What a way to start 2012! 533 Cienega, an 8100 square foot, 6 bedroom, 11 bath, lakefront estate on nearly an acre sold for 3.25M. Since our Big Bear MLS starting keeping its data online in 2002, there have only been two sales over the 3M dollar mark. Both sales were this same home, 533 Cienega.
Built in 2001, this lakefront property spares no expense. Custom 13 inch Canadian log, top-end appointments, a four car carriage house garage, beautiful landscaping, and a built-in BBQ and spa over looking the lake are some basic features worth noting. If the property has one weakness, it is its location. Many buyers would consider it's proximity to Pleasure Point Marina as a drawback. The marina obstructs the kind of big lake views that most people are looking for in a lakefront location. During summertime, boating activity is at its peak and noise may certainly become an issue as well. And althought there is dredging in the area of the home for deeper water lake access, in general, it is still a more shallow water location. In years when Big Bear Lake's water levels are down, the surroundings may not be as attractive as when the lake is near full.
This property last sold near the height of the real estate market in November of 2006 for 3.5M. The fact that this same lakefront just resold for 7% less than what it was purchased for at the market's peak is encouraging. Perhaps this is an indicator that purchasers at this price point are finally moving beyond the typical buyer hesitance we've seen over the past few years and are once again willing to pay a premium for the most exclusive of Big Bear lakefront homes.