Big Bear Information Blog by Kim Boda

CHECK OUT MY LISTINGS...CLICK LINK BELOW!

2010-07-31T18:37:00.000-07:00

CHECK OUT THIS GORGEOUS NEW LISTING IN FAWNSKIN!

2010-06-01T21:53:00.000-07:00

Unbelievable views from this great listing in highly coveted Fawnskin area.
Enjoy the most amazing views of San Gorgonio and Grout Bay!
2 Bedrooms, 2 Baths, on almost 1500 Sq. Feet. The price is pretty unbelievable too at ($269,900!)SCRATCH THAT! REDUCED TO $258,900!!
Must see this immaculate home with open yet cozy country kitchen with tons of wood accents and mountain accents. Master Bedroom has views of the lake through sliding glass doors to the nice covered porch/deck.
Call Kim Boda at (909) 556-0901 direct cell to see this fabulous cabin
1262 Piney Ridge Fawnskin, Ca 92333 and check it out here!

Big Bear AMGEN Tour of California

2010-05-22T21:13:00.000-07:00

On Friday, May 22, 2010 the AMGEN Tour of California came to Big Bear!
What a great day it was...I was so proud to be a part of this amazing day.
We set up our Keller Williams booth with red ballons, candy and all kinds of give aways and then we set up tables so that we could sell Big Bear Vacations/Keller Williams T-shirts to the masses. What a deal! $5 for a T-shirt AND a cowbell! In the illustrious words of Christopher Walken on SNL....Gotta Have More Cowbell! he he
What beautiful weather we had! It was a bit breezy but that didn't deter us!
The bicyclists rolled into town at about 3:30 and boy was that an exciting sight to see. Since our owners donated 20k as the AMGEN sponsors we were treated like royalty and hung out in the VIP hospitality tent! (Thanks Guys!) Man...the food and drink was the bomb AND we had front row seats to see the Tour as they rounded Summit Blvd and headed up to the Finish Line.
I think the highlight of the day for me was seeing the great TV coverage on the VERSUS channel. To see the gorgeous lake and the snow capped mountains of the San Gorgonio range was simply breathtaking. I am so proud to be a resident here and to be a Realtor that helps to represent clients in obtaining a piece of real estate in Big Bear.
Amazing day for all of us here in Big Bear...but the cherry on top of the dessert was this: On the very same day, our local teen, Jordan Romero summitted Mt. Everest as the youngest person ever to accomplish this feat! Wow! Ryan Hall was also in the AMGEN crowd yesterday, he grew up in Big Bear and was our Big Bear Olympian in the Beijing Games! The people of this town are pretty spectacular too as you can see. Great things are happening in this town and I can't help but think that between the excellent scenery and the super people who live here...we just may be the best kept secret yet. Cheers Big Bear...Hip Hip Hooray!

Updated Real Estate News about the Buyer Tax Credit

2009-10-29T16:39:00.001-07:00

Credit for this blogpost goes to Fred Glick, of www.fredglick.com
BREAKING NEWS- Real Estate Tax Credit To Be Extended
Harry Reid's office just confirmed these details:
1) Sen Isakson, Dodd, Lieberman have agreed, and Senate Finance [Baucus and tax staff] have agreed to this credit extension and expansion:
2) For first time homebuyers, the income level to qualify is $ 75,000/150,000
3) For step up buyers the income level to qualify is $ 125,000/250,000
4) For step up buyers, they must have been residing in their primary residence for 5 years
5) The credit is 10% of the sales price, with a maximum of $ 7290.
6) The credit runs from Dec. 1, 2009 to April 30, 2010.
7) For legitimate sales contracts as of April 30, 2010 you have 60 days to close.
8) There is a waiver for military.
9) This will be added to the Unemployment Insurance bill. It will then go to the House.

What is a Short Sale and What can I expect?

2009-09-09T11:23:00.000-07:00

A short sale in real estate is not always a pleasant transaction.

There are many ways to lose a home but signing away ownership in a manner that destroys credit, embarrasses the family and strips an owner of dignity is one of the hardest. For owners who can no longer afford to keep mortgage payments current, there are alternatives to bankruptcy or foreclosure proceedings. One of those options is called a "short sale."
When lenders agree to do a short sale in real estate, it means the lender is accepting less than the total amount due. Not all lenders will accept short sales or discounted payoffs, especially if it would make more financial sense to foreclose; moreover, not all sellers nor all properties qualify for short sales.

If you are considering buying a short sale, there could be drawbacks. For your protection, I suggest that all borrowers:

Obtain legal advice from a competent real estate lawyer
Call an accountant to discuss short sale ramifications.
As a real estate agent, I am not licensed as a lawyer nor a CPA and cannot advise on those consequences. Except for certain conditions pursuant to the Mortgage Forgiveness Debt Relief Act of 2007, be aware the I.R.S. could consider debt forgiveness as income, and there is no guarantee that a lender who accepts a short sale will not legally pursue a borrower for the difference between the amount owed and the amount paid. In some states, this amount is known as a deficiency. A lawyer can determine whether your loan qualifies for a deficiency judgment or claim.

Although all lenders have varying requirements and may demand that a borrower submit a wide array of documentation, the following steps will give you a pretty good idea of what to expect.

Call the Lender:

You may need to make a half dozen phone calls before you find the person responsible for handling short sales. You do not want to talk to the "real estate short sale" or "work out" department, you want the supervisor's name, the name of the individual capable of making a decision.

Submit Letter of Authorization:

Lenders typically do not want to disclose any of your personal information without written authorization to do so. If you are working with a real estate agent, closing agent, title company or lawyer, you will receive better cooperation if you write a letter to the lender giving the lender permission to talk with those specific interested parties about your loan. The letter should include the following:

Property Address
Loan Reference Number
Your Name
The Date
Your Agent's Name & Contact Information

Preliminary Net Sheet:

This is an estimated closing statement that shows the sales price you expect to receive and all the costs of sale, unpaid loan balances, outstanding payments due and late fees, including real estate commissions, if any. Your closing agent or lawyer should be able to prepare this for you, if you do not know how to calculate any of these fees. If the bottom line shows cash to the seller, you will probably not need a short sale.

Hardship Letter:

The sadder, the better. This statement of facts describes how you got into this financial bind and makes a plea to the lender to accept less than full payment. Lenders are not inhumane and can understand if you lost your job, were hospitalized or a truck ran over your entire family, but lenders are not particularly empathetic to situations involving dishonesty or criminal behavior.
Proof of Income and Assets. It is best to be truthful and honest about your financial situation and disclose assets. Lenders will want to know if you have savings accounts, money market accounts, stocks or bonds, negotiable instruments, cash or other real estate or anything of tangible value. Lenders are not in the charity business and often require assurance that the debtor cannot pay back any of the debt that it is forgiving.

Copies of Bank Statements:

If your bank statements reflect unaccountable deposits, large cash withdrawals or an unusual number of checks, it's probably a good idea to explain each of those line items to the lender. In addition, the lender might want you to account for each and every deposit so it can determine whether deposits will continue.

Comparative Market Analysis:

Sometimes markets decline and property values fall. If this is part of the reason that you cannot sell your home for enough to pay off the lender, this fact should be substantiated for the lender through a comparative market analysis (CMA). Your real estate agent can prepare a CMA for you, which will show prices of similar homes:
Active on the market
Pending sales
Solds from the past six months.

Purchase Agreement & Listing Agreement:

When you reach an agreement to sell with a prospective purchaser, the lender will want a copy of the offer, along with a copy of your listing agreement. Be prepared for the lender to renegotiate commissions and to refuse to pay for certain items such as home protection plans or termite inspections.
Now, if everything goes well, the lender will approve your short sale. As part of the negotiation, you might ask that the lender not report adverse credit to the credit reporting agencies, but realize that the lender is under no obligation to accommodate this request.

Green Living Tips-Simple Steps to green your home and your wallet

2009-06-23T14:26:00.000-07:00

Lighting and Electronics:

Replace standard incandescent light bulbs with compact fluorescent light bulbs.

If all Californians replaced five bulbs with compact fluorescent light bulbs, it would be the equivalent of taking 275,000 cars off the road.
If all Californians unplugged electronics when not in use, it would be the equivalent of taking 120,000 cars off the road.

Heating and Insulation:

Lowering the temperature 5-10 degrees Fahrenheit can save you up to 20 percent on heating costs.

Using Appliances Wisely:

If a family of four replaces their 3.5 gallon per flush toilet (Pre-1994) with a Water Sense-labeled toilet, they could save $90 a year and as much as $2,000 over the toilet's life.
Laundry-Do your laundry efficiently by running the washer only when it's full, and by using the warm or cold water setting for washing your clothes. always use cold water to rinse clothes. About 90 percent of the energy used by a clothes washer goes to heat the water.
If all Californians replaced their inefficient clothes washers with energy-efficient ones, it would be the equivalent of taking 30,000 cars off the road.
Kitchen-if Californians replaced their inefficient dishwashers with energy-efficient ones, it would be the equivalent of taking 62,000 cars off the road. If you unplug or recycle that spare refrigerator in the garage you can save up to $150 per year!

Think Globally, Buy Locally

When you choose a product that is local to your area, you reduce transportation energy usage and help sustain your local community!
When you're through with an item, sell or "Freecycle" (www.freecycle.org) it rather than throw it away! "Away" means the landfill!

Every Drop Counts

Did you know that as much as 19 percent of California's electricity is used to pump, transport, and treat water.
Did you also know that your water bill expenses are basically costs to get water to your home from the Colorado River? The cost of the water is basically inexpensive, it is the expense of having it brought directly to you that is what you are actually paying for!

A Special Thank you goes to Arlene Baxter of the California Association of Realtors who wrote this booklet and is on the Green Task Force.

You can reach her in Berkeley California at Berkeley Hills Realty.

Arlene Baxter [eastbay.bungalows@gmail.com]

Buyer Tax Credit Tips

2009-05-11T16:50:00.001-07:00

Bringing the Dream of Homeownership Within Reach
As part of its plan to stimulate the U.S. housing market and address the economic challenges facing our nation, Congress has passed legislation that grants a tax credit of up to $8,000 to first-time home buyers.
Here is more information about how the 2009 First-Time Home Buyer Tax Credit can help prospective home buyers become part of the American dream.

Who Qualifies?
First-time home buyers who purchase homes between January 1, 2009 and December 1, 2009.
To qualify as a “first-time home buyer” the purchaser or his/her spouse may not have owned a residence during the three years prior to the purchase.

Which Properties Are Eligible?
The 2009 First-Time Home Buyer Tax Credit may be applied to primary residences, including: single-family homes, condos, townhomes, and co-ops.

How Much Will the Credit Be?
The maximum allowable credit for home buyers is $8,000. Each home buyer’s tax credit is determined by two factors:
The price of the home—the credit is equal to 10% of the purchase price of the home, up to $8,000.
The buyer's income—single buyers with incomes up to $75,000 and married couples with incomes up to $150,000—may receive the maximum tax credit.

If the Buyer(s)’ Income Exceeds These Limits, Can He/She Still Get a Credit?
Yes, some buyers may still be eligible for the credit.The credit decreases for buyers who earn between $75,000 and $95,000 for single buyers and between $150,000 and $170,000 for home buyers filing jointly. The amount of the tax credit decreases as his/her income approaches the maximum limit. Home buyers earning more than the maximum qualifying income—over $95,000 for singles and over $170,000 for couples are not eligible for the credit.

Will the Tax Credit Need to Be Repaid?
No. The buyer does not need to repay the tax credit, if he/she occupies the home for three years or more. However, if the property is sold during the three-year period, the credit will be recouped on the sale.

Snow tips that make you seem like a local!

2009-02-15T15:12:00.000-08:00

Hi All!
It's been awhile since I posted on my blog. I'm trying to become disciplined again so that you have something to actually read that has some content.

I've decided to post some weather pics of the snow we recently got. We are also getting some new snow this evening so I am stoked about that but not real excited to shovel the darn stuff.

Here are some Mountain tips that I recommend when you are making the trip up here in the Winter and there's snow on the ground.

1. BRING CHAINS/I don't care if you have a 4wd just put them in your trunk because you don't want to have to turn around when the Cal Trans guys stop you. Trust me.

2. BRING CLOTHING FOR COLD WEATHER. That means Gloves, a beanie, serious snow boots (leave your flip flops at home), waterproof pants and a warm ski jacket. Layer, Layer, Layer!

3. CAR SICKNESS: If you are prone to getting car sick be the Designated Driver.

4. USE THE TURNOUTS....Let someone else kill themselves if they are in a hurry! What do you care? You're actually going to live to enjoy your vacation.

5. DON'T STOP IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD TO PUT YOUR CHAINS ON! I repeat: Do NOT stop in the middle of any street, road, lane in the mountains to put your chains on! In fact: If you have to pull over to put them on PLEASE move as far to the right as possible. You end up holding up traffic and you might get runover!

6. USE HIGHWAY 38 and HWY 18 ON BUSY WEEKENDS
When you are heading back home depending on where you live, please don't use the 330. It will take you forever to get home. EVERYONE uses the 330 because it is the most popular way up here.

7. EXPECT TRAFFIC ON THE WEEKENDS There. Now that I've prepared you, you won't get all twisted about having to wait at the stop lights or the restaurants. And please let people merge into the traffic. It helps prevent road rage and it's just plain nice and kind.

8. CALL KIM BODA IF YOU WANT TO LOOK AT REAL ESTATE OF ANY KIND IN BIG BEAR! (909) 556-0901 direct cell

What is the Bailout/Rescue Plan All About?

2008-10-01T16:16:00.000-07:00

All Right...for days now the news of the Bailout/Rescue Plan has been all over. You can't turn on any radio, television or computer without seeing the headlines. I've been watching and keeping posted by cnn.com and of course my favorite morning show while I get ready to start my day "The Today Show". And after all this time I still don't know what the Heck the Bailout/Rescue Plan is all about. I have questions and I needed some answers so I googled the question: What is the Bailout Plan all about? And this is what I got: It's simple and straightforward and easy to understand:

All about the US bailout plan
September 29, 2008

The US Congress and the Bush administration have finally agreed on the language of the $700 billion legislation intended to bail out institutions reeling under the massive financial crisis after a marathon session stretching several hours.

What is the US financial crisis all about?
America's banking system is in a shambles, following the impact of the crippling subprime mortgage losses suffered by the banks and financial institutions. Many have gone bankrupt, some have been sold at throwaway prices, and some more might go belly up soon.
The woes of the Wall Street have spread globally, hitting economies all over the world.

And what is this bailout plan?
US President George W Bush has proposed to bail out the banks that did not invest judicially leading to the panic on the Wall Street. The plan has been devised by US Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson who is a former Goldman Sachs CEO.
Paulson has proposed that $700 billion of taxpayers' money be used to help the banks come on an even keel by buying out their liabilities, primarily in the form of mortgage bonds that are hardly worth anything now.

Why is the bailout being opposed?
For one, there is no guarantee that this $700 billion will be enough to take care of the crisis on Wall Street.
Two, a bailout of this kind will in a way incentivise wrongdoing, as these institutions will think that despite their wrong decisions and greed -- which led to this unprecedented crisis -- the US government will bail them out.
Three, people are angry with US bankers, who created fancy financial instruments and extended loans to people with unstable incomes and low creditworthiness and gambled with US money, are now having to be bailed out by ordinary citizens.
Four, every American taxpayer will have to shell out about $5,500 to help finance the $700 billion bailout.
Five, US citizens are worried that this might lead to an increase in taxes over time.
Six, some economists also believe that the bailout might not work at all.

Where has the $700 billion figure come from?
Well, it's a figure that has been pulled out of thin air, literally. The US Treasury simply chose a gigantic number to prove things were seriously wrong.

How will the US government pay back the money?
The assets, or the bonds that are worthless as of now, will eventually be sold. Paulson believes that once the bailout is done, and the stock and the realty markets stabilize, the bonds will gain back their value and can be sold thus getting back at least half of the $700 billion.
In the long run, the rest of the money will be paid by the taxpayer.

How will the bailout help?
The bailout money -- $700 billion -- will be disbursed in installments. The US Treasury will first get $250 billion to begin buying the bad mortgage bonds. Then another $100 billion will be given the Treasury, and finally in the third stage, the remaining $350 billion will be given. This will, however, be done under strict Congressional monitoring.
An oversight commission that will comprise Democrats and Republicans will be created to monitor the process.

Who gains the most?
The banking industry and the Wall Street will be the biggest winners in what is human history's largest ever financial bailout.
The US economy: To some extent, the infusion of hundreds of billions of dollars into the economy, will help revive it once again. If the bailout works, that is.
Some borrowers can also benefit from this bailout, as banks will have funds to lend for student loans, working capital loans, credit card accounts, even housing loans, etc.

Who will lose the most?
Those who are facing foreclosures and whose houses are on the block will lose big.
Then, obviously, the US taxpayers will lose out.
A lot of people who have lost their jobs might not get them back anytime too soon and
US executives who caused this crisis.

The bailout plan in a 5 short points
The following is the summary of the 'Emergency Economic Stabilization Act of 2008,' also called the bailout plan.

I. Stabilizing the Economy
The Emergency Economic Stabilization Act of 2008 (EESA) provides up to $700 billion to the Secretary of the Treasury to buy mortgages and other assets that are clogging the balance sheets of financial institutions and making it difficult for working families, small businesses, and other companies to access credit, which is vital to a strong and stable economy. EESA also establishes a program that would allow companies to insure their troubled assets.

II. Homeownership Preservation
EESA requires the Treasury to modify troubled loans -- many the result of predatory lending practices -- wherever possible to help American families keep their homes. It also directs other federal agencies to modify loans that they own or control. Finally, it improves the HOPE for Homeowners program by expanding eligibility and increasing the tools available to the Department of Housing and Urban Development to help more families keep their homes.

III. Taxpayer Protection
Taxpayers should not be expected to pay for Wall Street's mistakes. The legislation requires companies that sell some of their bad assets to the government to provide warrants so that taxpayers will benefit from any future growth these companies may experience as a result of participation in this program. The legislation also requires the President to submit legislation that would cover any losses to taxpayers resulting from this program from financial institutions.

IV. No Windfalls for Executives
Executives who made bad decisions should not be allowed to dump their bad assets on the government, and then walk away with millions of dollars in bonuses. In order to participate in this program, companies will lose certain tax benefits and, in some cases, must limit executive pay. In addition, the bill limits "golden parachutes" and requires that unearned bonuses be returned.

V. Strong Oversight
Rather than giving the Treasury all the funds at once, the legislation gives the Treasury $250 billion immediately, then requires the President to certify that additional funds are needed ($100 billion, then $350 billion subject to Congressional disapproval). The Treasury must report on the use of the funds and the progress in addressing the crisis.
EESA also establishes an Oversight Board so that the Treasury cannot act in an arbitrary manner. It also establishes a special inspector general to protect against waste, fraud and abuse.

Gary Kellers Seminar was Awesome Today in LA!

2008-09-04T21:24:00.000-07:00

Hi Everyone! I just got rejuvenated at the Marriott LAX where Gary Keller spoke today. He talked about his new book SHIFT.

I have never heard him speak in person but was greatly mesmerized with his intellect, knowledge of real estate and his intuitiveness. What an inspiring person at the helm of Keller Williams Realty.

You probably already know about his Book "The Millionaire Real Estate Agent" which discusses the Keller Williams model and how the most successful agents operate. SHIFT is about how agents survive in tough real estate times.

It's all about going back to the basics. Some of the topics were: Mastering the Market of the moment with Short Sales, Foreclosures and REO's. Expanding Knowledge of Financing so that you can best represent your clients. He talked a lot about changing your thinking and focus. In retrospect what I appreciated most was Gary's work ethic. He teaches agents how to achieve success through very simple strategies fueled by hard work, being organized, educating our clients with our words and time blocking. He reiterated taking responsibility by taking control and not getting attached to all the negativity. He also made it very clear that in order to survive we have to change and adjust with the market for when the tide turns only those who hung in there and diligently prepared will reap the rewards.

Southern Cal home sales jump in July! Approx. 13.8%

2008-08-21T09:54:00.000-07:00

Hot off of the Presses for August 19, 2008 I am sharing some great news with all of my clients regarding the Real Estate Market.
So Cal home sales rose last month for the first time in nearly 3 Years!!! Why, you ask? Because of decreased home values in the amount of 31% in some areas that have literally lured home buyers back into the market. If you think about the inactivity at present and in the most recent past it is a wonder that we haven't see more activity from buyers as they have been "sitting on the fence" en mass! For the most part it is the "first time" home buyers that are "jumping off the fence" because a lot of them aren't concerned about waiting for the market to drop even more. Their thinking is that prices are low enough and the selection is there to choose from. Their plans are long term as this is their primary home so their philosophy is...I'm going to sit and watch my investment accrue equity again and enjoy the tax benefits for the long term.
The rise in auctions and foreclosures have helped spur activity and also affect the downturn in pricing. But eventually when home sales start to jump that closes the gap on the downturn and a minor uptick will start to show levels on depreciation tapering off. In essence what that means to me is that the low point may be right here, right now. The only other deciding factor to that for me is that rates are going to reset again one more time. The fallout will be forthcoming and that is why I am a little reserved about predicting that this is the low point.
On top of the rate reset, Lender standards are incredibly tight and unless they loosen up and there is confidence in the credit crunch, it will take even more time to gain momentum before we see complete optimism in the Real Estate market.
As always, I will try to keep you all informed. Please don't hesitate to contact me with any questions or comments. I welcome your posts!

Housing Bill Expected for a Full Vote...

2008-07-23T18:58:00.000-07:00

Check this out:

PRESIDENT BUSH DROPS OPPOSITION TO HOUSING BILL EXPECTED FOR A FULL VOTE TODAYThe White House today said President Bush has dropped his opposition to a sweeping housing bill aimed at shoring up the nation's troubled mortgage companies and assisting homeowners facing foreclosure.The measure, which includes a federal assistance plan for the ailing mortgage giants Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, also calls for $3.9 billion to pay for grants to help local governments purchase and refurbish foreclosed properties, the component of the measure Bush opposed. Foreclosed properties are becoming a significant financial drain on local municipalities, driving down home values in nearby neighborhoods, creating blight, and impacting the cities' property tax reservoirs.The measure also would permanently increase the cap on mortgage loans guaranteed by Fannie and Freddie to a maximum of $625,000 from $417,000.

July 4th was great here in Big Bear Lake!

2008-07-06T22:05:00.000-07:00

Another beautiful day in Paradise! The Fireworks were the bomb! (no pun intended).

Business is definitely picking up! Bruce and I have been working with clients and writing offers in the last few weeks. I can tell you that Buyers are certainly in the drivers seat these days. As a Realtor, the shift from Sellers being in the drivers seat to Buyers making all the demands have been quite interesting. I am having to turn away some listings because I absolutely know that I can't sell the property at the price the Seller wants to price it. I also ask a Seller if they need to sell right now and I advise against it if they don't have to! (I tell the truth!). Sincerely if you are a buyer...This is going to be the best opportunity for you to find some excellent values. I heard a statistic the other day from Lawrence Yun (N.A.R. Chief Economist). He said that new housing starts will come back fiercely in the next 30 years. I thought, on top of that...There will be so many people on the planet exponentially over time and the earth as we know it will shrink by virtue of there being so many more people in existence. When I hear stats like that, I am so glad I live in a place like Big Bear. It's so perfect to me and literally I call it "A Jewel". When I see how perfect we have it up here I kind of realize that eventually this is going to hold so much more value in terms of where people will want to be full time. I believe there will be a shift and Big Bear will become a community with more full time retirees and will see even more "community" in the near future. I also see a need for Eco/Green awareness. We are behind the curve. Okay so I am kind of a tree hugger but not to the extent of being a radical okay? I also believe in Capitalism and that there are ways that both can exist on the planet. You are looking at a Resort market that is affected by Foreclosures, Short Sales and Some sellers are super motivated and others are just testing the market so in the end there are several factors that affect the market overall.

Summer is Kicking Off! Info on Events for July and Big Bear Boating Questions

2008-06-28T08:21:00.000-07:00

July 4th is right around the corner and did you know that Big Bear Lake is in the top 3 of all fireworks displays in Southern California? (*http://www.about.com/)

I've lived here for 18 years and I have to tell you that there is nothing more spectacular than the feeling you get whilst hanging out on the lake all bundled up on your pontoon boat with the waves lapping at the sides of the boat. The lake is lit up with boats and the fireworks are in sync with the music on 93.3 KBHR. I feel so lucky to live here in this beautiful place. That is why I share my enthusiasm with my clients. I know that this is a piece of heaven and I don't ever want to hoard it. I want to share it!

So here are the happenings in Big Bear this next month:

Events for the Month of July:
JULY 4TH-Fireworks Over The Lake-preceded by Rotary BBQ next to Marina Riviera. (909)866-4607
*July 4th-6th Independence Day Festival-carnival, arts and crafts, music, $3, under 12 free, Convention Center. (909)585-3000
*July 2nd & 3rd-PAC-”Camelot”-7:30pm/presented by CATS (909)866-4970 (shows also on 7/5-7/6,7/9,7/11-7/13)
*July 2nd-Old Miners Day Social-6:00pm/music,food,B’s Backyard BBQ on the lake, (909)866-5400
*July 5th-6th-20th Annual Zoocasion-10 am-3 pm Moonridge Zoo (909)584-1171
*July 12th-Old Miners Days/Picnic on the Lake-10am-8pm-games, vendors, activities, military demonstrations, live music, free admission, B’s Backyard BBQ, (909)585-6638
*July 12th-Old Miners Days/Miss Clementine Pageant & Old West Fashion Show-11:00 am-1:00 pm-free admission, B’s Backyard BBQ, (909)585-6638
*July 18th-Old Miners Days/Calcutta Dinner-6-8 pm, kickoff to the Old Miners Days Chili Cook-Off, B’s Backyard BBQ, (909)363-6592
*July 19th-Old Miners Days/Chili Cook-Off, games, live entertainment, Bartlett parking lot in Village next to Chamber of Commerce. (909)866-5617
*July 26th-Old Miners Days/Doo-Dah Parade 10am-11am-Main Street in Fawnskin, free, (909)878-4220
*July 26th-Old Miners Days/History Alive Chatauqua– 7 pm-Summit Christian Fellowship Church and the Big Bear Library, (909)866-5571
*July 26th-27th-Old Miners Days/Loggers Jubilee from 11am both days-competitions for all ages, numberous vendors, craftsmen and food booths, $5 or free with 2008 Old Miners Days button, kids under 12 free, Bear Mtn. Ski Resort, (909)585-9970

Frequently Asked Questions about Big Bear Boating Procedures:

*If I launch my boat can I leave my trailer by itself at the launch ramp parking lot?
No, the launch ramp parking lot is for vehicles with trailers and storage is not permitted.
*Can I stay out on the lake all night?
Yes, but you cannot sleep on your boat. Camping is not allowed. 10mph is the rule at night. Mooring balls are down by the dam to tie onto.
*Do I need a life jacket in my canoe or kayak?
Yes, under California boating law you must carry a life jacket on board and anyone under 12 must wear one.
*Are there restrooms on the lake?
The lake has two floating restrooms both are located on the North Shore, one by the observatory and the other by the dam. Both public launch ramps also have facilities.
*Are there fueling facilities on the lake?
Yes, there are three locations on the lake that offer fuel including Big Bear Marina, Pine Knot Landing and Holloway’s Marina.
Boat permit fees
Daily Permits
One Day………………………………………$15
Two Day………………………………………$25
Annual Permits
Registered Boats…………………………….$75
Non-Registered Boats……………………...$30

Keller Williams Realty and The Lighthouse Project meet Mt. Whitney

2008-06-15T20:42:00.000-07:00

Just wanted to boast and let everyone know that I climbed the highest peak in North America last week! Mt. Whitney at elevation 14, 505 ft.
The picture below right is of part of the group who was on the hike.
We had such a blast! We have been training for a few months and it was well worth it.
We camped at Whitney Portal and enjoyed a nice dinner (had a visit by a mischevious black bear who was hungry and waiting for the bear boxes to be left open so he could gnosh out) before heading out to Trail Camp the following morning.
The weather was absolutely beautiful and the Whitney Portal Campground is the best! We had a stream next to our campsite that lulled us to sleep at night. Our campsite was 003 and I highly recommend the location.
We then woke up the next day and hiked 6.5 miles up to Trail Camp. We weighed our packs on the scale at the entrance for fun. It was amazing to think of how much stuff one can carry up a mountain. I kept thinking of how John Muir probably did his hikes and then I was told that he had sherpa types and a mule to carry his stuff...hey! Where's my mule? (It was vertical all the way to Trail Camp and boy were my "dogs" tired).
After we set up camp we took off up on the slopes and practiced climbing up the ice chute with our crampons and our ice axes. It was very exhausting practice but I am really glad we did it because at 6 a.m. the next day we headed straight up the ice chute. I buried my one can of Guinness (we each got one for our backpack to celebrate the climb) in the stream bed on the switchback trail so that I could celebrate the descent with a nice cold foamy can of suds. (I'm so glad I didn't forget where I put it). LOL.
We then proceeded to head up the chute. Man, talk about high altitude and being out of breath every 5th step I took. I lived on honey, water with electrolytes and chocolate bars trying to make it up that dang ice chute. BTW: We all wore our Run Ryan Run red caps. Ryan Hall is an Olympic Athlete from Big Bear Lake that is going to the 2008 Beijing Olympics and we are so very proud of him. He is also a part of The Lighthouse Project a non profit organization whose motto is helping Big Bear promote "A Child Honoring Community" and there is a campaign to get people out to exercise and log their miles. (oops that reminds me...I need to log mine on http://www.moveamillionmilesforryanhall.com/) if you are an avid walker, hiker, runner etc...you need to go there and log them in. We are at a 500,000 miles and we want to be at a one million before Ryan gets to Beijing. (It is already growing exponentially).
After the ice chute we rested a spell, took off our crampons and bundled up with jackets and beanies and hiked to Mt. Whitney! Unbelievable views the whole hike. I could see for miles and miles. We signed the book at the top, it's all about "Carpe Diem" for me so I added a blurb and then headed back down towards camp.
On the way back down to camp, I climbed Mt. Muir which is another 14,000 footer (fourteener). There are 13 total I think that are doable in the Western States! It was loads of fun and I am so hooked. I found my Guinness and it was super tasty and cold. I did however share it with my buddies citing that I felt so thankful to be healthy and alive.
I have some blistering and sore muscles but I am ready to go conquer the next peak.
In the interim I think I'd better keep selling Real Estate and doing what I know. Work hard to Play hard. Overall, it was a huge sense of accomplishment and not what I had expected. It was better than what I had expected!

AB 2678 NUNEZ BILL DEFEATED!

2008-06-15T20:39:00.000-07:00

I am pleased to report that the AB2678 (Nunez) Bill was defeated on the floor of the Assembly this last week!
The "Call for Action" was heard and Realtors from all over the state as well as in Big Bear made their voices known to vote NO on this particular "point of sale" bill that would have been devastating the Realtor livelihood.

Congrats to all of the Realtor members who e mailed their responses in.

California Association of Realtors in Sacramento

2008-06-09T03:48:00.000-07:00

I just returned from the Sacramento spring meetings where my 'Board Team' and I; which consists of other C.A.R. State Directors Annette Karnes and Tim Brigham; newly appointed Vice President Larry Lambdin, Tyler Wood who is on Nominating Committee, Dennis Bracken who is a member of our local Legislative Committee, Janet Stevens-Moore who is our local Fair Housing advocate and our Association Executive, Marsha Burke. We met with thousands of other C.A.R. State Directors at the Capitol last week and the energy was buzzing.

My purpose for this particular blog is to inform the members of the Big Bear Association of Realtors exactly what topics are affecting us and to effectuate knowledge of what we do as their representatives when we go to these meetings. (I think some of our members think we sit by the pool with frosty umbrella drinks and spend their hard earned membership dues. I am here to say...Seriously? Are you Kidding?).
Our meetings generally start between 7 and 8 a.m., so it's time for caffeine! If you want authentic Starbucks at the coffee shop, the line is a frenzy...good luck with that. I usually make the really disgusting stuff in my room and try to flavor it down with superficial powder additives. (Sorry, just because the package of coffee says, "Starbucks" in the hotel room, doesn't mean it tastes good, okay?).
On Day One, we meet in a huge convention hall like room and are "Briefed" by our C.A.R. President and his Executive Committee on the Hot Issues that affect our members, which I will discuss in great detail. We then go to Capitol Hill and we Lobby on behalf of C.A.R. to either convince our Senators and Congressmen to "Oppose" or "Support" certain Bills that we know are coming down the pike. We actually have Region appts. at the Capitol to speak with our Senators and Congressmen in their offices (We happen to be in Region 15, which consists of Barstow, Big Bear, Desert Communities, East Valley, Rim O'the World and Victor Valley) about HOT ISSUES (Bills that will come up on the Assembly Floor) that affect Realtors on a state level.
When we are not lobbying the Capitol and getting educated about the HOT Topics and Bills, we are in breakout Committee sessions during the week. I happen to be a member of the Housing Opportunity Committee, Annette Karnes is a member of the Taxation committee, Larry Lambdin is on the MLS Committee and Tim Brigham is a member and the Vice Chair of Local Governmental Relations (I think it proper to note that Tim funds himself at all C.A.R. meetings. Crazy or Impassioned? Hmmm...Impassioned, I think, and definitely "devoid" of free, frosty umbrella drinks. He He). We attend these other meetings to gain knowledge and to bring back "Action" items that we in turn bring back at our Regional Caucuses to report to all the members. We meet in a small room with Region 15 members and we each get up and give an oral report about what "Action" Items we found to be important for everyone to take back to their membership.
Since we usually end the day with our Regional Caucuses (That particular meeting starts at 5:15 p.m. and ends between 6:30-7 p.m., sometimes later!). It's all worth it though when you see exactly how powerful we are as a Lobby!! C.A.R. rocks! I am so proud to be part of an organization of people that make things happen and are constantly looking out for mine, the members of my board and my clients best interests! Simply awesome!
*Here is where I shamelessly plug the Political Action Fund and how we as members should all be contributing to the $197!!!
Now...on to the HOT issues that I know you are interested in hearing about:
One of the hottest issues at this time that affect all Realtors and their clients is AB2678 (Nunez).
What is AB2678? It is a Bill that would require among other things, that ALL homes and commercial property in California have an energy audit at point-of-sale, and that mandatory energy efficiency investments be made. It would require a state agency to set up an audit of property that could cost initially up to $400 and ultimately will require point of sale energy retrofits that may cost THOUSANDS of dollars. We feel that AB 2678 will be ineffective by virtue of the bureaucracy involved. (I personally see this Bill as an immediate wedge that will put a screeching halt to the negotiating process for all Real Estate Sales Consultants). It will hurt home sales and we have enough problems with the subprime fallout as it is. Now to have to negotiate the costs into any real estate deal? It will take too long and will affect housing affordability. Statewide in California, housing affordability is an issue that reigns supreme. This bill will be a "monkey on our back", and will put yet another damper on closing the gap on affordability. AB2678 requires state agencies to create the "point-of sale" requirement and we have been successful thus far on a state level in not having to deal with point-of-sale issues. (Now if we can continue lobbying on a local level in the same fashion it would be ideal for every member on the mountain, toilet replacement anyone?).
Another Bill called SB1055 (Machado) is one that we would support as an Association. What is SB1055? It is a bill that if amended will eliminate the tax penalty from the "phantom" income created when lenders forgive some of a homeowner's mortgage to allow a "short" sale. (It is the difference between what is owed and what the house sells for leaving the "phantom" income which really isn't income at all). Homeowners who are already in some distress are then taxed on this "phantom" income. Instead of the two years of debt relief, C.A.R. would like for Congress to provide three years (that is the part that we would support if amended). We support SB1055 because Taxing "Phantom" income is inherently unfair. Families are already under financial duress. Taxing them on income they never see adds insult to injury.
Existing law encourages foreclosures not "short" sales. Homeowners should not be discouraged from arranging a short sale with the knowledge that they will be taxed on the "phantom" income. If so why wouldn't they let the property foreclose anyway? Sure, their credit is saved, but now they have to pay a tax penalty? It's a double edged sword. Lastly, Federal Law and State Law in this sense should be conforming and the fact that Federally it would allow three years of debt relief from 2007-2009. Currently the State is only allowing two years.
The last Hot topic of note is SB 1448 (Scott) and I won't go into too much detail with this one. It is basically a Bill that supports an increase in fines when someone practices real estate without a license. This bill authorizes the DRE to go after any unlicensed individual that engages in real estate activity without a license. Ironically the DRE's authority only extends to current licensees under the DRE AND District Attorneys generally aren't incentivized to go after these people because they have NO access to fines let alone maximum fines to work with! Who wants to work for free, right? (Oh wait, I'm a real estate agent, it happens all the time! LOL). I can't say that I blame them. Now they can actually make some money by going after these unlicensed people and we all know that unlicensed practice is a problem...too many buyers and sellers have been taken advantage of and it makes us hard working Realtors who are totally ethical look bad.
All in all, it was a very informative week at the Capitol (sorry if I was verbose about the HOT topics, it's just that they are super important) and I am looking forward to bringing back the hot issues to my membership and at the board meeting this coming Friday.
To end this blog post, I want to recommend a couple of local places that we visited for dinner. (After our long arduous meetings we were "mentally fried" and starving, and here are a couple of places that were recommended by locals).
One of the best restaurants in Sacramento is "Ella's". The food was sublime and the atmosphere was kind of "ethereal" with the flowing drapes and very "Metropolitan Home" as best I can describe. They have these great 'small' plates for people who don't want to eat alot and I am a sucker for gnocchi (which was on their small plate menu) so I tried it here and it was "deeelish". Cocktails were a bit pricey but they did have a great wine list. Ella's was a nice end to our trip. The chef/owner was very personable and he stopped by our table conducting "quality control" and chatted with us.
You can also check out the "Delta King" which is located right on the river in Old Town Sacramento. It is an old Riverboat Ship that is permanently moored and although offers fairly decent food and good atmosphere, I probably wouldn't choose it as a destination restaurant, especially if you are a "foodie" like myself. For a "group" though, it will do.
And lastly, there's "P.F. Changs" a national favorite. We had "Family Style" where we shared various different Chinese food dishes (my Cantonese mother doesn't call this "real" Chinese food by the way but who cares, it's tasty!).

Lawrence Yun, Chief Economist for N.A.R./Capitol Sights/Realtors Rule

2008-05-23T16:12:00.000-07:00

Lawrence Yun who is the Chief Economist for N.A.R. spoke at the National Association of Realtors conference in Washington, D.C. when I was there and I got a shot in the arm after hearing him speak. I was equally impressed with the fact that contrary to the data that the media is using to report their Real Estate news; there are many areas in our country that are not experiencing any price declines whatsoever.

Apparently mass mainstream media for some reason uses what's called a Case-Shiller home price index to report their news instead of the figures that NAR or Bear-Stearns provides (which ironically are saying the same thing; that the second half of 2008 will eventually upturn and that this will be just a blip on the radar). Apparently the Case-Shiller numbers are more "drama"tic so they fare better with the media. I wouldn't exactly call the Case-Shiller numbers "news that's fit to print" however, statistics can always be skewed and manipulated to our favor so I guess the #'s are all relative.
I will post a link to N.A.R.'s economic outlook below so that you can actually read it in Lawrence Yuns words. Here you go...(Click here)
To back up what he is saying I can honestly say that a lot of the people who are jumping off of the fence are investors who are our clients from the banking and lending industry...now go figure? Do you suppose they know something that we don't?

Also...I didn't get a chance to talk "Tourist" and about how "FABULOUS" Washington, D.C. is! Wow! What an incredibly powerful, historical, cultural town with lots of unbelievable architecture and super educated peeps that are definitely on their game when it comes to politics.
The highlight of my trip was visiting Capitol Hill where I spoke to Jerry Lewis our House Rep from Redlands and his fine staff. They gave us the royal treatment! (a tour of the White House and underground on the shuttle from Jerrys office to Capitol Hill where Tamara gave us the grand tour) and I also of course visited Jefferson Memorial, Lincoln Memorial, The Vietnam Memorial (you simply cannot be unemotional in the presence of this ominous, granite edifice), The Reflecting Pools and also Washington Memorial and The Mall at night where I took lots of pics and e mailed them to all my favorite peeps.
I had an awesome dinner on my last night in D.C. at a place called Charlie Palmer's! The atmosphere was amazing as well as the food. Yum! It's located about two blocks from Union Station and I highly recommend it if you are ever in D.C. and you want to leave with a good meal under your belt. (Just forget about the carbs for this one meal...because I highly recommend the gnocchi!).
So...even though our meetings lasted most of the day, I did manage to get in some of the sites at night. Between the time change and the long days, it was tough rolling out in the a.m. but in the end it's all part of my job as the President of the Big Bear Association of Realtors and I've got a lot to tell my colleagues at the next board meeting.

I really have to say, Realtors Rule! We are such a huge lobby and are so very admired internationally in our industry, and that was very apparent while on Capitol Hill. The National Association of Realtors really stands apart. We really do set the standards for excellence, and what I am proud of the most is that we really do have significance! Something that I brought back with me even amongst the knowledge of National Repositories and Statewide MLS's is that Real Estate is ALWAYS local. It is up to us to excel in our profession and to offer a value to our clients.
Even with the information superhighway at consumers fingertips, they will need someone who is local, knowledgeable and most importantly ethical when they seek representation. No amount of information on an internet website can compare to superior services by a LOCAL representative.
Until my next blog...Get off the fence and buy some Real Estate! The time is NOW! :-)

Blogging from Washington D.C.

2008-05-15T10:24:00.001-07:00

Okay, actually that first blog was a guinea pig test...if you will.
I was asked by a panel of experts at the National Association of Realtors who were offering us the opportunity to utilize blogs and social networking to be the person that "creates" a blog in front of the rest of the class. Here is what ultimately transpired from that.
They truly are wizards in their field and hopefully with some tweaking and some time (that should be the interesting part), I will be able to help my clients stay in touch with the pulse of Real Estate in Big Bear. I have some fascinating statistics that I will also be sharing about the economic outlook for real estate across the nation.
I will definitely be blogging about my trip to Washington D.C. as well. I went to Capitol Hill yesterday and met Jerry Lewis and his staff.
Marsha Burke (our Big Bear Association Executive) also came with and we were given the "Top Secret" tour of the Capitol Bldg. as well as a tour of "The White House".
More later...I'm heading out to another interesting class/meeting. I'm bringing back lots of great information for my buddies and clients out there who want to know what the heck is really going on in the marketplace. Until then...

Hello World!

2008-05-15T07:17:00.000-07:00

Hi Everyone
I'm in Washington at N.A.R. and getting my "learn" on...