How to Make Your Lake Arrowhead Listing Stand Out on Zillow, Realtor.com & Redfin

by Theresa Grant

How to Make Your Mountain Home Stand Out on Major Home Search Portals

By Theresa Grant, Real Estate Broker | Team Owner | Theresa Grant & Associates Real Estate Partners

Inviting Lake Arrowhead mountain home at sunset with stone accents, flag, trees, and a long driveway leading to the front porch.

Online is the new “front door” for Lake Arrowhead, Crestline, Running Springs, and Big Bear buyers. Before anyone ever drives up the mountain, they’re scrolling Zillow, Realtor.com, Redfin and more—deciding which homes are worth braving the curves for. The good news? With the right strategy, your listing can rise to the top of their must-see list.

Quick Takeaway: A standout listing in the San Bernardino Mountains combines strategic pricing, scroll-stopping photos, keyword-rich descriptions, and complete, accurate details that today’s buyers and search algorithms both love.

1. Start With Smart Pricing and Strong “Above the Fold” Info

Most buyers filter by price first. If your home is significantly overpriced for the Lake Arrowhead or Crestline market, your listing may not show up in their filtered results at all.

- - - - Price based on recent local comps, not just what you “hope” to get
        
        Be mindful of common breakpoints ($499,000 vs. $505,000, etc.)
        
        Make sure your list price matches across all portals

Then, nail the first screen of the listing—what shows before a buyer scrolls:

A compelling main photo
Accurate bed/bath/square footage
Mountain community clearly identified (Lake Arrowhead, Twin Peaks, Blue Jay, etc.)

2. Invest in Photos That Capture the Mountain Lifestyle

On the portals, your photos are your first showing. Dark, crooked, or cluttered shots send buyers scrolling past your home.

For San Bernardino Mountain properties, highlight:

Big-picture shots: front exterior, decks, views, trees, lake peeks
Lifestyle spaces: fireplaces, game rooms, hot tubs, level parking
Seasonal realities: snow-ready access, road approach, storage areas

Professional photography (and sometimes twilight photos or light staging) can dramatically increase clicks and saves—especially for unique homes in Lake Arrowhead and Big Bear.

3. Use Keyword-Rich, Human-Friendly Descriptions

Portals use your description text in their search and recommendation algorithms. Write for humans first, but don’t waste the opportunity to include relevant phrases. For example:

“Lake Arrowhead cabin with lake rights and level-entry parking”
“Crestline home near Lake Gregory with fenced yard”
“Running Springs mountain retreat close to Highway 330 for commuters”

Avoid all caps and buzzword soup; instead, clearly explain what makes living in your part of the mountain special—proximity to trails, the village, snow play, or the lake.

4. Complete Every Data Field the Portals Offer

Major portals reward complete listings. That means:

All property details filled in (lot size, year built, HOA info)
Energy or system upgrades (dual-pane windows, newer roof, generator)
Accurate school, zoning, and parking information where applicable

A fully completed listing not only performs better in search, it builds trust with buyers who are comparing your home to others in Rimforest, Blue Jay, or Twin Peaks.

When I prepare a listing for the portals, my goal is simple: make sure that when a buyer filters for homes in our mountain communities, your property jumps off the page and earns an in-person showing. If you’re thinking about selling in Lake Arrowhead, Crestline, Running Springs, Big Bear or the surrounding communities, reach out and we’ll build an online listing strategy tailored to your home and your goals.

Theresa Grant, Realtor Theresa Grant is a Real Estate Broker in the San Bernardino Mountain Communities and the Real Estate Columnist for the Alpine Mountaineer Newspaper. She can be reached at (909) 442-1345.