Big Bear Real Estate Blog

As you know if you've read my blog in the past. I love the Moonridge area of Big Bear. 

I have personally lived in the Moonridge area since 1990. The views are often of the ski slopes and some of the properties even have a lake view. I like the topography that makes you feel like you are truly in the mountains. There seems to be just the right amount of pine trees in Moonridge. The sound of the wind in the trees is something that many of my clients have commented on while we are out looking at properties. Most of the roads in the Moonridge area are quickly cleared after a storm even though we get a good amount of snowfall in Moonridge.

These are some of the other posts that you can go to if you want more information on Moonrdige:

Great Homes are available in the Moonridge Area of Big Bear Lake

Moonridge, Big Bear Lake homes for sale

Big Bear Homes for Sale, Moonridge

Big Bear Homes for Sale, Moonridge LakeView

Moonridge in Big Bear Lake has it all!

Get lost in Moonridge.... Big Bear Lake

Homes in the Moonridge area make great vacation rentals and this will often allow buyers to spend a little more on their second home. I have seen a few vacation rentals that come close to breaking even, but the majority will cover 25% - 35% of their overhead. What you will want to do if your thinking about vacation rental is get a quote from one of the companies that handles rentals. This will give you an idea of what type of income you might expect from the home that you are interested in.

Winters seems to be the prime time for rentals in Moonridge. That's not to say your Moonridge home will not rent during the summer, spring or fall seasons. Usually owners can just call and set aside the time periods that they want to use the cabin. This allows the use by the owner to be flexible.

The Big Bear Real Estate market is the best in years for those of you that are buyers. If your waiting for the bottom, I think we are very close. REO / Bank Owned properties and short sales are available in all areas of Big Bear, and Moonridge is no exception.   

So what are you waiting for? Give me a call to set an appointment and let's find your Moonridge Mountain Home while the ball is in the buyers court.

Steve Hirschler

Associate, The Tim Wood Group

Coldwell Banker Mountain Gallery

42153 Big Bear Blvd.

P.O. BOX 6820

Big Bear Lake, CA 92315

steve@bigbeargallery.com

909 866-3481 EXT. 217 CELL 909 725-5889

Fax 909 866-3531

http://www.stevesellsbigbear.com/

I here this question often from buyers in the Southern California area that are thinking about a primary residence or a second home in the mountains. They aren't sure if they should shop for a home in the Big Bear area, the Lake Arrowhead area, Idyllwild, Wrightwood, or Mammoth area.

It really depends on what you want. I am not an expert on any of the areas outside of Big Bear, and I don't feel that I can be a source of information on those other locations. If you want to buy a second home in one of the locations other than Big Bear, I would refer you to an agent that specializes in that particular location.  

Big Bear is the area that I specialize in and I stick to what I know. As an 18 year resident of Big Bear, I feel good about knowing the area well. I am passionate about Real Estate and the town that I live in. Real Estate is local and I recommend you always work with a Realtor that has local knowledge.

There are many different areas within the Big Bear Valley. Starting in the West end and moving East we have: Big Bear Lake (West, Central, and East), Fawnskin, Moonridge, Fox Farm, Bear Loop, Whispering Forest, Big Bear City, Peter Pan, North Shore East, Poet's Corner, Forest Springs, Maple Hill, Valley View Estates, Sugarloaf, Shay Meadows, Shy Valley Ranch, Meadowbrook Estates, Baldwin Lake, Erwin Lake, and Lake Williams 

Some of the things that Big Bear offers are not available at the other locations. We have 2 world class ski resorts, Snow Summit and Bear Mountain. We have a public use lake that has fishing, boating, water-skiing and wake-boarding, para-sailing, and an observatory. Big Bear Village is a quaint shopping area. We have two large grocery stores, numerous pharmacies, restaurants, a hospital, library, and churches of most denominations. 

Big Bear is a small town with small town values. People in Big Bear help each other and I have found this to be a very giving community to live in. My wife and I have raised our 4 daughters in Big Bear and I take my hat off to the teachers and administrators of the Bear Valley School District. I enjoy the fact that many of the people I see daily know me personally and care about my family and our well being. These are just some of the benefits of living in a small town.

Big Bear has four seasons of fun. We enjoy the ski resorts, snowshoeing, snowmobiling, and cross country skiing in the winter. Spring is a combination of activities with the ski resorts open until mid April (most years) and the lake ramps opening in mid April. Spring break is enjoyed by many families and groups. Hiking and biking kick off in the spring and carry through the summer season. Summer is beautiful in Big Bear with average daytime temps in the 70's and 80's. Biking, Hiking, Boating, Motorcycling, and relaxing are what Big Bear is all about in the Summer months. Fall brings cool breezes and the turning of the trees. Most summer activities can be continued into the fall, but morning temperatures will drop to the low 40's and sometimes high 30's when we get close to October.  

If your looking at access, Big Bear has three routes to choose from. Route 330 to the 18 through Running Springs is the most traveled route. Hi-way 38 from the Redlands / Yuciapa area is a favorite with many locals and second home owners because the road is not as winding as the 330/18  and it is the road less traveled. If you are coming from the Las Vegas, Laughlin or Colorado River areas you will want to take the 18 from the Lucerne Valley. Big Bear is less than 150 miles from most Southern California communities and often the commute time to your second home will be less than a couple hours.  

Big Bear has a great diversity in housing prices. We have small cabins and homes that start around $150,000 and prices for larger homes and lakefronts will go as high as $3,500,000. I am sure we have a home that will fit your budget.

Give me a call if you would like to discuss Big Bear Real Estate, or know someone that is looking to buy or sell Real Estate in the Big Bear area.

Steve Hirschler

Associate, The Tim Wood Group

Coldwell Banker Mountain Gallery

42153 Big Bear Blvd.

P.O. BOX 6820

Big Bear Lake, CA 92315

steve@bigbeargallery.com

909 866-3481 EXT. 217 CELL 909 725-5889

Fax 909 866-3531

http://www.stevesellsbigbear.com/

Winterizing your Big Bear Cabin can save you money and avoid damage to your plumbing system. Below is the instructions that the DWP sends out to help homeowners understand the process. It's a good idea to turn your stop and waste valve off whenever you are leaving the mountains, even in the summer. By doing this you will keep the stop and waste valve from becoming hard to turn or stuck in one position.

Steve Hirschler

Associate, The Tim Wood Group

Coldwell Banker Mountain Gallery

42153 Big Bear Blvd.

P.O. BOX 6820

Big Bear Lake, CA 92315

steve@bigbeargallery.com

909 866-3481 EXT. 217 CELL 909 725-5889

Fax 909 866-3531

http://www.stevesellsbigbear.com/

SPOTLESS HOME IN QUITE WHISPERING FOREST,MASTER RETREAT, WOOD BURNING STOVE, OAK WOOD FLOORS, BANISTER & CABINETS. GRANITE COUNTER TOPS, RECESSED LIGHTING, LAUNDRY CHUTE IN MASTER SUITE, LIGHTED BOOK CASES, SKY LIGHTS, LEADED GLASS WINDOWS, GARDEN WINDOW, HEATED 816 SQ FT 4 CAR ATT. GARAGE. LANDSCAPED YARD W/ SPRINKLER SYSTEM, COVERED FRONT DECK W/ SKY LIGHTS, CIRCULAR DRIVEWAY

Steve Hirschler

Associate, The Tim Wood Group

Coldwell Banker Mountain Gallery

42153 Big Bear Blvd.

P.O. BOX 6820

Big Bear Lake, CA 92315

steve@bigbeargallery.com

909 866-3481 EXT. 217 CELL 909 725-5889

Fax 909 866-3531

http://www.stevesellsbigbear.com/

A frequent question that visitors and second home owners ask in Big Bear is....Where can I buy a "Big Bear Local" Bear Paw for my car window?

These stckers are often seen on cars all over Southern California and sometimes out of state. All of the money collected goes to the Bear Backers. Bear Backers is the group that does fund-raising for the Big Bear High School sports teams.

These stickers are available at Shelli's Hallmark Shop in the Vons Interlaken Shopping Center (909) 866-4882.

The small size is $3.50 and the large size is $5.00.

Show your support for the Athletes of Big Bear High School and pick up your Bear Paw today!

Do you have a Big Bear Paw Sticker on your car?

Buyers in the current market are wondering what they should offer. It's understandable, with the market conditions still moving down in Big Bear,buyers aren't real comfortable offering near the list price. After you have spent days working on finding a home that fits you needs, shouldn't you be able to buy it for 25% off of the list price? What determines how much you will write the offer for?

Sold since 1/10/2008

As you can see, based on the last 91 closed residential sales in Big Bear, homes are selling at 92.27% of list price with an average of 141 days on the market.

A further look at the stats reveals that houses priced below $300,000 sold for 96.04% of list price with 117 average days on the market.

Sold under $300,000 since 1/10/2008

Big Bear Homes priced between $300,000 and $800,000 have the same price differential all price ranges combined at 92.27% but have increased days on the market of 163.

Sold between $300,000 - $800,000 since 1/10/2008

 Big Bear Homes priced over $800,000 have a price differential of 89.21% and extended days on the market averaging 205.

Sold over $800,000 since 1/10/2008

What does all of this mean to a buyer? I believe this information shows that lower price homes are selling closer to list price than higher priced homes. Not only is the percent higher, but the dollar difference is bigger the higher the price. Have your agent pull the pricing history along with the days on the market for the property that you are making an offer on. Pull comparable sales and pending sales for the last 90 - 180 days. Is every home priced correctly? Absolutely not. Will you see active listings that are over priced? Yes, most active listings are over priced.

Using the sample of 91 homes shown above the highest price differential was 19.43%. This was one of the 2 highest price sales to occur YTD at $1,900,000.

In conclusion, unless you are just testing the water, your offer should be based on factual information. You should understand that if you have looked at a number of houses in the price range and you're favorite seems to be a good deal, it probably is. Buying a home that seems like a good deal to a buyer, usually requires an offer that also looks like a good deal to the seller.

Steve Hirschler

Associate, The Tim Wood Group

Coldwell Banker Mountain Gallery

42153 Big Bear Blvd.

P.O. BOX 6820

Big Bear Lake, CA 92315

steve@bigbeargallery.com

909 866-3481 EXT. 217 CELL 909 725-5889

Fax 909 866-3531

http://www.stevesellsbigbear.com/