What do you look for in a house that you want to call your own? Do you need the conveniences and location of city life? Are you willing to trade out one or two of the available services for alternatives further from town? If your future home is in the city, water, sewage, natural gas and electric services are provided to the house. Your services are ready for you. You just need to "plug in". Contrary to humorous belief, the majority of the Big Bear area has all these services readily available. Then again, the … [Read more...]
New “App” for Home Improvement Projects
March 13, 2013 by Leave a Comment
If you’ve been considering a remodel project for your Big Bear cabin or home, and just don’t know where to start, there’s a great new “app” available - and best of all, it’s free. Zillow Digs, launched by Zillow.com, is hoping to corner some of the social media market share that houzz.com and pinterest.com have in the virtual real estate world. Zillow.com is the website that allows visitors to get an estimate (or as it’s called on the site, "zestimate") on the value of homes. Zillow helps homeowners, buyers and … [Read more...]
5 Tips to Increase Real Estate Values in Big Bear
March 11, 2013 by Leave a Comment
Here are a few projects that can add resale value to your Big Bear home. Energy efficient green-technology projects will benefit your lifestyle, save you money, and increase your home’s overall value. 1.) Solar Arrays Solar energy is perfect for residents of Big Bear. The Big Bear area enjoys 310 days of sunshine a year. The average cost of installation is $30,000 before tax credits and rebates. You can expect a 30% rebate from the federal government. The rebate from the State of California depends on your … [Read more...]
Routes to Big Bear
February 18, 2013 by Leave a Comment
We kind of have a saying in Big Bear, "No matter which direction, it takes about an hour from the bottom of the mountain to get up the hill." In essence, this is true. There are only 3 roads that lead to Big Bear Lake. Just remember, the 18, the 38, and the 330. These are Big Bear's access numbers. Each is the route number, from different directions, that will take you to our mountain paradise. Most drivers coming from the Los Angeles area, tend to use the 330 through Running Springs. You'll notice the "Mountain … [Read more...]
Big Bear Lake Faces a Crisis
February 17, 2013 by Leave a Comment
– And Comes Out Stronger – Like the rest of America, the residents of Big Bear were glued to their television sets as a madman went on a rampage throughout Southern California. The difference, of course, is that this drama suddenly began unfolding in our own backyard. When I first heard that Christopher Dorner’s pick-up truck was sighted in the hills between Bear Mountain and Snow Summit, I was sure it was a hoax. This sort of thing doesn’t happen in Big Bear - we’re safe up here. We feel insulated from this sort … [Read more...]
Reduce Big Bear Homeowner Expenses
February 13, 2013 by Leave a Comment
Maximize the current upswing in the economy and work to reduce your monthly payables. As a real estate owner on the mountain, tightening your belt will help you to reach your goals sooner and have you prepared for the “unexpected.” Ways to reducing reoccurring expenses. 1. Bundle your services. Charter, the cable access company for many people on the mountain, offers several bundling packages with internet download speeds up to 30Mbps. No contracts are required. Go through your current monthly bills. Consider … [Read more...]
Big Bear’s Icy Real Estate Neighborhoods
February 9, 2013 by Leave a Comment
The majority of housing in the residential area of this mountain community is situated along the lake on the north facing slope of the valley. There are lots of towering trees that keep things cool year round. Prevailing winds, rain and snow generally come over the dam and along the lake from the west. If you have a chance, while making a decision on where to live in Big Bear, drive through the neighborhoods after we've received a few inches of snow. Your choice of convenience, balanced with utility, will help you … [Read more...]
Reducing Cold Weather Energy Costs
February 7, 2013 by Leave a Comment
Even in sunny Big Bear, California, the temperature can drop below freezing and that means you need to take time to make sure that your home is energy efficient for the cold-weather season. Perhaps the biggest waste of energy is when heat escapes through leaks in windows, doors, fireplace dampers, ducts, wires, and pipes. This is pretty common in older Big Bear cabins and homes. A well-sealed home is an energy-efficient home that can save you as much as 10 to 15 percent on your heating bill. To make sure your home … [Read more...]
Protecting Your Real Estate Investment – Frozen Pipes
February 5, 2013 by Leave a Comment
Big Bear... was hit with a cold snap earlier in January and the ever present problem of frozen pipes reared its ugly head throughout the valley. I made the rookie mistake of leaving my hoses attached to the outdoor faucets and woke up to frozen pipes. Fortunately, the problem was isolated to a small area of my home, but I learned from my plumber that over 40 homes in my neighborhood had been affected. Water, as we learned in school, expands when frozen. That's a problem because inside the pipes, there is no room … [Read more...]
Big Bear Facts!
January 22, 2013 by 3 Comments
There are several misconceptions the Big Bear area can't seem to get rid of. Logic and hearsay don't always come together. Until I visited Big Bear my first time, I had a few of these preconceived notions. Do any of these sound familiar? * Big Bear doesn't have electricity. I was asked this question, while the TV was blaring in the background. * Big Bear doesn't have running water. That has to be a fact because... * Big Bear's residents all live in little 1-room log cabins in the deep, dark forest. * … [Read more...]
