2008 Lake Events

May 17

Adopt-a-Shoreline Kick-Off Volunteer Program for Lake Clean-Up

May 17-18

May Trout Classic (Trout Tournament) 909-585-4007

May 31

Safe Boating Class (Boating Safety and Certificate)

June 7-8
5th Annual Carp Roundup and Bow and Arrow Tournament for Carp

June 7

Optimist Fishing Derby (Kids Fishing Tournament) 909-453-3939

June 7

Free Fishing and Boating Day (No Lake Permit or Fishing License Needed

July 4

Fourth of July Fireworks (Fireworks Show Over the Lake)

July 26

Safe Boating Class (Boating Safety and Certificate)

Aug 23-24

Antique and Classic Wooden Boat Show (Location: B's Backyard Bar-B-Que)

Sept 20

24th Annual Coastal Clean-up Day (Lake Clean-up 909-866-3218)

Sept 27

Free Fishing and Boating Day (No Lake Permit or Fishing License Needed)

Oct 4-5

Big Bear Lake October Troutfest (Trout Tournament put on by Western Outdoor News & MWD

Big Bear Lake Facts

Lake Level 5/27/2008 = 3'11'' below full

Lake Level 5/29/2007 = 4'1'' below full

2007 Preciptiation at Bear Valley Dam = 37.96''

Average Annual Precipitation = 36.35''

Averaage Annual Evaporation = 3-4'

Lake Volume = 73,320 acre feet

Lake Surface = 2,971 acre feet

Lake Shoreline = 22 miles

I drove by this home the other day and had to take a picture! It wouldn't hurt to go through your insurance policies to make sure you have sufficient coverage. So many people tend to forget what kind of coverage they have.....so this is a reminder to dust off your paperwork. You never know?!

Bear Mountain Golf Course is expected to open May 9th, 2008 (depending on weather conditions)!

For golf rates, season pass information and course layout, go to: http://www.bigbearmountainresorts.com/summer/golf.php.

I don't know about you but I can't wait to get back out there and hack around!

(Written to help you save money, time, and reduce frustration)

1. What are the neighborhood restrictions?

Make sure you ask your Big Bear Lake Real Estate Agent if there are CC&R's (Convenants, Conditions, and Restrictions) or a Homeowners Association in the neighborhood. Some subdivisions in Big Bear will have architectural commitees which set minimum standards on what they would like to see built (square footage requirements, fence styles, mandatory garages, mandatory building pads for where the house must be placed, etc). So make sure you read through the neighborhood guidelines before you commit to purchase in a particular area. Not only may you disagree with what the Homeowners Association want, it's important to find out what the fees will be and whether or not you want to pay them every month.

1. What are the local building restrictions?

I would recommend calling the local building and safety department to find out the zoning and current setback standards for the lot you are interested in (Big Bear Lake Building and Safety 909-866-5831, San Bernardino County Building and Safety 909-866-0170). Different types of zoning in the Big Bear area include residential, commercial, agricultural, industrial and recreational.

1. Should I be concerned about access during the Winter?

Most buyers looking for property up in Big Bear are from San Diego, Orange County, Los Angeles or Las Vegas. Typically they shop for homes in the Summer and forget about all of the snow they will encounter during the Winter. Having a flat, level driveway will ensure easier access during the winter. You may also consider having a south-facing driveway which will provide quicker snow melt and less snow shovelling.

1. Should I be Concerned about Utility Hook-ups?

Some areas are better equipt with utilities than others. For instance, did you know that the Department of Water and Power has stopped issuing water connections in the Lake Williams area? If you own property in the area you might be able to put in a well if the land is large enough, but that right isn't guaranteed. Other properties in the area might be hooked up to propane as opposed to natural gas, holding tanks and septic systems instead of a public underground water/sewer connections. Make sure you ask your local real estate agent if all the utilities are at the property and who provides those services.

1. Are there Timeframes of When I Need to Start Construction on a Vacant Lot?

Currently there are no timeframes on when someone must build in any part of Big Bear. You can purchase a lot as an investment and let is sit undeveloped for decades. If you submit building plans to Building and Safety, typically your permit is good for 1 year. If you go beyond a year in the construction of your new Big Bear Mountain Home, you will have to formally submit an extension with the Building Department. Also, if you apply for a construction loan, normally they will have a 1 year time limit to complete your construction. Be sure to check with your contractor on these timeframes, but if your land is still undeveloped you can keep it that way as long as you want.

1. What Costs are normally associated with buying a vacant lot?

You will have escrow, title, and possible lender fees (depending on how you plan on financing your purchase). Make sure you consult with a Big Bear Lake Real Estate agent so you can get an estimated cost breakdown. You should also consider speaking with a contractor to determine how much it will cost to build your dream home. Fees such as utility connections, architectural plans, school fees, and construction costs add up quickly so having a good understanding of what you will be paying is important to stay on budget.

1. How Do I Know If I Am Getting A Good Deal?

Being able to pull up comparable sales in the area is a good start. Begin by taking a look at what's recently sold in the area, what's currently on the market and what's currently in escrow. This will give you a rough idea if the seller is being realistic with his asking price. Having a real estate agent who knows the area will help in negotiating the fair market value for you. He/she should be able to inform you how well vacant land sales are in that particular area, and what the overall pulse of the market is.

If you're considering investing in vacant land please contact me so I can help you find what you want, at the price you want, and help you through the buying process with the least amount of inconveniences.

Havens | Big Bear Lake, Calif.
A Relaxed Mountain Retreat That Offers More Than Snow

By SAM HOOPER SAMUELS
Published: February 29, 2008

ONE HUNDRED miles east of the smog, gridlock and vanity of Los Angeles, cupped high in the pine forests of the San Bernardino Mountains, sits Big Bear Lake, a glistening splash of fresh alpine water ringed by 22 miles of shoreline. A resort town of the same name hugs the lake’s south shore and offers a multiseason retreat.

Working families, pro athletes, retirees, show-business personalities and outdoorsmen from Los Angeles, San Diego and Las Vegas come for the slow pace, the stunning scenery, the bald eagles and, yes, the occasional actual big bear. And, in winter, there’s all that snow — foot upon foot of it.

“We bought here for the snowboarding,” said Marlene Taylor, who, with her husband, Tim, owns a construction business in Escondido, Calif. Big Bear has two major ski areas, Snow Summit and Bear Mountain; the latter is especially popular among snowboarders.

The Taylors’ four-bedroom house, perched on a mountainside and with clear views of the lake, is their second vacation home in Big Bear. The first was modest, but as their resources and their family grew, they traded up to their current place in the chic Castle Glen district. For $850,000 in 2004, they bought into a neighborhood where steep, twisting roads are lined by expansive and expensive new homes that sit on acre-plus lots and cost in the low millions.

House size was important to the Taylors. They sometimes bring a crowd of friends up for the weekend, and often spend holidays with an extended family of children and grandchildren. “We’ve had 16 people around the table,” Mr. Taylor said.

Although known for skiing, Big Bear is a four-season destination, with water sports in summer, leaf peeping in fall, and hiking and mountain biking until the snow flies.

“Nowadays, we love it even more in the summer,” Ms. Taylor said. “We have three businesses, 100 employees, and sometimes work 50 to 60 hours a week. I relax here.” She says she takes as much pleasure in a board game, an evening of poker or a good book out on the deck as she does on the slopes.

If Big Bear suggests an attitude adjustment, it also requires an altitude adjustment. The lake is 6,743 feet above sea level, and the surrounding terrain rises up to about 9,000 feet. The thin air is a draw for elite athletes like the boxers Fernando Vargas and Oscar De La Hoya. After training at over a mile above sea level, athletes feel super-oxygenated and have better stamina.

For many, though, the allure of schussing, water-skiing or training for the ring takes a back seat to natural pleasures. “My wife’s not a skier,” said Kent Kitselman, a restaurant owner in Orange, Calif., who has been coming to Big Bear his whole adult life. “She just loves to sit on the deck, read and watch the squirrels.”

Mr. Kitselman bought his first place as a bachelor, a one-bedroom cabin on a tiny bacon-strip lot where he could sleep after a day on the ski slopes. Now married and with grown children, he has traded up three times to his current place, a three-bedroom log house on nearly three acres of pine forest. He paid more than $1 million for it last year.

The Scene

Among mountain resorts in Southern California, Big Bear Lake is considered the least exclusive and most family friendly. Lake Arrowhead, 25 miles to the west, bans certain water sports and has no public beaches. At Big Bear, access is easy, and formality and designer labels count for little.

“You wouldn’t be kicked out if you wore a tie to the best restaurant in Big Bear,” Mr. Kitselman said. “But you’d be one of the few.”

Most restaurants are decidedly low key, serving tired families a hearty meal after a day on the slopes, the trails or the water. The Grizzly Manor Cafe is a local favorite. Open for breakfast and lunch, its signature creation is “the Blob”: a heart-stopping combination of eggs, cheese, bacon and biscuits.

Stores are mostly utilitarian, with a Kmart and a grocery on the main strip. The Village, a small retail district, has a few boutiques that cater to tourists seeking clothing and souvenirs.

When the powder is good, a ski-party atmosphere pervades the town. Traffic can be intense. On a recent weekend after a perfect snowfall, cars were bumper to bumper along Big Bear Boulevard. Instead of a round of horn-honking, though, people piled out of their stopped cars for an impromptu snowball fight.

Pros

The weather in Big Bear Lake is reliably good. The sun shines more than 300 days a year; it’s so dependable that the town is home to the Big Bear Solar Observatory, which is operated by the New Jersey Institute of Technology. Much of the land that surrounds the town is part of the San Bernardino National Forest.

Cons

Shopping is limited. Locals make the 40-mile drive down the mountain to San Bernardino to visit Trader Joe’s or Costco. And because the local population is small, and tourists clear out during the week, Big Bear Lake does not support a large number of fine restaurants.

The Real Estate Market

Although Big Bear Lake proper is clearly defined along the south shore, there are neighborhoods all around the lake, both in town and in the surrounding unincorporated areas of San Bernardino County.

Properties range from condos that can run for less than $200,000, local real estate agents say, all the way to sprawling lakeside homes for seven figures. Shoreline properties bring a premium. The deeper the water out your door, the steeper the price you’ll pay. One recent sale that raised eyebrows was an 8,000-square-foot log house that went for $3.5 million last November. With six bedrooms and 11 bathrooms, its price was driven by its lakeside location.

The number of homes sold has declined in each of the past two years. But, said Mike Wochner, a local real estate agent, “properties that are priced well are still selling.”

There is some new construction, mainly homes of more than $1 million. Big Bear won’t overdevelop, though, for two reasons. There is a limit to how wide the town can spread because of the public parklands that abut it. And Big Bear Lake has a limited aquifer, and its remote location would make it impractical to pipe in water.

And there are entry-level deals. Sugarloaf is a charming neighborhood with a mix of small houses and cabins on tiny lots. There are gingerbread Victorian-style cottages side by side with rough log cabins and tidy Capes. Houses there often sell for around $300,000.

Another option for budget buyers is government-lease cabins. A colony of cabins built in the 1920s on government land sits mostly on the north shore. Buyers purchase the cabins, but not the land beneath, which must be rented from the government. Owners pay a lease of perhaps $700 to $1,200 a year, but pay no property taxes.

LAY OF THE LAND

POPULATION 6,169, according to a 2006 estimate by the Census Bureau.

SIZE 6.6 square miles.

WHO’S BUYING Families in search of an outdoorsy getaway, the occasional Hollywood celebrity looking for someplace to be a neighbor rather than a star, and a smattering of elite athletes who train at altitude.

GETTING THERE High in the San Bernardino Mountains, Big Bear Lake is about 100 miles east from the heart of Los Angeles, 145 miles north of San Diego and 215 miles southwest of Las Vegas. For those with their own private planes, there is a small airport in Big Bear Lake.

WHILE YOU’RE LOOKING The region abounds in lodges and bed-and-breakfasts. At the Black Forest Lodge (41121 Big Bear Boulevard, 909-866-2166; www.blackforestlodge.com), prices range from $65 for a standard room midweek to more than $300 a night for a cabin on a weekend.