buyer is not prepared for all the eventualities, it can be a very trying experience. In order to make the process as smooth as possible, I am going to list five major mistakes that many buyers make. 1. Not being pre-approved. In my mind, this is the biggest mistake a buyer can make. Most sellers … [Read more...]
5 Questions Every Buyer Should Ask Their Realtor
March 10, 2010 by Leave a Comment
1. Are you a Realtor or an agent? Most folks probably don’t realize that there is a definite difference between the two. A person who joins the National Association of Realtors is bound by the code of ethics of the association and must conform their conduct to meet its ideals or face expulsion from the group. Only a person who is a member of this group can call themselves a Realtor. A person who is not a member cannot call themselves a Realtor. They are classified as an agent, and are not bound by the code of … [Read more...]
The Seclusion Factor – Tips on Finding a Great Setting for Your Big Bear Cabin
March 6, 2010 by Leave a Comment
The first thought most people have when thinking of a mountain cabin is a secluded, charming place in the middle of the woods. Most buyers are looking for a place to escape from the city and hustle and bustle they live in. Obviously, a secluded cabin would be the best way to make sure you will have a place to relax, uninterrupted in the mountains. Seclusion goes hand in hand with with the setting and the peace and quiet that buyers in Big Bear are looking for. While secluded cabins in the woods do exist in Big … [Read more...]
Big Bear Bank Owned Concerns
February 20, 2010 by 1 Comment
If you are considering purchasing a home in today’s market, the odds are pretty good you will be looking at a bank owned home. In Big Bear only 10% of the homes listed are bank owned homes, yet they make up 40% of the homes sold. Simply put, bank owned homes drive the market. In many cases, the traditional seller cannot afford to price his property at a competitive level with the bank owned properties in his neighborhood. So, for the time being, bank owned properties are going to be getting the bulk of buyer’s … [Read more...]
Big Bear Short Sales? Don’t Waste Your Time!
February 17, 2010 by Leave a Comment
If you don't see the embedded video, click here. If you are looking for a deal in Big Bear, focus on the homes that can be sold. In 2009, 80 short sale homes actually closed escrow. That is 9% of the 893 homes that closed in the Big Bear MLS. Currently there are 66 short sale listings that are in Pending, Active Contingent, or Contingent Status. That's 39% of the total Pending, Active Contingent, or Contingent Status (170). Anyone want to guess what percentage of these will actually get accepted by the bank … [Read more...]
