Big Bear A-Frame Airbnb: 95% Occupancy, $125K Income

What does a 95% occupancy Big Bear Airbnb look like?

It looks like a 3-bedroom, 2-bath A-frame in Upper Moonridge with mountain views, a 700-square-foot deck, a hot tub, and easy parking. The listing reports 95% occupancy and about $125,000 in rental income so far in 2026. The numbers come from the layout, the guest-ready details, and the outdoor space working together.

By Rachael Smith | October 20, 2026

I tour a lot of cabins that advertise "great rental potential." Few of them can back it up. This one can, and I walked through it to show you exactly why.

The short version: it's a 1,512-square-foot A-frame at the top of Moonridge, and nearly every choice in the house was made with a guest in mind.

Before we get into the details, one honest note. The listing reports the rental figures, and past performance doesn't guarantee future results. In the video I mention I've validated the income on this one, which is something I do before I put numbers in front of a buyer. You should do the same on any rental you consider.

The numbers behind the tour

The listing reports 95% occupancy and $125,000 in rental income so far this year. When I filmed in early October, the booking calendar I reviewed showed about $112,000 earned to date, with some open dates still ahead. Watch me react to those numbers at 11:00, because honestly, they're unheard of for a 3-bedroom in this market.

Here's the pattern I noticed on the calendar: most stays are one or two nights, with the occasional three-night booking. That matters for how you set up a property.

• Short stays mean more turnovers, so cleaning has to be fast.
• Cleaners need to find everything quickly, so storage is labeled.
• Guests aren't cooking for a week, so an apartment-size fridge is plenty.

If you want more on how rental income stacks up after costs, I broke it down in what a Big Bear Airbnb really earns after expenses and in what an A-frame cabin earns.

Location and access

The home sits on a street-to-street lot off Villa Grove, with a circular driveway and flat parking just a few steps from the front door. In a snow market, that's not a small detail. Guests who can park and walk in without a struggle leave better reviews.

The stairs and railings are built for winter, too. The stair treads are grated so snow melts straight through, and they have enough grit that guests won't slip. I point this out at 2:09 because it's the kind of thing you only notice after you've owned a cabin through a storm.

Dual-pane windows throughout, a roof in great shape, and fresh exterior paint round out the exterior. If you're buying a cabin, those are the same items an inspector will look at first. My checklist of what to verify before buying a Big Bear STR walks through the rest.

Why this A-frame works as an Airbnb

A-frames can feel tight. Stairwells get awkward, and spiral staircases make everything feel smaller. This one doesn't. The floating butcher-block stairs and the open layout keep it airy, and the wall of windows looks out toward Bear Mountain.

Here's what I'd copy if I were setting up a rental of my own.

Guest-ready choices that cost very little

• A wood-lined mudroom with tile floors. Skis, boots, and wet gear land here instead of on your living room floor. See it at 3:08.
• Simple white bedding. Busy patterns hide stains you won't see until a guest does. Clean and plain is what people want in a mountain rental.
• Durable window shades. They're hard for renters to damage, and that saves you replacement costs.
• Smart touches. The deck café lights turn on at 4:00 and off at 10:00, and guests can ask Alexa to change them. It's a small thing that shows up in reviews.
• A labeled, fully stocked kitchen. Housekeeping moves faster, and guests don't have to hunt for anything. There's even a tea selection in the drawers below the coffee bar.

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Want more Big Bear rental breakdowns like this one? Rachael tours short-term rental cabins, shares the numbers, and points out what to look for every week on her YouTube channel. Subscribe here so you never miss a walkthrough.

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Sleeping space and the loft

On paper this is a 3-bedroom, but it really sleeps four groups. The main floor has two bedrooms with queen beds, and the primary suite upstairs has a king. The loft isn't counted as a bedroom, though a sleeper sofa would handle extra guests easily. There's a door that separates the primary from the loft, so everyone gets privacy. The loft has skylights, an arcade game, and a kids' corner. That's the sort of feature families remember when they leave a review. I walk through the loft at 13:43.

The dining table seats six, with three more at the bar top. That's right in line with how most guests travel to Big Bear: a family or two couples. You don't need to over-bed a cabin. You need the right bed count and room to spread out.

The deck does a lot of the selling

Roughly 700 square feet of new decking is what separates this house from the pack. It has a dining area, a sunken hot tub, a fire pit with an outdoor couch, and a privacy wall so you're not staring at the neighbors. The lot slopes and is fenced, which is great for kids and dogs.

In my experience, the deck and hot tub are what guests photograph first. If you're comparing properties, put the outdoor space near the top of your list. Take a look at 17:23 and you'll see what I mean.

If you're curious about the building style itself, I put together what to know about buying an A-frame cabin in Big Bear Lake. And if you're weighing price points in the area, take a look at this Moonridge vacation rental tour.

What to check before you fall for the numbers

Impressive occupancy is a great starting point, not a finish line. Here's what the clients I work with check before they write an offer.

1. Verify the income. Ask for booking history, not just a summary. Compare it with the calendar.
2. Look at the seasons. Big Bear income swings between ski season, summer lake season, and the shoulder months. A strong year doesn't mean every month is strong.
3. Check the heating and cooling. This home has central heat but no air conditioning. That's common in Big Bear, but know what guests expect in July.
4. Confirm the permits. Short-term rental rules vary by location, so verify the current requirements for any property before you buy.
5. Budget for management. This owner's results didn't happen by accident. A great cleaner and a strong guest experience show in every corner of the house.

This isn't a perfect formula. Some dates on this calendar weren't booked yet, and no cabin hits 100%. But the bones are right: location, views, parking, outdoor space, and a layout built for turnovers.

The takeaway

High occupancy isn't luck. It's a cabin with easy access, durable finishes, a deck guests love, and a layout that makes cleaning quick. This Upper Moonridge A-frame checks every one of those boxes.

If you want to see more rentals like this one, with the numbers and the honest pros and cons, subscribe to my YouTube channel. I post new Big Bear home tours and investment breakdowns every week, and I'm always happy to talk through a specific property if you're ready to buy.

About Rachael Smith
Rachael Smith is a top-producing real estate agent with RE/MAX Big Bear, specializing in mountain homes, short-term rental investments, and luxury properties in Big Bear Lake and surrounding areas. With over a decade of experience and hundreds of homes sold, she helps buyers, sellers, and investors make smart, strategic real estate decisions. Through her strong online presence and data-driven approach, Rachael connects clients with opportunities both on and off the market.