One of the last things most home buyers think about is how to take title to their new house. It's best to consult a real estate attorney before deciding but, unfortunately, most homeowners don't do that. Here are the options available for holding title to your Big Bear real estate and how they affect your ownership. 1. Sole ownership If you are single, one way to hold title to your home is in your name alone. This method is also called ownership in severalty. When a married person takes title to real property … [Read more...]
Creating Defensible Space – Big Bear Real Estate
December 2, 2012 by Leave a Comment
Smoke detectors and fire extinguishers will help protect you against fires originating inside the home, but the best way to protect your Big Bear property from a forest fire or a nearby structure fire is by creating defensible space. Defensible space creates a separation between structures and trees and shrubs. By removing congested trees and shrubs, fire cannot easily jump from one plant or tree to another and eventually to your home. The following is an overview of local Big Bear clearance … [Read more...]
Real Estate Projects – Kitchen Makeovers
November 28, 2012 by Leave a Comment
Looking to improve your home’s resale appeal? An inexpensive kitchen makeover may be the way to go. Kitchens are the heart of the home, and Americans spend a lot of time there. Here are four easy tips to make your kitchen bright and inviting. 1. Painting Painting is probably the least expensive, yet effective, project. A new coat of paint will make your kitchen look revitalized. Be sure to include the ceiling. Check out Valspar (the Eddie Bauer Collection) for great color palette paint choices. This task can … [Read more...]
Big Bear CA – Utility Providers
November 25, 2012 by Leave a Comment
The utility services available to Big Bear homeowners vary depending on the location of the property. For instance, some areas in Big Bear have mail delivery and trash pick-up while other areas require you to pick up your mail at the local post office and haul out your trash to a disposal area or the local dump. The following is a list of Big Bear utility companies with a brief description of their services: Big Bear City Community Services District – (909) 585-2565 - 139 East Big Bear Blvd. (PO Box 558) Big Bear … [Read more...]
Winter Fun – Big Bear Real Estate
November 23, 2012 by Leave a Comment
As soon as the first prediction of snow is forecast, the excitement builds across the Valley. Many of us choose to live in Big Bear because of the variety of recreational opportunities. Both Bear Mountain and Snow Summit lead the industry in snowmaking. That means plenty of snow, even when the afternoon temperatures hit 60 degrees. Bear Mountain caters to snowboarders. There is free public internet access everywhere. We recommend you start at Red Bull Plaza. The Park at Bear Mountain is devoted to free-style … [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...]
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...]
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...]
