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Mark Sobcyzk and Associates has sold in excess of $200 million in Big Bear homes over the past 10 years making us one of Big Bear's premier real estate teams.

With more than 10 years of sales, marketing and advertising experience we formed the Sobczyk Group in 2002 and teamed up with First Team Real Estate to bring our brand of service and expertise to the business of residential real estate sales in Big Bear Lake.

Earning Top Producer status our first year in operation, we have won First Team's coveted Hall of Fame Award every year since 2003. By evolving with technology and ever changing market conditions, we continue to remain at the forefront of the fast moving real estate market.

With a focus on Big Bear Lake and Palm Springs, we are committed to being the most productive, innovative, strategic and service-driven residential real estate practices in the Big Bear Valley.

Please contact us so that we may ascertain how we can help you find your dream second home, home site or market your current residence. Whether you are a first time home buyer looking for that special property to call your own, or an experienced seller seeking to optimize your net, the Sobczyk Group is ready to meet your needs- and exceed your highest expectations.

The Sobczyk | #1 in Customer Satiisfaction in Big Bear Lake | 909.289-0863

First Team Real Estate | 40717 Big Bear Blvd | Big Bear Lake, CA 92315 All information deemed reliable but not guaranteed.

April 2012 Monthly Real Estate News

AGAIN CONSISTENT is what continues for Big Bear area sales. Steady sales pending each month average over 150 to 200. If you have been thinking about purchasing or selling a home, 2nd home or investment property now is the right time!

Currently there are approximately 144 in escrow pending sales. Inventory for sale is down which drives prices up.

Pending Home Sales are now UP 13.9% over a year ago.. Last week's housing reports supported the fact there are great opportunities in today's real estate market, as long as you don't look at just part of the data and jump to conclusions.

Home Price Indices slipped a non-seasonally adjusted 0.8% for January and 3.8% from a year ago. But the seasonally-adjusted index of home prices in the 20 largest metro areas was unchanged for the month. And nine of the twenty metros showed price increases! The National Association of Realtors (NAR) expects home prices to rebound in 2012 with existing home sales up 7%-10%, to their highest level in five years.

Credit And Loans

March 2012

Capital Economics expects the housing crisis to end this year, according to a report released Tuesday. One of the reasons: loosening credit.

The analytics firm notes the average credit score required to attain a mortgage loan is 700. While this is higher than scores required prior to the crisis, it is constant with requirements one year ago.

Additionally, a Fed Senior Loan Officer Survey found credit requirements in the fourth quarter were consistent with the past three quarters.

However, other market indicators point not just to a stabilization of mortgage lending standards, but also a loosening of credit availability.

Banks are now lending amounts up to 3.5 times borrower earnings. This is up from a low during the crisis of 3.2 times borrower earnings.

Banks are also loosening loan-to-value ratios (LTV), which Capital Economics denotes "the clearest sign yet of an improvement in mortgage credit conditions."

In contrast to a low of 74 percent reached in mid-2010, banks are now lending at 82 percent LTV.

The median interest rate reduction for a 30-year fixed-rate mortgage was about 1.2 percentage points, or a savings of about 20 percent in interest costs. Over the first year of the refinance loan life, these borrowers will save over $1,800 in interest payments on a $200,000 loan.

"Consumers continue to reduce their debt, either by paying down or paying off their mortgage loan, or reducing the interest cost. Homeowners' aggregate financial-obligation ratio, which peaked during the third quarter of 2010, had dropped by the end of 2011 to a level last seen more than a decade ago, “ says Frank Nothaft, Freddie Mac vice president and chief economist

Another example of giving thought to the big picture of purchasing a home comes to us today from the Keeping Current Matters Crew. Focusing on price only may hinder your overall investment. It is more important than ever to sit down with a REALTOR that can be a true advisor for you. Someone that not only can assist with finding your dream home but can walk you through the Market Trends and do the best possible negotiations as well. So, with that said…

Will the Cost of Buying Increase Even If Prices Fall? We want to make sure our readers understand the potential impact to the cost of financing a home these changes will have. The cost of buying a home may increase even if prices continue to soften.