Brayton's Big Bear Blog

December Events for Big Bear

Warren Miller's New Ski Film "Dynasty" at the PAC
12-02 Celebrating 60 years of extreme skiing! Get your psyche for the upcoming ski/board season and support Jordan Romero's climb of Mt. Vinson in Antarctica.

Big Bear Loves Chocolate Holiday Bed & Breakfast Tour  12-05

The Chad Mitchell Trio at the PAC  12-05
Don't miss America's most beloved 1960's folk music trio featuring all original members!

Bowling with Santa  12-12

USASA Giant Slalom at Snow Summit  12-13

Go Huck Yourself at Snow Summit  12-16

Fairy & Fantasy Fashion Show and Tea  12-19
 
Snowshoe Tours at The Discovery Center
12-19, 12-20, 12-26, 12-27
Come celebrate our winter wonderland by playing in it!

Alpine Race #1 at Snow Summit 12-27

The Nutcracker Ballet at the PAC
12-28, 12-29 The Christmas Classic featuring the Maple Youth Ballet!
 
New Year's Eve Party at Bear Mountain  12-31

Snow Summit New Year's Party   12-31

New Year's Eve Torchlight Parade at Snow Summit
12-31 A spectacular sight to see as 100 skiers and snowboarders carry torches down Miracle Mile to weave a mysterious path of light to ring in the New Year.

Best Western New Years Eve Party  12-31

Northwoods Resort New Year's Celebration 12-31

Big Bear Bank Owned Deals

There are some really nice bank owned deals right now! Here is a link to the 56 on the market today.
56 Bank Owned Properties Available Today

Homebuyer Tax Credit Changes

This is a chart that explains the new tax credit for home purchases.

Download Tax credit chart

Big Bear Real Estate Update - Tax Credit Extension

 

The tax credit will be extended through April 30, 2010, with a 60-day extension if a binding contract is in place prior to the deadline.  First-time home buyers will continue to receive a tax credit of up to $8,000, while existing homeowners will receive a credit of up to $6,500.  Existing homeowners will be eligible for the $6,500 if they have lived in their current residences for at least five years.  The bill also will increase the qualifying income limits from $75,000 for single tax filers and $150,000 for joint filers to $125,000 and $225,000, respectively.  The purchase price of the home is capped at $800,000.

Under additional provisions in the bill, taxpayers can claim the credit on purchases completed in 2010 on their 2009 income tax returns. The bill maintains the provision that home buyers do not have to repay the credit, provided the home remains their primary residence for 36 months after purchase, and waives this requirement for active duty military personnel who move due to a military order.

For weeks, the CALIFORNIA ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS (C.A.R and its members have urged Congress and the U.S. Senate to extend and expand this crucial piece of legislation.

Nationwide, more than 1.4 million first-time home buyers were given the opportunity to become homeowners as a result of the Federal Tax Credit for First-time Home Buyers.  According to C.A.R. research, nearly 40 percent of first-time home buyers surveyed said they would not have purchased a home without the federal tax credit, and approximately 70 percent said the tax credit was "the most important" or a "very important" factor in their decision to buy a home.