Ask an Expert, Big Bear Real Estate

San Bernardino County	150,000.00	205,000.00	-26.8%
Adelanto	80,000.00	131,000.00	-38.9%
Apple Valley	105,500.00	162,500.00	-35.1%
Barstow	55,000.00	106,250.00	-48.2%
Big Bear City	150,250.00	207,500.00	-27.6%
Big Bear Lake	305,500.00	272,500.00	12.1%
Bloomington	140,000.00	185,000.00	-24.3%
Chino	300,000.00	341,250.00	-12.1%
Chino Hills	430,000.00	422,500.00	1.8%
Colton	125,000.00	152,000.00	-17.8%
Crestline	140,000.00	147,000.00	-4.8%
Fontana	210,000.00	255,000.00	-17.6%
Hesperia	126,000.00	175,000.00	-28.0%
Highland	175,000.00	230,000.00	-23.9%
Joshua Tree	113,000.00	118,500.00	-4.6%
Lake Arrowhead	292,500.00	370,000.00	-20.9%
Loma Linda	263,000.00	359,000.00	-26.7%
Montclair	216,500.00	278,000.00	-22.1%
Ontario	190,000.00	240,000.00	-20.8%
Rancho Cucamonga	300,000.00	355,250.00	-15.6%
Redlands	220,750.00	310,000.00	-28.8%
Rialto	135,500.00	200,000.00	-32.3%
San Bernardino	75,000.00	125,000.00	-40.0%
Twentynine Palms	83,000.00	122,500.00	-32.2%
Upland	317,000.00	414,000.00	-23.4%
Victorville	120,000.00	160,000.00	-25.0%
Yucaipa	204,750.00	277,500.00	-26.2%
Yucca Valley	110,000.00	172,000.00	-36.0%

Average sales price indicates the price of homes that sold, not the price increase or decrease of individual homes.

It’s interesting to note that Big Bear Lake and Chino Hills were the only two locations that had an increase.

Real Estate is local!

Is the California Housing Market Headed Back to Normal?

Steve — Sun, 08 Nov 2009 00:34:56 +0000

NOD’s and Trustees Deeds Filed in California 2005 – 2009

Steve — Sun, 08 Nov 2009 00:18:11 +0000

By: Robert Kleinhenz, Deputy Chief Economist

The median price in California continued to increase in September, driven by lean inventory levels, while home sales remained on track with expectations for the month. The median price of a detached existing single family home was $296,090 in September, up 1.1 percent from the August median of $292,960, but down 7.3 percent from the September 2008 median price of $319,310. Barring a sudden decline in home values over the next few months, the statewide median price will register year-over-year gains by year end, although it will still be well below the mid-decade peak.

Sales in California hit 530,520 homes in September, up 0.6 percent from August sales of 527,120 homes, and up 2.1 percent from September 2008 sales of 519,530 homes. With sales expected to stay in the low- to mid-500,000 range through the rest of the year, annual sales for 2009 will finish about 20 percent higher than the 2008 annual sales figure of 439,830 homes.

Given recent price gains and sales levels, as well as lean inventory numbers that have averaged just over 4 months for the past 3 months, one should conclude that the California housing market is edging back toward its normal state. Indeed, these numbers are welcome developments for a housing market that was among the hardest hit in the country. But a look behind the topline numbers suggests that current conditions have resulted from a heavy dose of policy intervention and from efforts by lenders – who currently dominate the supply side of the market – to manage the flow of troubled mortgages and properties at all stages of the ‘foreclosure pipeline’ from delinquencies to REOs.

The number of defaults in California escalated rapidly in the last couple of years, with 111,700 defaults in the third quarter of this year and a record high of 135,400 defaults in the first quarter of 2009. Normally, the trend in foreclosures corresponds approximately to the trend in defaults with a one to two quarter lag so the number of foreclosures should be on the rise as well. Instead, the level of foreclosures has been steady at roughly 50,000 per quarter since the last quarter of 2008. This seems to be the result from the combination of policy intervention, including foreclosure moratoria last year and early this year as well as the federal loan modification program, and efforts by lenders to deal problem loans on a case-by-case basis. As a result, market supply has held steady at levels that have stabilized the median price at the state level and in most California markets. In a number of markets, there have been some modest price gains compared to earlier in the year.

With current government policies and lender practices in place, home prices in much of the state should hold steady, aside from normal seasonal fluctuations in prices between now and next spring. In the end, price stability is necessary for discretionary sellers, as opposed to distressed sellers, to return to the market and drive the supply side of the market to more normal conditions.

6 New Bank Owned REO Homes Avaiable in Big Bear 11/1/2009

Steve — Mon, 02 Nov 2009 00:38:12 +0000

As of this morning, we have 49 bank owned homes (REO’s) on the market, that’s only 6.51% of the 752 active listings. Please call or email if you want to purchase a bank owned home in Big Bear,

I will get you the best deal.

I can show you any home for sale in Big Bear.

Search the Big Bear MLS (Multiple Listing Service)

Search the Southern California MLS (Multiple Listing Service)

Steve Hirschler

Associate, The Tim Wood Group

Coldwell Banker Mountain Gallery

42153 Big Bear Blvd.

P.O. BOX 6820

Big Bear Lake, CA 92315

stevehirschler@gmail.com

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

Fax 909 866-3531

http://www.stevesellsbigbear.com

Follow me on Twitter

Subscribe to “Ask an Expert, Big Bear Real Estate Blog”

77 Homes Sold in Big Bear, October 2009

Steve — Sun, 01 Nov 2009 17:41:01 +0000

ML #	Price	Address	Area	Bd	Baths	SF Apx Ttl	Sold Price	Sold Date
291407	2,495,000	220 N EAGLE	BLE	3	2.5	2734	2,100,000	10/9/2009
281876	1,575,000	38860 WATERVIEW DRIVE	BLW	3	3	2567	1,325,000	10/2/2009
291793	1,495,000	38998 WATERVIEW DRIVE	BLW	4	3.5	2476	1,495,000	10/1/2009
282018	1,475,000	354 GIBRALTER ROAD	BLC	4	3	3125	1,325,000	10/19/2009
291620	1,279,900	39597 LAKE DRIVE	BLC	3	3	3698	1,215,000	10/14/2009
291286	549,900	39269 WATERVIEW	BLW	3	2	1954	530,000	10/14/2009
291777	539,000	1691 ANGELS CAMP ROAD	MOON	3	2	1600	504,500	10/1/2009
282724	530,000	42763 TIMBERLINE TRAIL	FOXF	3	2.5	2232	510,000	10/2/2009
291045	527,800	749 CAMERON	BLC	4	4	3060	517,000	10/20/2009
291844	520,000	437 FALLEN LEAF	FOXF	3	2	1936	490,000	10/9/2009
291284	519,000	1296 BALDWIN RANCH ROAD	BALD	4	3.5	2702	475,000	10/27/2009
291316	499,900	330 DOVER LANE	BLC	4	2.5	2482	447,500	10/27/2009
281723	479,000	43620 COLUSA DRIVE	MOON	3	2	1806	409,500	10/16/2009
282545	449,900	730 MCALISTER ROAD	FOXF	1	1	960	395,000	10/23/2009
282199	425,000	1404 KLAMATH RD.	MOON	3	2	1574	400,000	10/8/2009
291164	410,000	39064 BAYVIEW	BLW	3	2.5	1554	400,000	10/1/2009
281569	399,500	1112 CEDAR MOUNTAIN ROAD	WHIS	3	3	2390	360,000	10/29/2009
290989	379,900	575 BRECKENRIDGE	BLE	3	1.75	1588	365,000	10/2/2009
291537	360,000	546 E FAIRWAY BLVD	BBC	3	2	2032	350,000	10/23/2009
290470	350,000	536 FAIRWAY	BBC	4	3	2207	350,000	10/15/2009
291771	349,900	203 EAGLE DRIVE	BLE	2	1.75	1400	360,500	10/16/2009
271147	349,000	571 PINEWOOD DRIVE	BBC	3	2.5	2062	330,000	10/8/2009
290248	335,000	805 RAYO LANE	BLW	3	2	1244	326,000	10/1/2009
282380	333,000	105 N FINCH DR.	BLE	3	2.5	1730	325,000	10/30/2009
290846	329,900	879 WALDSTRASSE WAY	FOXF	3	2	1704	300,000	10/20/2009
291084	325,000	530 E ANGELES BLVD	BBC	3	2	1764	312,000	10/7/2009
291843	319,900	42871 WILLOW AVENUE	MOON	3	2	1240	319,900	10/9/2009
290979	319,000	963 ANTELOPE MOUNTAIN	WHIS	4	3	1700	300,000	10/15/2009
282536	299,900	39815 LAKEVIEW DRIVE	BLC	3	1	1800	285,000	10/22/2009
291939	299,900	1395 LA CRESCENTA	MOON	3	2.75	1700	290,000	10/9/2009
291763	293,500	42631 ALTA VISTA	MOON	4	2.5	2417	280,000	10/26/2009
292012	284,900	1325 LA CRESCENTA	MOON	2	2	1000	285,000	10/23/2009
291823	275,000	1094 MOUNT WHITNEY	WHIS	4	2	2500	275,000	10/26/2009
291920	269,900	42437 TIOGA	FOXF	3	2	1287	255,000	10/2/2009
281971	269,000	43051 ENCINO RD.	MOON	3	1.5	1248	250,000	10/14/2009
290520	269,000	1010 ANTELOPE MOUNTAIN	WHIS	4	4	1659	260,000	10/20/2009
291646	239,900	1109 GREENWAY	BBC	3	1.75	1378	231,374	10/2/2009
290573	222,222	1337 SHAY RD.	BBC	2	2	1144	195,000	10/28/2009
291400	220,000	1224 CLUBVIEW DR.	MOON	3	1.75	1800	250,000	10/27/2009
290900	215,000	1151 CANYON ROAD	FAWN	2	1	754	185,000	10/23/2009
282789	215,000	1171 ALTA VISTA	MOON	2	1.5	1088	208,000	10/28/2009
291570	209,880	1117 HEMLOCK	ERWL	3	3	1724	209,880	10/13/2009
282053	209,000	796 SILVERTIP	MOON	2	1	978	205,000	10/29/2009
292071	192,900	39233 WILLOW LANDING	BLW	3	2	1384	223,000	10/14/2009
291665	189,000	314 W AEROPLANE BLVD.	BBC	3	1.75	1311	180,000	10/23/2009
291022	189,000	39170 ARAPAHOE	FAWN	2	1	760	184,000	10/26/2009
290927	179,900	1088 MT DOBLE DR	BBC	3	2	1456	175,000	10/21/2009
280517	179,000	675 DAISY	BLC	2	2	900	151,000	10/7/2009
291979	179,000	1002 MINTON	MOON	2	1	714	179,000	10/16/2009
290541	174,900	46219 SELENIUM LANE	BALD	4	2.75	1719	126,000	10/14/2009
292027	169,900	43459 SHEEPHORN RD	MOON	2	1	912	165,500	10/15/2009
290144	169,900	462 MORENO LANE	SUGA	2	1.75	1260	150,000	10/9/2009
282363	164,900	46807 SKYVIEW DRIVE	LWIL	3	2	2198	164,000	10/20/2009
291317	150,000	332 DOVER LANE	BLC	1	1	764	100,000	10/27/2009
291572	145,000	732 BARRETT	BBC	3	1.5	1260	135,000	10/19/2009
291395	137,500	480 SUNSET	SUGA	3	1	1178	135,000	10/9/2009
291550	136,000	42619 CEDAR	MOON	1	1	675	136,000	10/13/2009
290995	134,000	42636 LA PLACIDA	MOON	2	1	608	137,000	10/28/2009
282662	130,000	139 E AEROPLANE	BBC	2	1	888	130,000	10/2/2009
291393	129,000	420 W MOJAVE BLVD.	BBC	3	1.75	1220	122,000	10/14/2009
291755	125,000	1030 WOODLAND	ERWL	2	2	1100	121,000	10/6/2009
291471	117,000	316 E ANGELES	BBC	3	1	1059	130,100	10/9/2009
291628	106,750	431 JEFFRIES RD.	BLC	4	2	1267	106,800	10/15/2009
291419	99,000	1032 ROBINHOOD	BBC	3	1	882	75,000	10/1/2009
290167	99,000	825 SAN BERNARDINO	SUGA	2	1	608	90,000	10/2/2009
291940	94,900	234 HIGHLAND	SUGA	2	1	735	93,500	10/16/2009
291573	91,500	45421 3RD ST	BALD	3	2	1599	88,500	10/21/2009
282434	89,999	211 MAPLE LANE	SUGA	1	1	480	87,500	10/21/2009
281352	89,000	541 WABASH	SUGA	1	1	600	85,000	10/16/2009
291132	86,000	1024 GREENWAY DRIVE	BBC	2	1	952	86,000	10/1/2009
292125	79,200	921 W RAINBOW	BBC	2	1	840	79,200	10/22/2009
292102	79,000	2158 7TH	ERWL	2	1	800	79,000	10/22/2009
291244	69,300	854 NORWOOD LANE	ERWL	2	1.75	722	65,000	10/21/2009
292066	64,900	2061 9TH	ERWL	2	1	720	64,900	10/16/2009
291487	60,000	572 PINE LANE	SUGA	1	1	432	55,000	10/14/2009
291219	54,000	2189 STATE	ERWL	2	1	576	54,000	10/2/2009
291902	44,900	2154 FIRST LANE	ERWL	2	1	704	55,500	10/13/2009

25 of these homes were bank owned = 32.46%
45 of these homes were sold by tradtional sellers =58.44%
7 of these homes were short sales = 9.09%
This is the same number of closings posted in the Big Bear MLS for October 2008 (77)

Click here to see the details of these homes

Steve Hirschler

DRE#01703081

Associate, The Tim Wood Group

Coldwell Banker

42153 Big Bear Blvd.

P.O. BOX 6820

Big Bear Lake, CA 92315

stevehirschler@gmail.com

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

Fax 909 866-3531

www.bigbearhomes.wordpress.com (blog)

www.stevesellsbigbear.com (website)

www.activerain.com/blogs/slhoo7\ (blog)

www.thetimwoodgroup.com (group website)

http://twitter.com/stevehirschler (follow me)

Market Condition Report for the Big Bear Area October 2009

Steve — Sun, 01 Nov 2009 17:09:38 +0000

I can show you any home for sale in Big Bear.

Search the Big Bear MLS (Multiple Listing Service)

Search the Southern California MLS (Multiple Listing Service)

Steve Hirschler

Associate, The Tim Wood Group

Coldwell Banker Mountain Gallery

42153 Big Bear Blvd.

P.O. BOX 6820

Big Bear Lake, CA 92315

stevehirschler@gmail.com

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

Fax 909 866-3531

http://www.stevesellsbigbear.com

Follow me on Twitter

Subscribe to “Ask an Expert, Big Bear Real Estate Blog”

*report provided by “Chicago Title”

Does your Big Bear Real Estate agent tell you what you want to hear, or the truth?

Steve — Tue, 27 Oct 2009 18:56:54 +0000

Listening to a Real Estate agent that has their interests in front of yours can be a big mistake. I must admit that I have a problem, I am often Brutally Honest. Being honest is not the problem, but I know I could improve on the way I deliver the message.

I don’t do the sugar-coating thing well. I tend to tell it like it is and live with the consequences. I won’t tell you what you want to hear, unless I believe it to be the truth. It really makes things easy to remember.

When you work with me, you might hear more than you want to hear about the house. I might get in the way sometimes as if I were buying the house myself. Sometimes I will want repairs made that the buyer doesn’t seem to care about or is not aware of. That’s just how I am.

If I am representing you as a buyer, I might tell you all of the things that the seller would rather have you overlook. I will more than likely be at the home inspection and in addition to thoroughly looking at the items that the home inspector discovers, I might ask him to look at things that he didn’t discover or mention. I will also let you know as a buyer that repairs done by sellers are often done with the cheapest materials and least expensive labor that the seller can find. This doesn’t always equate to the best results, so I will often recommend that we get a bid from someone who knows how to do the repair correctly, at a fair price. I might tell you that the house you like is over priced, or not the best value. Isn’t that the type of honesty you deserve?

If I am your listing agent I will tell you the recommended list price based on market conditions, not your needs or debt. That’s not to say I am not flexible at all or sympathetic to your financial situation, but I will give you the real price, even if you don’t like it. I will recommend the work needed to get the home sold and lead you through the selling process. I will work with you on improvements that need to be made by providing contractors and handyman that will perform their jobs as professionals. I will be available to return your calls timely and with real answers. Don’t be surprised if I tell you your home is worth less than some other agents will tell you. I won’t give you a price that is 20% above what I believe is the real value just to get your signature on the listing agreement. I might offer to show you the other homes that a buyer will look at in your price range to show you the reason your home needs to be priced correctly.

After all, what sign do you want to have hung in front of your home in 90 days?

If your agent of choice is unable to put your interests first, you need to find one that will.

Click here to read my recommendations for buyer’s and seller’s that I have represented in the past.

Shouldn’t I Price My Big Bear Home with a Little Cushion?

Steve — Sun, 25 Oct 2009 20:53:50 +0000

I get this question on most listing appointments that I have. The sellers want to leave some room to negotiate. In a market that is moving in the sellers direction, pricing your home with a little cushion will benefit sellers because 30, 60, 90, or more days from the list date, the home will be worth more. That is why we always say “It’s time or money”.

In a buyers market, it’s “TIME AND MONEY”. Pricing with cushion will often price your home above market value and effect showings. Slowing down the showings on your property will result in wasted market time. With prices coming down, this will cost the seller money.

Please don’t overprice your property in the market that we are currently experiencing. Amend your price frequently if you are not having ample showings. Get your home priced so that buyers and their agents find your home to be the best value. The good news is you don’t have to accept any offers that come in below your asking price, and believe me buyers will try to get the best deal they can.

What situation do you want to be in? Do you want to be getting offers and negotiating, or have your home sit and not be shown while prices are falling? Seller’s should take a hard look at every offer in this market. Always counter an offer if you are not going to accept. I don’t believe in rejecting offers in any market. The goal is to sell your property, so lets not get our ego in the way. Tell the buyers what you will accept and see how they respond. Buyers in this market are rare. Don’t go shooting endangered species.

Slow decision making on the part of sellers will also be costly. I have had this happen a number of times. I will give the sellers information on comparable properties and recommend amending the price. This market analysis is based on current conditions, not a month later. If you are a seller that takes weeks to come around to getting back to your agent and approving the price reduction, you might miss that price again.

In the current Real Estate market in Big Bear prices are still coming down. So, if you aren’t going to pull the trigger for a few weeks or more on the recommended price change or list price, you might want to consider how far prices will drop during the time that you will need to make the decision.

So, save yourself some money and price your home at or below market value in a buyers market and respond quickly to market changes.

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/

Steve Hirschler