Big Bear Valley Real Estate Blog

Big Bear Weather July 20,2008

Tony Card, Big Bear Lake Real Estate (Coldwell Banker) — Sun, 20 Jul 2008 10:52:34 -0500

I awoke this morning at 5:15 to clear ssky's and what looked like the start of another wonderful day in Big Bear. After taking care of the morning chores, I went back into the house and got ready for work. At 6:40 this morning, I noticed that it was very dark outside. In no time, it went from a bright and cheerful morning to a darkness and heavy rain. The only bright lights came from the lightening that seamed to be striking through out the east end of the Big Bear Valley.

These summer thunder storms are common in Big Bear this time of the year. They usually don't start up until the afternoon and are over with in about 30 minutes or so.

This storm started rather early and there is no telling whether it will blow out of here in an hour, or hang around for the day. Either way, it's still going to be a wonderful day in Big Bear.

If you're planning to travel to Big Bear during these storms, please drive carefully. It isn't uncommon for the rain to dislodge large boulders that are sitting above the roadways. Once dislodged, they come crashing down on to the highways. The last thing you are going to want is to be driving the mountain roads to fast and come around a sharp turn to find a six foot boulder blocking your lane.

Who's looking for a great deal on a Big Bear Property?

Tony Card, Big Bear Lake Real Estate (Coldwell Banker) — Sat, 19 Jul 2008 17:06:06 -0500

This is one of those bank owned (REO) properties in the Big Bear Valley that, in my opinion is a good deal. The last time this home sold was back in 2004 and it sold for $225,000.00. The bank now has it listed for $169,900.00.

I knew the property from when it was on the market before. But, as it is now a bank owned (REO) listing and because it was listed so low, I felt a trip out to Lake Williams was in order.

When I think of a bank owned (REO), I picture a house that needs a lot of work. But When I first arrived at the property, it looked like other bank owned (REO) properties that I've seen in Big Bear. But once I got past the over grown shrubs and the deferred maintenance on the steps leading up to the decks, I was surprised!

The interior was very clean (No Smell) with what appeared to be newer carpet. The walls were all clean, light fixtures were NOT missing, the bathroom was also very clean. Again, I was surprised at the condition of this house.

This property goes to show that not all bank owned (REO) properties for sale in Big Bear are junk. True, there is some junk out there, like the 700 square foot 2 bedroom, 1 bath home in Erwin Lake that is listed for $65,000.00. That place needs a lot of work, both inside and outside.

This is just one of many reasons why you want to consult with a LOCALReal Estate professional when you decide to look at cabins in Big Bear. If price is all you're concerned with, I can show you the best properties for sale that are listed under $100,000.00. But, if you want a deal, (WHO DOESN'T) but still want a decent property in a nice area and at a great price, I can show you those as well.

I've had so many clients that chose to wait until the prices fell. Now, prices are down, interest rates are still low and smart buyers are doing very well. If you're one of those people who have been waiting, the time has come to act.

As a local Real Estate professional servicing the Big Bear Lake market, I am here to answer any and all of your questions regarding Real Estate in Big Bear. Do you have questions about REO's? Have you given any thought to what kind of offers a bank would accept? Are you pre approved? Give me a call for the answers to these and any other real estate questions concerning the Big Bear Valley.

44581 Barton, Sugarloaf, CA 92386 Price Reduction

Tony Card, Big Bear Lake Real Estate (Coldwell Banker) — Thu, 17 Jul 2008 17:24:30 -0500

44581 Barton is a 2 bedroom, 1 bath cabin locared in Sugarloaf, CA. The living space is 900 square feet all on one level and the lot size is 5000 square feet. This property is fenced, so you don't have to worry about keeping your dogs in. Take a look at the house using the Virtual Tour that I've set up for this house.

Next to the 2 car detached garage is ample room to store your R.V. The seller has included electrical hook-ups for the R.V.

This home is located in the east end of the Big Bear Valley and easily accessible from Hwy 38.

When I first listed this house, ti was listed for $199,000.00. The seller has moved off of the mountain and needs to sell it soon. As a result, we dropped the price down to $174,900.00 today.

If you, or one of your clients are looking for a week end get-a-way and would like to keep it under $200,000.00 with a garage, then this could be a good fit. Give me a call or email me for more information on this property.

Big Bear Lake is Moving a Million Miles For Ryan Hall

Tony Card, Big Bear Lake Real Estate (Coldwell Banker) — Wed, 16 Jul 2008 18:03:09 -0500

As anyone who reads my blog knows, I'm very supportive of the efforts put forth by the residence of the Big Bear valley in Moving A Million Miles For Ryan Hall.

For those of you that don't know, Ryan Hall, a marathon runner is a local in Big Bear. Ryan has earned a spot on the United States Olympic Team and is going to Beijing China in August.

Back in December of 2007, The Big Bear Lighthouse Project issued a challange to the community of Big Bear Lake. The challenge was quite simple really. All they asked was that everyone get off their butt and start walking. The goal was set! All we had to do was to move a million miles for Ryan Hall before his departure in August 2008.

I've posted blog articles from time to time reporting on the progress and it's time for another update. As of July 15, 2008, the Big Bear Valley has moved 630,000 miles for Ryan Hall.

Below is an email that was sent out to everyone who has participated in the Move a Million Miles For Ryan Hall. I would like to take this opportunity to share it with you.

SAVE THESE DATES

Monday, August 4, 5:30 p.m. at Big Bear Middle School Football Stadium, come join the entire community of Big Bear as we celebrate Big Bear's Best and send Ryan Hall off to Beijing with a resounding show of support and pride for Ryan, our community and our country! Plan to attend now and to bring friends and neighbors to this historic and inspiring event.

Show your pride and watch Ryan's famous stride as he takes a victory lap and addresses the community for his last appearance before heading to the Summer Games! More details about this event will be posted on our website and sent via email, so keep watching!

See Ryan and the children of our community 'moving miles' on NBC's program, 'The Road to Beijing', airing at 6:30 p.m. on Saturday, 8/9!

Mark your calendar!

Log your miles!

Keep movin'!

The Big Bear Private Home Ordinance Will NOT Be On The November Ballot.

Tony Card, Big Bear Lake Real Estate (Coldwell Banker) — Sat, 12 Jul 2008 12:54:05 -0500

For years the owners of a Bed and Breakfast in Big Bear have done everything in their power to stop the city of Big Bear Lake from allowing Private Home Rentals. This group of people have taken the city of Big Bear Lake to both state and federal court arguing that renting out a private home is a business and the homes aren't zoned for this type of activity. Needless to say, both the state and federal court dismissed the law suites.

The city of Big Bear Lake already has an ordinance in place to govern the private home rental industry. The existing ordinance was well written and covers all issues come up when you rent out your home in a resort community. Issues like too many cars parked at the rental are covered, too many people in the rental and most of all, noise and trash issues. The rental industry has done a good job of policing their industry and it has worked out well in the past.

If anyone thought that this would be the end of problems from this group of Bed & Breakfast owners, then they were living in a bubble. As they lost on the zoning issue, they chose to write a new ordinance that, id adopted would make it virtually impossible for a private home owner to comply with all of the new regulations. Just to give you some idea as to what these people wanted, here are just a couple examples. They proposed in the new ordinance that one in every forty homes comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act. This would mean that all doors are wide enough for a wheel chair. Ramps would be required for access to the homes, bathrooms would be required to have grab handles in the bathtub and near the toilet. The ordnance would require each home owner to get a conditional use permit. This ordinance was set to go to a vote this coming November. If it passed the city would have lost over $1,000,000.00 a year in the bed tax as well.

Needless to say, the Real Estate industry are against this type of ordinance as was the city of Big Bear Lake. A group of people got together to fight this ordinance and were successful in getting it before a judge. Below is what was reported on the KBHRNewsWebsite this past friday.

This morning, the issue of the proposed transient private home rental initiative (to add additional restrictions and ADA requirements for PHRs within Big Bear Lake) for the November election, as filed by private lodge owner James McLean and subsequently challenged by Citizens Protecting the Rights of Property Owners (or CPRPro), had its day in court, at the County's Needles courthouse. CPRPro had taken the proposed ballot initiative to court, challenging that, as accepted by the City Clerk, it did not comply with California Election Code 9203 (b), as the petitions circulated and signed did not include the title and initiative summary on each page as required. The CPRPro challenge was heard by the Honorable Judge Brisco, and those in court this morning included Nick Lanza (owner of Big Bear Vacation Rentals and Board member of local coalition CPRPro), CPRPro's consultant Michael Perry and attorney David Blackwell, and, via teleconference, McLean's attorney T. Matthew Phillips, and (on behalf of the City of Big Bear Lake, which was also named in the suit) attorney J. Michael Summerour. Per Michael Perry, who spoke to KBHR from Needles following the judge's ruling, "The judge ruled in our favor, and the City must remove the initiative from the November ballot." Though official documents on today's ruling had not yet been forwarded to the City of Big Bear Lake, the City's Public Information Officer Cheri Haggerty did tell KBHR, "The City of Big Bear Lake is unable to comment on the ruling because it is an issue between two private parties." According to the Registrar of Voters office, the initiative generated by McLean and approved by the City's Clerk had not yet been submitted for the November 4 election. Per Terry Kouba, Chief Deputy Registrar of Voters for San Bernardino County, "We were aware of the ordinance, but it hadn't yet been filed with the Registrar of Voters for the November election. We were expecting it, pending this court case." (Background on this case is on our Archive 2008 page, in stories posted on April 11, February 13, and February 6.)

If people thought that by passing this ordinance, the private home rentals in Big Bear Lake would come to an end, they were sadly mistaken. Home owners who wish to rent their homes out will still do so. With websites like Craig'slist and Backpage, a property owner can easily advertise his rental on that site. The difference is that the city would not see any TOT tax, there would be no way of policing the rental. If people think that passing this new ordinance is going to help, they are dead wrong.

If things change on the Private Home Rental situation in Big Bear Lake, I will post a new blog with the update.

Greed

Tony Card, Big Bear Lake Real Estate (Coldwell Banker) — Thu, 10 Jul 2008 17:42:57 -0500

About two years ago, I noticed my neneighbor put his house up for sale. He knew that I was a Realtor so naturally, I was a bit upset when I saw the sign go up just two doors down from my home. This was a time when the market was still good. The REO's were in the inventory and people were still over pricing their homes a little bit. But when I saw what he listed his cabin for, I was so glad i didn't have the listing! Trust me, I showed the home a lot but only to make a point of how over priced it was. That made it so much easier to sell the properties in Big Bear that I wanted to sell. About six months ago, the neneighbor contacted me and asked me to sell his cabin. I told him that I would be happy to help, but if I take the listing, we are going to list the house at it's current value. Because the original agent told him that his place was worth $183,000.00, he was shocked when I told him that he needed to list the home for $109,000.00. We sold the house and when it closed, I told him that the first agent didn't do him any favors. I explained that had he listed the house originally for somewhere between $139,000.00 and $149,000.00, then he would have sold it back then. It dawned on him that by trusting this agent, and being a little greedy, he lost an easy $40,000.00

I read a post last week that put it all into prospective. As a listing agent, I'm not here to tell you what your house is worth. I'm here to tell you what I can sell it for in this market.

As I look through the current inventory, I see homes that are now bank owned that didn't have to be. In a lot of cases, I met many of these sellers when I was out on a listing appointment with them. They didn't like the price that I quoted and went with another agent. Some people were honest and told me that they were looking for an agent who will tell them the highest price that they could sell the house for. I don't play that game! The Tim Wood Group built it's reputation on being honest, sometimes brutally honest. When you hire me, you're hiring me to sell your home,not just list it and it all starts with pricing. Instead of selling their homes and making some money, they were out to make a killing. They gambled on the market and when they rolled the dice, they rolled snake eyes.

I just think it is sad that so many people could be blinded by greed. Instead of being rewarded, they lost everything and their home is now listed as a Bank Owned Foreclosure (REO)

The number of bank owned properties (REO) has really hurt the value of Big Bear property. But while the sellers have lost out, there are a number of buyers who are taking advantage of this market condition and buying homes at great prices. The guy who bought my neighbors house told me that he has bought 6 homes since the market fell. He tells me that he'll rent them out and in a year or so, sell them and make some money.

Does your Big Bear Realtor REALLY Know The Inventory?

Tony Card, Big Bear Lake Real Estate (Coldwell Banker) — Thu, 10 Jul 2008 16:51:25 -0500

It seams that you can't watch the evening news without hearing about the housing market. Yes, it's true that many people have lost their homes because of poor choices when it came to picking their mortgage. But their loss is your gain. With all of the foreclosed (REO) property's for sale and the sellers who are trying to sell their homes as a short sale, there are some real bargains in Big Bear.

For years, Big Bear has had it's own Real Estate Board and if a Realtor from down the hill wants to get into one of the Big Bear listings, he or she would have to make arrangments with every listing agent for access to the property. This has made it difficult for the clients who choose to bring their Realtor to Big Bear.

One of the biggest problems with bringing your agent with you is that in most cases, the Realtor doesn't have a clue where to start. He or she normally doesn't know the areas, doesn't know what's a value and what's over priced. They don't know the difference between Big Bear Lake, Central and Erwin Lake. Some Realtors actually thing that there is a lake out in Erwin! This is why a Realtor down the hill needs to set his or her ego aside, contact a local agent and refer the client. By doing this, the clients will have an expert in the Big Bear area working with them find the right house at the right price.

Like everything else, things change. There was a time when all but a hand full of properties being sold in Big Bear were listed in our local Multiple Listings. With the change in the market, we are finding that more and more foreclosed (REO) properties are being listed in a down the hill MLS and not the MLS in Big Bear.

I'm sure that I'm not the only Realtor in Big Bear who has taken a phone call from a client asking about a home that is listed for sale and I don't recognize the MLS number that they have given me. That was because it wasn't in the Big Bear MLS.

I take pride in knowing my inventory. When I tell a client that I've shown them everything that's on the market that fits their needs, I had better be sure that I'm telling the truth. There is nothing that will ruin your credibility quicker than to tell a client that he has seen everything that fits his needs, when there are other properties out there that you don't know about. They get home, jump on the computer and find something that you didn't show them and you get a phone call from him that night, asking questions about homes you know nothing about.

Most of my clients drive a minimum of two hours to come to Big Bear. Once they arrive, they expect me to show them EVERYTHINGthat fits their needs while they are here. They don't want to make mutiple trips to see one or two homes. As I mentioned, things change and as a Realtor, I needed to make some changes so that I can provide my client with the very best service. So now, instead of being a member of just one Real Estate board, I have joined another board. With the change that I've made, I now know about every Foreclosure (REO) in Big Bear. I now know about those homes that have been listed by Realtors down the hill who don't list locally in Big Bear. When I take a client out to look at property, and I tell him or her that they have seen everything that fits their needs, I know that they have. I don't worry about those late night calls that start off with. Tony, what about this property!

2343 Manzanita, Big Bear City, CA 92314

Tony Card, Big Bear Lake Real Estate (Coldwell Banker) — Wed, 09 Jul 2008 16:36:02 -0500

OK, so the outside looks very odd and not what you would expect in a Big Bear Cabin. But once you step inside, you'll see that this truly is a very unique home.

Escape from the hustle of city life in this custom Tri Level home located very close to the national Forest in the Erwin Lake area of the Big Bear Valley. Enjoy the peace and quiet while relaxing on your covered decks. This 2 bedroom, (1 upstairs and 1 down) and 2 bath home is truly amazing with the abundant upgrades and designer touches throughout. Enjoy your favorite movie in your own home theater, Cook in your very own Gourmet Kitchen, Relax in your Jetted Bath Tub. Home is connection to City Gas (no propane tank!). Sitting on just over half an acre, this is one fantastic deal. Check it out and you'll fall in love.

For more information on this one of a kind home, please take the vitual tour.

Check out the Home Theater where you can enjoy the latest movie or play the latest games on the wide screen Television.

Check out this Gourmet Kitchen. Enjoy sitting around and watching your favorite steak cook on the open grill. All counter tops are granite and the floors are all wood. No carpet to worry about keeping clean in here!

For more information on this one of a kind home, please take the vitual tour.

1026 Mount Whitney, Big Bear City, CA 92314

Tony Card, Big Bear Lake Real Estate (Coldwell Banker) — Mon, 30 Jun 2008 16:12:10 -0500

JUST LISTED!!!!

Where are you planning to go for your summer vacation? With gasoline pushing $5.00 a gallon, why not stay close to home. Big Bear Lake, CA offers some great summer activities. Currently, Big Bear Lake is just four feet from being full at 68 feet. and is 67 degrees.

Besides lake activities, Big Bear features some great hiking trails, day use areas, and camp sites.

Once you come to Big Bear, you'll probably fall in love with it. When that happens, it's going to be time to find a Realtor who is going to work hard for you, finding you the perfect home. That's where I come in!

This home just listed in the Whispering Forest area of Big Bear City. Whispering Forest is nestled in the trees and backs up to the National Forest. Priced at $349,000.00, This home is 1831 square feet and sits on 8400 square feet of land. The home is perfect for someone who doesn't want to walk upstairs to go to bed with a nice size bedroom downstairs and another, larger bedroom upstairs.

Before you know it, winter will be upon us and the snow will be falling. Imagine a fire roaring in the fireplace, snuggled up with your family watching a movie. For more pictures of the property, please take a look at the Virtual Tour.

723 Holmes, Sugarloaf, CA 92386

Tony Card, Big Bear Lake Real Estate (Coldwell Banker) — Wed, 18 Jun 2008 18:55:22 -0500

I just listed 723 Holmes in Sugarloaf, CA for $62,500.00. The lot dimensions are 50' X 100" and is only a block and a half from the National Forest. Sugarloaf is located on the east end of the Big Bear Valley with easy access from Highway 38. With the current set back requirements put out by the county of San Bernardino, you could still build a very nice size cabin for part time or full time living. If you're looking for land, this is one of the better lots in Sugarloaf that are on the market.

Please contact me for more information on this lot or any other property listed for sale in Big Bear. As a member of the Multiple Listing Service, I can show you any property in Big Bear!

Saturdays are set aside for the Big Bear Bank Owned (REO) Tour. While most Realtors give you a list of bank owned (REO) homes, I have put together a tour of all Big Bear Bank Owned (REO) properties. We leave the office at 10:00 A.M. Please call and mame a reservation as seats are limited and fill up quickly

Tony Card Big Bear Real Estate

Land in Sugarloaf for only $20,000.00

Tony Card, Big Bear Lake Real Estate (Coldwell Banker) — Wed, 18 Jun 2008 18:42:56 -0500

How many of you have been waiting for the price of homes and land to drop in the Big Bear Valley? How many of you would love to have your own land that you could hold as an investment, or build on down the road. How many of you don't want to give up an arm and a leg to be able to afford the land? Well, you're in luck! Currently, I have a 25 X 100 lot in Sugarloaf listed for $20,000.00. This is the least expensive lot currently listed and it is NOT going to last long.

If you're interested in this lot, or any other land in the Big Bear Valley, give me a call or send me a email. The best number to reach me is 909 229-5326 and my email is tony@tonycard.com

Be The First To Have Your Street Plowed After A Snow Storm!

Tony Card, Big Bear Lake Real Estate (Coldwell Banker) — Wed, 18 Jun 2008 18:24:46 -0500

That's right! If you own this small cabin, you'll be one of the first to have the road plowed after a good snow storm.

821 E. Big Bear Blvd was originally built in 1930 and had extensive remodel done in 2006. Taken from an old cabin that looked like it needed to be torn down, the owners spend a lot of money repairing the cabin.

The living room centers around the native rock fireplace which will keep this 526 square foot cabin toasty warm on those cold winter nights.

The cabin has new carpet, fresh paint on the walls, new energy efficient windows and much more.

The cabin features 2 bedrooms, 1 full bath, is 526 square feet and sits on a 2500 square foot lot.

Where else are you going to find a small cabin just minutes from the lake for only $129,000.00?

For more information on this cabin or any other property listed for sale in the Big Bear Real Estate market, give me a call or send me an email.

Don't forget the Saturday Bank Foreclosure (REO) Tour. Every Saturday at 10:00 A.M. I take the group out and we tour all of the Bank Owned (REO) properties in the Big Bear Valley. Most agents offer a free list of the bank owned (REO) homes. I prefer to take you out and show you each and every one of them. Please call and make a reservation as the seats fill up quickly!

Country Living at it's Best!

Tony Card, Big Bear Lake Real Estate (Coldwell Banker) — Wed, 18 Jun 2008 17:58:38 -0500

If you're looking for that country feel then look no further. This 1495 square foot home is spread out on this spacious 7125 square foot lot.

The home features a country kitchen which opens up to the living room. Plenty of room to sleep with the 3 bedrooms and no wait for the bathroom with 2.5 bathrooms.

The entire home has been modified for handicap wheel chair access. The hallways and doors are all extra wide, making it easy to get around if you find yourself, or a family member in a wheel chair.

Enjoy the year round landscaping with the fake grass. Be the only home on the block with nice green grass during the winter snow!

The home is located at 321 Wabash in Sugarloaf, CA 92386 and is listed for $269,000.00 Please feel free to contact me if you would like to see the cabin

Remember, I offer a tour of all bank owned properties every Saturday at 10:00 A,M, Please call for reservations as the numbers are limited and they fill up fast.

Tony Card Big Bear Real Estate

Who Needs A Realtor?

Tony Card, Big Bear Lake Real Estate (Coldwell Banker) — Mon, 16 Jun 2008 12:10:13 -0500

Who needs a Realtor? That is a question that I hear when I speak to FSBO's as well as buyers who plan to represent themselves. There was a time, long before the internet that you had NO CHOICE but to speak with a Real Estate agent if you wanted information on a property. Agents would put a sign on the property that was for sale and nothing else. Real Estate offices were on almost every corner and you had to walk through the door and speak to the agent if you wanted any information regarding a specific property.

The internet has forced the Real Estate industry to make some drastic changes. People go to the internet for information and they normally walk in the door with a list of homes that they want to see. So, other than opening the doors of the homes that they have picked out and want to see, what good am I as a Realtor?

I want to share this story with you as an example of the value that I bring to the table as your local Big Bear Real Estate agent. I had a call from a broker a couple of weeks ago who wanted to come up and look at three of my listings. In talking to her, she made it very clear that she planned to represent herself and had limited time as she was planning on meeting with another agent later that day.

As we spoke on the phone, I asked her what she was looking for in a Big Bear property. After she explained to me what she wants, it was very clear to me that the properties that she had picked out were not even close to what she wanted. I didn't want to risk losing a potential client or deal, but I also felt I had an obligation to be honest with her. So, I told her that while I was happy to show her the list of homes that she had picked out, none of them are going to fit; based off of what she told me she is looking for.

She came up on the Friday that we had set aside and I intentionally took her to one of the homes that she had on her list. She immediately told me that this was NOT what she was looking for. I told her that I had a feeling that she wasn't going to like the property and then asked her if she would like to see 2-3 homes that I feel will fit her needs. I showed her three different homes that were in three different areas. Each home fit her needs based off of what she told me her requirements were and she loved every home I showed her. She admitted to me that she would never have known about these homes and she was so thankful that we met.

Being a Realtor in Big Bear is much more than being the guy with access to the homes. As a Realtor, I bring value to the table. I have local knowledge of all of the different areas of the Big Bear Valley. I can tell you what parts of Big Bear City are nice areas to live in and what areas you want to stay away from. I know that Big Bear Lake is a real lake and that there is no water in Lake Williams, Baldwin Lake or Erwin Lake. I know what lake fronts have deep water and what lake fronts are in shallow water. If you're looking for a Lake Front property, these are things you want to know. I can show you properties that are deals and steer you away from the overpriced properties. Local knowledge is invaluable and can be a real asset when looking for a home in an area that you don't know.

Do People Actually Read My Big Bear Blog?

Tony Card, Big Bear Lake Real Estate (Coldwell Banker) — Sun, 15 Jun 2008 12:59:43 -0500

I was somewhat reluctant to start blogging when it was originally brought up as the latest and greatest way of online advertisement. To me, the website was the way to go and no one read these blogs. But I soon learned that the pay per click was very expensive. But, if you wanted to be at the top of the page, then paying for each time your website was viewed was the way to go, but very expensive way.

So, I chose to take the advice and suggestions of my broker and start blogging. But before I could start blogging, I needed to know a lot more about it. After all, my thought when it came to a blog was a lonely housewife sitting at her computer and rambling on about how her day has been going. I thought to myself, How in the world is THAT going to help me find clients for my Real Estate business. Before I ever read a book or looked into it, the one thing I knew was that there had to be a lot more to this blog thing than just rambling on.

I've written many blog articles and posted them both here and on sugarloaf.typepad.com. In all the articles I've written, I've tried to write about issues that my listing clients as well as buyers have asked me over the course of my Real Estate career. But living in Big Bear Lake, CA. I have been given a lot of other topics to choose from and to write about.

The Move a Million Miles For Ryan Hall is one topic that I've tried to keep everyone up to date on. For those of you that don't know, Ryan Hall grew up in the Big Bear Valley and has been selected to represent the United States of America in the 2008 Summer Olympics in China as a marathon runner. As a small resort community, Big Bear is very proud of him. In an effort to show our support, we as a community have pledged to walk, run, or pedal a million miles for Ryan Hall before he leaves for China in August.

I've blogged about the fact that Big Bear is a four seasons resort. We have two world class ski resorts that provide great winter activities from Thanksgiving to whenever the snow melts. We have an awesome lake that is stocked with trout and catfish. The lake is open to the public, unlike other nearby lakes, so you can water ski, Jet Ski, fish, or just cruise around the lake for relaxation and enjoyment.

There are some fantastic hiking trails throughout the Big Bear Valley, which includes the Pacific Crest Trail. Zigzagging its way from Mexico to Canada through California, Oregon and Washington the Pacific Crest Trail (PCT) boasts the greatest elevation changes of any of America's National Scenic Trails, allowing it to pass through six out of seven of North America's ecozones including high and low desert, old-growth forest and arctic-alpine country. Indeed, the PCT is a trail of diversity and extremes. From scorching desert valleys in Southern California to rain forests in the Pacific Northwest, the PCT offers hikers and equestrians a unique, varied experience. Around June, the hikers who walk the PCT are coming through Big Bear. They normally stop in town, get some much needed rest, a shower and use the postal service to mail some of their snow gear forward as it won't be needed for a while.

The question that I ask myself so many times is this. Is anyone reading any of this? That question was answered last week when I had an email from someone who tells me that he reads my blog often. I know I'm not the best writer out there. I know other blogs look much better than mine, but if people are reading my blog and realize that I'm the one to turn too when you have questions about Big Bear Real Estate, then I'm doing my job!

Do you have questions about Real Estate in Big Bear, Would you like an updated list of homes that are for sale in Big Bear that fit within your budget, Would you like a list of bank owned properties that are listed for sale in Big Bear, Would you like to know the value of your Big Bear property? Then please get in touch with me. I can help you out with any and all of your Big Bear Real Estate needs.

Tony@tonycard.com

Tony Card, Big Bear Real Estate

REO Properies In The Big Bear Valley

Tony Card, Big Bear Lake Real Estate (Coldwell Banker) — Mon, 09 Jun 2008 11:49:34 -0500

No matter where you go, you hear all the talk about the bank foreclosure rate. It seems that you can't pick up a newspaper, watch the news on TV, or read an article on the internet without someone discussing the (REO) Bank Owned Properties.

The banks are in the business of lending money and not in the business of owning property. That being said, the banks are listing their homes at very competitive prices in Big Bear. The banks are offering the homes at prices that are so low that they are getting multiple offers.

In the Big Bear Valley, there are 39 properties listed as bank owned (REO) in our Multiple Listing Service. Below is a list of the bank owned (REO) properties listed in the Big Bear Valley. Besides just providing an updated list for you on a weekly basis, I offer a foreclosure tour of all of the Big Bear bank owned (REO) properties every Saturday at 10:00 A.M. If you would like me to take you out and show you the bank owned (REO) properties, please give me a call or email me.

Price	Address	Area	Bedrooms	Bathrooms	Square Footage
$119,900.00	45375 4TH ST	Baldwin Lake	2	1	768
$119,900.00	45385 3RD AVE	Baldwin Lake	2	1	816
$259,900.00	1463 MADRONA	Baldwin Lake	3	2.5	1510
$128,155.00	121 E COUNTRY CLUB	Big Bear City	2	1.75	648
$150,000.00	421 ELYSIAN BLVD	Big Bear City	2	1	900
$164,900.00	104 W MOJAVE	Big Bear City	4	3	1556
$164,900.00	1040 GREENWAY DRIVE	Big Bear City	2	1	1040
$194,500.00	1305 MALABAR	Big Bear City	2	1	912
$199,900.00	909 SEQUOIA DRIVE	Big Bear City	3	2	1540
$209,900.00	637 SUGARLOAF	Big Bear City	3	2.5	1310
$245,000.00	122 W SHERWOOD BLVD.	Big Bear City	4	3	3156
$249,900.00	1113 NANA	Big Bear City	3	1.5	1152
$250,000.00	1001 AEROPLANE BLVD	Big Bear City	4	2	1690
$319,900.00	1477 E BIG BEAR BLVD	Big Bear City	2	2	1552
$319,900.00	901 E MOUNTAIN VIEW BLVD	Big Bear City	3	2	1507
$399,900.00	266 LOFTY VIEW DR	Big Bear City	4	3	2249
$164,000.00	479 TENNESSEE	Big Bear Lake	1	1	612
$300,000.00	41558 MCWHINNEY LN.	Big Bear Lake	3	2	1873
$109,900.00	941 HEMLOCK	Erwin Lake	2	1	800
$138,000.00	940 WILLOW LANE	Erwin Lake	2	2	954
$144,000.00	2332 STATE LANE	Erwin Lake	2	1	1189
$149,900.00	2092 MANZANITA	Erwin Lake	0	1	480
$168,000.00	960 HEMLOCK	Erwin Lake	2	1	976
$180,000.00	901 E LANE	Erwin Lake	2	2	891
$185,900.00	851 CYPRESS LANE	Erwin Lake	3	2	1120
$329,900.00	39164 MOHAWK	Fawnskin	3	2	1854
$795,000.00	39107 NORTHSHORE	Fawnskin	2	2	1418
$899,900.00	39737 FLICKER	Fawnskin	4	3.5	3528
$449,900.00	435 SALEM	Fox Farm	5	3.5	3204
$198,000.00	42707 LA CERENA	Moonridge	1	0.75	634
$239,900.00	725 VILLA GROVE	Moonridge	2	1	864
$89,910.00	390 KERN	Sugarloaf	1	1	580
$109,900.00	328 SAN BERNARDINO	Sugarloaf	2	1	798
$169,900.00	319 LOS ANGELES	Sugarloaf	2	1	920
$169,900.00	392 SPRUCE LANE	Sugarloaf	3	2	1140
$169,900.00	643 KERN	Sugarloaf	3	1.75	1388
$185,000.00	873 HOLMES	Sugarloaf	2	1.5	885

Feel free to email me at tony@tonycard.com or call me. My cell phone number is (909) 229-5326

Tony Card Big Bear Foreclosures (REO)

When Will Real Estate Stop Falling?

Tony Card, Big Bear Lake Real Estate (Coldwell Banker) — Sun, 08 Jun 2008 12:11:40 -0500

Part of my job as a Real Estate Consultant is to meet with people who want to sell their home. The very first question I ask them once we have gone through the introductions is this. Why do you want to sell your home in this market? Once they have answered my question, I tell them that they are picking the worst time to sell the house and if they don't have to sell, then don't! Now you may think that sounds crazy, a Real Estate agent, who makes his living listing and selling cabins in Big Bear Lake, CA telling a seller not to sell. Why would I want do that? Here is the answer.

In the Big Bear Valley, homes are currently selling at 2004 prices. So, if you bought your home in 2005 or later, the chances are that you're going to owe more on the property than it's worth. Are you, as the seller ready to bring money into escrow at the closing in order to sell the house? Most people aren't able to do that. If you bought your cabin in prior to 2004 and you haven't taken out a second, then you may be able to sell the cabin and make some money. It's sad when you think about it, but so many people I speak with bought their home after 2005, used the adjustable rate mortgage to buy, thinking that they would refinance the home in two to three years. When the time came for their adjustable rate mortgage to reset, they found that their home wasn't worth what they paid for it and they can't afford the new mortgage payment.

As I mentioned, homes have fallen in value to 2004 prices. So the home owner who bought in 2005 or later, used the ARM is now having to make some choices. Does he stay in the home, cut back on everything so he can make the new mortgage payment? Maybe he takes the attitude that because the house isn't worth what his mortgage is, he will stop making payments and walk away from it. Maybe he should try and sell it short.

What we are seeing in Big Bear is the home owner stops making the payment and puts the house on the market as a short sale. They are gambling that the bank will take the position that getting 60%-70% of what is owed is better than it going to foreclosure and the bank owning it. That sounds good in theory but the seller would have to price the home so low in order to get an offer that the bank could be looking at a 50% loss.

So, when is all of this going to turn around? When will my home in Big Bear start increasing in value? I hear people talk and say that things are going to turn around next year. Others say it will be two years before we see a turn around. I don't know when it will all turn around, but I do know this. The Big Bear market, or any other area market is not going to turn around until all of the short sales and bank owned properties have gone through the system. The banks are listing their properties at very low prices as they want to get unload them quickly. The short sale owners are also listing their homes at low prices as they are competing with the bank owned properties. Nothing is going to change until all of these have passed through the system.

OK, now the good news. This past April was the best April that we have seen for a few years. What does that tell us? The buyers confidence is high and they believe that we are at the bottom or very near the bottom. The number of buyer's has increased tremendously in the last month or so. What are they buying? They're buying the deals. They're buying the homes that are priced to sell. They're buying the bank owned homes that are priced as a deal. In other words, the buyers are looking for the deal, and when they find the deal, they jump on it and snatch it up.

So, if you plan to sell your home in today's market, you had better be prepared to price it so that it stands out as being the best home on the market compared to the competition

Tony Card, Big Bear Real Estate

With Gas Prices So High, Where Do You Plan To Go For Your Summer Vacation

Tony Card, Big Bear Lake Real Estate (Coldwell Banker) — Thu, 05 Jun 2008 18:57:17 -0500

On my way to work this morning I couldn't help but notice that the price of gasoline has increased twenty cents a gallon in the past two weeks!. Everyone in Southern California has seen huge increases in the price of a gallon of gasoline and it's not an isolated issue for the Big Bear Valley. There was a day when we thought nothing of driving down to the flat lands to shop, see a movie, or just hang out. Now, we plan those trips carefully so that we get as much done as we can while we're down the hill.

Summer is quickly approaching and many families are going to trying to figure out where they can afford to go for their summer vacation. The trips to Lake Mead, Lake Tahoe, and the Colorado River might be out of reach due to the increase in gas prices. Big Bear Lake is centrally located in the San Bernardino Mountains and is no more than three hours away from San Diego, Orange County, Los Angeles County or the San Fernando Valley. Big Bear is a four seasons resort and offers some great summer recreation.

Unlike other lakes in the San Bernardino Mountains, Big Bear Lake is open to the public. Big Bear lake is stocked with trout and catfish and whether you're on the shore line or in a boat, it's a great place to go fishing. If you're not into fishing, you can unload your boat or personal watercraft at either of the public boat ramps and go play in the clear blue water.

The Pacific Crest Trail runs through Big Bear and many people come here to hike. There are some very scenic trails to walk and you can spend hours walking through the national Forest.

Mountain Bike enthusiasts just can't get enough of the clear air workout that they get while riding their bikes at this elevation. There are miles and miles of bicycle trails to ride, ranging from simple and easy trails for the beginner to much more challenging trails for the expert rider. No matter what your skill level is, you'll find some great trails to ride on here at Big Bear Lake.

Others just come to Big Bear to get away from the hustle and bustle of city life. They are tired of the fast pace that is such a large part of city life and just want to come to Big Bear to relax. They come and stroll through the Village, checking out the variety of stores and merchants that make up the Village during the day. Once the sun goes down, you'll find the local night clubs packed with both locals and visitors enjoying the entertainment.

So, as you plan your next vacation get a way, think Big Bear Lake. Trust me, you'll have a wonderful time and you'll find yourself coming back year after year. With housing prices so low, it won't be long before you're thinking about buying your own cabin that you can call home. When that day comes, give me a call.

Tony Card, Big Bear Real Estate

Big Bear Lake Foreclosure Tour, Make Your Reservations Now!

Tony Card, Big Bear Lake Real Estate (Coldwell Banker) — Mon, 02 Jun 2008 16:50:01 -0500

You read about them in the newspapers, you hear about them every day on the news, but where are all of those bank owned properties that are supposed to be such a great deal. Starting this Saturday, June 5, 2008 and every Saturday after that, I have put together a tour of all of the Foreclosed (Bank Owned) properties throughout the Big Bear Valley. We will be leaving the office at 10:00 A.M. every Saturday morning and the tour will cover all areas of the Big Bear Valley that have bank owned properties. We can stop and looks at every one of them if you want.

There are a lot of agents offering to send you a list out there. But then you have got to go and find them yourself. Are you familiar with the areas? Are the REO's still on the market? Are there any offers on them? Are any of them screaming deals? How are you going to know any of this from a list!

Currently, the Big Bear Valley has bank owned (REO's) starting as low as $85,000.00 and going up from there. From small one bedroom 1 bath cabins to large scale homes in a gated community, Big Bear Bank Owned REO's has it all.

Big Bear Lake, a four seasons resort is centrally located in the San Bernardino Mountains. Whether you're in San Diego, Los Angeles, Orange County, or Ventura, you're only about 3 hours away from clear blue skies, fresh air and a breath taking lake. Big Bear Lake is open to the public. You don't have to own lake rights in order to use the lake. Unload your boat or jet ski from the either of the two public launch ramps and enjoy all that Big Bear has to offer.

Currently, space is limited, so please contact me to make a reservation.

Tony Card Big Bear REO Real Estate

250,000 miles down 750,000 to go for Ryan Hall

Tony Card, Big Bear Lake Real Estate (Coldwell Banker) — Mon, 02 Jun 2008 15:42:18 -0500

I've blogged about this subject twice before and it's time for an update on the Move A Million Miles for Ryan Hall. It's June 2nd and we just hit the 250,000 mile mark today! Congratulations and a big thank you to everyone who has participated in the challange to date.

For those of you who don't know what I'm talking about, Ryan Hall, a local, here in Big Bear Lake, CA is a member of the U.S. Olympic Team and is going to represent the USA in China this coming August. The Lighthouse Project of Big Bear came up with the idea that there would be NO better way to send Ryan Hall off to China than to have the community walk, run, or pedal a million miles in support of Ryan before he left for China.

On December 23, 2007 the challenge officially started and it has taken us almost 6 months to move 250,000 miles for Ryan Hall. You don't have to be a resident of Big Bear Lake to participate. Anyone can join in. You might think that you don't have the time or energy to walk, ride or run after work. How many miles do you walk during the day doing your day to day activities? I started wearing a pedometer and was amazed at how many miles I'm walking before or after my exercise.

We need more people to join in and walk, run, or pedal, and most important, log their miles. You can go to the Move A Million Miles For Ryan Hall web site and log your miles on line. That's right, no papers to fill out, no faxes to send, just log in once a day and write down how many miles you have moved for Ryan Hall. He may be a local boy to us in Big Bear, but when he goes to China, he will represents ALL of us!

If you have any questions, please feel free to contact me, either by phone or email. This cause is very near and dear to my heart and if everyone who reads this joins in, we will meet our goal in time. Once you have decided to join in, then please ask "JUST ONE" person to log their miles and get them to ask someone to log their miles. We will hit the goal of moving a million miles for Ryan Hall with time to spare!

With Gas Prices so High, why not buy 260 Wabash in Sugarloaf, CA 92386

Tony Card, Big Bear Lake Real Estate (Coldwell Banker) — Mon, 02 Jun 2008 11:04:17 -0500

With gas selling for over $4.00 a gallon just about everywhere in Southern California, I know we are all asking ourselves if we really need to take the car. Summer is just around the corner and that trip to Yosemite or the Grand Canyon could be out this year simply because of the gas prices.

There lies the beauty of Big Bear Lake, CA. The Big Bear Valley is a 4 seasons resort with many things to do. This time of the year, you'll find people out on the lake, walking or riding along the miles of trails that Big Bear offers. Others come to Big Bear for a quite weekend away from the hustle and bustle of city living.

With home prices so low in Big Bear, have you considered buying your own little get a way? 260 Wabash is a spacious 1260 square foot Gambrel with a fenced and secluded back yard. Inside the cabin, you will find 3 bedrooms, 1 1/2 baths, and a nice size country kitchen. Tour the house and see if this is something that you might enjoy owning. It is currently priced at $229,000.00

Memorial Day Weekend Snow, 2008!

Tony Card, Big Bear Lake Real Estate (Coldwell Banker) — Thu, 22 May 2008 09:29:35 -0500

Date: May 22, 2008.

Place: Big Bear Lake, CA

Event: Memorial Day Weekend

Weather: 80 degrees, Clear Blue Sky, Picture Perfect Weather

Wow, doesn't that sound nice? In 2000, I moved to Big Bear Lake, CA over the Memorial Day weekend and that was what kind of weather I was welcomed to. Blue Sky, warm weather, and the smell of pine in the air. It's been like that every Memorial Day weekend since then, that is until this morning.

I awoke at 4:00 A.M. as is my usual habit, exercised on my treadmill, relaxed in my hot tub and finally walked outside at about 5:45 A.M. I noticed something white fall rather close to where I was standing but didn't think anything of it. It wasn't but a second later that I noticed more of these white flakes falling. I looked up, scratched my head and kind of questioned myself about what I was seeing. Is it really snowing the day before the Memorial Day Weekend was supposed to start? Sure enough, it was! While none of it is sticking, it is still snowing as I sit here and type this blog. Folks that have been here for years don't look surprised as this has happened in the past, but not since I've lived in Big Bear.

Let's all hope that it blows out later on today and we get back to the wonderful weather that we've had here in Big Bear the past week or so.

Tony Card Big Bear Real Estate

Are You Facing Forclosure? ACORN can help!

Tony Card, Big Bear Lake Real Estate (Coldwell Banker) — Wed, 21 May 2008 19:08:30 -0500

ACORN opened on January 28th of 2008 and stands for Association of Community Organizations For Reform Now. This particular organization is in the San Bernardino area and works will a lot of Hispanics and people who just don't know where else to turn. On Thursdays, ACORN staff members offer appointments to homeowners who are facing foreclosure. The services they provide are doing a comprehensive financial assessment, laying out their options, and initiating negotiations with finance companies to see if terms can be met that would allow the homeowner not to default on their loan.

ACORN has been able to help one in five of the people who walk through the door. Once started, one or two couples would wonder in. Now, six to eight couples show up every Thursday seeking help.

One such couple with six kids bought a home in 2005 and had a payment of $1400.00 a month. Did they read the contract? Did they understand the contract? Did they really have any idea what they were agreeing too? Probably not, but it doesn't matter. Their payment jumped from $1400.00 a month to over $3500.00 a month. This home owner had no idea it would happen and was shocked when he got his new bill with the reset price. So many people bought their homes with adjustable rate loans and either didn't know they were adjustable rate loans, or didn't understand what the ARM was.

ACORN is just one of many orginzations that are out there to help. While there are others who help as non profit groups, other companies will help at a very high price! If you find that you're payment has jumped up and you didn't know it was coming, call the lender and ask for help. If you don't get any help from the lender, then seek out one of these organizations, such as ACORN and see what they can do to help you.

The GOLDEN Days Of Big Bear.

Tony Card, Big Bear Lake Real Estate (Coldwell Banker) — Sat, 10 May 2008 14:45:50 -0500

In 1845 Benjamin Davis Wilson rode down from the south ridge through a dense pine forest and came upon a swamp. The riders were looking for Indians who had been raiding cattle from the Southland Ranchos. They didn't find any Indians, but they found the area to be alive with Grizzly Bears. The young riders made a great sport out of teasing the angry bears. After they killed eleven of the bears, Ben Benito Wilson named the area "Bear Valley".

In January of 1848 gold was discovered to the north of Bear Valley and that discovery was going to change Bear Valley ion ways no one could imagine. Following the initial rush to the mother load in "49", miners began to spread out and search more distant areas for the yellow metal.

In 1855 enough miners were working at Bear lake that the state geologist came out to investigate. What he found were several miners in the area recovering about $3.00 a day. The state geologist noted that a shortage of water was slowing the mining operation. In 1859, the Joe Caldwell group started mining activities in the valley. Their placer mine was in a small canyon on the south end of what is now Stanfield Cut Off. The miners called the area "Starvation Flats" and "Poverty Flats" because they were able to mine between $5.00 and $8.00 a day.

In the bitter winter of 1859, Bill Holcomb and his partner Jack Martin arrived. These two men had been mining in Northern California for about ten years with little success. After hearing about the Caoldwell Groups success, they figured it was time to go to "Bear Valley" and try mining for gold once again. On May 3, 1860 Bill Holcomb and his friend Ben Chouteau headed out to prospect the new valley. They loaded up some food, extra clothes, pick and shovels and headed out. That evening, they stumbled upon a huge Grizzly Bear. Bill Shot the bear but didn't kill it. The next morning, while tracking the bear, they stumbled upon a quartz site and found gold in it. They instantly forgot about the bear and started working the site. The date was May 5, 1860, just ten years since leaving Indiana and heading to California. The news spread quickly and by July of that year, the area was busy with newcomers as well as the locals working their claims.

Holcomb and Martin didn't do very well at mining for gold, but Bill Holcomb was a great shot with his rifle. The meat that he brought in to the camp that bitter winter was most appreciated by his fellow miners. The two men got discouraged mining for gold and Martin decided to return to Los Angeles to his family. Holcomb decided to stay and wait for the bears to come out of hibernation. Late in April, Bill Holcomb decided hunt some bear and stumbled upon beautiful valley. He went back to camp and told everyone about it. Holcomb decided to prospect the area and it was soon called Holcomb Valley. That name still stands today.

In November 8th of 1860, Bill Holcomb married Nancy, the daughter of blacksmith, Jack Stewart and moved in to their new home. The cabin pictured to the right is said to have been the Holcomb's cabin and it still stands to this day. They settled into this small cabin with plenty of provisions. This was a wise choice as it started to snow on November 15th and didn't stop until 15 feet of snow had fallen. Bill and Nancy were snowed in for four months! Bill and Nancy had their first daughter about 6 months later and named her Belle. To celebrate, the town named their Town Belleville in celebration of the Holcomb's new child.

By the spring of 1861, Bellesville was hustling. New buildings were going up, the stage coach and found it's way in, bring much needed supplies and people. With all of the people arriving, you know there had to be a few bad ones. It wasn't long before crime became a major problem in Bellesville. The good folks weren't safe day or night with the bullets flying 24 hours a day. Law and order had to be restored. With Bill Holcomb as the Justice of the Peace and Jack Wilson as the Constable, order was soon restored. Order came at a price and those convicted of murder and serious crimes, such as horse theft were taken out to the Old Hangman's Tree and hung.

This is a picture taken in May 2008 of the Old Hangman's Tree. According to the research that I have done, somewhere between 40 and 50 men were hung from this tree. After each "Necktie Party", the limb that was used for the hanging was cut down with the body, never to be used again. If you would like to see this tree, it is on Forest road 3N05, just off of 3N16.

This grave is known as the Ross Grave. Little is known about Ross other than his name and that he was accidental killed while cutting down a tree. Ross was buried on the spot. What made this grave site unusual is that during those frantic days of gold fever, someone took the time to carve a picket fence to surround the grave. The original picket fence is long gone and a replacement fence was built by volunteers in 1995.

The picture below is what remains of Two Gun Bill's Saloon. For many years strangers were told that this site was the famous saloon, dance hall, and bordello. The white lie was repeated so often that even the locals began to believe it. The truth is that the real Two Gun Bill's Saloon was due west 1.5 miles from this location. It sat at what is now the intersection of 3N16 and 3N12. The remains resting here are of a very big cabin that was occupied in the late 1930's.

Bill Van Deusen and his partner had found a large strike and were keeping it quite from their friends at the local saloon in Bellesville. No one knew exactly where it was. It was rumored that the strike was near his sturdy cabin. Bill went missing and the town folk started a search for him. He was found dead from a gunshot on the floor of his cabin. Missing was the gold, pack animals, and his partner. Neither the partner or the rich mine were ever found!

This is just a sliver of information about the history of the Big Bear Lake area. Thank you for taking the time to read it.

Tony Card Big Bear Real Estate

44581 Barton, Sugarloaf CA 92386

Tony Card, Big Bear Lake Real Estate (Coldwell Banker) — Sat, 10 May 2008 14:24:21 -0500

I listed this property last night and couldn't wait to get the pictures taken and get it posted in all of the on line sites. This is a 2 bedroom, 1 bath 900 square foot cabin that features a 2 car detached garage, concrete driveway, washer dryer hook ups, and is priced to sell! At only $199,000.00, you can have this great home. The roof was replaced about 6 years ago. The street in front of the cabin is always one of the first streets plowed in Sugarloaf.

Please view the Virtual tour for a look at the interior. If you have a client for this cabin or wish to discuss it with me, you can reach me at 909 229-5326 or tony@tonycard.com