With the slowing of COVID, we have had numerous requests for a market update comparing the real estate frenzy of the past few years with today’s more normalized market. Simply put, the markets of 2020 and 2021 were unprecedented. Given that, those are not market periods we would usually compare to the more typical trends that have occurred in the last 20-30 years. To get a more realistic idea of where the market currently stands in comparison to the recent past, for today, I’ll be covering 2019 through today. As … [Read more...]
The COVID-19 Effect – April 2020 Real Estate Sales Down 57% in Big Bear.
May 5, 2020 by 2 Comments
Well, we knew it would have an impact, and that impact is showing up in the home sales numbers. Residential sales were down 57% in April 2020 compared to the same month in 2019. Per the Big Bear MLS, there were 48 home sales this past April. In April 2019, there were 112 home sales in Big Bear. Home prices were up a modest 2% year or year, with an average sales price of $327,757 in April 2020 vs. $321,508 in April 2019. What's in the numbers? There were approximately 30+ … [Read more...]
Tips for Buying Land in Big Bear
November 5, 2013 by 13 Comments
Buying a vacant parcel and building a home in Big Bear means having total control over every aspect of a house, from the foundation to the flooring to the views. There are many things that need to be considered when buying land in Big Bear. Will a hillside location make building costs prohibitive? Am I overbuilding for the area? Can I keep horses on the property? What’s the potential re-sale value? Who is the local building authority - City v.s County? The following is a list of things to consider when purchasing … [Read more...]
Understanding the Value of a Real Agent
September 19, 2013 by Leave a Comment
Not long ago, you had to go to a real estate agent in order to get information on property listings. Books filled with all the local real estate listings were distributed to real estate offices and the agents would review the books and find homes that matched their clients' needs. This information was not readily available to the public. The times have drastically changed. Today, much of the once-private information is now public. But does that mean you can handle the entire real estate transaction on your own? … [Read more...]
Big Bear Real Estate News
September 5, 2013 by Leave a Comment
In our digital economy, international, national and local economies affect our marketplace. As we keep our eye on China, the Euro, the unemployment rate and other leading indicators, the news seems to show an upswing in several economic factors. On the international scene, China’s lifting of some controls is the strongest sign that the government intends to change; according to the New York Times. Some have called the restructuring a symbolic move. But, since it signals a broader acceptance of western banking … [Read more...]
Big Bear’s Service Groups
August 6, 2013 by 1 Comment
For what can be considered a small area, Big Bear Lake offers a large variety of clubs and organizations offering opportunities to serve, extend your education, and meet and enjoy the company of others with similar interests. To pique your interest, here is a short list of some of the service organizations active in Big Bear. American Legion Post 584 Bear Valley Community Hospital District Foundation Big Bear Airport Pilots Association Big Bear Association of Realtors Big Bear Bridge Club Big Bear Chapter of … [Read more...]
Landscaping for Residential Real Estate
July 25, 2013 by Leave a Comment
Whether you’re a “do it yourself” type of person or you prefer to call in the professionals, landscaping in Big Bear, CA poses unique problems. Long-time Big Bear gardeners will tell you about our short growing season (90 days). Our shortened growing time and colder winter season means trees and shrubs that thrive in Southern California will not grow in these mountains. Different areas of the Big Bear valley support a wide variety of local and introduced plants. The Boulder Bay area is moist enough for ferns. The … [Read more...]
Independence Day 2013
July 4, 2013 by Leave a Comment
If you have not experienced Big Bear Lake's Independence Day celebration, you are missing a real treat.Big Bear Lake is famous for holding one of the top 10 fireworks displays in the state of California.The show is always on July 4th at 9:00pm. This year, the 4th is on Thursday. Courtesy of the Big Bear Rotary Club, each year's show has an uplifting half hour of gorgeous, high-flying fireworks, coordinated with Independence Day music from the local radio station, KBHR 93.3FM. Be sure to tune in! The fireworks are … [Read more...]
How Much Should I Offer?
May 29, 2013 by Leave a Comment
What you offer on a Big Bear property depends on a number of things, such as the maximum price you’re willing to pay for the home, the risk of losing the home to another buyer, appraisal value, and how realistic the asking price is. Though homes in Big Bear are selling for an average of 96% of the listing price, there is no cardinal rule for a fixed amount that a seller will negotiate from their asking price. Every property & every seller is unique. The Big Bear real estate market is in a transition from a … [Read more...]
Big Bear Lake Transient Private Home Rentals (TPHR) Ordinance
April 12, 2013 by Leave a Comment
Vacation rentals are big business in Big Bear. There are close to 1700 private homes currently registered or pending approval within Big Bear Lake city limits. Add to that the rentals in the un-incorporated areas of Big Bear (Fawnskin, Big Bear City, Sugarloaf, etc.) and the number of available vacation rentals within the Big Bear valley is estimated to be over 2000. The City of Big Bear Lake receives over $1,200,000 annually in tax revenue from vacation rentals based on approximately $15,000,000 in sales. Back in … [Read more...]
