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Big Bear Lake, CA Real Estate News

We hope everyone had a wonderful holiday season!  It’s been PACKED up here (it feels like everyone from Los Angeles and San Diego came up to our little mountain town over the last 2 weeks); but as work and school resume for many on Monday, it should slow back down a little to our usual winter craziness.  The Big Bear real estate market has been very busy as well.  Even with all the holidays, there were 100 properties (incl. 5 lakefronts) that closed escrow last month and another 192 in “pending” or “back-up only” status.  That brings our current inventory of homes in the entire valley down to 367, with only 194 of those being in the good vacation rental areas of Big Bear Lake, Moonridge, and Fox Farm.   100 Sold: XPROP – Multi Row View   192 Pending/Back-up: XPROP – Multi Row View   Bel...
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By Debbie Wolcott, Big Bear Lake Real Estate
(RE/MAX Big Bear)
Here are 2 really fun things to do in Big Bear Lake CA.    I was walking thru the Village and found a store that had  Segway's for rent. What a cool thing to do.  I can't wait to go with my family.  They have 2 hour tours.   The other fun thing that they offer is Zipline Tours.  They take you out into the forest, where they offer different levels of ziplines.  I have heard alot of good recommendations.   Debbie Wolcott, Realtor "When Experience Makes The Difference" Keller Williams Realty (909)584-5184 DRE #00685947     I have included their brochure so you can schedule your own action adventure.       Loading...             Ctrl+FSearch the document F3Find next Shift+F3Find previous   Edit online Ctrl+SDownload original Save in Google Docs Ctrl+PPrint (PDF)   Ctrl+Shift+→Zoom in Ctrl+...
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By Debbie Wolcott, Big Bear Lake Real Estate
(RE/MAX Big Bear)
  I went to a concert last year and it was great.  I highly recommend this event.  The band was great the the atmosphere was the best.  Sitting in the forest listening to a concert. Don't forget to bring your own beach chair.  Too bad the VIP is sold out.   Debbie Wolcott, Realtor Keller Williams Realty (909)584-5184 DRE #00685947 presented by Schedule Poster Complete Concert Info   Tickets on Sale ~ Buy NOW and SAVE! (Scroll down for individual events) Make Music in the Mountains your "Weekend in the Mountains"; check out Northwoods Resort killer $69 concert rate for a 2-night minimum per night, or, $99 great single night rate; (800) 866-3121 ext 7710; some restrictions apply; see details below . . . VIP Membership Season Pass; 5 Events; $150 per person Sold Out Includes season pass f...
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By Kristin Hamilton CA REALTOR, (909) 557-6966- Specialize 55+ Communties Banning
(Berkshire Hathaway California Realty)
  This morning we drove up to Big Bear, a lovely mountain resort that wraps around the Big Bear Lake. It is about 50 miles from Redlands, CA. I like the road to Big Bear as it is not too windy and very scenic. Drove around and stopped in at the Big Bear Rescue Zoo, commonly called the Moonridge Zoo. Here they take in injured or permanently disabled animals that cannot return to the wild. They even have a family of Grizzly bears living there. The mom and her two cubs were sent there from another state and a special den had to be built to withstand earthquakes. It has a double door so if the first one fails, the second one should hold. California doesn't have grizzlys so they try to keep them separated. It is a lovely place to go for a quick vacation, and they have 2 marinas. Spend the da...
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By Carol Neu, SFR, RCS-D - Big Bear Foreclosures
(Evergreen Realty)
It was a very sad day today for our Market Center in Big Bear Lake because Stephanie Murphy lost her battle with cancer today. I am sorry to say that I didn't know Stephanie very well.  She got sick within months of me joining Keller Williams,  but she was loved by all who knew her.  When she started her treatments the whole company rallied, organizing drivers to take her to her treatments more than 50 miles away, while others cooked Stephanie's family dinner every night, purchasing the food, cooking it and delivering it to them by 5:30p so the family could have a home cooked meal when Stephanie was recovering from her treatments. We were all so amazed to see her complete a 5K like the athlete she was soon after finishing what turned out to be her first round of treatments.  And we were...
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I have multiple credit cards that I have used over the past ten or twenty years and have treated them responsibly.  I chose them all because I could pay them on line and adjust the due dates to be convenient.  When I bought a car last year I was told my credit score was quite high. In mid December I made a large payment against my Citibank business credit card to free up the line.  As I've grown my business I've contracted various services which bill the card monthly and I knew I was going to need at least half of the monies paid to meet my obligations.  I am expecting a large influx of cash from the sale of a house soon, and at that time I was going to pay the line off, but wanted to wait until then. The first hint of a problem was getting a notice from one of my creditors telling me m...
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By Carol Neu, SFR, RCS-D - Big Bear Foreclosures
(Evergreen Realty)
I saw a great documentary called Thrive the other night that has definitely given me lots to think about.  It confirmed a lot of what I've been saying about our current mortgage mess, but it goes even deeper and higher up the food chain than I usually go. If you are suffering through a financial crisis, or a medical crisis, you owe it to yourself to check it out.  You can find out more at www.thrivemovement.com.   My resolution after seeing it is to establish a better relationship with Big Bear's local bank to refer my clients for mortgage loans, and work on establishing a network of credit unions and smaller banks to work with.   If you represent a local bank that does mortgages, please contact me so I can learn more about your programs.
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By Carol Neu, SFR, RCS-D - Big Bear Foreclosures
(Evergreen Realty)
  If you are talking to Bank of America about getting a mortgage, do not take one more move forward until you finish this.     I represented a seller of a lovely, well priced, well maintained home.  Everything was moving along fine and we were right on schedule to close in 3 days when I got a call from escrow on the day that loan docs were suppose to be drawn.  Bank of America had reviewed the termite report, which the buyers had received ten days earlier and noted no Section 1 work and some minor section 2 work. Now, in order to draw loan docs Bank of America needed the Section 2 work done and the 4 year old roof certified.  REALLY?     So we schedule the Section 2 work, and since the seller’s husband, now deceased, hired the roofer and the seller didn’t know who that was, we had to fi...
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By Steve Hirschler, Big Bear Real Estate
(Keller Williams Big Bear)
Steve Hirschler Market Specialist, Inventory Expert, Big Bear Real Estate Agent Coldwell Banker The Tim Wood Group 42153 Big Bear Blvd. P.O. BOX 6820 Big Bear Lake, CA 92315 DRE#01703081 stevehirschler@gmail.com 909 866-3481 EXT. 217 CELL 909 725-5889 Fax 909 866-3531       
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By Debbie Wolcott, Big Bear Lake Real Estate
(RE/MAX Big Bear)
    Things to do in Big Bear Lake, CA  Week end of September 17-18   Fall is almost here and the leaves will be turning their beautiful colors.  The evenings are getting crisp.  The fishing still should be good as the trout like cooler water.  We have had a lot of thunderstorms this week.  It is good for the trees.   Big Bear Lake International Film Festival at 39707 Big Bear Blvd, Big Bear Lake, Big Bear Lake Performing Arts Center, Village Theaters village area.  909-866-3433   Oktoberfest, Saturdays starting at noon Big Bear Convention Center, 42900 Big Bear Blvd, Big Bear Lake, 909-585-3000 or BigBearEvents.com   Autumn Wine Walk  3:30 in the village area of Big Bear Lake $25  909-878-8044     3 Bedroom 1.75 Bath $143,000  Owner Motivated.  Great Home in nice area of Sugarloaf.  For...
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By Steve Hirschler, Big Bear Real Estate
(Keller Williams Big Bear)
  Steve Hirschler Market Specialist, Inventory Expert, Big Bear Real Estate Agent Coldwell Banker The Tim Wood Group 42153 Big Bear Blvd. P.O. BOX 6820 Big Bear Lake, CA 92315 DRE#01703081 stevehirschler@gmail.com 909 866-3481 EXT. 217 CELL 909 725-5889 Fax 909 866-3531       
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By Debbie Wolcott, Big Bear Lake Real Estate
(RE/MAX Big Bear)
Old Miners Day's is going strong this weekend for more information go to www.oldminers.org Old Miners presents the Village Carnival at Bartlett Lot Juyl 22, 2011 Friday 4:00pm to 10:00pm  July 23, 2011 Saturday 11:00am to 10:00pm July 24, 2011 Sunday 10:00am to 05:00PM Come and enjoy the Village Carnival. Food, Music, Crafts, Games and a Outhouse Race, Old Miners Big Bear Heritage Parade Juyl 23, 2011 | 10:00AM - 11:30AM This years theme is "Respecting Our Past, Protecting Our Future."   The parade starts at Alden Road and goes thru the Village ending at the Elks Lodge.  Come at 8:00am and enjoy Parade Pancake & Pasteries Breakfasts at participation resturants. Communiity Bike Rides    Meet at Copper Q  645 Pine Knot Ave Every Saturday  9:00am Everyone meets at the Copper Q in the villa...
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By Deborah Nance, Southern California , Reverse Mortgage Specialist
(Orange County, Corona, Riverside, Los Angeles)
I’ve been spending a lot of time up on the mountain lately and have discovered that the Big Bear area is quite the popular retirement town.  Many residents have chosen to live there to enjoy the beauty, four seasons and clean air - and remain close to their children and grandchildren “down the hill”.  I think they enjoy living at a vacation destination welcoming friends and family all year long to stay for a spell and cut loose from the traffic, noise and hurry that is urban southern California. The drive up the mountain is spectacular and Hwy 330 is open again so it’s a pretty quick trip.  For an even more scenic route - take the 38 home through Barton Flats and Forest Falls...wow!  Who knew there were waterfalls in Southern California! Senior (over 62) Homeowners in Big Bear Lake are ...
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By Debbie Wolcott, Big Bear Lake Real Estate
(RE/MAX Big Bear)
We have a few things coming up this holiday weekend... July 2, 2011 is free fishing day everywhere in California. July 2-4 Independence Day Festival, at the Convention Center, 42900 Big Bear Blvd. Big Bear Lake Featuring Live Entertainment, Arts & Crafts, Children's activities, Outdoor patio and BBQ. The three-day festival offers something for the entire family from the petting zoo, to unique and hand-made arts, crafts and collectibles, to live entertainment on the outdoor patio. Fri & Sat - 10 a.m.- 5 p.m. Sun - 10 a.m.- 3 p.m. Admission is $3 for adults, $2 for seniors and FREE for children 12 and under. July 2-3  Zoocasion at Moonridge Animal Park, 43285 Goldmine Dr. Big Bear Lake An educational program with a drawing contest for kids and a Walk-around-the-Park quiz and win an "exper...
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By Israel Barden
(RE/MAX Big Bear Village)
It is a well-known fact that it is a buyer's market. Due to high inventory and low prices, buyers can usually count on being in the driver's seat. But this is not always the case. There are many situations in which a seller will be difficult to work with or actually be in control of the transaction. If you are a buyer and run into any of the following scenarios, be warned that control may have shifted. •1.       The home you are interested in is new to the market. If a home has only been listed for less than a month and it is priced well, the seller may not be inclined to consider anything that is not close to full price. In many instances, the seller will feel like they need to give their price enough time to see if it works. It can be very frustrating if the home is overpriced but a ...
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By Carol Neu, SFR, RCS-D - Big Bear Foreclosures
(Evergreen Realty)
Several years ago, probably 2008, I started hearing this "conversation" that went something like "the mortgage melt down was Clinton's fault because his administration put undo pressure on Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac to open up lending to unqualified buyers in bad neighborhoods."   I was still a loan officer at the time and I remember my first, and continued response to this was "Hogwash.  What are you talking about???"  Last night I had the same conversation with my Dad, inspiring this blog and my account of what happened and why we are in this mess. When I was originating loans, up until about mid 2007 there were two major types of loans - A paper and Sub Prime.  Most A Paper loans were referred to as "Agency" loans or A Paper loans and followed guidelines set up by Fannie and Freddie ...
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By Steve Hirschler, Big Bear Real Estate
(Keller Williams Big Bear)
  Steve HirschlerMarket Specialist, Inventory Expert,Big Bear Real Estate AgentColdwell BankerThe Tim Wood Group42153 Big Bear Blvd.P.O. BOX 6820Big Bear Lake, CA 92315DRE#01703081stevehirschler@gmail.com909 866-3481 EXT. 217CELL 909 725-5889Fax 909 866-3531      
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By Steve Hirschler, Big Bear Real Estate
(Keller Williams Big Bear)
Sellers Respond Better to Written Offers. Recently I have had lots of calls on my listings from agents representing buyers interested in knowing if we get any offers. I have even had my own buyers tell me to let them know if we get an offer on a home that they are interested in.   I want to remind everyone of a rule that applies to many things in life, ACTIONS SPEAK LOUDER THAN WORDS.   Real Estate is a contract type of business. Real Estate negotiations are similar to a chess game.  Each player takes their turn and makes a completed move before the other continues. The game doesn’t really begin until someone writes a contract.   Asking a listing agent or even your buyer’s agent to let you know if the home gets any offers is a bad plan. This will most likely result in a higher price for...
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By Carol Neu, SFR, RCS-D - Big Bear Foreclosures
(Evergreen Realty)
In this day of being upside down in real estate, where everybody seems to be selling short or walking away from their property there are a few things to remember. If you're facing doing a short sale, you probably bought your property sometime between 2005 and 2008 when you could finance 100% of an inflated value.  You might have used a adjustable rate mortgage or even a negatively amortized mortgage where you didn't have to pay the whole interest payment every month and it would be added on to the principal.  If you decide to sell today, and the property isn't worth what you owe, there are two options:  Sell the property for what you can get and write a check the difference Sell the property for what you can get and ask the bank to forgive the rest Today most people expect to use door n...
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By Carol Neu, SFR, RCS-D - Big Bear Foreclosures
(Evergreen Realty)
Can you imagine going on a listing appointment, getting the  listing and when settling on the price to ask, the Seller says, I'm not going to tell you.  You pick a price that you think will get it sold, but I'm going to reserve the right to change my mind about selling it and change the price I will take,  even if I get a full price offer.  Would you work with that Seller?  The answer for most of us is yes, if we work with Short Sales. Why do banks do this?  Perhaps it's to make Short Sales less desireable to buyers.  It's not like Banks can't figure ot a fair number or decide before hand.  Today, banks have a system in place for independently evaluating value.  When NAR rolls out their new system, the banks will have access to even more accurate automated values. HAFA's prove that they...
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