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...]
Top 10 Tax Breaks For Homeowners
December 14, 2012 by Leave a Comment
By owning your own Big Bear home, you are eligible to receive many tax benefits throughout the time you own the property. Here’s a brief overview of the top ten homeowner tax deductions: 1. Mortgage Interest Interest that you pay on your mortgage is tax deductible, within limits. If you're married and filing jointly, you can deduct all your interest payments on a maximum of $1 million in mortgage debt secured by a first or second home. The maximums are cut in half for married taxpayers filing separately. Note: … [Read more...]
Maximizing Your Real Estate Agent
September 10, 2012 by Leave a Comment
CNN Money: “When you go to an open house and meet a real estate agent showing the property, that agent represents the seller's interests. So you might be better off using a buyer's agent whose job is to represent your interests.” Purchasing real estate in Big Bear is an important financial decision. Home buyers will confront complex issues and lots of paperwork. Finding a buyer’s agent with expertise and local knowledge is invaluable. Market knowledge is one of the most important assets a buyer’s agent brings … [Read more...]
Title Insurance
July 19, 2012 by Leave a Comment
Title insurance provides coverage for certain losses in the title that may have occurred prior to your ownership. It protects against claims resulting from various defects such as prior fraud or forgery that might go undetected until after closing, including liens, encumbrances, and defects that were unknown when the title policy was issued and may possibly hurt your ownership or investment. What protection am I receiving with a title policy? A title insurance policy contains provisions for the payment of the … [Read more...]
Real Estate Advice for Newlyweds in Big Bear
February 22, 2012 by Leave a Comment
The wedding and the honeymoon are joyous times, celebrating with family and friends. As you move into daily life, home buying becomes one of the largest decisions you make together. Planning and communicating will save you time and reduce arguments later. Define how long you expect to live there and whether this is where you will begin to raise a family. This will impact what you need in a home. 1. Deposit Considerations Prior to considering your amount for deposit, be sure you have at least three to six months … [Read more...]
