Pattie is correct. The best person to answer your questions is an appraiser. There are many factors, conditions, senerios, contributing elements, environmental issues, present and retro (before fire) data necessary to determine the retro (pre-fire) land value and present value (extracted from the overall market value - land and structure) and the fire's affect on values and market area that no Realtor/Agent are qualified to assess.

Wed May 7 2008, 20:58

I already see many new homes (owners rebuilding) going back up in the area you are speaking about. As horrific as the fire/s were, Lake Arrowhead is still a wonderful place to live and will continue to be. As for costs of lots: they have remained pretty much as they were before the fire in your area. Of course it all depends on the topography of the lot and VIEW. Good luck with your descision.

Wed May 7 2008, 20:21

The situation you unfortunately endured, has a temporary effect on home values in an area. In fact, I have found that it can sometimes stimulate buying activity to the area.

I am a Realtor in Lake Arrowhead, Orange County and Los Angeles County. I own a wonderful home in Lake Arrowhead and know the area very well. As well, I live and work "down the hill' in the Orange County & Los Angeles real estate areas.

When dealing with pricing, keep in mind that many of the homes on the market in Lake Arrowhead are 2nd homes to many people. In economic time such as these, second home markets sometimes take a "hit' with regards to home values.

When I work with buyers in Lake Arrowhead, I educate them about each and every property that interests them. For instance, I have access to who owns the property, how much is owed on the property, if that property is in fact a 2nd home, or the seller's primary residence, area comps, etc. All of these factors, as well as the time the home has been on the market, do factor in when it comes time for my buyers to make an appropriate offer.

When I represent sellers of Lake Arrowhead homes, a lot of the same issues factor in when correctly pricing the home for a prompt sale. Being experienced as a Realtor in the Lake Arrowhead / mountain communities, as well as the Orange County and Los Angeles areas, affords me and my sellers the maximum exposure to buyers from many different areas.

I hope this helps. Feel free to contact me if you have any questions or need first rate real estate assistance. I must say, with both pride and humility, that my success has earned me recognition as one of the "Top Producers" in sales and service world wide, with Coldwell Banker Previews International.

Hope to hear from you soon....my best to you.
Michael-Shawn O'Leary
Coldwell banker Previews INternational
310-889-4546
949-280-2190
Please Visit My Website At:
HTTP://WWW.THEOLEARYTEAM.COM

Wed Apr 23 2008, 09:33

Events like this are quickly forgotten by most. Our area is safe and wonderful .We have great fire departments and people. Our forest service is wonderful. It is a great place to live and work. It is very hard to find a better place to live anywhere in southern california. Prices are lower due to market conditons and inventory. I expect the warmer weather, more visitors will help us rebound faster than many other areas.

Sat Apr 19 2008, 05:58

Dd- I think that an appraiser could best answer your question. I am unclear as to whether you are looking to buy or sell the property.

Patti Phillips
800-680-9133

Fri Feb 1 2008, 22:29

Usually, a more open view is desired here in the mountains. Some people like a lot of trees, some people don't. that all depends on the buyer. You may have some buyers turned off by the fact that the lot has burned, but then again, this will draw in other buyers. Also, in this case, if the foundation isn't usable, to "stage" the property, remove as much of the debris that you can to make it more accessible and buildable, so buyers can see the potential in the land and the view. It would be nice to plant some trees, but then again, if you're not going to live/build there, leave that open to the new owners to do. Maybe offer some credit for purchasing new trees as a gesture.

Fri Feb 1 2008, 13:28