Log Home for Sale in Big Bear City: Meadowbrook Tour

What's it like to buy a log home in Meadowbrook Estates, Big Bear City?

This true log home sits on 1.05 wooded acres in Meadowbrook Estates, with four bedrooms, three bathrooms, about 2,750 square feet, and a separate guest unit. It's listed just under $1 million by Alli Grant Shoemaker with RE/MAX in the Village. If you want real logs, real privacy, and room to spread out, this tour shows what that looks like—and what to check before you buy.

By Rachael Smith | October 14, 2026

You can't even see this house from the road. It's tucked behind mature pines on over an acre, and that's the point of Meadowbrook Estates—big parcels, quiet streets, and a roughly 10-minute drive to town.

I toured it so you can see what a just-under-a-million-dollar log home actually delivers in Big Bear City.

The neighborhood and the lot

Meadowbrook Estates is one of my favorite neighborhoods in Big Bear. Nearly every parcel is over an acre, and you're about a quarter mile from the road that takes you to Highway 38 or into Sugarloaf. Watch Rachael break down the location at 0:13.

In my experience, you'll find more full-time residents out here than vacation rentals. These homes tend to get loved on by the people who own them, and the owners usually don't need to rent them out to make the numbers work. If your plan is a nightly-rental business, a Moonridge vacation rental cabin is a better fit. If you want a home to live in, this is the kind of street you're looking for.

On the lot itself:

• Parking for roughly a dozen cars—more if you count off the driveway
• Gated toward the back, with a double-gated fence so you can pull things into the backyard
• Low-maintenance rock and turf landscaping, the way most Big Bear yards are done
• Mature trees that sit a safe distance from the house

That last point matters. Fire season shapes buying in these mountains, and the tree spacing here means the fire department's inspection report should come back clean. Still, ask your agent to confirm it for any home you're serious about. And if you're comparing a home that sits against open forest, read about buying a Big Bear home that backs to national forest first.

What "true log home" really means

Here's where I slow down, because this is the detail that separates a log home from a cabin-style house.

A lot of what you see in Big Bear is D-log—flat on the inside with a slight hump outside. This house is closer to an O-log, which is round. That means what you see outside is what you get inside. Log walls in the living room, log walls in the primary suite, and log headers across the kitchen and dining ceilings. Watch Rachael break this down at 3:18.

Real logs come with real upkeep, though. You're supposed to sand and stain the whole exterior about every five years. The trick I've seen owners use: do one side of the house each year. The sun-baked side often needs a second pass, so you can repeat it in year five. This home's logs are well treated, and the decks and handrails are clean, which tells you the owners kept up with it. The staining tip is at 4:03.

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Want more Big Bear home tours and buying tips like this? Rachael walks through homes, neighborhoods, and the questions buyers ask before making an offer every week on her YouTube channel. Subscribe here so you never miss a tour.

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Inside: kitchen, living room, and primary suite

The great room is open—living room, kitchen, and dining room all flow together. You've got dual-pane windows, central heat, small vents that act as your air conditioning when you open them, and a stacked-stone fireplace that matches the stone outside. It's an electric fireplace with a remote, which means the TV can sit on the half-log mantle without overheating. Furniture is negotiable, and it's all very mountain.

The kitchen is where I'd spend my mornings:

• Black granite with amber flecks and multilevel counters
• Stainless appliances, a double oven, and a coffee bar
• Pop-up outlets in the counters—a coffee-shop touch I love
• A laundry room with stackable washer and dryer and plenty of storage

The dining room seats eight, and it opens to the backyard. See the kitchen at 7:12.

The primary suite sits at one end of the house, with the other bedrooms at the opposite end. It has log walls, an electric fireplace, a walk-in closet with a built-in safe, and deck access. The bathroom has a jetted spa tub, a rainfall walk-in shower, and dual sinks—better than the bathrooms in many homes I tour. Tour the primary suite at 9:10.

One honest note: this property is on septic. That's common in this part of town, and it just means you'll want to be gentle with what goes down the drain. Ask for the septic records during your inspection.

The loft, the backyard, and the guest unit

Upstairs, the loft is reached by a wide, code-friendly stairwell—no ducking on the turn. You could use it as a game room, a kids' hangout, or a fifth bedroom with glass panels for privacy. The loft is at 15:36.

Out back, the decks are in good shape, the six-foot fencing is the maximum Big Bear allows, and the roof looks solid. Then there's the extra: an independent second unit with its own entry, a living and sleeping area, a kitchenette, a tiled bathroom with a cast-iron tub, and its own wall heater. It could host family, house a long-term guest, or—subject to local rules—work as a weekend rental. If the idea of a second unit appeals to you, read the Big Bear ADU advantage before you buy. See the guest unit at 19:06.

Is it priced right?

At just under $1 million, I think it's one of the better-priced homes in the neighborhood. Acre-plus lots, true log construction, and a second unit don't come around often at that number. But a good price isn't the whole picture—you'll also want to compare insurance costs, especially for a wooded property. Our guide to Big Bear home insurance, the FAIR Plan, and DIC coverage walks through what to expect.

The takeaway: a log home rewards owners who maintain it, and this one shows the care. If you're weighing log homes against other styles, I can help you compare them.

Rachael shows a new Big Bear property almost every week on her channel, with straight talk about condition, price, and what to ask before you write an offer. Subscribe to her YouTube channel and bring your questions.

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.