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Does Your Big Bear Lake Cabin have a Wood Shake Roof?

If so, you may be interested in this. Effective July 1, 2012, all homeowners within the City of Big Bear Lake, have to remove wood shake/shingle roofs from their property (in compliance with Big Bear Lake city ordinance 2007-373).  The ordinance was approved back in July of 2007 in an attempt to reduce structural fires with fire-resistant materials. In conjunction with this ordinance, the City of Big Bear Lake/Big Bear Lake Fire Protection District received funding from the Governor’s Office of Emergency Services … [Read more...]

It’s All About the Inventory

Selling Real Estate is not what I do. What I do is study inventory and market conditions. I then provide this information to buyers and sellers so that they can make sound financial decisions. It's that simple. The single most important quality of a Real Estate agent is their ability to study and retain information regarding the inventory of homes in the market they work in.  Period. An agent that doesn't know the inventory will soon fail. It amazes me that agents try to learn the inventory after they get a … [Read more...]

Buyers, Read Those Disclosures First!

Link to embedded video. Here's the gist - before you make an offer on a property in Big Bear, be sure to review the seller's property disclosures first. The property disclosures contain lots of important nuggets, some of which may affect your decision to buy the property. What I see most of the time is buyers make an offer, spend several days negotiating back and forth, and finally come to an agreement with the seller. Then, days later when they finally review the property disclosures, they realize there are … [Read more...]

Agent Representation is a Two-Way Street

Click here to see embedded YouTube video. Here's the gist - just because your agent does not agree with you does not mean they are not representing you.  Much of the value a real estate agent provides lies in their knowledge and experience.  They've been down this road a lot of times in the past. So, when a buyer or seller is looking like they might be getting ready to jump off a real estate cliff so to speak, most agents are going to warn their clients ahead of time and give them advice.  This can come across as … [Read more...]

Big Bear Market Absorption Rate – 7.7 Months

The absorption rate for the Big Bear real estate market now stands at 7.7 months. With 93 homes sales in November, and approximately 715 homes for sale in the area, the market is starting to come in line with a "normal" market, though it is still leaning in favor of buyers. Why is this important?  Knowing the absorption rate will tell you what the real estate conditions are like in a particular price range and area. If you are selling your property, this can help when determining the demand in your area or price … [Read more...]

Big Bear Home Sales – November 2010

Big Bear home sales hit their highest mark this year with a total of 93 sales in November.  The median sales price rose considerably, up 32% from October, while average sales price remained stable. Big Bear Home Sales Home sales in November (93) were up 18% when compared to the October sales (79). Year over year, sales were up just 2% from November 2009 (91). 26, or 28%, of the 93 sales were bank owned, down 12% from last month. 16 of the sales, or 17%, were short sales, which is 8% more than last month and the … [Read more...]

When Will Prices Go Up in Big Bear?

Click here to see embedded YouTube video. This is a question I get on a daily basis. Prices are directly tied to sales and demand. The more sales (demand) we see, the higher prices should go. We've been averaging 50-90 sales the past 2 years or so. Compare that to the 200 per month we used to see back in the early to mid 2000's and you'll see demand is still pretty limited right now. Once we see a sustained amount of sales per month, in the range of 150 per month for a 6-12 month period, then we should start … [Read more...]

Big Bear Foreclosure Numbers – October 2010

Foreclosure filings for Big Bear dropped in October 2010, down 17% when compared to September, a sizable chunk which continues the zig-zag movement of the Big Bear foreclosure market over the past year. Year over year, foreclosure filings were down 33% from the October 2009 numbers, the tenth straight month that foreclosure filings were down year over year. Foreclosure filings are made up of three parts - Notices of Default (NOD), a recorded document that starts the foreclosure process, which is normally filed … [Read more...]

Snow Hits Big Bear!

This is the first snow fall of the year and it's starting early. Should be a great week to celebrate Thanksgiving with the family. … [Read more...]

Top 10 Reasons to Buy a Home in Big Bear Lake

If you have considered a mountain property, here are 10 great reasons to purchase a home now in Big Bear Lake. 1.  Interest Rates are at an all time low! Today's rates are near 4.30%, which is free money to anyone who remembers the rates 20-30 years ago.  The lower the rate, the lower your monthly mortgage payment. 2.  Prices are the lowest they have been since 2003 - while they still may go down a little more, any hike up in the interest rate is bound to negate any savings by waiting. 3. Big Bear Lake has a … [Read more...]