Big Bear Skinny Blog

Southern California’s Rim of the World

By BigBear on February 5th, 2012
Categories: Big Bear Real Estate News, Big Bear Recreation
Tags: Big Bear Lake, rim of the world, second homes, southern california

In most of Southern California, “Winter” means clear, brisk days, morning fog and snow capped mountains. Visibility, given the right conditions, can be completely “socked in” or crystal clear and breathtaking. There are particular times, coming to or leaving Big Bear and the San Bernardino Mountains that offer fantastic views. Obviously, you will need to choose your times to drive and take advantage of the conditions.

For a change of pace, don’t allow yourself to get caught in a long line of locals expecting you to go the speed limit. The reason being; using the turnouts for people that want to pass is a good thing. Using the turnouts with views, is a great thing.

Rising up the 330, off the 10 and 210, there are some great vistas to the Southeast. San Jacinto and the mountains stretching to San Diego can be visible. Below you, the grasses are pushing their green up the sides of the hills. Toward evening and particularly sunset, the whole basin transitions to a seemingly endless patchwork of countless lights. All this is visible from the road, usually in quick “bites” as you navigate the mountain curves. A few moments enjoyed while parked can be those moments you need to adjust your altitude and attitude. Pick a view and corresponding turnout. Plan a dawn or sunset drive.

Early Rim of the World Image

When leaving Big Bear, instead of heading back down the mountain at Running Springs, stay on the 18. Try to arrive along the “Rim” around sunset. When you arrive in Running Springs, after the Snow Valley resort, follow the sign you’ve never followed: the one that says, “Lake Arrowhead”.

Winding along the Rim of the World is a highway connecting thousands living in the San Bernardino mountain communities.

When the weather is clear, if you drive the Rim of the World Highway to Lake Arrowhead and Crestline, in a very short time, you get a sweeping view of the San Gabriel Mountain Range and the whole Inland Empire Valley.

If you follow the mountains, you’ll see the skyscrapers of Los Angeles. Sweeping along the horizon, you realize you are looking at ships on the ocean and the Palos Verde Peninsula. If you can schedule your drive for sunset and watch the countless lights come on, you will leave the mountains appreciating the vast diversity Southern California has to offer.

Find Your Second Home in the Mountains

More about Second Home Purchases;

Every Market is a Second-Home Market – ANAHEIM (November 12, 2011) – A diverse set of buyers and property types comprise the second-home sector and opportunities for second-home buyers exist in nearly every market, even in nontraditional, non-resort …
Polo – Purchasing Income Properties | PoloZONE – For resale here in the desert, the can sell well since our housing market’s buyers can be many second home buyers. They also may be more affordable for many home buyers than a single family home! Another type of income …
Is it the Right Time to Buy a Vacation Home? | real estate with judy … – by Phoebe Chongchua. Housing prices are more affordable than ever and that’s not just for a primary home. Today, the second-home luxury market is loaded with deals. Second-homes that once were out of the price range for …

Your Home, Your Abilities

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By BigBear on February 4th, 2012
Categories: Big Bear Sellers
Tags: Big Bear City, Big Bear Lake, big bear real estate, home preparation, home sellers

Buying a home is an emotional decision. Real Estate buyers typically “try the house out.” They open closets, cupboards and almost anything else with a handle. They will switch on lights, turn on faucets and flush toilets.

How do you make your home stand out in today’s real estate market? Small, incremental improvements can make a big impression on prospective buyers.

Home Preparation Tips

• Clean and shine fixtures including door handles, light switches, faucets and anything else that’s shiny. Check ceiling for water stains and be sure to fix any leaks.

• Make your home anonymous. Take down the photos and most of the art. If possible have minimal furniture and remove all clutter. A buyer needs to be able to visualize moving in. A cramped living space doesn’t deliver a cozy message.

• A little bit of fresh paint will rejuvenate the appearance of your home. Choose a color palette with the widest appeal. Have the carpets washed (replace with a neutral color if necessary) and be sure to replace any broken floor tiles.

• Remove clutter and give the prospective buyers room. Let them imagine living in your home. Remove things from the kitchen counter. When someone opens the kitchen cupboards, do they appear spacious or cluttered?

Whether you clean and repair yourself, or bring in a team for a thorough upgrade, the goal is to make others feel like this could be their home. These improvements can decrease the amount of time your house is on the market, and the bottom line.

Search Big Bear Real Estate

More about Selling Real Estate

Browse Articles » Understanding The Selling Process With These … – Meanwhile, there are numerous sources available to help real estate sellers, some of it is useless and can easily be described as a waste of space. This article will give you tested advice that will help you get the best deal …
I’m Not Just A Number! The Art of Knowing & Understanding a Seller – The more investors I talk with the more I am convinced that the lost art of conversing and getting to understand a seller and their needs has been replaced with handing over complicated forms and giving low-ball offers. It seems in this fast-paced, digitalized, G4 world, we have forgotten how to make friends before making the deal. The first 19 appointments I ever met with sellers and toured their homes took no shorter than 4 hours every time.

Big Bear Lake’s Snow Summit

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By BigBear on January 29th, 2012
Categories: Big Bear Recreation, Local
Tags: Big Bear Lake, real estate neighborhoods, snow summit, southern california real estate news

I finally made it to the slopes. It’s been almost two years since my last snowboard outing. After years of begging my nephew to come up and ride with me he called me over the holidays and informed me he was ready to join me on the slopes. What I didn’t know was my nephew had been preparing for this day for quite a while. He took some lessons last year and without my knowledge had become a competent snowboarder. When he arrived the night before with some of the nicest, most expensive gear I have ever seen, I knew I was in trouble.

It was my nephew Ryan’s birthday and in case you didn’t know, Snow Summit and Bear Mountain offers a free lift ticket to skiers and snowboarders celebrating a birthday. We arrived at Snow Summit early enough to be some of the first riders on the chairlift. It had snowed the night before and the conditions were perfect. The last time I’d been snowboarding, two seasons past, had been a disaster. Icy, hard pack snow may be o.k. for skiing but snowboarding on ice is a challenge.

After four runs at Snow Summit with perfect snow Ryan and I jumped on the shuttle to Bear Mountain. If you haven’t been to Bear Mountain lately you’re in for a bit of a surprise. The mountain has been transformed into a skate park for snowboarders. Every run has jumps, rails, jibs, and boxes from top to bottom. I have to admit, I was out of my element. As much as I love to snowboard, my freestyle days are far behind me and I was happy to cruise the flats and watch the action. My 21 year old nephew was in heaven. He was hitting everything in sight and landing most of his tricks. Oh, to have young knees again.

After a few runs I left the kids at Bear and headed back to Summit to spend the rest of the day carving turns on the wide uncrowded slopes that Summit is famous for. It was a perfect day on the slopes, for both of us. The Big Bear resorts truly offer something for every level of skier and snowboarder. When the day was over my nephew met me in the Bear Bottom Lodge for a beer and couldn’t stop talking about how great his birthday had been. It looks like he’ll be back up several more times this season. I just hope my knees can handle all this fun.

Southern California Real Estate News;

Tips for the First Time Home Buyers – Home Buying Process Tips – Jan 10, 2012 … This is one of the most difficult decision you have to make, in choosing the right
California Real Estate Hot Spots – What passes as a “real estate hot spot” in California today is vastly different from
Southern California Real Estate in Easy to Find with the SoCal Real … – Real estate in Southern California is stunning and provides a number of options

Big Bear City

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By BigBear on January 22nd, 2012
Categories: Big Bear Buyers, Big Bear Neighborhoods
Tags: Big Bear City, neighborhoods, Real Estate Tours

On Big Bear Blvd. within 4 blocks of the traffic light at Division, there are 4 restaurants, a pizza parlor, a liquor store, and a produce stand. If you haven’t investigated, what are you waiting for?

Just past ‘Twin Bears Equipment Rentals’, is the tiniest Mexican restaurant, ‘La Paws’. This little place is one of the nicest secrets of dining outside of the Village. ‘La Paws’ has been open a very long time and are sure to please your taste buds with their authentic hand made food.

Right past them is a great produce stand, ‘Select Foods’. Their prices are very reasonable and a quick stop can save time and money from the supermarkets in Big Bear Lake. When you just want to grab a couple of potatoes, some milk, and a handful of chiles, this is the place. They always have a good selection of fresh produce and basic groceries, breads and dairy.

Right next door is ‘No Name Pizza’. This is another little treasure place outside of Big Bear Lake. The best is, you can “Take and Bake”, insuring the absolute hottest, freshest pizza, straight from your own oven. To-go, or dining in, this little place has a great menu for the whole family.

Just across the street is the ‘Broadway Cafe’ with great outdoor seating. Good old “Mom ‘n’ Pop” food is what comes from their kitchen. Check the burgers and onion rings! They also have a great reputation for their hand made milk shakes. This is worth a visit in itself!

2 doors up and on the corner of Gildart, is ‘Liquor Junction’. You’ll find a large selection of imported and domestic beers and wines, including a unique collection of microbrewed American beers. Grab a pizza across the street and treat yourself to an unusual brew. You can say you had it in Big Bear!

Just up the street, the ‘Lumber Jack Cafe’ has been in business for years. Serving all 3 meals, this place can’t stop. A Lumber Jack style breakfast and coffee are just the beginning of their menu. Judging by their parking lot, their meals are still pleasing the patrons.

Last, but certainly not least on this little strip of Big Bear Blvd. is ‘Madlon’s‘. Starting with that great exterior, it only gets better on the inside. ‘Madlon’s’ is where to go when you want an intimate, absolutely catered dinner. Elegance and mountain charm go into the decor and the French cuisine. Plan an evening, but don’t forget their awesome breakfasts. All you can eat waffles and pancakes served with hot coffee can certainly set your day.

Find Big Bear Real Estate

Big Bear Lake – The Village of Big Bear Lake was the center of commerce early in the Valley’s history with Bartlett’s Store and the Pine Knot Lodge. Early industry included logging, fishing and tourism.

Big Bear City – Big Bear City is an unincorporated township of San Bernardino County located in the central portion of the Big Bear Valley, east of Big Bear Lake and west of Baldwin Lake. It’s bordered by the San Bernardino National Forest on the north and south.

Fawnskin – The small township known as Fawnskin was once an artist’s colony. Mountain travelers in the 19th century came to the Big Bear Valley through Fawnskin on the rough road by stagecoach and later motorcars. This charming village has always been an attraction to those seeking a retreat from city life.
Sugarloaf – Sugarloaf is an unincorporated residential area less than a mile south of Big Bear City and 8 miles from the eastern tip of Big Bear Lake in the San Bernardino Mountains.