If you purchased a home in Big Bear during the summer months you probably weren’t thinking about things like blowing and drifting snow or sheets of ice around your property. The sun is slowly sinking to its lowest point in the sky and many areas will be shaded by trees or mountains for a large part of the day. Some winters will have snow storms one after the other. Other years can be super dry with hardly any snowfall. No matter what the forecasters say, we just don’t know what will happen until it happens. While … [Read more...]
California Fire Prevention Fee Hits Big Bear Homeowners
November 3, 2012 by Leave a Comment
Property owners in the un-incorporated areas of the Big Bear valley, and throughout California, started receiving bills from the California Board of Equalization last week that has set off a firestorm (pun intended) of confusion. The following is a Q and A on the “fire fee” with links to important websites. What is the Fire Prevention Fee? On July 7, 2011 the State Responsibility Area Fire Prevention Benefit Fee was signed into law. The Legislature has said that the fee is for fire prevention, not for … [Read more...]
Big Bear Lake’s Halloween in the Village
October 29, 2012 by Leave a Comment
Big Bear Lake celebrates Halloween throughout the Valley. Not only can you see decorations by locals, Mother Nature also competes for attention. One trip down Foxfarm and you’ll think you’ve changed coasts. We have beautiful yellows, brilliant oranges and a few reds. The more adventurous people head off-road to see the Aspens turn yellow. The Aspen Glen at Fish Creek usually puts on a spectacular display. The best known mountain-top Halloween event is Halloween in the Village. It’s sponsored by the City of Big … [Read more...]
Home Warranties
October 26, 2012 by Leave a Comment
The last thing a home buyer wants to worry about after closing is an expensive repair in their new home. Since that can cover a multitude of items and systems, it's a good idea to get a home protection plan. It's especially a good idea if you're a first-time home buyer with no “do-it-yourself” skills. Most homebuyers may not be be particularly well informed about home warranty policies, home warranty companies, or the various optional coverage available, and should ask their real estate agent for guidance. Who … [Read more...]
Going Solar In Your Big Bear Home
October 18, 2012 by Leave a Comment
The decision to go solar provides a lot to think about. Even though Big Bear receives over 300 days of sunshine per year, solar power isn’t for everyone. You need to get a good picture of what your current energy usage is, and learn how you can reduce your energy consumption in low and no cost ways. Tapping in to the power of the sun has multiple advantages. You can lower your energy costs and it will help you do your share to reduce dependence on fossil fuels. However, going solar requires you to consider a … [Read more...]
Fall Season Home Maintenance Checklist
October 15, 2012 by Leave a Comment
You can feel it in the air – it’s fall in Big Bear. As we get into the cold weather season the days start getting shorter and the nights are getting colder. It’s time to perform some routine maintenance to avoid major problems and to keep your Big Bear home operating more efficiently. Here’s a fall season checklist to help you with the most common home maintenance issues: Heating System – Replace the filter and consider hiring a qualified professional to service the heating system. Air Vents/Registers - Adjust … [Read more...]
Home Selling Advice
October 12, 2012 by 1 Comment
Many of us have crowded closets and store extra things in our garages. The problem is, potential buyers love to poke their heads into our closets and drawers. Clutter can turn off a perspective buyer or, worse yet, give them the feeling that the space is too small for their needs. Home buyers will also inspect kitchen cupboards and drawers. Organize them so they look spacious. Eliminate chipped or mismatched dishes and old pots or pans. Small upgrades like changing the counter tops and adding a new coat of paint … [Read more...]
Sales Up & Inventory Down for Big Bear Real Estate Market
October 12, 2012 by Leave a Comment
That's the current Big Bear real estate in a nutshell. Here's a good chart for the Sugarloaf area that parallels the other Big Bear neighborhoods. If this holds steady, get ready to see prices slowly increase. If you're interested in more markets stats, be sure to check the Big Bear Communities pages on our website. Each area is updated monthly with pretty charts like these :-) … [Read more...]
How Will The New 3.8% Tax Affect Big Bear Real Estate?
October 10, 2012 by Leave a Comment
Starting in 2013, there will be a new 3.8% tax that will affect some sellers, not all, of Big Bear real estate. There have been a lot of rumors, many of which are not true, flying around the Internet the past few years about a new real estate tax. Contrary to popular belief, this tax will not apply to all home sales. According to the National Association of Realtors (NAR), this new tax will only affect 2-3% of the home sales. What is the new 3.8% tax law? The law was passed by Congress in 2010 with the … [Read more...]
Your Big Bear Lake Home – Mold and Mildew
October 7, 2012 by Leave a Comment
The recent summer storms and high humidity in Big Bear Lake have created potential breeding grounds for mold and mildew. And there’s no denying that household mold and mildew can be dangerous to our health. In fact, it has been proven to promote asthma, allergies, and colds. Likewise, it’s thought to increase the occurrence of mood swings and depression. Prevention is the best way to eradicate the problem; however, that seems to be the issue with mold — we often don’t know it’s forming until it rears its nasty … [Read more...]
