Ski-In/Ski-Out Condo in Big Bear Lake: Rental Potential

Is a ski-in/ski-out condo in Big Bear Lake a good rental investment?

It can be, if the numbers and the rules work. A renovated, ski-in/ski-out condo with forest access and a private spa can appeal to year-round guests, but rental income is never guaranteed. Before you buy, confirm short-term rental rules with the city and HOA, build a realistic income estimate that includes fees and slow weeks, and inspect the unit as carefully as you would a cabin.

By Rachael Smith | October 16, 2026

"Buy the cabin. Let strangers pay it off one weekend at a time. And show up yourself for the good ones."

That's the plan I laid out in a short video about a renovated ski-in/ski-out condo at 861 Thrush 8 in Big Bear Lake.

It's a fun way to put it. Here's the more careful version, because a plan like that only works when you check the details first.

In my experience, the buyers who do best with a mountain rental are the ones who treat it like a business and a getaway at the same time. They fall in love with the place, then run the numbers anyway.

Here's how I'd evaluate a condo like this one.

What this condo offers

This is a two-bedroom, two-bath condo in a complex, and it's one of the nicest units I've seen there. It's completely renovated.

The layout is worth noticing:

• Upstairs: an open-concept kitchen, dining area, and living room.
• Downstairs: both bedrooms and both bathrooms, tucked away privately.
• Lower deck: a private spa, National Forest views, and direct forest access for hiking and mountain biking.

Add ski-in/ski-out access, and you have a place that works in more than one season. A guest can ski in winter, then hike or bike straight from the property in summer.

That layout also helps with groups. Putting both bedrooms and bathrooms on one floor keeps sleeping areas separate from the living space, which is something couples and families renting together tend to appreciate.

Why ski-in/ski-out matters for rentals

Big Bear's winter draw is Snow Summit and Bear Mountain. Most of your calendar from December through March comes from people who want to be on the mountain.

When guests can get to the slopes without loading the car, you're selling convenience on top of a place to sleep. That's a real selling point in your listing, and it's the kind of feature that can help a unit stand out from the standard cabin.

Honest qualifier: access to the slopes is only part of the picture. Reviews, photos, cleanliness, pricing, and response times are what actually fill a calendar. Location opens the door. Operations keep it open.

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The part most people skip: rules and numbers

A vacation-rental plan lives or dies on two questions: are you allowed to do it, and does the math work?

Check the rules first

Short-term rental rules depend on the city or county, the specific property, and the HOA. Before you write an offer, confirm in writing:

1. Whether short-term rentals are permitted for that unit and whether a permit or license is required.
2. What the HOA's rules say about rentals, minimum stays, occupancy, parking, and quiet hours.
3. Whether there are rules specific to hot tubs or spas.
4. How transfers work if the unit already has a permit.

I'm not giving legal advice here, and rules change. Your agent, the city, and the HOA are the sources to rely on.

Build a realistic income estimate

The "let strangers pay it off" idea is appealing, but it isn't a guarantee. A sound estimate starts with the costs, not the dream nightly rate:

• Mortgage, property taxes, and insurance
• HOA dues
• Cleaning, laundry, and supplies between guests
• Utilities, internet, and hot tub maintenance
• Platform fees or a property manager's cut
• Slow weeks, which every mountain market has

Then compare that against a conservative occupancy and rate range. If the unit only works at the best-case number, it doesn't work.

For some owners, the goal isn't to pay off the whole mortgage. It's to offset enough of the cost to make the second home comfortable. That's a more honest target, and it's one a lot of my clients choose.

Think in seasons, not just ski season

Winter is the headline, but a condo with direct forest access gives you a story for the rest of the year. Hiking and mountain biking from the property can matter for spring, summer, and fall guests, and that's the kind of detail worth putting in your listing photos and description.

It also changes how you'd plan for the calendar. Instead of counting on one big season, you'd look at how the shoulder months and the summer weekends could fill in, and you'd price accordingly. I'd rather you underestimate those weeks than build a plan that needs every one of them to hit.

If you're buying with the idea of using the place yourself, decide now which weekends are yours. The "good ones" in the video are real. The more you block for personal use, the more your rental income estimate has to drop. Write that trade-off down before you buy, not after.

Who this kind of condo fits

From the buyers I work with, a ski-in/ski-out condo tends to fit three types of people:

• The weekend skier who wants to skip the commute and the parking lot.
• The part-time owner who'd rent it out when they're not using it, and wants low-maintenance ownership.
• The investor who's comfortable with HOA rules and wants a unit that photographs well and stands out online.

If none of those sounds like you, a single-family cabin might be a better fit.

Inspect a condo like a cabin

A renovated condo is a great start. It still deserves a careful look. Here's what I'd want to see in an inspection and in the HOA documents:

• The age and condition of the roof and decks, and who is responsible for them (you or the HOA).
• The spa's condition, electrical connection, and service history.
• Heating and freeze protection, since Big Bear winters are hard on plumbing.
• HOA reserves, any special assessments, and the building's maintenance history.

I covered what inspectors look for on mountain homes in a separate video on inspection surprises. A lot of it applies to condos, too.

Compare it to other ski-area options

If you want to see how a ski-area home compares, I toured a single-story home with slope views in Big Bear City that's priced under $500,000. Read the Big Bear City home with ski slope views tour to compare the trade-offs between a condo and a single-family home.

A condo usually means less maintenance and shared amenities, but more rules and dues. A house means more control, and more to maintain. Neither is automatically better. It depends on how you plan to use the place.

Next steps

The short takeaway: a renovated, ski-in/ski-out condo with forest access and a private spa has the ingredients for a strong getaway and a rental, but only if the rules allow it and the numbers hold up.

Start with the rules, run a cautious estimate, and inspect the unit. Then decide whether it fits your plan.

If you want more information or a private showing of this condo, call or text me at 909-744-2190, or visit buyinbigbearlake.com. And subscribe to my YouTube channel for weekly Big Bear listings, rental strategy, and market updates.

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.