"We want something cabin-y." This is something I hear ALL the time. Most of my clients want to escape from the city to their mountain home that really feels mountainous. But here's the thing, you can still get that feeling without the bears and lacquered wood. Don't get me wrong, a lot of people love that look and it is important to decorate your home to fit your taste. But, if you're looking for something current or are hoping to maximize your rental potential, kicking that traditional cabin look may be the … [Read more...]
Looking to Ditch That Big Bear Cabin Look? Here’s Some Tips to Modernizing Your Mountain Home….
April 28, 2020 by 2 Comments
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...]
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...]
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...]
How Much Should I Offer?
May 29, 2013 by Leave a Comment
What you offer on a Big Bear property depends on a number of things, such as the maximum price you’re willing to pay for the home, the risk of losing the home to another buyer, appraisal value, and how realistic the asking price is. Though homes in Big Bear are selling for an average of 96% of the listing price, there is no cardinal rule for a fixed amount that a seller will negotiate from their asking price. Every property & every seller is unique. The Big Bear real estate market is in a transition from a … [Read more...]
Big Bear Lake Transient Private Home Rentals (TPHR) Ordinance
April 12, 2013 by Leave a Comment
Vacation rentals are big business in Big Bear. There are close to 1700 private homes currently registered or pending approval within Big Bear Lake city limits. Add to that the rentals in the un-incorporated areas of Big Bear (Fawnskin, Big Bear City, Sugarloaf, etc.) and the number of available vacation rentals within the Big Bear valley is estimated to be over 2000. The City of Big Bear Lake receives over $1,200,000 annually in tax revenue from vacation rentals based on approximately $15,000,000 in sales. Back in … [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...]
New “App” for Home Improvement Projects
March 13, 2013 by Leave a Comment
If you’ve been considering a remodel project for your Big Bear cabin or home, and just don’t know where to start, there’s a great new “app” available - and best of all, it’s free. Zillow Digs, launched by Zillow.com, is hoping to corner some of the social media market share that houzz.com and pinterest.com have in the virtual real estate world. Zillow.com is the website that allows visitors to get an estimate (or as it’s called on the site, "zestimate") on the value of homes. Zillow helps homeowners, buyers and … [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...]
