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...]
Oktoberfest in Big Bear Lake
October 2, 2012 by 1 Comment
Big Bear Lake has been having optimum daytime weather compared to triple-digit Southern California. Autumn has arrived. The leaves are changing. The nights are cooling. The celebration starts as soon as you arrive! The Big Bear Lake Oktoberfest is a real treat for Southern California. A short drive up in the San Bernardino mountains, the "Highest Altitude Oktoberfest in the United States" is an open invitation to a fun time in Big Bear. There are only 4 weekends left! The 42nd Annual Big Bear Lake Oktoberfest is … [Read more...]
Foreclosures and Short Sales
September 30, 2012 by Leave a Comment
Whether you're attempting to sell Big Bear real estate or you're searching local real estate listings as a potential buyer, it's important to know the difference between a foreclosure and a short sale. Foreclosure is generally a worse outcome than a short sale, if you are the seller, but as a buyer of a distressed property, a short sale is often the more difficult process to negotiate through. Foreclosure for Owner A property that has been foreclosed on means that the owner did make the monthly mortgage payments … [Read more...]
Real Estate Appraisals
September 28, 2012 by Leave a Comment
The Big Bear real estate market isn’t immune to market fluctuations and many sellers are finding themselves in an unhappy but common predicament. They may be in escrow with a qualified buyer but the financing has now fallen through because the appraisal has come in at less than the agreed upon price of the home. This has led to a high number of contract cancellations. The increase in contract cancellations or delays has been blamed on more lenders declining mortgage applications from stricter underwriting … [Read more...]
Maintaining Your Big Bear Fireplace
September 25, 2012 by Leave a Comment
You can feel it in the air. The fall season is upon us and soon temperatures will be dropping. One of the great things about the colder seasons in Big Bear is enjoying a roaring fire in your cabin or home. Here are a few tips for keeping your wood burning fireplace safe and working properly through the fall and winter months. The best thing you can do to maintain your wood burning fireplace is have it regularly checked and cleaned by a professional. A fireplace should be inspected at least once a year to avoid … [Read more...]
Homeowners Insurance
September 12, 2012 by Leave a Comment
Buying a home is likely the biggest purchase you'll ever make. It's important to protect this investment. This is where homeowners insurance comes in. Homeowners insurance provides you with broad coverage for losses that can arise while owning or renting out your home – like damage to your personal property, theft and vandalism, and liability coverage for accidental injury to another person or property. Accidents do happen and you want to be sure you're protected if someone is injured on your property. In the … [Read more...]
Maximizing Your Real Estate Agent
September 10, 2012 by Leave a Comment
CNN Money: “When you go to an open house and meet a real estate agent showing the property, that agent represents the seller's interests. So you might be better off using a buyer's agent whose job is to represent your interests.” Purchasing real estate in Big Bear is an important financial decision. Home buyers will confront complex issues and lots of paperwork. Finding a buyer’s agent with expertise and local knowledge is invaluable. Market knowledge is one of the most important assets a buyer’s agent brings … [Read more...]
