Mammoth Lakes CA Real Estate Blog

Mammoth Mountain announced earlier this month that it acquired Big Bear Mountain Resorts for $38 Million.  The Mammoth Mountain real estate acquisition includes: Snow Summit, Bear Mountain, the parking lots, golf course and driving range on over 140 acres.  With this purchase, Mammoth Mountain announced the creation of the “Cali4nia Pass”, which includes access to all four areas owned by the ski operator: Mammoth Mountain, June Mountain, Snow Summit and Bear Mountain.  This multi-mountain structure is similar, but on a much smaller scale, to Vail Resort’s “Epic Pass”, which recently acquired Park City, Utah for $183 Million. 

Since Starwood Capital Group LLC purchased Mammoth Mountain ski area in October 2005 for $365 Million, the Mountain has gone through major upgrades including: Several high-speed lifts, renovations and enhanced dining options at Canyon, Main, and McCoy on-mountain stations, and plans to add a permanent lodge to the Eagle Express area – home of the future “Eagle Lodge”. 

Back in 2005, Starwood stated that they didn’t have long term plans to own the ski area and operations, and they would most likely sell in seven years.  Nine years later, the question becomes, what is Mammoth Mountain really worth?  Certainly not $365 Million….  Many were surprised to hear of Mammoth’s acquisition of Big Bear...

Mammoth Real Estate  | Active Bank-Owned Properties on the Market

As of September 21, 2014, Mammoth Real Estate has a total of 6 REOs (bank-owned properties) listed for sale in Mammoth Lakes.  To view current bank-owned properties in Mono County that aren't yet listed for sale, click on this RealtyTrac link.  Although there is a substantial amount of bank-owned properties, which aren’t on the market yet, the banks are holding onto their inventory of REOs and releasing them for sale a few at a time.  As the market continues to show signs of improvement and a steady increase in property values, the trickle of REOs/bank-owned properties will continue to appear. 

Aspen Creek #308 REO | $224,900.  This bank-owned condo at the Aspen Creek condos complex is located adjacent to the Juniper Springs Lodge Resort in the building closest to the ski slopes.  Aspen Creek #308 is a 1-Bedroom & loft, 1.25-bath condo, with 1,079 square feet, and assigned underground parking for 2 cars.  The unit has some upgrades, such as slate tile floors in entry, kitchen and deck, closet built-ins in loft closet.  This unit is in great condition, and with 95 days on market, can be a great buy for someone looking to be at or next to the ski slopes in this price range.  This listing has been reduced in...

Why Use VRBO.com?

Why use VRBO.com (Vacation Rentals by Owner) as a renter or a property owner?   The answer is quite simple: The variety of choices, user-friendly searches with large photos and descriptions, along with increased revenue potential for property owners is making this "do it yourself" vacation rental portal a more attractive option for both renters and property owners alike.

It appears that renters like the format that the VRBO.com system offers.  It’s sort of a “catch all” for a variety of different properties in all areas, shapes, sizes, and price ranges.  People tend to be visual creatures, and like browsing through the wide variety of property choices displayed with the easy to use format on VRBO.com (property list results with large photo on the left, clear marketing title of the property, and price range).   

The growing popularity of VRBO.com is becoming somewhat of the “Google” for vacation rentals.  I’m finding that more and more clients, who are looking to buy property in Mammoth, tend to use VRBO to find a...