The Big Bear Valley has had several storms visit leaving a base of one to two feet on the slopes. The daytime temperatures will range from the mid-30's to the mid-40's. Conditions are cold enough to maintain machine groomed packed powder runs at the Resorts. Other types of snow play on the mountain include inner tubing at the Alpine Slide west of the Village or Big Bear Snow Play across from the Convention Center. If you're looking for less demanding excitement during the holidays, head into Big Bear Lake's … [Read more...]
Winterizing Your Big Bear Home – Part Two
December 16, 2011 by Leave a Comment
Heat, Gas, and Electricity Heating Systems Most experts advise against turning the heat completely off - for two reasons. First, the winter air brings condensation that can cause mildew and dry-rot. Second, the freeze and thaw will add undue stress to your home and has been known to crack foundations. Install a thermostat that can be set to 40 degrees and make sure you’ve sealed all potential air leaks throughout the home. Natural Gas and Propane Even though you need gas for the heat, you can turn off the gas to … [Read more...]
Winterizing Your Big Bear Home – Part One
December 14, 2011 by Leave a Comment
Big Bear’s been hit with a blast of artic air and overnight temperatures have dropped into the single digits. If you haven’t done it already, it’s time to winterize your Big Bear home and avoid any costly damage that can occur when the temperatures drop. Here are a few tips for protecting your mountain home during the winter months. Water Supply and Plumbing Besides wrapping your pipes and insulating your home, there are several things you can do to protect your property from freezing temperatures. If you do … [Read more...]
Big Bear Looks Like Christmas
December 7, 2011 by Leave a Comment
Big Bear looks like a Christmas card thanks to a recent snow storm that blanketed the valley with almost a foot of new snow - and the timing was perfect. Snow Summit and Bear Mountain have opened up most of their runs and lifts, just in time for the holidays. The Big Bear winter season is off to a great start. Let’s face it, whether you like it or not, Big Bear is a tourist town. As much as the locals may complain about the traffic and the crowds, most of us probably wouldn’t be here if not for the fact that Big … [Read more...]
Big Bear Lake Holidays
November 29, 2011 by Leave a Comment
Big Bear is a wonderful place to be over the holidays. There’s something special about being in the mountains this time of year. The pine trees, the snow, the fresh air, and the festive spirit of the season all combine to create a true winter wonderland – and we’re in the middle of Southern California! The village was the place to be Friday night. Santa, Mrs. Claus, and Rudolph showed up to celebrate the lighting of the Christmas tree and sing a few carols with the locals. It’s common knowledge that Mr. and Mrs. … [Read more...]
Big Bear Real Estate Buyers – Time is of the Essence!
November 22, 2011 by Leave a Comment
Click here if you cannot see the video above. The standard real estate contract for the state of California includes a clause that says, "Time is of the Essence." Essentially, this means that the parties to the contract need to perform according to the timelines laid out in the contract or they could otherwise be in breach of the contract. It appears to me that a lot of buyers, and many agents, seem to totally ignore this clause. It is pretty common for most escrows to be delayed 1-2 weeks or more. It is … [Read more...]
Insuring Your Big Bear Vacation Home
November 21, 2011 by Leave a Comment
Finding and maintaining the correct property and liability insurance for your Big Bear vacation home can be a challenge. Most vacation properties are located in high risk areas such as low-lying beach towns or in national forests and that alone can make finding insurance difficult. Add into the equation that the property may be rented on a part-time basis and things can get really complicated. Here are a few basic rules to follow to help protect you and your property from insurance nightmares. Rule One - Honesty Is … [Read more...]
Real Estate – Female Buyers
November 18, 2011 by Leave a Comment
The National Association of Realtors estimates that 18% of all new homes bought are by single women, representing the fastest growing segment in the real estate market. The Joint Center for Housing says the reason for this is; the desire to own a home, a need to change the home size, or to be closer to family, job or school. Three out of four new home purchases are under $200,000, and single women are looking for two or more bedrooms. While location and quality of neighborhoods takes on a higher priority, single … [Read more...]
Real Estate: Second Homes
November 17, 2011 by Leave a Comment
The message delivered to the 2011 Realtors® Conference & Expo over the weekend was, “A diverse set of buyers and property types comprise the second-home sector and opportunities for second-home buyers exist in nearly every market, even in nontraditional, non-resort markets.” Many people investigating the real estate market in Big Bear are looking for getaways close to home. Your second home is an investment that should be carefully analyzed. Ask yourself the following questions: Do you plan to use it for … [Read more...]
Big Bear Real Estate – Sales Update Thru October
November 16, 2011 by Leave a Comment
Big Bear Real Estate Market Update The Big Bear real estate market is still moving along in a catfish-like manner. It goes up, down & side to side with no clear direction of travel. One thing's for sure, every month is different right now. Sales were up 14% in October compared to the same month last year but prices were down 9% and 14% for the median and average sales prices respectively. Below is a real estate market update for Big Bear thru October 31, 2011. Year # of Homes Sold Median Sales … [Read more...]
