March brought a mixed bag for the Big Bear real estate market. While inventory continues to build and gives buyers more options, pricing softened and homes are taking longer to sell. Let’s break it down.

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📊 March 2026 Snapshot

• Number of Sales: 43 (↓ 7% vs Feb)
• Average Sales Price: $544,807 (↓ 20%)
• Median Sales Price: $455,000 (↓ 11%)
• Price per Sq Ft: $367 (↓ 3%)
• Days on Market: 168 (↑ 18%)
• List-to-Sell Price Ratio: 97% (no change)
• Active Inventory: 388 (↑ 8%)

👉 The headline: More inventory + fewer sales + softer pricing = a shifting market dynamic.

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📉 What’s Happening Right Now

March showed a noticeable pullback in pricing, especially in the average sales price, which dropped sharply month-over-month. This is likely influenced by a mix of fewer high-end sales and increased competition from growing inventory.

At the same time:

• Homes are taking longer to sell
• Buyers are negotiating more
• Sellers are competing harder

The steady 97% list-to-sale price ratio tells us homes are still selling relatively close to asking—but pricing strategy matters more than ever.

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📦 Inventory is Building (Key Trend)

We’re seeing a clear upward trend in available homes:

• Jan 2026: 338 listings*
• Feb 2026: 359 listings
• Mar 2026: 388 listings

That’s a steady climb—and a big shift from the tighter inventory we’ve seen over the past couple of years.

👉 More inventory = more choices for buyers
👉 More competition = more pressure on sellers

*Total listed inventory numbers as of the 15th of each month.

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🏡 Sales Activity by Month

Sales volume dipped slightly in March to 43 closed sales, continuing a softer start to the year compared to past peaks.

While not dramatically low, it does reflect:

• A more cautious buyer pool
• Interest rate sensitivity
• Seasonal timing (spring momentum still building)

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📊 Year-to-Date Comparison (Jan–Mar)

Compared to the same period in 2025:

• Sales: 140 vs 157 (↓ 11%)
• Average Price: $567,352 vs $605,230 (↓ 6%)
• Median Price: $450,000 vs $479,000 (↓ 6%)
• Price/Sq Ft: $373 vs $406 (↓ 8%)
• Days on Market: 146 vs 115 (↑ 27%)
• Inventory: Slightly higher (+1%)

👉 Overall: The market is softer than last year, but not dramatically—more of a normalization than a downturn.

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📈 Longer-Term Price Trends

Looking at the bigger picture:

• Prices remain well above pre-2020 levels
• The market peaked in 2022 and has been leveling off since
• 2025 saw some stabilization, and 2026 is continuing that recalibration

👉 This is not a crash—it’s a rebalancing market

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💡 What This Means

For Buyers:

• More options than we’ve seen in a while
• Less competition
• More negotiating power

👉 This is one of the better buying windows we’ve seen recently.

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For Sellers:

• Pricing correctly is critical
• Expect longer market times
• Presentation and marketing matter more than ever

👉 The “easy” market is gone—but homes are still selling with the right strategy.

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🔮 Looking Ahead

As we move deeper into spring:

• Inventory will likely continue to rise
• Buyer activity should pick up seasonally
• Pricing may stabilize as the market finds its balance

Big Bear remains a highly desirable destination for:

• Vacation homes
• Short-term rental investments
• Lifestyle buyers

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📲 Thinking About Buying or Selling?

Whether you’re looking to invest, sell, or just understand your options, we’re here to help you navigate this changing market.

👉 Reach out anytime—we’re happy to talk strategy.

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