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 Esta... 06/15/2008

  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,... 06/08/2008

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 loca... 06/05/2008

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 o... 06/02/2008

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 t... 06/02/2008

2008 Lake Events May 17              Adopt-a-Shoreline Kick-Off Volunteer Program for Lake Clean-Up May 17-18           May Trout Classic (Trout Tournament) 909-585-4007 May 31              Safe Boating Class (Boating Safety and Certificate)           June 7-8 5th Annual Carp Roundup and Bow and Arrow Tournament for Carp Entry Form June 7               Optimist Fishing Derby (Kids Fishing Tournament) 909-453-3939 June 7               Free Fishing and Boating Day (No Lake Permit or Fishing License Needed July 4                  Fourth of July Fireworks (Fireworks Show Over the Lake) July 26               Safe Boating Class (Boating Safety and Certificate) Aug 23-24      Antique and Classic Wooden Boat Show (Location: B's Backyard Bar-B-Que) Sept 20              24th Annual Coastal Clean-... 05/31/2008

1. Never select an agent by the price they will list your property at.2. Real estate agents have no control over the market, only the market plan. 3. Over pricing in a rising market is o.k., in a falling market disastrous.4. There are four pricing categories:     Cost - What was paid plus capital improvements.     Price - What the seller wants to receive     Value - What the buyer is willing to pay     Market Value - What price a buyer and seller will agree on 5. Understand how regression and progression effect pricing:     REGRESSION - Expensive properties decreasing in value by lesser ones nearby.    PROGRESSION - Less expensive properties increased by expensive ones    nearby.6. The value of an improvement is based on how much it increases the value of the     property, not it's actu... 05/12/2008

05/11/2008

Moonridge Area of Big Bear Lake Market Minute(s). This video talks about what has sold during the month of April 2008 in Moonridge. Look for another Moonridge Minute(s) in early June covering the month of May. If you want more information or would like to discuss the Big Bear Real Estate market, please give me a call.     Regards, 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/ 05/11/2008

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 g... 05/10/2008

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 05/10/2008

View Larger Map WOW! DON'T MISS OUT ON THIS OPPORTUNITY TO OWN A FANTASTIC LOG SIDED DUPLEX ON SUMMIT BLVD, WALKING DISTANCE TO SNOW SUMMIT SKI RESORT! BANK OWNED PROPERTY SOLD AS-IS. GREAT INVESTMENT, NEEDS A LITTLE "TLC". GOOD PARKING, FRONT AND BACK DECKS. OPEN FLOOR PLAN, VAULTED CEILINGS, AND ROCK FIREPLACES. EACH UNIT IS 2 BEDROOMS AND 2 FULL BATHS. CURRENTLY FOR SALE FOR $445,900 WITH DAVID CARTWRIGHT JR OF KELLER WILLIAMS BIG BEAR. 05/09/2008

Originaly posted on The Sugarloaf Blog Let's face it, there are For Sale By Owner signs every where you look.  I can't help but wonder why a home owner would try to sell, what is his or her largest investment without professional help.  It just doesn't make sense, does it?  I called a for sale by owner property owner one day and was asking about the property and trying to find out why they were selling  as a for sale by owner.  The response from the property owner was amazing.  The response I got back was, "Why do I need an agent?  All I need is an offer that looks good to me.  Once I have that, we can take it to an escrow company and they'll handle everything!"  WOW!  If that's all it takes, then what are all of those disclosures that we require our buyers and sellers to fill out?  If ... 05/07/2008

In the years that I've been selling real estate  I speak to a lot of clients who want a place in Big Bear.  They want to drive to their property, walk in and relax.  The last thing they want to do is shovel the snow berm that is frozen solid and blocking the driveway.  That's when the idea of owning a condo in Big Bear Lake starts looking good.  Sure, you have to pay a HOA fee, but all of the outside issues are normally taken care of.  There are a number ofr complexes here in the Big Bear Valley.  If you want to be up against the ski slopes, there are two great locations to chose from.  If you like the water, there are a couple of great areas to look at as well.The unit that I have listed, unit 101 at the Escape Complex is a 2 bedroom, 2 bathroom unit with just over 1000 sq feet of re m... 05/05/2008

Originally posted on The Sugarloaf Real Estate Blog201 Bernhardt is a 2 bedroom 1 bath home in Big Bear City, priced at $199,000.00  The seller has had the interior painted and replaced the carpet before putting the home on the market.The home is 920 square feet and sits on a fenced 6800 square foot lot.  If you're looking for summer sports, Big Bear Lake is only 3 ,iles away.  If it's the ski slopes that bring you to Big Bear, you can be at Bear Mountain in just over 5 minutes!  Access to Redlands or for that matter, anywhere down the hill is easy as this home is located just off of Hwy 38.The 2 car attached garage is a big plus, especially in the winter when the snow is falling.  Imagine the car full of kids, groceries and everything you need for a relaxing weekend, only to arrive in ... 05/05/2008

Originaly posted on The Sugarloaf Real Estate Blog If you're looking for a larger home that is close to Highway 38 for that quick trip to Redlands, yet priced with in reason, then this home just might be the ticket.230 Vista Street is one of those unique homes that stands out as more of a home than cabin.  It was originally a 3 bedroom 2 bath home and could very easily be  changed back to that configuration.  The current owner converted the bedroom upstairs into a large office for both him and his wife.  Being a reverse floor plan, this home came with one bedroom upstairs, just off from the living room and the other two bedrooms down stairs.The home is 1668 square feet and sits on a 7125 square foot lot.  The two car garage is extra deep, has been repainted and has garage door openers w... 05/04/2008

727 Victoria Lane is another fine property in Sugraloaf that is currently on the market.  This is a 2 bedroom, 2 bath home that has been remodeled recently.  The 1024 square feet of the interior has been remodeled and is very clean!Don't let the outside fool you.  This baby might not have the best curb appeal but the interior will blow your mind!.  The home features 2 bedrooms, 2 baths, over 1000 square feet, has a 2 car detached garage and sits on over 9000 square feet of land.  All this for $249,000.00 (subject to bank approval) Please feel free to contact me by email or phone (909) 229-5326 with any questionsTony Card Big Bear Real Estate 05/03/2008

Originally Posted on The Sugarloaf Real Estate Blog728 Sunset lane in Sugarloaf, Ca has just been REDUCED in price from $129,000.00 to $109,000.00.This sweet little cabin is 608 square feet, features two bedrooms and one bath and sits on a fenced 25 X 100 foot lot.  In just a short block and a half walk, you're at the national forest where there are plenty of walking trails. As you can see from the virtual tour, the cabin is very rustic and you have plenty of trees all around you.  Enjoy the cold snowy winter with a fire roaring in the fireplace.The seller says told me to reduce the price from $129,000.00 to $109,000.00 and get it sold!Please give me a call at 909 229-5326 or email me at tony@tonycard.com for more information on this cabin or any other cabin in the Big Bear ValleyTony C... 05/03/2008

In January, I posted a blog article telling you about the "Move a Million Miles For Ryan Hall" challenge that the Lighthouse Project is sponsoring.  For those of you that don't know, Ryan Hall was born and raised in Big Bear Lake and he has earned a spot on the US Olympic team as a marathon runner.  The Lighthouse project thought that there would be no better way for the community to show its support for Ryan than for us to move a million miles.  Walking, riding,  jogging, it all counts and the goal is to send Ryan off to China knowing that the community of Big Bear has moved a million miles in support of his efforts. It's now May 2nd and I wanted to provide you with an update on how things have gone so far.  To date, 1251 people have been involved.  The age groups have been remarkable... 05/02/2008

It's hard to imagine that it's May 1st already.  The first four months have really flown by.  The Real Estate market in Big Bear has been very interesting too.  This is my 5th year in the business and things have really changed from the market that I started in.  2003 is when I started selling Real Estate in Big Bear. There were so many buyers that you would show the top 3 to 5 properties, close the deal get back to the office as soon as possible to be ready for the next client.   It was not unusual for me to have three or four appointments on a Saturday and the same on Sunday.  I'd walk in at the end of the day, after writing three offers and have two offers submitted on some of my listings.  When asked about real estate, I would tell people that selling real estate in Big Bear was sim... 05/02/2008