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When is the Best Time to Buy or Sell in Big Bear?

Click here to see embedded video. There are several ways to answer this question. From a seller's standpoint, the first four months of the year are the slowest for real estate sales in Big Bear.  But, there is also less competition on the market during these months, which means there are less homes for buyers to choose from.  It is always a good thing for sellers whenever you have less competition, even if these are fewer buyers  out there.  So, I'd say the best time to sell in Big Bear is going to be earlier in … [Read more...]

5 Options for Big Bear Sellers

Link to embedded video here. Seems like I go over this several times a week with potential sellers.  What are their options in this real estate market? Here are my answers - 1.  Sell it - easier said than done. This can be difficult to do if they bought it or refinanced it during the 2003 to 2008 range as many owe more than the market value. 2. Sit & wait it out - not the best choice in my opinion as I don't see any reason things will be better over the next couple year.  There number of properties … [Read more...]

Patty’s Picks of the Week

Here are my top picks for this week! Simply click on the highlighted property to see the details for the "best in show" properties. Under $100K: 727 Kern: This little charmer is close to the National Forest and is affordable at $53,500! Even has laundry and vaulted ceilings! $100K-$200K: 1125 Anita: Big Bear Charm with attached garage, fenced yard and close to the National Forest. This is a Fannie Mae HomePath property with special financing options. $200K-$300K: 771 Silvertip: Moonridge location with an … [Read more...]

What the Internet Won’t Tell You About A Big Bear Property

The internet has changed a lot of things in our industry over the past 10 years. When I first started selling real estate in 1999 (which wasn't THAT long ago) everyone relied on printed MLS books which were issued every other week as their primary source for current information. Yes, we did have an MLS online, but with dial-up it was a pain in the neck looking up stuff and the old MLS didn't even have photos online! It was very archaic. Fast forward to 2011, within seconds a potential buyer can "google earth" a … [Read more...]

Patty’s Picks of the Week

Want to know some of the best properties in Big Bear to purchase this week? Simply click on the highlighted property to see the details of these "best in show" properties. Under $100K: 492 Santa Barbara: This is a quaint, charming property that sits on a 5,000 sq.ft nicely treed, corner fenced lot. It is also a Fannie Mae property that has extra incentives for primary,  second home and investment purchasers. $100K-$200K: 300 Tiger Lily: This full log home sits on a roomy 5,000 sq. ft. lot with ski slopes … [Read more...]

Big Bear Real Estate Market Predictions 2011 for Buyers

I specialize in working with real estate buyers in Big Bear Lake, CA where 2nd homes in a resort town makeup a majority of our market sales. This is an interesting article I came across with some insight of what we may expect for this 2011 real estate market. In the article, Tara-Nicholle Nelson has put this in four categories. 1. Prices and mortgage rates will stay low in most areas. This is good news for Buyers! This formula is perfect for the lowest monthly payment and will help Buyers have a chance to get … [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...]

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...]