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Hello Ron.

Thanks for the question. As a local real estate agent intBig Bear, I know the current market conditions.

Right now is definitely the best time to buy that we have seen in over 7-8 years. Inventory is not higher than this time last year but the prices are about 10-20% lower and there are more motivated sellers, short sales, and bank owned properties to chose from. Thus, it is a good time to buy.

As for the investment question, I think it will depend on the property you buy and the amount of time you plan to hold onto it. Some areas in Big Bear perform better than others (lakefronts or Castle Glen vs. Sugarloaf or Big Bear City). As for how long you hold it, if it is only for 1-3 years, I would say it is still a risky investment. If it is for 5-10 years, I would say go for it. Make sure to be clear on these two items before you go forward.

Hi, Ron:

If you find a good buy (there should be plenty) it is a good time. Only time will tell if it will be a good investment. Have you already found the cabin?

Hi there Ron, Now is a great time to buy a cabin in Big Bear lake or Lake Arrowhead too.
If you plan to hold onto it for 3-5 years , while maybe seasonal renting , it would be a sound strategy.

We have some Certified Hot buys in this area if you are interested. Some are priced very well
Kind Regards
Michael Barron
First team Real Estate
michael-barron@sbclgobal.net
(714) 552-6817

Now is a great time to buy in Big Bear. There are a lot of great buys right now. The Big Bear area real estate market seems to be picking up, but there is still plenty of inventory to pick from. I think if you are thinking of keeping the cabin for at least two to five years it should be a good investment.