Big Bear Real Estate
Erin Lanza
866-948-9378
Buyer Info
Purchasing real estate in Big Bear Lake
Erin Lanza is your comprehensive resort market real estate investment company. Through the interdependent business relationship with Big Bear Vacations, our sister company, we are the best resource to aide you in learning about and locating the ideal resort market investment purchase for you and your family. Whether you want to generate income on your Big Bear home, or simply have it for the enjoyment of your friends and family, understanding the mechanics of resort market transient income generation will equip you to make the best investment decision. There is no better company in Big Bear to help you in this specialized niche. This isn’t just a second home purchase for your enjoyment, it is a part of your investment portfolio. I respect that and have the answers you need to make an educated decision. Who you work with in resort market investing matters! Let me and my company bring the confidence you need to step into the amazing world of income generating resort property investing.
Erin’s value proposition:
Criteria – I will do an in depth interview of what it is you want in your resort market second home. Once we have that information we will look at the criteria I have come to know thru 13 years of owning a vacation rental company in Big Bear Lake. I will educate you on what criteria makes the most money in resort market transient rental. After an analysis of both lists of criteria we will be able to focus only on the properties that make the most investment sense. Remember, even if you do not intend to place your property on a vacation rental program, your cabins value IS tied into it’s income generation potential. Insert stats here
Terms – once you have found an investment candidate I will assist you in any way you need to structure the terms of your investment purchase to insure going in that you are in a strong investment starting point. Terms are the negotiable aspects of the purchase and they include everything from the offer price, down payment, and interest rate to conveyances, occupancy, and closing costs. Terms are how you maximize the financial value of your investment.
Network – any real estate investment that relies on income generation requires a tight and high functioning network to ensure income generation. I will show you what that network is from housekeeping and maintenance to marketing and technology. You will get and up close and personal look at our service focused operation. We will tour the company so you can see the operation in action. We will schedule and appointment with Jackie Garzo, our new program property manager who will give you the breakdown on how you get started and answer any questions you have.
Numbers – the numbers matter when income generation is part of the investment. While no one can ever guarantee income generation we can provide income comps and detailed information on how to maximize income potential. Big Bear Vacations will do all it can to support your success and I will educate you on what behaviors and choices you can make to support your success. There are many ways to undermine income generation and I will make sure you are aware of what those things are.
Accommodations - I understand there can be a considerable expense involve in looking for real estate in Big Bear. Whenever possible I will personally provide accommodations for you and your family while looking for your investment property. An analysis of where you are in your resort market purchase and the date of your visit must be taken into consideration. I believe it is important for an investor to experience the vacation rental experience from the renters point of view in order to understand our professional standards and set up reasonable expectations for your professional relationship with Big Bear Vacations.
Resort market investment experience – as a resort market investor with over 20 properties I am speaking from experience when I talk about investing. My family and I began our real estate careers as investors and business owners. We understand that your investment is also a business.
Investment vision – many investors in Big Bear have more than one income generating property. I will stay in constant communication with you to keep opportunities flowing your way. Whether you want to add more than one income generating property to your investment portfolio or you want to upgrade every few years until you are in that beautiful lakefront you have always dreamed of. Whatever your vision I will help you realize your dreams.
When it’s time to sell – face to face access to 50,000 to 60,000 guests who stay with Big Bear Vacations annually makes target marketing your investment a special and unique experience when you list with me. I have aggressive and creative ways to market your home when ready to sell. No other real estate company in Big Bear has access to so many potential buyers.
Buyer TipsThese 10 Commandments home buyers must follow may seem like common sense to many. Buyers, however, can sometimes forget with all the excitement surrounding the buying of their new home. In the past couple of weeks, I have heard of two separate buyers who saw their home loan turned down, and their dream shattered, a few days before closing because they had bought furniture for their new home before it actually became their home. Both of them now have beautiful furniture with no home to put them in.
1. Thou shalt not change jobs, become self-employed or quit your job.
2. Thou shalt not buy a car, truck or van (or you may be living in it)!
3. Thou shalt not use credit cards excessively or let your accounts fall behind.
4. Thou shalt not spend money you have set aside for closing.
5. Thou shalt not omit debts or liabilities from your loan application.
6. Thou shalt not buy furniture.
7. Thou shalt not originate any inquiries into your credit.
8. Thou shalt not make large deposits without first checking with your loan officer.
9. Thou shalt not change bank accounts.
10. Thou shalt not co-sign a loan for anyone.
Eight steps to buying your home
1. Decide to buy.
Although there are many good reasons for you to buy a home, wealth building ranks among the top of the list. We call home ownership the best “accidental investment” most people ever make. But, we believe when it is done right, home ownership becomes an “intentional investment” that lays the foundation for a life of financial security and personal choice. There are solid financial reasons to support your decision to buy a home, and, among these, equity buildup, value appreciation, and tax benefits stand out.
Base your decision to buy on facts, not fears.
1. If you are paying rent, you very likely can afford to buy
2. There is never a wrong time to buy the right home. All you need to do in the short run is find a good buy and make sure you have the financial ability to hold it for the long run
3. The lack of a substantial down payment doesn’t prevent you from making your first home purchase
4. A less-than-perfect credit score won’t necessarily stop you from buying a home
5. The best way to get closer to buying your ultimate dream home is to buy your first home now
6. Buying a home doesn’t have to be complicated – there are many professionals who will help you along the way2. Hire your agent.
The typical real estate transaction involves at least two dozen separate individuals – insurance assessors, mortgage brokers and underwriters, inspectors, appraisers, escrow officers, buyer’s agents, seller’s agents, bankers, title researchers, and a number of other individuals whose actions and decisions have to be orchestrated in order to perform in harmony and get a home sale closed. It is the responsibility of your real estate agent to expertly coordinate all the professionals involved in your home purchase and to act as the advocate for you and your interests throughout.
Seven main roles of your real estate agentA Buyer’s Real Estate Agent:
1. Educates you about your market.
2. Analyzes your wants and needs.
3. Guides you to homes that fit your criteria.
4. Coordinates the work of other needed professionals.
5. Negotiates on your behalf.
6. Checks and double-checks paperwork and deadlines.
7. Solves any problems that may arise.
Eight important questions to ask your agent
Qualifications are important. However, finding a solid, professional agent means getting beyond the resume, and into what makes an agent effective. Use the following questions as your starting point in hiring your licensed, professional real estate agent:
1. Why did you become a real estate agent?
2. Why should I work with you?
3. What do you do better than other real estate agents?
4. What process will you use to help me find the right home for my particular wants and needs?
5. What are the most common things that go wrong in a transaction and how would you handle them?
6. What are some mistakes that you think people make when buying their first home?
7. What other professionals do you suggest we work with and what are their credentials?
8. Can you provide me with references or testimonials from past clients?3. Secure financing.
While you may find the thought of home ownership thrilling, the thought of taking on a mortgage may be downright chilling. Many first-time buyers start out confused about the process or nervous about making such a large financial commitment.
From start to finish, you will follow a six-step, easy-to-understand process to securing the financing for your first home.Six steps to Financing a Home
1. Choose a loan officer (or mortgage specialist).
2. Make a loan application and get preapproved.
3. Determine what you want to pay and select a loan option.
4. Submit to the lender an accepted purchase offer contract.
5. Get an appraisal and title commitment.
6. Obtain funding at closing.4. Find your home.
You may think that shopping for homes starts with jumping in the car and driving all over town. And it’s true that hopping in the car to go look is probably the most exciting part of the home-buying process. However, driving around is fun for only so long – if weeks go by without finding what you’re looking for, the fun can fade pretty fast. That’s why we say that looking for your home begins with carefully assessing your values, wants, and needs, both for the short and long terms.Questions to ask yourself
1. What do I want my home to be close to?
2. How much space do I need and why?
3. Which is more critical: location or size?
4. Would I be interested in a fixer-upper?
5. How important is home value appreciation?
6. Is neighborhood stability and priority?
7. Would I be interested in a condo?
8. Would I be interested in new home construction?
9. What features and amenities do I want? Which do I really need?5. Make an offer.
When searching for your dream home, you were just that – a dreamer. Now that you’re writing an offer, you need to be a businessperson. You need to approach this process with a cool head and a realistic perspective o your market. The three basic components of an offer are price, terms, and contingencies (or “conditions” in Canada).
Price – the right price to offer must fairly reflect the true market value o fthe home you want to buy. Your agent’s market research will guide this decision.
Terms – the other financial and timing factors that will be included in the offer.
Terms fall under six basic categories in a real estate offer:
1. Schedule – a schedule of events that has to happen before closing.
2. Conveyances – the items that stay with the house when the sellers leave.
3. Commission – the real estate commission or fee, for both the agent who works with the seller and the agents who works with the buyer.
4. Closing costs – it’s standard for buyers to pay their closing costs, but if you want to roll the costs into the loan, you need to write that into the contract.
5. Home warranty – this covers repairs or replacement of appliances and major systems. You may ask the seller to pay for this.
6. Earnest money – this protects the sellers from the possibility of your unexpectedly pulling of the deal and makes a statement about the seriousness of your offer.6. Perform due diligence.
Unlike most major purchases, once you buy a home, you can’t return it if something breaks or doesn’t quite work like it’s supposed to. That’s why home owner’s insurance and property inspections are so important.
A home owner’s insurance policy protects you in two ways:
1. Against loss or damage to the property itself
2. liability in case someone sustains an injury while on your propertyThe property inspection show expose the secret issues a home might hide so you know exactly what you’re getting into before you sign your closing papers.
• Your major concern is structural damage.
• Don’t sweat the small stuff. Things that are easily fixed can be overlooked.
• If you have a big problem show up in your inspection report, you should bring in a specialist. If the worst-case scenario turns out to be true, you might want to walk away from the purchase.7. Close.
The final stage of the home buying process is the lender’s confirmation of the home’s value and legal statue, and your continued credit-worthiness. This entails a survey, appraisal, title search, and a final check of your credit and finance. Your agent will keep you posted on how each if progressing, but your work is pretty much done.
You just have a few preclosing responsibilities:
1. Stay in control of your finances.
2. Return all phone calls and paperwork promptly.
3. Communicate with your agent at least once a week.
4. Several days before closing, confirm with your agent that all your documentation is in place and in order.
5. Obtain certified funds for closing.
6. Conduct a final walk-through.On closing day, with the guidance of a settlement agent and your agent, you’ll sign documents that do the following:
1. Finalize your mortgage.
2. Pay the seller.
4. Transfer the title from the seller to you.
5. Make arrangements to legally record the transaction as a public record.
As long as you have clear expectations and follow directions, closing should be a momentous conclusion to your home-searching process and commencement of your home-owning experience.8. Protect your investment.
Throughout the course of your home-buying experience, you’ve probably spent a lot of time with your real estate agent and you’ve gotten to know each other fairly well. There’s no reason to throw all that trust and rapport out the window just because the deal has closed. In fact, your agent wants you to keep in touch.
Even after you close on your house, you agent can still help you:
1. Handle your first tax return as a home owner.
2. Find contractors to help with home maintenance or remodeling.
3. Help your friends find homes.
4. Keep track of your home’s current market value.
Attention to you home’s maintenance needs is essential to protecting the long-term value of your investment.
Home maintenance falls into two categories:
1. Keeping it clean: Perform routine maintenance on your home’s systems, depending on their age and style.
2. Keeping an eye on it: Watch for signs of leaks, damage, and wear. Fixing small problems early can save you big money later.
Creating your home wish list
Before the home search begins, your real estate agent will want to know as much as possible about the features and amenities you desire. To help your agent better serve you, analyze what you want and what you need in a home’s features and amenities.
Features:
• Age: Do you prefer historic properties, or newer ones?
• Style: Do you have a special preference for ranches, bungalows, or another style of construction?
• Bedrooms: How many?
• Bathrooms: How many? Are they updated?
• Living and Dining Areas: A traditional, formal layout, or a more open, contemporary plan?
• Stories: How many?
• Square feet: How much space?
• Ceilings: How high?
• Kitchen: How big? Recently updated? Open to other living areas?
• Storage: Big closets, a shed, an extra-large garage?
• Parking: A garage or carport? Room for how many cars?
• Extras: Attic or basement?Amenities:
• Office
• Play/exercise room
• Security system
• Sprinkler system
• Workshop/Studio
• In-law suite
• Fireplace
• Pool
• Hot tub
• Sidewalk
• Wooded lot
• Patio, deck, or porch
• Laundry room
Erin Lanza - Big Bear Real Estate - 41693 Big Bear Blvd. - Big Bear
Lake, CA 92315
direct: 866-948-9378 - email erin@bigbearrealestate.com
