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...]
Independence Day 2013
July 4, 2013 by Leave a Comment
If you have not experienced Big Bear Lake's Independence Day celebration, you are missing a real treat.Big Bear Lake is famous for holding one of the top 10 fireworks displays in the state of California.The show is always on July 4th at 9:00pm. This year, the 4th is on Thursday. Courtesy of the Big Bear Rotary Club, each year's show has an uplifting half hour of gorgeous, high-flying fireworks, coordinated with Independence Day music from the local radio station, KBHR 93.3FM. Be sure to tune in! The fireworks are … [Read more...]
Spring in Big Bear
May 10, 2013 by Leave a Comment
Big Bear Lake Memorial Day weekend is looking to be at the height of Mother Nature's Spring. Yellow Daffodils have come up. Grass is greening and already needing cutting! Ornamentals and Apple Trees are blossoming all over town. The Lilacs have finally put out green leaves. In fact, a few brave Lilacs are already flowering. The Willows are turning green. We're waiting to see the Oaks put out their new pink leaves. By the time Memorial Day arrives, the beauty of Big Bear should be in Nature's full bloom! Daytimes … [Read more...]
Big Bear’s Utility Options
March 18, 2013 by Leave a Comment
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...]
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...]
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...]
