Photos from Daisy Heidmiller
Peak of the lake view from a house in lake arrowhead (arrowhead woods)Located in: Arrowhead Woods (Lake Arrowhead, CA)
Down town Blue Jay Our only mountain movie theater
Shops, great places to eat, movie theater, starbucks, even Mcdonalds. Stop in at the Bakery of Jensens for great treats and pair them with starbucks located there.
3 min from Lake Arrowhead Blue Jay has lots of little cabins and lots of history. Make sure you explore this village when you visit our mountains.
Blue Jay has lots of great shops to meet your needs while you are vacationing in the mountains. It has Radio Shack for electronic and a big drug store. One of my favorite places is the store that has everything to do with wildbirds. Birdfeeders, speciality birdfood, gifts really a great store. This store is very successful and is also online.
Make sure you visit Mountain Thrift. It represents 9 local charities. Including human society. I worked there for a long time. Loved it. Great people and fun customers. Lots of new stuff never used is there. Need extra winter stuff for guests. Stock up in the summer on gloves/scarves and hats. Lots of great books. Always something to read.
One thing you cannot miss in Blue Jay is the big book sale the Library has once a year. They fill their basement for a whole year. All books are displayed in category. Examples cookbooks together. Great selection of children's books. Great prices. Make sure you don't miss this event in Blue Jay.
The little town of Agua Fria is right up the road and is fun to visit. Great reasonable doctor has an office there.
Daisy the real estate Lady! Exit Realty on the Mountains http://arrowheadcabinsales.com
These are my thoughts on how to pick an agent to help you buy. There are great agents out there. Make sure you don't settle for an agent who doesn't meet your needs.
Decide if you want to work with an individual or a team. When you are looking for a house to buy isn't it better to have 2 people to help you find it --especially when their services to you are free.
Decide if you like the style and approach of the agent. Does this agent work in all areas of the mountains or just a few. Is the agent willing to show you the area, villages, features, recreation or do they just want to show you homes. Will the agent take you out to view or do they print up a group of homes, hand you a map and say good luck.
Do you know that only a few villages have for sale signs in the mountains. We have a gentleman's agreement in our mountains not to use for sale signs. Therefore without some help it is hard to spot houses that are for sale. Each village has its own features and living areas can be different.
Agents that sell lake arrowhead area need to know the area, be able to give you the info you need to know about lake arrowhead (rules on boating, the beach clubs, water issues, swimming , fishing).
One of the things you need is an agent who matches your style. Do you want someone who is very business like and shows you homes. Or would you rather work with someone who lets you know and explore the area (fall in love with it) and then do a home/cabin tour. (I am this kind of agent.) I am business like when it comes to contracts, negotiation, deadlines, legal issues, inspections, title, escrows, disclosures,demanding repairs) but I am not rigid in my presentation of our area and homes. This statement applies to both kele and daisy.
Some agents both list and sell. Listing takes lots of time. Open houses, repairs, tours for agents, signs , flyers, communication with sellers, cleaning and organization of house to be sold, advertising listings. Some agents only list. Some agents both sell & list like Daisy--Kele loves to list and sell. Both of us love to snoop in houses and spend much of the week learning the inventory. We know the inventory better. WE have both time and yes, energy to work with buyers.
Some agents think showing 5 homes, showing only homes they have listed or showing only one mountain area (when you are interested in exploring more than one village) is acceptable. I think you should be able to see many homes, to help you see what is there, what you like or hate in mountain homes, and what area, villages and village features are important to you.
We are different here than down the hill. There is much less stress, pressure, crowds, traffic, crime ---life to me is easier. Looking at homes and villages should be that way also. If you talk , meet with an agent , or receive emails from an agent and they don't reflect your style. You can change.
If an agent shows you a home and you want to buy it you should use that agent. But if you are working with an agent and you feel it is not a good match- change agents. There are many wonderful agents here in the mountains. There are many different real estate companies. Each company usually has at least one great agent.
Ask your agent if you are unhappy after working with the agent can you fire them. If they say no then you don't have the best agent.
Again if an agent has been fair, ethical, energetic, worked hard to meet your needs be loyal. But if you feel you are not valued, your needs are not being met, or you are unhappy fire that person. A buyer does not pay for an agents time or effort. She is paid by the seller of a home. A very generous commission. The agent should work hard to meet your needs. Agents that work hard in our mountains make a great living.
Visiting our villages and snooping in homes is fun. If it feels like work get a different agent.
If all else fails in your selection process. Pick a blond.(Daisy) We are usually the most
fun!!! or pick (Kele )who can snowboard better than most people on the mountain and always has a smile and energy.
Kele and Daisy work for different brokers on the mountain. Combined they represent 4 offices.
I knew there was a way to post a photo where I (Daisy) looked as young Kele. Look we both don't have wrinkles or faces for that matter!!
We are sittig outside belgium waffle works on a sunny summer day with the lake behind us.
What do Brunettes do on Saturday night?
Write blond jokes!
my favorite blond my dog at the beach
Daisy the real estate lady Exit Realty on the Mountains http://arrowheadcabinsales.com
I think the MSN real estate section is a great source for information for home sellers and buyers.
I especially liked their article about next door neighbors home conditions and how to stage your house.
These two problems have come up with homes I have listed in the past.
If you have a neighbor who's home is detracting from yours these are my suggestions.
If you are on talking terms with neighbor talk or if it is a mostly vacant home write to them about the fact you are selling your home. Do not stress their homes problems. Talk about how it is very important for you to sell your house quickly. Tell them the reasons you are selling. Tell them that a potential buyer commented on car ths on blocks or two foot high grass. Tell him that you want to show your house in the best light. Ask him how you could help him resolve an issue to help you sell. Offer to pay for yard clean up. Offer to have car towed to junk yard. Find out what his needs are. You might ask him. If you were going to sell how would you improve the outside look of your home.
There are people who have not painted or 1/2 painted a house next to yours. Offer to help them paint or offer to help pay for some high school kids to finish the job for him. This investment in time and money by you could help sell your house. Very often when they are given a need by a neighbor they themselves will take corrective action.
If you have a garage or storage building start there with the staging of your home. That is what I advise clients. Clean, donate, throw away. Give yourself one empty wall. Go in house. Bring boxes. Pack clutter from rooms. Take any dried or silk flowers that did not cost at least 300- for the arrangement this year and throw them away. Dust collectors. You love them but they make your house look smaller. Get rid of extra chairs. Recliners. Photos, pictures. Make that bathroom and kitchen counter empty. Put personal stuff under bath sink and neatly in kitchen closets. Pack up stuff from closets and fill this empty wall in garage or shed. Every time you walk in a room for two weeks get rid of at least one thing. Throw away, pack or donate to the 9 charities serviced by Mountain Thrift in Blue Jay.
These are my thoughts not msn's. These are Daisy's thoughts on the Lake Arrowhead Housing Blog Check out their (msn's) ideas.
Daisy the real estate lady!! http://arrowheadcabinsales.com
Exit realty on the mountain Lake Arrowhead
Really you already know the time to sell was when prices were up and inventory down.
They think prices may drop another 10%.
They use the phrase “ride out the storm” meaning hold out. That is what some people have been doing.
They say that maybe you should think about selling a vacation or investment home . They bring up issues about deciding if maybe you could invest in other places or reduce expenses?
Okay======= now they are starting to talk about our mountain. ======The people who love our mountain and live here full time if you can hold on to your homes. You know they will build equity like all real estate does. I know some of you may have to sell. Family, job, loan or other reasons.Life is not always fair and you need to make decisions for your family.
But the people who own 2nd and 3rd homes and are having trouble maintaining their primary residence mortgage should consider right now is the best time to put your house on the market.
I know the mountain retreats are more than money to people. For me when I lived in Orange Country my cabin was my link to the real me. The real me without so many people and such busy people. It allowed me to come for a weekend and go back and live where I really did not want to live.
If you have a retreat you love, you can afford keep it. It will go back up in value. But if you have one you rarely use and the cost to keep hurts your family or primary home security Right now is the best time to sell.
Real estate is harder to sell in the winter. Spring is coming with lots of visitors and investors. Get that house listed right away so it is out there and being shown as soon as they arrive –the flatlanders!!!
I personally believe our mountain will recover faster than down the hill. I believe what we have is still a place many would love to live even part time but that the lucky ones who own homes here should cherish them.
See my future Lake Arrowhead Housing Blog on how to get your house ready to sell and how to pick an agent to sell your home.
Daisy the real estate lady!! http://arrowheadcabinsales.com
Exit realty on the mountain Lake Arrowhead
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Family is important. My customers chose to begin their search on line. We begin by selecting a price range and size. After the family views home
My photo above is not the usual make up real estate photo you will see in magazines for real estate. That is how I look. Hate make up and my hair does not co-operate most of the time. I have 6 kids and 12 grandkids with 3 more on the way.
I was in retail management for many years, stayed home to raise kids, had 60 foster kids includintg 22 newborn drug babies over many years. Started with an A.A.S. and obtained my B.S. from Univerity of La Verne in Business in 1993.
I began an estate sale business and found the agents selling the homes were making lots more than I was just selling the contents. So I began selling real estate. I can sell anything and I am fun. I am smart and learn fast. I had lived on the mountains a long time but it took a while to learn all the real estate lingo. The mountain is a very special place. It has its own real estate rules and customs. It is important you find out everything about the home you are considering. Each area of the mountain is very unique. After a year of fooling around in real estate I made so much money my tax bill was more than I ever made in my whole life. And what was even funnier I just had a blast.
Where else can you ride around, snoop in houses, stop and have lunch, laugh with some new friends and after a few times doing this make like $6000. Wow!!! I wish I had figured this out sooner.
Well you know that real estate has slowed a bit. But the mountains are unique. We are mostly 2nd and 3rd homes. We often sell the same house every couple of years as peoples lives change. We have many multi-million dollar houses and really some shacks.
I can promise you a morning of learning about our area and learning the type of house you want or don't want.
My game plan is to help someone explore the area. Invite you to visit, let you rest, eat, sleep and take you on a mini tour.Snoop in a few homes and let you tell me what you like, hate, want and don't want. I am high energy . We can look at stuff all day or see a few places. You are the boss. I am just here to help.
I open the doors and help you find the streets, villages, neighborhoods.You pick what makes you happy and what does not. I cannot promise to find the perfect home for you right away.But often I cannot get you out of a house, I see that special smile go between you- the look only you two guys understand- I see an excitement and here a new type of question , and sometimes that means you have found the house!! I cannot promise to make you happy that first day out with your dream home. But I can promise a relaxing mountain adventure and lots of new ideas, thoughts and dreams for all clients ---especially baby boomers.Most of us are still as adventurous as we were before. We have lots more time to enjoy life, we have many more choices then we even had when we were "young" or younger ,we have more time and thank goodness money to explore options, we may sometimes have less energy but we can enjoy moments more, value the Little things we may not have had time to appreciate before and understand what really makes us happy. 
Why in the mountains of lake arrowhead?
Why now at this time of your life? Why wait until you retire to make some decisions? Why are prices still so good here? Why is living still so good here?
Maybe a rental cabin to use as a tax deduction would be something to think about and talk about with your accountant.
Let me share my experiencea client who bought a rental cabin that he now lives in full time. He bought a small cabin with a great view that backs to the forest. It was very 60's.---- He have every type of home up here. From the 20's,30's, 60's,70's,80's to the brand new.
Yes, you can still find fixers with long shag carpet!! ----The cabin was dated. He used it as a rental to offset income.He fixed up the interior, exterior, parking, baths, kitchen, decks, furniture, appliances, heating, insulation and roof. This was done slowly over the years. The kids were almost grown and now they have their own families. Over the years he acquired the furniture and dust collectors he need to make it feel like home. Most homes don't need as extensive renovations.
The homes I love to show baby boomers are small 2-3 bed cabins with 1-2 baths that need paint, new flooring and maybe updating of kitchens. There are still great buys in these homes. But if you want to see a lake front mansion ,a new construction home, or something moderate there is a great selection. It would be my pleasure to email you photos of any type of homes. Remember the price of tall trees, great views and clear air is very low.
How do you rent? He rented out casually to friends and family. He put a lock on a closet and kept his personal things there. Renters paid a discounted but fair rent, brought their own paper goods, bed linens, towels, food, firewood and optional items. He kept basics in the refig like sugar, jelly and some emergency supplies. Renters took their trash with them and left the cabin usually nicer than they found it when they arrived at the rental. Lots of times they left him cute baskets or other cabin gifts. They told friends about the cabin and it got rented even more. He kept track of rentals on a calender for taxes and to avoid duplicate rental dates. There are also professional management businesses that handle everything for you and take a %.
You should discuss with your tax person the items that can be written off. It really helped offset income. I know we were able to write off visits to the cabin to work on improvements. The cabin is now worth triple what he paid. When he decided to move here full time it was almost the way he wanted. Only minor changes were needed to make it perfect for only his use.
Lake Arrowhead and the villages that surround it our probably only 45 min to 1 1/2 hours from your primary residence. Wouldn't it be great to enjoy a mountain retreat weekends, holidays, when you downsize working or when you retire. Think how easy it would be to go back and forth. You still could be close to family that may have settled near primary residence.
But our mountains are a different world. The air is so clean, it is safe here, no traffic lights(not even one), free pharmacy, restaurant, pizza delivery. Very low cost upscale grocery delivery. Nice neighbors, homes not right on top of each other, views to love, a variety of styles from cottage, Victorian, cabin, house to mansion. It takes a day to feel the way you should feel here. When you visit plan on spending a night or two. I can arrange discounted accommodations.
Let me share a story one of my baby boomer clients told me. He drove up with his wife Friday night. They were tired and stressed. Freeway driving, crowded living, lines and jobs. Saturday morning they strolled the village, had a coffee, hit some of the factory outlet and specialty shops and then a late breakfast. By noon we were out exploring villages. Learning what each area was like. Stopping tovisit some of the many reasons to love the mountains. We bopped in to a few homes checked them out. They hated some stuff and loved other things about the homes.
After a special dinner they slept and relaxed. Sunday after brunch we went out and explored more homes and villages. From getting to know them and their reactions to homes we got closer to meeting their needs. I am not a show 5 homes and stop agent. I can go all day and will show you as many as you want to see. What my client told me that made me laugh was he could not believe that the same tv stations were here and in L.A.. He said it felt like a different world. He was not eager to go back down the mountain and hoped he could come up again soon to find his dream cabin. He wanted a little home in the woods that was a fixer , his biggest need was to smell clean pine trees. After they left I emailed homes to them. After a trip or two they were able to find their cabin in the woods. He prefers to read ,relax and does not watch L.A. tv in his cabin. He told me that "this cabin will be the bridge he needs to finish his career in the city."
Monday mornings were easier when he knew he could get in a long weekend at the cabin. He felt more refreshed and energized. She said she had more creative ideas sitting on her deck looking at the trees . She said she enjoyed resting instead of doing another job at home on weekends. She said things still got done but she was not undone! One comment she made I understood was that going to the cabin was a way of getting away from growing up or grown up kids or even grandkids. Now she babysits at the cabin (but only when they don't have so many things to do at the cabin it would not be a good weekend---things to do like read, hike, rest, eat out!!). It is an adventure to visit grandma's house. This will add to your popularity in the family.
Do some of these thoughts and feelings hit home with you? Could this be a choice you could explore? Would an ideal retirement be a city house, a mountain cabin and a desert retreat? Could you have all of it? Could you afford a small cabin under 250,000? Or do you want that special home that meets every need -not a settling house--a house that meets your needs.
Do you want a multi-generational house? Bedrooms on the main floor for parents or us--rec rooms for grandkids, kids, friends, decks for dreaming and entertaining, views to help us let go of all those energy grabbers.
What is my style of real estate? Casual-no phone calls (except to return yours)-jeans and tee shirts.That is my style. I do most communication by email. I can email you photos,(you can block my emails anytime).
I can answer questions do requests (Daisy please check out this house, is there room to store my boat?, my rv, is there room to bake holiday pies and have everyone there, is there a yard with no grass I can pay someone to clean twice a year, is there a view that no one can ever take away, can I be with the people I want to be close to in this house and is there room for us to be alone when we need to be, is there room for that big tv, is there a yard for dog and grandkids, is there total silence, does it smell like pine trees, is there a stream, can I see the lake (there are 4 here), can I walk to the lake, can I walk to a cafe or shop, can I get to ski slopes, snowboard area, cross country ski area, ice skating , movie, bowling, hiking ,concerts, is there a porch or deck for bbq's or doing nothing, can I breathe ,rest or run and walk for miles?) these are some of the many requests I get in the form of emails.
My game planis to help someone explore the area. Invite you to visit, let you rest, eat, sleep and take you on a mini tour.Snoop in a few homes and let you tell me what you like, hate, want and don't want. I am high energy . We can look at stuff all day or see a few places. You are the boss. I am just here to help.
I open the doors and help you find the streets, villages, neighborhoods.You pick what makes you happy and what does not. I cannot promise to find the perfect home for you right away.But often I cannot get you out of a house, I see that special smile go between you- the look only you two guys understand- I see an excitement and here a new type of question , and sometimes that means you have found the house!! I cannot promise to make you happy that first day out with your dream home. But I can promise a relaxing mountain adventure and lots of new ideas, thoughts and dreams for all clients ---especially baby boomers.
Where you are in your life, I am also in the same baby boomer neighborhood. We baby boomers can be so different from each other and at times also alike. There is a special place here I would like for you to experience....life in the middle of a national forest. Daisy
Please contact me directly thru my website http://arrowheadcabinsales.com
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