Below is an update for the Big Bear real estate market as of 11/24/2008. The number of residential properties listed for sale in Big Bear now stands at 1067 total. This is only up one from last week so not a big shift either way. I do expect this number to go down in the winter months as the market slows down. A lot of people think our market is good during the winter months as it is the peak skiing season. The fact is the winter months are the slowest months of the year for real estate in Big Bear. Driving … [Read more...]
Pricing Your Big Bear Home – Get Ahead Of The Buyer Train
One of the most common mistakes sellers make in this market is overpricing their home. It is human nature to think ours is better than the others. In real estate however, the numbers speak for themselves. The quote, "Liars figure, but figures never lie" seems appropriate. The biggest risk with overpricing a home now is that every month the home in on the market the price moves farther down, sometimes 1-2% (for Big Bear) per month. Many times sellers start out too high, and then reduce only to see that they are … [Read more...]
Big Bear Real Estate – Monday Market Update For 11/17/2008
It has been over 6 months since my last Monday market update so I figured, why not start it up again today? Below is an update for the Big Bear real estate market as of 11/17/2008. The number of residential properties listed for sale in Big Bear now stands at 1066 total. It is interesting that this number is relatively low. A lot of people I talk to seem to think there is so much for sale right now when in fact this number was much higher, near 1500, last year at the same time. The real story is that a lot of … [Read more...]
Searching For Real Estate In Big Bear Just Got A Whole Lot Better
Searching for real estate in Big Bear is getting easier everyday. With more access to the data, consumers are starting to see the full picture of what is going on in a particular real estate market. I recently signed up for a map based IDX MLS search product from Diverse Solutions. For those not familiar with IDX, it stands for internet data exchange. It is essentially an agreement between real estate brokers in the same MLS which permits each broker to share their listings in eachother's online advertising … [Read more...]
Absorption Rates For The Big Bear Real Estate Market – October 2008
If you are thinking of buying or selling a home in Big Bear, you may want to take a look at the absorption rate of homes that are currently for sale. This is a good way to become more informed on the most current real estate market conditions in a particular area. There is an easy to understand article here describing what the absorption rate is and what it means for the real estate market. In simplistic terms, it is a mathematical equation that tells the amount of time it will take for a specified set amount of … [Read more...]
Can I Keep The Buyer’s Deposit If They Cancel The Deal?
This question always seems to come up from a seller when the buyer decides to back out of a real estate transaction or purchase. The answer to the question, as with a lot of real estate related questions, is "it all depends." Take a look below for my answer. [viddler id=ae8a8b4&w=437&h=368] Like the video above? Check out some of my other video posts. Related Articles Let's Be Earnest When Talking About A Good Faith Deposit … [Read more...]
Big Bear Home Sales – October 2008
Home sales in Big Bear increased 28% in October 2008 as compared to the same month last year, but fell 11% from the September 2008 home sales number of 82. Though it is down, it was still the second best month for homes sales in Big Bear this year. The median price for the homes sold was $255,000, up 12% from Sept. 2008 but down 18% from Oct. 2007. The median price has been quite sporadic the past 6 months, ranging between $205,000 to $290,000. With such a limited amount of sales, any slight variation can throw … [Read more...]
Pricing A Property In Big Bear – Follow Your Real Estate Gut
Pricing a property in Big Bear is a lot different than your standard tract home or primary home location. The fact is that the properties in Big Bear can be dramatically different, even when they are in the same location. We have many areas with big homes next to small homes, old homes next to new homes, homes on the lake and homes off it, homes with ski slopes views and home with out a view. There are very few locations that contain homes with a lot of commonality between them. Areas with upscale, newer homes … [Read more...]