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Big Bear Lake runs on short-term rental demand. Cabins and chalets here generate income year-round from skiers, hikers, and lake visitors.
That cash flow profile makes this market a natural fit for DSCR loans — where the property's rent income qualifies the loan, not your W-2.
620–680
Min Credit Score
20–25%
Typical Down Payment
None (DSCR)
Income Docs Required
Non-QM pricing
Rates Vary By Profile
7–14 days typical
Hard Money Close Time
Investor Loans in Big Bear Lake
Most investor loans here are non-QM products. That means lenders skip your tax returns and focus on the deal itself.
Expect a minimum 620-680 credit score depending on the product. Down payments typically run 20-25% for rental acquisitions.
Local decision guide
Use this guide to connect investor loans eligibility, lender expectations, and local market factors before comparing payment options in Big Bear Lake.
Big Bear Lake runs on short-term rental demand. Cabins and chalets here generate income year-round from skiers, hikers, and lake visitors.
That cash flow profile makes this market a natural fit for DSCR loans — where the property's rent income qualifies the loan, not your W-2.
Most investor loans here are non-QM products. That means lenders skip your tax returns and focus on the deal itself.
Retail banks rarely touch short-term rental properties in mountain resort towns. They flag STR income as too unpredictable.
Wholesale lenders are a different story. We work with 200+ of them, and several specifically underwrite Big Bear-style vacation rentals.
The mistake I see most is investors trying to use a conventional loan on a Big Bear cabin. Fannie Mae has strict rules on STR properties.
Go DSCR from the start. It prices the deal on rental income, closes faster, and doesn't penalize you for owning multiple properties already.
DSCR loans are the workhorse here, but hard money fills a different role. Fix-and-flip buyers needing speed go hard money first, then refinance.
Bridge loans work when you're buying a new property before selling another. Interest-only options lower monthly carry costs while you stabilize a rental.
Big Bear sits at 6,700+ feet in San Bernardino County. Some lenders add overlays for mountain properties — higher reserves, stricter LTV caps.
San Bernardino County's STR ordinances have tightened in recent years. Confirm your target property has an active STR permit before you structure the loan.
Yes. Most DSCR lenders accept short-term rental income using market rent or actual platform history. Some require 12 months of STR receipts.
Plan on 20-25% minimum. Some non-QM lenders go to 80% LTV on strong-cash-flowing STR properties.
Rarely. Fannie Mae restricts STR properties heavily. Most Big Bear investors use DSCR or non-QM products instead.
Lenders don't require it — but you should confirm it anyway. Without a permit, your rental income projections may not hold up post-closing.
Yes. Non-QM and DSCR lenders don't cap property counts the way conventional programs do. Portfolio investors use this regularly.