This home rests on the sunny side of the Big Bear Valley in Fawnskin. It’s located on North Shore Drive (Highway 38) between the Dam and Windy Point (click the address above for a google map). The seller recently renovated this 750 square foot cottage with 1 bedroom and 1 bathroom. They installed a new roof, forced air heat, new windows, flooring, carpet, new kitchen, electrical and appliances. The lot covers 6783 square feet (51’x132’x51’x134) and it sits across from the West Boat Launch Ramp. It sold partially furnished with a private dock and a 19′ Sea Ray Boat!
It was nice. I remember previewing this home on our weekly MLS caravan tour. The views looking back at Snow Summit, San Gorgonio Mountain, and Big Bear Lake are really nice and I’m sure the next buyer will be happy with their purchase. The home is small so you are limited with the amount of sleepable areas, but you’re not going to find another home with dock rights in this price range right now.
Kitchen
Escrow closed on October 21, 2008 for $390,000. It was on the market for 36 days and the seller ended up getting 94% of the asking price of $415,000.
One might look at this sale and question how a lakefront cabin in Big Bear could sell for $390,000. I think it’s important to understand that this property was located across the street (actually it’s a highway) from the lake. It has dock rights but is not physically adjacent to Big Bear Lake. There are only a few areas in Big Bear where you must cross a road to get to your dock (parts of North Shore Drive, Willow Landing, and parts of Big Bear Blvd near Boulder Bay). This is an important distiction for buyers and sellers who are trying to “figure out” the Big Bear Real Estate Market. Comparing this property to a property over on Cove Drive is like comparing apples and oranges. That’s why hiring a local Big Bear real estate agent has it’s advantages.
List Price: $415,000
Sales Price: $390,000
List Price/Sales Price: 94%
Days On Market: 36
Sales Date: 10/21/2008
Sold Price Per Square Foot: $520
MLS Picture of DockDistance between House and Lake
This is a beautiful log style lakefront home in the middle of Big Bear Lake. Easy access and a windprotected location make this property ideal for someone who’s looking for the ultimate in lakefront living. It’s very rustic but has all the modern amenities one would expect in an upscale mountain getaway. Log accents throughout the home and large picture windows allow everyone to enjoy the panoramic views.
The kitchen has lots of knotty pine cabinets, granite slab counter tops, and newer black appliances. Very sleek with an island which doubles as a breakfast bar.
Kitchen
Boasting 3979 square feet of livable space on a sprawling 10,836 square foot lot, this home has 4 bedrooms (3 master suites) and 5 bathrooms. The bedroom shown below is just steps to the outdoor spa. Downstairs has a huge gameroom with full wet bar and a second fireplace.
BedroomView
Past Sales History:
It’s been on the market several times over the past decade. In the beginning of 2005, this property closed escrow for $2,050,000 (one of the first lakefront homes to command over $2,000,000). The owner only held onto the property for about 6 months. He upgraded the kitchen, replaced the flooring and put in upscale furnishings and resold the property on 8/5/05 for $2,500,000. ~Not a bad Return On Investment!
Currenly listed with Bert and Jeanine Hart of Mountain Lake Properties for $2,650,000(REDUCED TO $2,250,000) For more information or to schedule a private showing, feel free to call or email me. It’s always fun to see this property and I would love to help you with your mountain home search!
Over the past decade, Pine Knot Landing has been converting from a rental facility to a private ownership marina (by subdividing the fee land) and selling deeded ownership dock rights to buyers through an entity called The Dock Club. Each owner, by grant deed, owns 1/650th interest of the Pine Knot Landing Marina Facility. The slips come in a range of sizes (20′, 22′, and 24′) and are well constructed with a warranty. Pricing ranges from $65,000 to $85,000 with association dues billed semi-annually at $42/month.
The Dock Club Location in Big Bear Lake
Features and Benefits to The Dock Club:
Rental Income? You can rent or lease your slip monthly or by the season (you just need to make sure your renters carry liability insurance). Owners are required to carry $500,000 coverage on their boat.
Each dock system has a wheeled tote for moving gear out to your slip or back to the car, as well as fire suppression equipment, electrical power, water and lighting.
Private Parking: As an owner, you would receive (2) parking passes. This will ensure (2) parking places within the “members only” parking areas. This is not assigned parking, but reserved parking.
Private Facilities: There are (2) restroom buildings which are for members use only. One building has a fish cleaning station and the other has an outdoor shower unit.
Security: There is 24 hour security at The Dock Club. While there is security on staff during normal operating hours, there is also an overnight watchman. In addition to this, there is also a webcam that may be accessed from the comfort of your own home to view your boat in it’s slip. The main gate is located at the end of Pine Knot Avenue which is open during normal business hours and generally staffed. There is also a private gate that has a card key access for members.
Dock Rentals: Located inside the Pine Knot Landing Administrative Offices.
Boat Rentals: Located inside of the Valley-Wide Marine Building (I’ve rented a boat on several occasions when family came in town and it was very easy).
Fuel Dock: Expensive but available for public use as well.
Big Bear Parasail and Jet Ski Rentals: Located at the end of the jetty, this is available to the public.
Miss Liberty: The newest paddlewheel tour boat on Big Bear Lake providing guided tours for public use.
Valley Wide Marine: Full service repair and mechanical shop.
Pine Knot Landing Layout
For many, the cost of lakefront home ownership is too expensive and not justified on a part time basis. The Dock Club is a great alternative to getting on the lake. It’s relatively inexpensive, it’s close to the Village (the restaurants, the shops, the entertainment is all within walking distance of a dock slip at Pine Knot Landing), and it can be sold, rented, and transferred just like any other type of real estate.
For additional information regarding The Dock Club, or if you would like to learn about alternative methods to buying on the lake feel free to contact me, Mike Wochner.
Situated over on the north side of Big Bear Lake, this custom built 3629 square foot home recently closed escrow. Quality construction with copper color aluminum roofing, central air conditioning, and a back up generator were some of the highlights of this home. It had 4 bedrooms, 3 bathrooms, a game room loft, formal dining room, a billiards room, and a nice gourmet kitchen to entertain large groups. It sits on a level 13,750 square foot lot and had a large covered patio to enjoy the views. Built in 1992, this property sold in April of 2005 for $1,375,000. This time, the seller was asking $1,699,000.
Living Room
Escrow closed on October 15, 2008 for $1,360,000. This property was on the market for 889 days and was paid for in Cash. The vacant lot next door also closed escrow on October 15, 2008 for $600,000cash. It covered just over 10,000 square feet and can either be merged into one property, or the owner could build a separate single family residence. Both properties were owned by the same seller.
I’ve mentioned in previous posts about how the lake level fluctuates from year to year. Below is an excellent illustration of what I am referring to and visually easy to understand.
The first time this property came on the market (in August of 2004), the MWD (Municipal Water District) recorded the lake level at 56′ at the dam (or 16’4″ below full). You can tell from the photo that the lake receeded all the way out of Grout Bay towards Windy Point! My guess is that’s a good 100-150 yards back. Some properties back then had water 10′ in front of them (the deepwater lakefronts) and some had water 150 yards away from them (the shallow water lakefronts).
The second time this property came on the market (May 10, 2006) the MWD recorded the lake level at 72′ at the dam (or 4″ below full). That’s a difference of 16′ at the dam over a 3 year period!! The photo on the bottom is as good as it gets…..the photo on top is what it could look like after a couple seasons during a drought.
Congratulations to Pam Kalina for setting a Big Bear Lake record for catching a 5.9 pound largemouth bass on October 8. Kalina caught the fish off Juniper Point using a firetiger Papala. The largemouth bass was released after the weigh-in at Big Bear Marina. Pam received a gift certificate for a pontoon boat rental, an Eagle Claw road and reel, and assorted bass lures for catching the lake record fish. “Lucky Pam” has been a long time Big Bear resident and coordinates the Holcomb Valley Trail Run each year.
Most of these styles are pretty standard throughout the real estate industry, however, there are a few local terms that I thought might be beneficial to share with you. What was interesting to me was that more than half of the homes in our current MLS were placed in the wrong architectural category. I’m not throwing my local members under the bus, but I couldn’t believe how inaccurate this category ended up being under my search.
GAMBREL STYLE:
Well known for it’s barn style shape roof, there are different variations to this type of construction in our area of Big Bear. This type of home was popularized in the 1960’s and 1970’s by several well known local builders. In the 1960’s Hillcrest Construction (where Butcher’s Block is) would advertise on their lumber yard these affordable homes as a “you-finish-it” project. They would frame the house, put the windows and doors on and let the owner hang the sheet rock, install cabinets and flooring and do all the finishwork. John and Joe Voss (local builders in the 70’s and 80’s) were two of the original sales people who later made a big influence in construction in our Valley. Then in the 1970’s and 1980’s builders such as Rafferty, Looney, and Nootenboom made their living building these types of homes under speculation.
*This particular home is currently listed with Tyler Wood at Coldwell Banker. To see more photos of this home and to get specific information click here.
SIERRA STYLE:
This style of home generally has a rectangular shape to it with a steep A-frame pitch in the middle of the house, usually right above the door, for dry access during the wet seasons. This home was also built in the 1960’s by Hillcrest Construction and has a nice mountain flare to it.
MALTBY STYLE:
If you are not familiar with the Big Bear area, you probably wouldn’t recognize the term “Maltby”. This is because it is named after Gus Maltby, a local builder who used to build up here in the 1920’s, 30’s and 40’s. Some of the main features that separate this type of construction are the exterior half log siding, the local natural rock he used to make the fireplaces, large porches, and the custom cast iron lighting fixtures. He owned the Bear Valley Milling and Lumber Company and milled the log siding for all of his cabins there. He is most notably known for the Peter Pan Woodland Club, which he built and also built cabins on the land that members of the club belonged to. The term “Maltby” in our community is more commonly referred to the builder’s own style of craftsmanship and time period, not necessarily a particular shape of construction.
LOG STYLE:
Right now, this is the most popular type of construction in Big Bear because it looks like a mountain cabin. There are full log homes (which typically are more expensive to build because of the labor involved) and there are log-sided constructions in Big Bear. The log-sided homes are built just like a typical home would be built (stick frame construction), they just add log accents to make it look like a log construction. Normally the builders incorporate the Chalet style, the A-Frame style or Ranch style architecture when they build these types of homes. Builders who have specialized with the full log construction include Bruce Picciolo (Country Heart Homes), and Brad Lindley (Lindley Log Home Construction). Bob Gilligan (Gilligan Log Homes) has built more log sided homes in the valley than any other builder, but there have been dozens of other builders to specialize in this type of construction.
A FRAME STYLE:
This style of architecture is popular for vacation homes in ski resort areas so it is obviously popular in my area. This type of construction is more typical in wintery conditions because it ensures good snow melt. With the dramatic sloping roof (shaped like an “A”) it has a very distinctive style.
CHALET STYLE:
This is another popular style because of the number of vacation homes people own in Big Bear Lake, CA. The chalets are typically rectangular shaped with a fatter pitched roof than an A-frame. They generally have big lofts or second floor balconies and have exposed beams on the inside. This type of construction is also good in snowy conditions because of the ease of snow melt.
RANCH STYLE:
This type of home is noted for its long low to the ground profile. Some features might include but are not limited to: single story, retangular shaped, simple long floorplans, large windows, and low simple roof lines.
*This property is currently listed with Steve Hirschler at Coldwell Banker. For more information regarding this home click here.
CONTEMPORARY:
This type of home is not found very often in my particular area. This style is much more modern and high tech. There are many different variations of contemporary that I won’t get into. I think the picture is self-explanatory.
VICTORIAN STYLE:
This style of home was popularized by the Victorian Era and normally is characterized by multiple stories, smaller sized rooms, it usually has a turret and long sweeping covered balcony. There are many types of Victorian style homes, but this is another type of construction that we don’t see much in the mountains. I would say there are approximately 50 in our area.
I hope this has been helpful and if you have any questions or if I can help you with your mountain home search feel free to contact me.
This was a rare opportunity to own a classic lakefront cabin on nearly one acre of land (.94 acres). 90 feet of lake frontage near Inspiration Point, this home was considered a deep water lakefront. Built in 1960, it covered 1352 square feet with 3 bedrooms, 2 baths and a 2 car garage. The home itself wasn’t too impressive….but most of the value was in the land. As a matter of fact, if the new owner wants they can split this parcel into three separate parcels. One can either sell them off individually, or build on each lot and have a family compound. The seller also had plans for a 528 square foot game room in the build up area.
Closed escrow on October 8, 2008 for $1,375,000. It was on the market for 107 days and the buyer paid cash. The seller ended up getting 81% of the asking price of $1,695,000. The most interesting part about this sale is the fact that it sold in March of 2008 for $1,550,000! Apparently, the seller found another home on the same street that they liked more so they put this property back on the market.
Everyone is looking for a good value in today’s real estate market. There are properties left and right for sale but one of the problems a lot of buyers are finding in today’s market is that most of the really good deals are in not so great neighborhoods. Well…there’s a new lakefront property for sale by Countrywide Bank and it’s got what so many people are looking for. Location.
This two story property was originally built in 1922 but has seen it’s share of additions and remodels over the years. It sits on a 12,800 square foot lot and has over 100 feet of lake frontage. Located towards the point of Lagunita, it faces north east, has great lake views and comes with it’s own private dock. The inside has a lodge-style feel to it with a huge native rock fireplace, large kitchen and dining area, and a giant living room perfect for entertaining or for large families. In May of 2005, this property sold for $1,375,000 and was bought with the intention of remodeling and turning a profit. Nothing structural was done but the outside got a face lift (new siding and a new composition roof) and the inside got updated (new granite counter tops, wood/slate flooring and antique furnishings). I do like the improvements the previous owner did but it would’ve been nice to see new windows and a different kitchen layout. Don’t get me wrong, for most investors or second home buyers, this will either be a retreat or a rental and they won’t see the need for updating any more….but those were some of the comments I’ve heard from potential buyers when they walked through the property the last time it was on the market (from March of 2007 to June of 2008). The previous owner had it on the market at $2,295,000; $1,999,000; $1,695,000; and $1,575,000 before letting it go to the bank. It’s now listed with Carolyn Dalby of Keller Williams Big Bear for $1,250,000. (reduced to $902,900 as of March 23, 2009). CURRENTLY IN ESCROW.
149 Lagunita Lane in 2005
Several interesting things to note:
The square footage has been listed at three different numbers the last 3 times it’s been on the market. When it sold in 2005 the listing agent had 3,800 square feet per owner. The second time it was listed at 2,800 square feet, and now the listing agent shows the property covering 2,390 square feet. So make sure you do your due diligence and check with the City of Big Bear Lake to find out what has been permitted and what hasn’t.
This property is being sold furnished. This is not out of the ordinary for most sales in a resort market, but it is odd that no one came back to grab the furnishings/personal belongings before they lost it to the bank? Some agents that represent banks are even instructed to clean out the entire house before it hits the market. This is not a huge deal but something that could add some value to the next buyer who doesn’t want to shop for furniture and wait for deliveries. It’s more of a turn-key type of situation.
What’s Unique About This Area:
This particular area is well known for it’s central location and proximity to Lagunita Lodge. You are minutes from Snow Summit Ski Resort, the Village and grocery stores, and you are a couple houses down from Lagunita Lodge which is a popular vacation destination for timeshare owners. A high percentage of cabins in the area are on vacation rental programs.
For more information regarding this home click here. Or if you would like a current list of lakefront homes for sale in the Big Bear Lake area click here.
Directions to 149 Lagunita Lane:
Head toward Redlands on I-10. Exit Highway 30/330 to Mountain Resorts. Continue up the mountain toward Big Bear Lake, cross over the dam and proceed about 3.5 miles to Lakeview Drive. Turn left onto Lakeview Drive and make a right onto Lagunita Lane. 149 Lagunita will be on your right hand side of the street.
I’ve decided not to give my opinion on each particular pending sale because I would hate to have it affect any of the transactions positively or negatively in either direction.
Built in 1961, 3153 Square Feet, 3 Bedrooms, 2.75 Baths on a 27,700 square foot lot with Lake Views from virtually every room. Vaulted ceilings, 4 fireplaces, 3 bedrooms, a great room, den, family room and custom kitchen. Quality built-ins. High end custom windows and doors, indirect lighting, a step down bar and a custom 3 slip covered dock. Listed for $2,250,000 and sold on 10/2/2008 for $2,100,000. It was on the market for 85 days.My Opinion: This was a premium location. It was protected from the wind, you had plenty of breathing room around you (it sat on a 27,700 square foot lot), and the homes around it are consistently large which will help it hold it’s value from a comparable standpoint. Some might not have liked the layout, but you cannot deny the views and the location if you want a deep water lakefront. It is a little further from the ski slopes but owners pay a premium to be on the west end of the lake because of the depth of the water. I grade this buy an A.
This home was never in our MLS but was listed by owner for about 3 months. It was custom built in 2006 with 3 bedrooms, 3 baths, and approximately 3329 square feet just outside the Eagle Point Estates area. It sits on an 11,000 square foot lot and there is approximately 20 feet of lake frontage. The sellerwas asking $1,800,000 and it sold on 07/10/2008 for $1,675,000.My Opinion: Great newer construction in Eagle Point. Good location: close to shopping, Snow Summit and Bear Mountain Ski Resorts, the local hospital, etc…but it is not a deep water lakefront. I bring this up because our water levels vary from year to year depending on the precipitation we get. I’ve seen the lake down 18′ at the dam in drought years and I’ve also seen the lake completely full (and everything along the lake looks good when we have a full lake!). I don’t doubt the quality of construction or the convenient access to everything “in town”, but I question the price for a shallow water lakefront. I grade this buy a C-.
This is a new construction overlooking Metcalf Bay in Big Bear Lake with 4 master suites, 6 bathrooms, and a media/office/exercise room. It features an open living area with cathedral ceilings, tall windows and doors, oak hardwood floors, lots of travertine, and limestone. The bottom floor has a huge family room with wet bar and wine cellar. Listed for $1,990,000 and sold on 9/25/2008 for $1,850,000. It was on the market for 390 days. My Opinion: Nice newer construction overlooking Metcalf Bay and to the west. Great finishing touches with quality materials. I was a little disappointed with the layout. It’s very up and down with a lot of steps and it felt like the builder kept adding more rooms below because he had it left over in the build-up area. From a replacement cost, I think the buyers did fairly well, but I thought they could’ve gotten a better price. It is borderline busy in this area because you are on the cusp of seeing all of the traffic along Holloway’s Landing and Pleasure Point Marina. I would grade this buy a B-.
Refurbished 3 bedroom (or 2 plus huge game room with wet bar), 2 1/2 bath lakefront home had new paint inside and out, new flooring, a dock slip, and a 2 car garage. Built in 1981, this conventional floorplan covers 1560 square feet and sat on a 8525 square foot lot. Expansive lake views and centrally located. Listed for $875,000 and sold on 7/14/2008 for $850,000. It was on the market for 3 days. My Opinion: Decent location at a great price. This was not a deep water location, nor was it a very shallow location. Nothing too flashy about the home but the buyer was a contractor and saw the potential in buying on the lake in the mid 800’s and over time this property will appreciate because they bought it at a decent price and there’s room for improvements. I grade this buy an B+.
The Current Lake Level from the Municipal Water District as of Monday September 29, 2008 is 66’3″ measured at the dam (6’1″ below full). Last quarterly update the lake level was 4’8″ below full.
These numbers were pulled from the Big Bear Association of Realtors MLS on 10/1/2008. All information herein is deemed reliable, but is not guaranteed.
This spectacular new construction lakefront overlooking Metcalf Bay and Big Bear Lake just closed escrow. Located in the middle of Big Bear Lake, this property features an open living area with cathedral ceilings, tall windows and doors, with lots of travertine, limestone and knotty alder doors and trim throughout. There are 4 master suites, 6 bathrooms, and a media/office/exercise room. Three floors….so if you don’t like steps this isn’t for you. But on the bottom floor, there is a huge family room with wet bar with wine cellar, wine fridge, and trash compactor. Top floor has a large kitchen open to the living room, loaded with high end appliances….a 6 burner/griddlecook-top, 48″ Viking Range, Double Oven, etc.
This property had deeded dock rights. The boat dock was not included at the sale, which means if the new owner wants to enjoy the lake they must apply for a dock slip at the Municipal Water District. The MWD will walk you through the process of obtaining a dock slip and making sure you comply with local restrictions with respect to dock size, where it can be placed, etc.
Closed Escrow on September 25, 2008 for $1,850,000. This property was on the market for 390 days. The list price started at $2,950,000 when the market was hot, and the owner dropped the price down to $1,990,000 before putting it under contract. The seller ended up getting 93% of the asking price after chasing the market down. This was a classic case of an owner who got stuck holding onto a property too long and saw the market shift in front of their eyes.
What some people might not know about this property is the fact that another home was torn down in order to build the 4960 square foot current structure. The original cabin was a chalet style home built in 1967 with 4 bedrooms, a den and 3 baths. It was bought in December of 2003 for $725,000 before they tore it down. Here’s a photo of the original home when Tim Wood of Coldwell Banker Mountain Gallery Realtors had it on the market.
The Old 39569 Lake Drive
If you are interested in learning more about the lakefront market in Big Bear remember to contact Mike Wochner. I would love to help you out.
