Big Bear lakefront real estate remained strong by ending the first half of the year with yet another sale.

38634 North Shore Drive, a bank owned 2 bed, 1.75 bath, 1404 square foot lakefront located in Fawnskin, listed originally last October for $428,000. The price reduced to $319,900 over time and eventually sold this week at $315,000. The sale was financed with a conventional loan.

Although technically a lakefront per the Big Bear MLS definition, one has to cross highway 38 (North Shore Drive) to get to the property's boat dock, as the owner of this property is also part owner of a tiny sliver of land between the highway and the lake which allows one to have dock rights. Because of this unusual arrangement, the selling price is lower than that of a traditional lakefront. Also affecting value is the necessity to climb a significant number of steps to access this property.

Looking at the first half of 2012, the Big Bear real estate market has ended with 15 lakefronts having sold over the first 6 months of the year. 2011 saw only 6 lakefronts sell over the first six months and only 16 total over the course of all last year.

Looking back to 2003, the first complete year that the Big Bear MLS kept online data, you'll see that the only year starting stronger than 2012 was 2005, which was not only the height of the market but also was the spring in which the lake filled from 17 feet below full to just 2 feet from full.

Take a look.

Big Bear Lakefront Sales Through July of Each Year

With the strongest start to Big Bear lakefront sales in 7 years and the second strongest in the 10 years, it appears that we may have found the turn around in the Big Bear lakefront real estate market we've been waiting for. As I have often said, nobody has a crystal ball. But the numbers are sure indicating that a change is taking place. Only time will tell is this trend will continue.