Agreed 100%. I've been watching the Big Bear City/Sugarloaf area very closely for the last few months. The prices are dropping through the floor up there and all signs are this trend will continue in the coming months/years. I fully believe that I'll be able to buy a nice place up there eventually for around $150k before too long (12-24 months). If it gets to that point, I will. I'll move up there, use it as a primary residence, run my business/practice out of there, pitch this overpopulated urban ratrace and leave SoCal to its continuing decay/collapse while I sit up the mountain an hour and a half away and enjoy myself in sustainable, affordable bliss.

That's one of my diabolical grand schemes anyway. The point here is I'm definitely watching that market, which is overwhelmingly populated with "second" homes. Very few people actually live there year-round (which is one of the reasons I like it) and it shows - the prices are getting decimated as all the note-holders from L.A. and San Fran and San Diego get their teeth kicked in on their ARM firsts.

You sure you could really live full time up there? It's Riverside with pine trees.

Yea, I'm pretty sure I could. I like the idea of being able to work from home up there, relatively undistracted and being close enough to San Bernardino/Riverside/L.A. counties where there's still a lot of work and potential clients nearby to sustain myself.

I'm pretty burned out on the "urban living" thing. Dealing with people packed in tightly, inconsiderate neigbors, noise issues, parking being a PITA, etc. If I could move to Montana tomorrow I'd do it, the problem is (1) the wife's job is here and she likes it, so I don't want to make her give it up and (2) I need to be in an area where there's a good client base, or at least reasonably close to one where I can be a viable choice for them. Worst case is if she gets sick of commuting from there we rent her a cheapo studio apt. to crash in when she gets off work. We've discussed it.

After living in urban hell of one sort or another for the last 15-or-so years, I'm about ready to get myself someplace where there's more trees than people. I'd be just fine with that. If I tired of it, I imagine in several years I could go elsewhere and still keep the place up there as a second of my own because it'd be (1) affordable and (2) I'd actually have a bit of equity in it.

Most people 5-10 years from now will have NO equity (I/O loans, ARM loans, option payment loans, etc.) I really think this might be a smart play. Looking out a few years from now - in a world where NOBODY has any meaningful equity in their properties, the guy with even SOME (me, hopefully) will be king. ;)

We got a sayin'.... goes like this:

Quote:

"Buyers are Liars"

Sounds like it wasn't all Realtor bull$hit.
Glad to hear you focused on the solution... the bottom line; "SOLD!"

Amen Rob. Bottom line as gas hits $5 a gallon and the economy tanks, which I am hardwired into. I can rest easy as I have completely circled my wagons, ready for the storm.

Mortgage Free, 100% Debt free, my only bills are utilities from now on.

Glad its over Jim.

Always make the 1st offer work, the others will be just as full of emotional turmoil. I have seen very few RE deals that did not get someone worked up.

Turn down the heat and turn off the lights.... ha, ha.
;)
Cheers!

Congrats Jim...good to hear it worked out.

Whats this BS about "make the first offer work..."

Granted, I'm not an agent by trade or choice (no offense intended...), but thats poppycock. Had I followed that advice, I'd have been less $40K, $25K, and $35K respectively on the last three properties I've sold off.

First offer has always been a BS offer.

in the land of ba$tard step children, their are always exceptions to the rule?

More along the lines of....
You're 3/3 Ice, I'm about 3/1000. What'ya gonna do?
Cheers!

Even a blind squirrel finds a nut sometimes Rob. It wasnt all wine and roses...they were PITA deals, so I was less inclined to take a lower number.

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/support/smileys/wat6.gifhttp://forums.pelicanparts.com/support/smileys/wat6.gifhttp://forums.pelicanparts.com/support/smileys/wat6.gifhttp://forums.pelicanparts.com/support/smileys/wat6.gif

I once lost over $75,000 by not accepting my first offer, fwiw.
Ha, live and learn.

Beers on you I guess ;)

You're on.

SmileWavy

Funny, the paper I have to sign in order to get the contract for sale from the realtor clearly states that I needed to sign this paper PRIOR to the realtor showing the property.

Or course, the second paper that goes with it, is the commission agreement and that has the Doe's name on it so I can understand why this was withheld until after we verbally agreed to a deal.

I am still going forward, but, it turns out I am not the chump out of town Florida guy that this realtor thinks he is dealing with, I have a good friend that is good friends with Mr. crappy realtors boss......... to be continued after the closing. :D

Crow is best eaten warm; revenge is best served cold:D

Congrats on the sale Jim! There'll be other mtn. homes waiting for ya down the road when the time is right. Enjoy the lack of stress with your newfound freedom...it doesn't suck :)!

Thank you.


Speaking of which. I have discovered the realtor and buyers have been coming and going at the house at will. He is not checking with me if its o.k. to go back he just keeps going back without even a phone call to inform me of his intent.

I think this is in VERY poor taste vacation home or not, as a matter of fact I have offered the house to some family and friends to use if they want before I move everything out in about 3-4 weeks. Suppose they walked in on my aunt sleeping in or something?

I had Procon shoot over and change the code on the lock box on the door. No more free visits.

I'd be a bit unhappy as well.

Besides being rude there are all sorts of liability issues there.

I have it covered I guess its growing? LOL!!

Rodger sent me an e-mail I'll set him up for 2 more cuts, that should do it before the closing.

Considering what you've told us about the rest of this realtor's behavior, are you surprised?

Write the Realtor's BOSS - the real Realtor - and tell them what happened and that you think it was unethical. Tell him you are bringing it to his attention first, before contacting the State Realtor Licensing Board.