We had the wonderful marathon weekend before last and this last weekend the Octoberfest began and will run into late October. There is always something going on in Big Bear, you can count on it!

The weather is great with a little hint of fall in the air. The trees are beginning to turn color already and the pine nuts are falling from the trees everywhere! I think that Big Bear is the closest you can get to New England at this time of the year without taking that long trip! Our colors are specular in the mountains!

Surly, you have seen the news and read the papers about the housing market. Mostly it's gloom and doom but we aren't accepting that because we are selling houses! Our little resort area is doing rather well considering all the turmoil in the media! The unreal market we were in for 5 or 6 years has gone and now we have an opportunity to come back to a more normal market. Yes, there are problems such as the bad sub-prime loans, foreclosures, and some shaky stock brokerages as well as a few banks but everybody is not in default! To listen to the news one would think every other property owner is walking away from their home! Most property owners are doing the right thing and paying their bills every month as they always have. I have heard many agents around the country say that if the media would talk about something else more buyers would be buying. Because of fear many good solid buyers are afraid to venture into the market and that is a shame!

I remember in the 1990's when we had the Savings and Loan scandal and the foreclosures mounted. The learned predicted gloom and doom once again! We survived that market and guess what happened? Housing values doubled, tripled and quadrupled since then! The bright side of this issue is that our property values have fallen a bit but they are much higher than they were in the '90's. We will never see those prices again! If you currently own real estate and you don't plan to sell it any time soon then it doesn't matter if it lost a little value, you aren't selling now!

I am bullish on real estate and I am bullish on Big Bear! Real estate is by far the best investment one can make for the long term. It is a great investment for your future retirement, to rent or to hold for your children. I think it was George Washington, that said "buy property and leave it better than you found it"! It sounds like George was the original house flipper! I wish I could buy everything I see on the market but that is not possible. I love real estate and I find myself remodeling every house I enter. I just can't help it! Real estate has been very good to me through the years, all because I took a chance, a risk and I stuck my neck out! That is why when you buy property you will be the one that reaps the profit, not the guy who got cold feet!

If you are thinking about selling your Big Bear property this is an excellent time. If you are thinking about buying in Big Bear NOW is the TIME! The window of opportunity for either is open right now...we never know what is in the future!

Big Bear Marathon

Today began the pre-show for the first annual Big Bear Marathon! I am sure you know that, Ryan Hall, of Big Bear competed in the Olympics last month in the marathon and came in 10th in the world. Now Big Bear has its own 26.2 mile race and it will be run tomorrow, Saturday September 6th.

Today, booths were set up at Snow Summit at the foot of the slopes. Lots of give-a-ways, food, information, runners, walkers and bikers signing up! Century 21 Bonnie Blue had a booth there, too. We were giving away lip balm and, of course, real estate information as well. The booths will all be moved to Pine Knot Avenue in the Village tomorrow and we will be there handing out great information about our beautiful valley called Big Bear.

I hope you are already here and plan to be in the race but if not perhaps you want to take a drive up and enjoy the festivites. Temperatures are pleasant and there are a few clouds but conditions are terrific. I hope to see you here this weekend!

Labor Day Weekend

It was officially over at midnight, September 1st , the last holiday of the summer of 2008! We had a nice holiday weekend except for some clouds and a little rainy weather. It turn cold on Sunday and clouds rolled in over the dam, but the wind kicked up and blew the clouds away. There were garage sales, fairs, open houses and lots of water sports. There were many visitors to the valley. I drove around the lake and through several neighborhoods just to see what was happening!

Here I am in my little Scion XB at Division and the airport runway. People were fishing and walking and the birds were at the water's edge. I stopped to snap a picture of a plane taking off. It is in the sky to the left top of the picture. See it? Do you see the guy at the water line? He is spearing carp with a bow and arrow!

I drove over to Baker's Pond which has been re-named to Stanfield Marsh. I walked on the bridge and back. The traffic along the road was totally backed up so I guess there really were a lot of people up for the holiday.

The sky was beautiful with the white thunderheads, wildflowers were blooming and the air was just a little cool reminding us that fall is in the air. Big Bear is such a terrific place to live or vacation! It is a sleepy little town but it has so much down to earth realness! Nothing plastic here just the way life should be...uncomplicated!.I hope you got to come up this weekend and enjoy yourself. If you didn't come up soon. If you want to buy a cabin here so you can enjoy all the things Big Bear has to offer call me, I can help you find a great get-a-way!

Above, on Baker's Pond no motorized boats are allowed. This marsh area is a wildlife sanctuary and the birds flock here from all over the country! When you have a chance walk on the bridges and check out the birds! It is a very lovely spot to enjoy nature.

Below is a view of the bridges and the west end of the marsh looking towards the dam. There is nothing like getting back to nature. In Big Bear if you just get a few blocks north of the highway or south you will be in the forest. We are surrounded by National Forest. The last of the wildflowers are blooming in the forest right now! So, take the time and walk through the forest! It brings everything into prespective. Life is good in Big Bear, come on up and take a look! BB

This picture of the bridge, the lake and the mountains really gives you the flavor of Big Bear.