Big Bear Lake, CA

The MLS (Multiple Listing Service) is without a doubt the single most important tool that real estate agents use to do their job.

In short, the MLS is a private database in which real estate brokers can add properties for sale & offer compensation to other brokers who belong to the MLS (often called a cooperating broker). Cooperating brokers use this database as a resource to help potential buyers and other sellers.

The Big Bear MLS is very unique in that it is a "member only" MLS with no reciprocal agreements with other MLS' in the area. As a real estate agent, if you are not a member of the Big Bear MLS, then you will not have access to the data nor are you entitled to be paid a commission if you sell in the area. Some agents who belong to the Big Bear MLS will still cooperate with "outside" agents in an effort the property sold, which I believe to be the in the best interest of our clients.

What if the agent you are using to help you buy or sell a home in Big Bear is not a member of the Big Bear MLS?

Here are 2 reasons critical reason why they should be.

1. As a buyer, you need an agent who has the most complete Big Bear real estate market data available to them. Isn't the main point of using a real estate agent to make the job of finding a home easier? Using an agent who does not have access to the Big Bear MLS is like searching for a home partially blindfolded. While they may have some limited data at their disposal by way of their local MLS, as well as some public sites like Realtor.com, this can be a very inefficient way to find the home in Big Bear.

The MLS is the most up to date database out there. Make sure to ask your agent if they are a member of the Big Bear MLS. If not, at least you know what you are dealing with.

Continue reading the remainder of this article over at The Big Bear Skinny.

Listed below is every lakefront home sold in Big Bear Lake, CA in 2007. It is broken down by list price (in green), sales price (in red), and average days on market (in blue). There were 20 sales ranging from $599,460 to $2,800,000. It is interesting to note that the sales price to listing price ratio is comparatively close (94%) so many sellers are still getting close to their asking price. In today's buyers market normally you would find more of a disparity between the two. But in this case, I believe the supply (currently there are 21 lakefront homes for sale) is relatively low. As everyone knows, homes are sitting on the market longer (average Days On Market was 132 days in 2007) and I expect that statistic to continue to increase but overall the numbers still look pretty good for sellers.

If you are interested in a lakefront property in the Big Bear Lake area feel free to contact me and I would be happy to email you a list of properties currently on the market.

The development of North Shore East (also known as Bear Loop) is situated on the northeast end of the Big Bear Lake, in Big Bear Lake, CA (see map here). Developed in 1993, there were a total of 53 vacant lots ranging from 6,300 to 27,230 square feet. The roads are paved and maintained and all of the utilities are underground (sewer, water, electric, natural gas, phone, and cable). Roughly 75% of the lots have been built out with custom homes ranging from 1,700 to 5,400 square feet.

There was only one sale in North Shore East-Bear Loop in 2007. See below.

42589 Bear Loop was listed at $599,900. It covered 2,088 square feet with 3 bedrooms and 3 1/2 baths. Built in 2003, the kitchen had granite/marble, maple cabinets and a stainless steel appliances. It took 288 days to sell, but it closed on May 7, 2007 for $572,500.

The surprising statistic is 3 homes have already gone into escrow in 2008! With all of the negative media attention regarding the real estate market, two went under contract last week and one is scheduled to close in another couple weeks. This is excellent news for the neighborhood and might be an indication that the market is not only picking up here, but throughout the Big Bear area.

For more information regarding this neighborhood, or if you would like to search for other properties listed in the Big Bear Association of Realtors MLS click here.

Currently there are 207 active listings available in the Moonridge area of Big Bear Lake. Homes in Moonridge are priced between $179,000 and $2,000,000. If you are looking for a home that has 3 bedrooms and 2 baths, you'll be shopping in the $275,000 - $639,000 price range. Just click on this link to search for homes in Big Bear Lake, Moonridge, Fox Farm, High Timber Ranch, Castle Glen, Whispering Forest, Big Bear City, Sugarloaf, Erwin Lake, Lake Williams, or Shay Meadows or feel free to contact me at Coldwell Banker Mountain Gallery Realtors in Big Bear Lake.

Examples of homes in the Moonridge area are:

42647 ALTA VISTA, Moonridge Area Big Bear Lake, CA $499,900

VIEWS OF BEAR MTN & SNOW SUMMIT OFF THE BACK DECK & LIVING AREA OF THIS SPOTLESS UMD CHALET. BLT IN '03 W/2 JACUZZI TUBS, OUTDOOR SPA,EXTENSIVE REDWOOD DECKING,LOFT,SEP LAUNDRY ROOM,PANTRY,STAINLESS APPLIANCES,GRANITE,KNOTTY PINE CABINETS,DUAL PANE WINDOWS,SKYLIGHTS,T&G VAULTED CEILINGS,CNTRL HEAT. GREAT RNTL HISTORY W/OVER $21K GROSS IN '06.LOT NXT DR AVAIL

BED: 3 STATUS: Active BATH: 3.500 YEAR BLT: 2003 #ROOMS: 8 STORIES: Three Story DINE: Dining Area In Lr FURNISH: None GARAGE: None INV ON FILE: N APRX SF: 1,944 Sqft Fm Fiche WASH/DRY: Y BOAT FAC: CATEGORY: Resale FIREPLACE: One FP ,FP In Liv Room POOL/SPA: Spa/Hottub VIEW: Mountain View ,Ski Slope View ,View National Forest TOPO: Downslope FRONTAGE: Fronts Street BUILDINGS: XSTREET: DOUGLAS ZIP: 92315

INSIDE: Phone Jacks ,Cable Outlet ,Security Sys Owned OUTSIDE: Deck ,Dual Pane Windows OTH ROOMS: Loft ,Separate Laundry Rm ,Family Room ,Master Suite ,Pantry APPLIANCES: Dishwasher ,Garbage Disposal ,Refrigerator ,Gas Range/Cooktop ,Gas Oven WTR/SEWER: Water Supplied By Dwp ,Sewer Connected UTILITIES: City BBL ,Bear Valley Electric ,Natural Gas Connected Cable Hookup Avail APN: 2328 - 373 - 21 LOT: 79 BLK: TR: 2440 LOT DIM: 50 x 95 x 43 x 109 ZONING: Single Family LOT SF: 4,838 ACRES: ROAD: Paved & Maintained PARKING: Parking Pad DRIVEWAYS: Concrete Driveway

Big Bear Homes for Sale, Moonridge LakeView

1265 BALSAM DRIVE

ML#: 273226 PRICE: $649,900 AREA: MOON/ GMO VRMPRI: N PROP: TYPE: Residential BED: 3 STATUS: Active BATH: 4.000 YEAR BLT: 1972 #ROOMS: 9 STORIES: Three Story DINE: Formal Dining FURNISH: Negotiable GARAGE: Four Plus Garage ,Detached Garage INV ON FILE: N APRX SF: 2,674 Sqft Fm Owner WASH/DRY: Y BOAT FAC: CATEGORY: Resale FIREPLACE: Two FP ,Brick FP ,FP In Liv Room POOL/SPA: Spa/Hottub ,Jet Bathtub VIEW: Lakeview ,Mountain View ,Neighbors & Trees View TOPO: Downslope ,Street to Street FRONTAGE: Fronts Street BUILDINGS: Gazebo XSTREET: CLUBVIEW ZIP: 92315

INSIDE: Phone Jacks ,Log Lighter OUTSIDE: Deck ,Patio ,Partial Sprinklers ,Partial Landscape OTH ROOMS: Loft ,Family Room ,Attached Guest Quarter APPLIANCES: Gas Oven ,Gas Range/Cooktop ,Microwave ,Dishwasher ,Garbage Disposal ,Refrigerator WTR/SEWER: Water Meter In ,Water Supplied By Dwp ,Sewer Connected UTILITIES: City BBL ,Bear Valley Electric ,Natural Gas Connected Cable Hookup Avail APN: 310 - 281 - 24 LOT: 40 BLK: TR: 2042 LOT DIM: 65 x 141 ZONING: Single Family LOT SF: 9,165 ACRES: ROAD: Paved & Maintained PARKING: Parking Pad DRIVEWAYS: Concrete Driveway

WONDERFUL LAKE VIEWS FROM THIS WELL KEPT CHALET. STREET TO STREET LOT NEAR SKI SLOPES, NATIONAL FOREST & GOLF COURSE, 4 CAR GARAGE WITH GUEST/BONUS ROOM ADDITIONAL 3/4 BATH IN GARAGE.FORMAL DINNING,3 BEDROOMS,JACUZZI TUB, LOFT, HUGE FAMILY ROOM WITH IT'S OWN 3/4 BATH. LOCATED ON ONE OF THE MOST DESIRED STREETS IN MOONRIDGE.WOULD MAKE A GREAT RENTAL OR LARGE GROUP GETAWAY.

Big Bear Homes for Sale, Moonridge

42707 LA CERENA

ML#: 273034 PRICE: $218,500 AREA: MOON/ LWMR VRMPRI: PROP: TYPE: Residential BED: 1 STATUS: Active BATH: 1.000 YEAR BLT: 1934 #ROOMS: 4 STORIES: One Story DINE: Dining Area In Lr FURNISH: GARAGE: One Car ,Detached Garage INV ON FILE: APRX SF: 634 Sqft Fm Fiche WASH/DRY: N BOAT FAC: CATEGORY: Resale FIREPLACE: One FP ,Stone FP ,FP In Liv Room POOL/SPA: VIEW: Mountain View ,Neighbors & Trees View TOPO: Level FRONTAGE: Fronts Street BUILDINGS: Storage Bldg XSTREET: BIRCH ZIP: 92315

INSIDE: Phone Jacks OUTSIDE: Deck OTH ROOMS: APPLIANCES: Gas Oven ,Gas Range/Cooktop ,Garbage Disposal ,Refrigerator WTR/SEWER: Water Meter In ,Water Supplied By Dwp ,Sewer Connected UTILITIES: City BBL ,Bear Valley Electric ,Natural Gas Connected APN: 2328 - 481 - 18 LOT: 592 BLK: TR: 1856 LOT DIM: 50 x 100 ZONING: Single Family LOT SF: 5,000 ACRES: ROAD: Paved & Maintained PARKING: Parking Pad DRIVEWAYS: Concrete Driveway

CHARMING VINTAGE CABIN IN MOONRIDGE! REMODELED IN 2004 WITH NEW BATH, KITCHEN AND APPLIANCES. LARGE ROCK FIREPLACE. DETACHED GARAGE. FENCED BACKYARD WITH STORAGE SHED. SEASONAL STREAM AND LITTLE BRIDGES MAKE THIS A SPECIAL GET-AWAY. CLOSE TO BOTH SKI RESORTS, SKI SHUTTLES, SHOPPING AND RESTAURANTS. SOLD AS IS. BANK OWNED PROPERTY SUBJECT TO BANK APPROVAL.

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/

Below are the homes sales statistics for 2007 in Meadowbrook Estates. The last sale was in August so things have definitely been quiet in the area since then. Currently, there are 13 homes for sale in the Meadowbrook Estates area, ranging in price from $750,000 to $1,695,000. The sizes range for about 2,000 sqft. to 4,500 sqft.

This is the perfect area for buyers looking for space and privacy with all the amenities. All of the properties in Meadowbrook Estates are a minimum of one acre of land, most of which are heavily treed, with underground utilities and protective CC&R's.

If you are interested in the Meadowbrook Estates area, please feel free to search for the properties here. Otherwise, you can contact me and I would be happy to email you the properties in the area.