FoxWoods Big Bear Lake — The Perfect Short-Term Rental Investment for 2026
If you’ve been looking for a performing, permitted, turnkey short-term rental investment in Southern California — your search may be over.
This is your complete Big Bear Lake STR investment guide for one of the most compelling properties currently available in the Big Bear market — FoxWoods at 432 Temple Lane, Big Bear Lake, California.
I’m Tom Stewart, Orange County REALTOR® and STR investment specialist. I’ve analyzed dozens of short-term rental properties across Southern California’s top vacation markets — Big Bear, Joshua Tree, and Palm Springs. And FoxWoods checks every box that serious STR investors should be looking for in 2026.
Let me show you exactly why.
The Big Bear Lake STR Market in 2026
Before we talk about FoxWoods specifically, let’s talk about the market it sits in — because context matters enormously in STR investing.
Big Bear Lake is one of Southern California’s most visited mountain destinations. Located approximately 100 miles from Los Angeles and 80 miles from Orange County, it draws millions of visitors annually for skiing in winter, hiking and water sports in summer, and fall foliage in between. It is a genuine four-season destination — and that matters for STR revenue projections.
The Big Bear STR market has matured significantly over the past several years. The early days of easy profits from any property listed on Airbnb are over. What’s replaced them is a more sophisticated market where the properties that win are the ones with the right permits, the right amenities, the right location, and the right operating history.
Here’s what the current Big Bear STR landscape looks like for investors:
Tightening Regulations San Bernardino County has been progressively tightening its short-term rental regulations. Active STR permits are increasingly difficult to obtain for new properties — and in some areas of Big Bear, new permit issuance has been effectively paused. This regulatory environment has done something important for existing permitted properties — it has made their permits significantly more valuable.
A Big Bear property with an active, transferable STR permit is not just a vacation home. It’s a permitted business. And permitted businesses command a premium.
Strong Demand Despite regulatory headwinds, demand for Big Bear vacation rentals remains robust. Southern California’s population of nearly 20 million people provides an enormous and consistent demand base for mountain getaways — and Big Bear is the closest quality mountain destination to the largest population centers.
Revenue Polarization The Big Bear STR market has become increasingly bifurcated. Properties with premium amenities — hot tubs, saunas, firepits, lake proximity — are capturing an outsized share of available revenue. Properties without those amenities are competing on price and losing ground.
This bifurcation creates a clear investment thesis: buy properties with premium amenities in premium locations, and your revenue potential is significantly above market average.
FoxWoods is exactly that kind of property.
FoxWoods — The Property
432 Temple Lane, Big Bear Lake, CA 92315
FoxWoods is a 3-bedroom, 2-bathroom single-family residence with 1,040 square feet of living space on a 6,800 square foot lot. Built in 1968 and fully remodeled to turnkey condition, it operates as an active short-term rental with a current, valid STR permit.
But the numbers on paper don’t capture what makes FoxWoods special. Let me walk you through what this property actually offers.
Location One block from Big Bear Lake. Five-minute walk to the water. Ten to fifteen minutes by car to Snow Summit and Bear Mountain ski resorts. This is micro-location gold — close enough to the lake to command premium summer nightly rates, close enough to the slopes to capture peak winter demand.
Amenities — 40 Total FoxWoods has been equipped with the amenities that drive premium nightly rates and five-star reviews:
Private hot tub — 6-seat capacity Private sauna room Outdoor gas firepit Wood-burning fireplace Gas BBQ grill 65″ Smart TV with Bose audio 50″ Smart TV in each bedroom Full kitchen with dishwasher Private fenced backyard Front deck with lake views High-speed WiFi Garage and on-site parking
This amenity package is not accidental — it’s a deliberate revenue strategy. Guests consistently pay $50 to $100 more per night for properties with hot tubs and saunas. Over 45 months of operation, that premium compounds into significant additional revenue.
Guest Rating 4.79 stars across 169 verified reviews. That rating places FoxWoods in the top tier of Big Bear Lake Airbnb properties — and it matters more than most investors realize.
Airbnb’s search algorithm heavily weights guest ratings and review volume. A property with 169 reviews and a 4.79 rating receives dramatically more organic placement in search results than a comparable property with fewer reviews or a lower rating. That organic placement drives bookings without paid promotion — and it takes years to build.
When you buy FoxWoods you’re not just buying a cabin. You’re buying 45 months of five-star operating history and the algorithmic advantage that comes with it.
The Numbers — A Full Investment Analysis
Let’s talk about what serious investors actually want to know — the financial performance.
Asking Price: $659,900
Verified Revenue FoxWoods has generated over $167,000 in verified Airbnb revenue across 45 consecutive months of operation. This isn’t projected revenue — it’s verified revenue sourced from actual Airbnb host dashboard exports and owner statements.
The pro forma uses 2023 verified gross revenue of $49,606 as the baseline — representing a normal snow year. Revenue in 2024 and 2025 was reduced by below-average snowfall seasons. 2026 figures represent January through March actuals only.
Operating Expenses Pro forma estimated annual operating expenses of $19,279 include: Property management fees Cleaning and supplies Utilities Insurance Maintenance and repairs Platform fees
Pro Forma Net Income: $30,327 annually
Cap Rate: 4.6% — nearly 2x the Big Bear market average
For context, the Big Bear STR market average cap rate based on current data is approximately 2.3%. FoxWoods at 4.6% represents nearly double that market average performance.
What Does That Mean in Practice? At current asking price and pro forma net income, FoxWoods generates a cash-on-cash return that significantly outperforms the broader Big Bear market. For an investor who finances the purchase, the actual cash-on-cash return will depend on financing terms — but the underlying asset performance is clear.
Why the STR Permit Changes Everything
I want to spend a moment on the STR permit because it’s genuinely the most underappreciated aspect of this investment.
San Bernardino County has been progressively restricting new STR permit issuance in Big Bear. The regulatory environment for new permits has become increasingly difficult — and in some zones, effectively impossible.
What this means for FoxWoods is straightforward — the active, transferable STR permit that comes with this property is not replaceable at current market conditions. If you purchased a comparable Big Bear property without a permit today, you might not be able to obtain one.
The permit is infrastructure. It’s the legal right to operate a short-term rental business on this specific property. And in an environment where that right is becoming increasingly restricted, its value as a component of the overall investment is significant and growing.
Who Is This Investment For?
FoxWoods is the right investment for:
The cash flow investor who wants a performing asset with verified revenue history and above-market cap rate in a proven vacation market.
The lifestyle investor who wants a personal vacation property that pays for itself — and then some — when they’re not using it.
The portfolio investor who wants a permitted, turnkey Southern California STR with established Airbnb presence and five-star operating history.
The 1031 exchange buyer who needs to identify a quality replacement property quickly and wants the certainty of verified performance data rather than projections.
Want the Full Pro Forma?
I’ve prepared a complete investor pro forma for FoxWoods that includes the full revenue history, detailed expense breakdown, financing scenarios, and sensitivity analysis.
If you’re a serious investor interested in this property — I want to give you everything you need to make an informed decision.
📞 Call or text me directly: (949) 990-2489 📧 Email me: tom@stewartregroup.com 📋 Or fill out the contact form at stewartregroup.com/contact
I’ll send you the complete pro forma package within 24 hours.
Tom Stewart, REALTOR® · DRE #02086556 · Stewart Real Estate Group at eXp Realty. This pro forma is provided for informational purposes only and does not constitute a guarantee of future performance. Buyers are encouraged to conduct independent due diligence.
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