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Big Bear Lake – A Ski Season Preview

There’s a chill in the air and in Big Bear that means only one thing, winter is right around the corner. If you love winter sports it’s time to get excited. Here’s a little pre-season info to get you thinking about all the winter fun you’re going to be having in Big Bear this season. Skiing and Snowboarding We’d be spoiled of we had just one local ski area in Big Bear, but we’re blessed with two world class resorts, Snow Summit and Bear Mountain. There’s something for every skill level and taste, long cruisey ski … [Read more...]

Big Bear Real Estate – Finding A Place In Big Bear To Call Your Own, Part 1

Finding A Place In Big Bear To Call Your Own, Part One Once you’ve decided to look for a piece of Big Bear to call your own, the big question is “where”. Our valley has many different neighborhoods to choose from, each with their own unique look and feel. What may be a perfect area for one person might not work for someone else. It really depends on where you are in your life and what your goals are. For a first time buyer or a young family looking to purchase a home in Big Bear there are several great areas to … [Read more...]

Our Real Estate is in the San Bernardino National Forest, Big Bear

Mountain Homes are Surrounded by Alpine Forests. Big Bear Lake has the unique distinction of being an incorporated city that’s completely surrounded by National Forest.  For over 150 years, people have been coming to our valley to enjoy the natural beauty and recreational opportunities that only a protected forest can provide.  With so much change occurring elsewhere in California, it’s amazing that these lands have remained open to the public. San Bernardino National Forest is a federally-managed forest covering … [Read more...]

Mountain Homes – Hummingbird Watching

Part of Big Bear’s outdoor charm is enjoying the local “wildlife”. You’ll find hummingbirds to be abundant across the San Bernardino Mountains. They love alpine trees and meadows and have been found at altitudes as high as 17,000 feet.  Watching them is as easy as setting up a feeder. Hummingbirds are one of nature’s smallest birds and have the highest metabolism. While hovering, hummingbirds can flap their wings from 12 to 90 times a second. This intense use of energy must be maintained with lots of small meals. … [Read more...]

Local Big Bear Lifestyle

Big Bear locals enjoy a unique lifestyle that few communities can offer.  With so many different activities to choose from, the biggest challenge of living up here is deciding what to do next.  Whether you’re an outdoor enthusiast with energy to burn or simply in need of rest and relaxation, Big Bear offers something for everyone. Big Bear Valley is home to over 17,000 full time residents and the population can jump to 50,000 over a typical holiday weekend.  In the wintertime it’s all about our alpine resorts.  … [Read more...]

Does Your Big Bear Lake Cabin have a Wood Shake Roof?

If so, you may be interested in this. Effective July 1, 2012, all homeowners within the City of Big Bear Lake, have to remove wood shake/shingle roofs from their property (in compliance with Big Bear Lake city ordinance 2007-373).  The ordinance was approved back in July of 2007 in an attempt to reduce structural fires with fire-resistant materials. In conjunction with this ordinance, the City of Big Bear Lake/Big Bear Lake Fire Protection District received funding from the Governor’s Office of Emergency Services … [Read more...]

When Will Prices Go Up in Big Bear?

Click here to see embedded YouTube video. This is a question I get on a daily basis. Prices are directly tied to sales and demand. The more sales (demand) we see, the higher prices should go. We've been averaging 50-90 sales the past 2 years or so. Compare that to the 200 per month we used to see back in the early to mid 2000's and you'll see demand is still pretty limited right now. Once we see a sustained amount of sales per month, in the range of 150 per month for a 6-12 month period, then we should start … [Read more...]

How to Be a Fantastic Buyer’s Agent

Early this week I had the pleasure of meeting a great couple who were looking for a new buyer’s agent in my area. They had been working with a different Realtor for almost a year and had not had any success in purchasing a vacation home in Big Bear. As I listened to their story, it became more and more evident that they had been using somebody who was not versed in the art of being a superior agent for their client’s. Many Realtors seem to think that all there is to representing a buyer is getting them in the car … [Read more...]

Sure Fire Way To Increase Sales

Direct link to YouTube video Take care of your customers and your sales will do better.  Seems easy enough, yet many companies fail miserably in the customer service area.  And many don't even think about it when looking to improve sales.  Rather, they think in order to improve sales they have to spend more money advertising, cut costs, spend more time on the Internet or social media. There are plenty of companies out there proving that customer service drives sales - Zappos, Redfin, Starbucks, Apple are a … [Read more...]

Big Bear Foreclosure Numbers – May 2010

Foreclosure filings in Big Bear dropped significantly in May 2010, down 32% when compared to April. And year over year, foreclosure filings were down 46% from the May 2009 numbers, the fifth straight month that foreclosure filings were down year over year.  This is a welcome sign for an otherwise slow moving Big Bear real estate market. Keep in mind, foreclosure filings are made up of three parts - Notices of Default (NOD), a recorded document that starts the foreclosure process, which is normally filed after … [Read more...]