Yesterday, for part of our "Family Day" we went over to the condo that Michelle's parents own in Lake Arrowhead Village and soaked in the hot tub for a while.  It wasn't too hot - in fact, it was the perfect temp for Haley.  She kept saying, "Bath!" and was very excited to be wearing her new swimsuit.  Michelle and I were commenting how perfectly located this condo is.  You can easily walk to the grocery store, a bevy of shops and restaurants in the Village or go over to the Lake Arrowhead Resort and Spa.  Blue Jay is only about a five minute drive away if you want to catch a movie, shop at Jensen's, go to Rite-Aid or choose from several other places to eat.This particular condo is 2 bedrooms and 1 bath, is located on the ground floor and has a one-car garage.  It is on one level and wo... 04/30/2008

It was clear, warm and sunny this morning on the North side of the lake where we live, but you could see the clouds spilling over the Rim and fingering down into the canyons as it headed into town.  By the time I reached the office in Blue Jay, it was cloudy and drizzly and a little cold.  In fact, when I came out of the office late last night, there was frost on the windshield!  Now, as I look out the window, the sun is poking through again.  Spring weather is so unpredictable in the mountains.  I love it.Typically, though, the temperature is 3-5 degrees warmer on the North side of Lake Arrowhead than the South side.  Weather usually comes in from the South, comes up the mountainside and spills over the Rim.  Because of the cooler and more moist conditions on the South side, the trees ... 04/30/2008

 Lake Arrowhead Boat Show - display of 2008-2009 Models Kick the Summer season off with a new boat!If you are looking for a NEW boat or a new lifestyle... Southern California Boat Sales Representatives will show their most beautiful 2008 - 2009 vessels. Spend the day finding that perfect boat!!  Take a ride on beautful Lake Arrowhead. There is no better way to spend a summer day than at Lake Arrowhead Village!!Enjoy music at Center Stage, with snacks and beverages available in our Beer Garden.Lake Arrowhead boat show May 17-18, 2008 04/29/2008

Weekly Lake LevelLast Year's Reading - 5103.27 Thursday, April 24 - 5106.14 Friday, April 18 - No Reading Saturday, April 19 - No Reading Sunday, April 20 - No Reading Monday, April 21 - 5106.16 Tuesday, April 22 - 5106.16 Wednesday, April 23 - 5106.15 The water temperature is 54.1 degrees. 04/29/2008

 The photo above is Lake Arrowhead Village. We have 2 Re/max offices located in the villages and one directly outside. My desk is located in the Village office next to B of A. Find me anytime there to help you with mountain information or to help you find a great cabin. Re/max in lake arrowhead is where I call home for my real estate career. Why because of the people. Everyone is very supportive of each other. My business partner Kele Coloma is especially supportive. Saturday we spent the afternoon snooping in homes. So much fun. Got to view lots of million plus homes and some cute cabins. Great prices and very unique styles.Our offices at Re/max have very nice people working in them. Not only management but also other agents. You know when real estate is a little slower--like in our mo... 04/29/2008

The following chart shows all single family homes sold in Lake Arrowhead according to Rim Association of Realtors for the last 90 days as of April 28, 2008.  There were a total of 50 homes sold.  Each office that represented a seller is listed with the total number of listings they sold.OfficeListings SoldMarket ShareColdwell Banker Sky Ridge2448%Remax Lake Arrowhead1326%Mountain Country Realty36%Prudential24%Lynne  Wilson and Assoc.24%Windermere24%Century 21 High Country12%Prime Properties12%Realty World12%Shear12%Totals50 04/29/2008

Spring is my favorite time of the year for many reasons: flowers are blooming, bees are buzzing, weather is warming and trees are coming alive after a long winter.  Now, one of the most beautiful trees on God's green earth is waking up, The Dogwood Tree.Today, on my way home, I decided to take a different route; up KUFFLE CANYON RD so I could have a "Dogwood" experience.  And, I wasn't disappointed. For the next few weeks, take a few moments and take a short side-trip and view these wonderful flowers.       Here at ABOUT.COM you'll get a good explanation about Dogwood Trees: how many different kinds there are, where to plant and where not to plant. 04/28/2008

New listings continue to come on the market, with a total of 64 from peak-to-peak (Crestline to Green Valley Lake and all places in-between).  Only 7 sales posted this week, though there are nearly a hundred in the pipeline (in escrow).  The average days on market this week are considerably lower than in recent times - Arrowhead Woods averaging 121.7 days on market and Running Springs averaging 77.25 days.  ARROWHEAD WOODSNew Listings20Median Price$468,000Price Range$249,000 - $1,550,000  Active Listings376Median Price$525,000Price Range$199,900 - $5,995,000  Pending Listings25Median Price$497,500Price Range$299,900 - $1,789,000  Sold Listings3Median Price $480,000Price Range$405,000 - $1,750,000Average Days on Market121.7Average List To Sale Percentage91.7%LAKEFRONT HOMESNew Listings1M... 04/28/2008

 May 4th, 2oo8, OPERATION PROVIDER is hosting its  4th Annual Spring Make-Over Fundraiser at the Lake Arrowhead Resort Ballroom.For those of you who do not know about this non-profit organization, Operation Provider began in 1989 when Holland Lowe, a community philanthropist and activist, became troubled by the problem of hunger in her mountain community. Operation Provider provides food, clothing, utility assistance, referrals and emergency assistance, to families and individuals residing in the mountain communities of San Bernardino County.  To learn more about OPERATION PROVIDER & how you can HELP, click here. 26525 Pine Ave., Rim Forest, California or send donations to:Operation Provider, P.O. Box 26, Twin Peaks, CA 92391(909) 337-8585  ·  A Non-profit 501(c)(3) Corporation/Tax Dedu... 04/28/2008

Sometimes, as real estate professionals, I think we get a little dulled to the excitement and joy that buyers experience when they purchase a new home.  Though not intentional, I think it gets lumped into the rest of the transaction instead of truly sinking in.I spent a couple hours with some of my buyer clients this morning - walking around the property, holding the end of a tape measure for them and talking about their visions for this home.  It was so cool to hear what they're going to do, what colors they're going to paint, where furniture is going, how the deck will be expanded, which two trees the hammock will hang between.  We've contacted a whole work force over the last couple weeks:  chimney and fireplace guys, painters, plumbers, electricians, septic people, propane companies... 04/26/2008

From Crestline, through the Lake Arrowhead communities and including the Running Springs areas, there are currently about 41 properties listed in the MLS as REO or bank-owned properties.  This week there were 6 price reductions and 9 new properties!  Prices range from $74,900 to $514,900.  Additionally, there are now 22 (2 new and 2 price reductions this week) homes being advertised as short sales, ranging in price from $139,900 to $1,395,000. BANK-OWNED (REO) PRICEAREASTREET ADDRESSBRBAYR BLT $99,900Arrowbear2294 Deep Creek 211981 $129,000Arrowbear2315 Eagle Lane21.51977Reduced $149,625Arrowbear 32918 Chipmunk Lane3 2 1960  $159,900Arrowbear2397 Independence 31.51964       Reduced $126,500Arrowhead Villas544 Arrowhead Villas 111952New $159,900 Arrowhead Villas 698 West Victoria 2 2 196... 04/26/2008

Spring is here and summer is right around the corner. YIPPEE! And I'm sure many people share my enthusiasm. ARE YOU READY to enjoy "THE GREAT OUTDOORS?" Here in the San Bernardino Mountains, we have something for everyone who enjoys outdoor activities:  CAMPING, FISHING, HIKING, OFF ROADING  & MUCH MORE. So dust off the tent (or, for lightweights like ME, the RV), pack up the kids and come on up.  The following are useful links that will answer questions you may have before heading out. Start your search at the MOUNTAINTOP RANGER DISTRICT to get info on hiking trails, maps and your ADVENTURE PASS.  To enjoy our forest, you MUST have a "Permit." At this link you'll learn HOW purchasing the ADVENTURE PASS helps our National Forest.  You can buy the pass on-line or at one of the Ranger Sta... 04/26/2008

Market Statistics for Lake Arrowhead  Active Residential Listings: 1371 Active Residental Listings in Arrowhead Woods: 531 Pending Residential Sales: 134 Sold Residential Properites month to date: 44 MLS wide Median Residential Sold Month-do-date: $267,550 (#41) Arrowhead Woods & Lake Front Median Sold Month-do-date: $450,000 (#15) Source: MLS, Rim of the World Association of Realtors 04/26/2008

There were some good buys on the agent tour this week, according to our "tour re-cap" group that met this afternoon.  Of the 56 total properties on the route sheet (from Crestline, through the Lake Arrowhead communities and up to Running Springs), there were a handful that our group thought were really good values.  They were:781 Greenbriar in Skyforest - 4 br, 4 ba for $779,000 - the epitome of mountain home with lakeview28736 Palisades (lakefront) - 3 br, 3 ba for $800,000 - lots of stairs, but exceptional value with single slip dock included1333 Yellowstone in Arrowhead Woods - 4 br, 2.5 ba for $979,000 - great views and great value150 Marshall in Arrowhead Woods - 3 br, 2.5 ba for 309,900 - bank-owned - will go fast!There were 10 new listings in Arrowhead Woods this week, including ... 04/24/2008

Yesterday, Steve Thomas President of Re/Max Realtors in Aliso Viejo was interviewed on channel 7 news.  The jist of his comments are that he is witnessing what he believes to be a recovery in the Orange County Market.  Why is this significant to us.... in general, because as goes Orange and Los Angeles Counties so goes the mountain shortly after.  Historically we have used the markets in our neighboring counties to guage what will happen in our activity and it is in general pretty true to form.Thomas commented on the fact that he is seeing an increase in buyer demand in his market.  He has been tracking the housing market since 2004.  He admits that last years market was weak, but this year is another story.  He made a statement that he is seing 8 times the demand he saw last year. He i... 04/23/2008

Today my mom-----my hero-----turns 84. I am so lucky to have her. She truely is my hero and example. I was very ill as a little child and my mom basically put her life on hold for 8 years to help me. She never got to sleep because I didn't. Can you imagine how tired she must have been. But you couldn't tell because she had such great patience and kindness.She is a very active lady and lives in Florida. Everyday she meets a group of "girls" at 9 a.m. and they exercise in the pool. I have watched and I cannot do it. Even for a few moments but she does it for an hour. She takes long walks, knows more about the computer than I do and is really fun! The one expression I will always remember when I came to her with troubles is if it is going to be it will be and if it is not there is no use w... 04/22/2008

I was showing homes the other day in Arrowhead Villas and as we made our way through the front yard to the door, two gray shapes darted across our path.  Their heads bobbed around as they headed around the corner of the home and out of sight....I never get tired of seeing mountain quail.  In fact, I think they're my favorite mountain bird.Mountain quail are the largest of the three quail species found in the San Bernardino Mountains and are the variety that live at the highest elevations.  They are gray and blue-gray with gorgeous chestnut throats and flanks accented with white stripes and bars.  They are very handsome birds, sporting their long, straight, black topknots (which are actually specialized, mulitple feathers).  The females, unlike the other species of quail, are colored the... 04/22/2008

Being a life-long resident of the Lake Arrowhead area, I think it is safe to say that I might know a thing or two that the average visitor to the area may not.  One of the things that you probably won't find on any "event calendar" for the mountain is the wild extravaganza that happens every Memorial Day weekend (May 23-26 this year) throughout the mountain communities....GARAGE SALE MANIA!!!That's right.  Memorial Day weekend is famous for the plethora of garage sales that you will encounter driving around on most mountain roads.  And for those of you who are garage sale connoisseurs, you are going to be in hog heaven!The local newspaper, The Mountain News, will print a special garage sale insert that week with a map and ads with the times and locations of certain sales, but there are ... 04/21/2008

If you like to mix and mingle with your fellow community friends and neighbors, have some yummy food & drinks, then don't miss the Lake Arrowhead Communities Chamber of Commerce "Mixer"  this week; April 24. Hosted by the Lake Arrowhead Country Club (great PLACE to mingle, I might add). Time: 5:00 PM and ends at 7:00.  For more information please contact (909)337-3715.  Or check out CALENDAR OF EVENTS.MAP to Lake Arrowhead Country Club 04/21/2008

Coldwell Banker Sky Ridge Realty has developed a program to assist homeowners struggling with the short sale process.  For a free recorded message and the opportunity to receive a complimentary copy of our short sale checklist call 888.694.2181 and press extension 5 when prompted.We at Coldwell Banker Sky Ridge Realty understand that the short sale process can be taxing.  It is for this reason that we have developed a program to assist consumers "get through it" and "get on with it."The short sale is a very valuable tool being used by borrowers to satisfy a loan that they otherwise would be unable to do.  04/21/2008