Second-Home Sales Reach 12-Year High in California

Sales of second homes in California rose during the summer to the highest level in at least 12 years, led in large part by increased sales of vacation properties in the Sierras and in the Lake Arrowhead-Big Bear region, a real estate information service reported.

A total of 4,376 second homes were sold in the state’s 100 most popular second-home communities during the June-to-August period, up 4.9% from 4,170 for the same period last year, according to DataQuick Information Systems.

The summer total was the highest DataQuick has in its statistics, which go back to 1988.

“When times are good, vacation homes sell well. When there’s an economic downturn, sales drop like a rock,” said Mike Ela, DataQuick president.

While some coastal and desert communities have a high portion of second-home buyers, the communities most dominated by second-home sales are in the mountains:

Community 2nd homes as % of local market

Big Bear Lake: 81.3%

Avalon: 78.3%

Tahoe City: 77.1%

Lake Arrowhead: 75.1%

Frazier Park: 72.2%

Fawnskin: 70.0%

Kings Beach: 69.0%

Sugarloaf: 68.6%

Big Bear City: 66.9%

South Lake Tahoe: 65.6%