The Big Bear Land and Water Company was one of the earliest real estate offices in the Valley. This is picture was scanned from their booklet printed in 1927. The Big Bear Land and Water Company had offices in downtown Los Angeles at 8th and Spring Street. Their motto was, “Building Big Bear City.” We have a copy of their 1925 brochure. Here is the advice they gave to their agents! Forward to Salesmen This booklet is a compilation of figures and facts about BIG BEAR CITY. It is not intended for prospective … [Read more...]
Big Bear Holiday Schedule 2013
November 14, 2013 by Leave a Comment
We feel fortunate to enjoy the holidays in the mountains. Here is a list of the major events going on around the Big Bear Valley. If you are new to the mountains, remember all activities are weather dependent. Check the forecast before leaving and carry chains throughout the winter season. The Community Arts Theater presents, “Christmas in the Mountains.” This is a musical variety show featuring an original play, “Scrooge of Starvation Flats.” The show is at the town hall, in the Big Bear Lake Performing Arts … [Read more...]
Tips for Buying Land in Big Bear
November 5, 2013 by 13 Comments
Buying a vacant parcel and building a home in Big Bear means having total control over every aspect of a house, from the foundation to the flooring to the views. There are many things that need to be considered when buying land in Big Bear. Will a hillside location make building costs prohibitive? Am I overbuilding for the area? Can I keep horses on the property? What’s the potential re-sale value? Who is the local building authority - City v.s County? The following is a list of things to consider when purchasing … [Read more...]
Increasing Property Values in Big Bear
October 11, 2013 by Leave a Comment
We’ve enjoyed a summer with plenty of monsoonal rain. Fall temperatures are here, along with a couple inches of snow last night. If you take a drive around Big Bear, you’ll find trees heavily laden with apples and pears. This is a great time of year to plant apple trees and berry bushes. Besides providing a delightful harvest, improving your landscaping is an easy way to increase property value and boost curb appeal. A study done by Virginia Tech in 2007 showed that good landscaping can improve a home’s resale … [Read more...]
Big Bear’s Oktoberfest
October 7, 2013 by Leave a Comment
Located at the Big Bear Lake Convention Center, at the far East end of the lake; Division and Big Bear Blvd are the cross streets for one of the longest lasting, and most fun celebrations of the year. The Big Bear Lake Oktoberfest is back for their 43rd year. The festivities are already in high gear! After last year's awesome Oktoberfest, the Burgermeister has excelled one more time! Two very special Friday nights, "Unplugged!", have been added! Beyond the bar offerings inside the main building, there are 3 Beer … [Read more...]
Understanding the Value of a Real Agent
September 19, 2013 by Leave a Comment
Not long ago, you had to go to a real estate agent in order to get information on property listings. Books filled with all the local real estate listings were distributed to real estate offices and the agents would review the books and find homes that matched their clients' needs. This information was not readily available to the public. The times have drastically changed. Today, much of the once-private information is now public. But does that mean you can handle the entire real estate transaction on your own? … [Read more...]
Big Bear Real Estate News
September 5, 2013 by Leave a Comment
In our digital economy, international, national and local economies affect our marketplace. As we keep our eye on China, the Euro, the unemployment rate and other leading indicators, the news seems to show an upswing in several economic factors. On the international scene, China’s lifting of some controls is the strongest sign that the government intends to change; according to the New York Times. Some have called the restructuring a symbolic move. But, since it signals a broader acceptance of western banking … [Read more...]
Feng Shui and Your Home
September 2, 2013 by Leave a Comment
This 5,000 year old art is said to bring peace of mind, good health and happiness. Feng Shui means Wind and Water in Chinese. There are many similarities between Feng Shui and the rules of Home Staging. They both address emotional appearance; stressing clutter reduction and the use of furniture to affect traffic flow. Disney, British Airways and Donald Trump are among those westerners taking Feng Shui seriously. Here are a few guidelines for home buyers and sellers! PROPERTY SHAPE If you are buying a new … [Read more...]
Big Bear’s Service Groups
August 6, 2013 by 1 Comment
For what can be considered a small area, Big Bear Lake offers a large variety of clubs and organizations offering opportunities to serve, extend your education, and meet and enjoy the company of others with similar interests. To pique your interest, here is a short list of some of the service organizations active in Big Bear. American Legion Post 584 Bear Valley Community Hospital District Foundation Big Bear Airport Pilots Association Big Bear Association of Realtors Big Bear Bridge Club Big Bear Chapter of … [Read more...]
Landscaping for Residential Real Estate
July 25, 2013 by Leave a Comment
Whether you’re a “do it yourself” type of person or you prefer to call in the professionals, landscaping in Big Bear, CA poses unique problems. Long-time Big Bear gardeners will tell you about our short growing season (90 days). Our shortened growing time and colder winter season means trees and shrubs that thrive in Southern California will not grow in these mountains. Different areas of the Big Bear valley support a wide variety of local and introduced plants. The Boulder Bay area is moist enough for ferns. The … [Read more...]
