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1288 Balsam Drive, Big Bear Lake, CA, USA
Cash-flow positive, but the margin over debt service is thin.
Investment potential
Your scenario · adjust the levers below or open advanced settings to see how returns change
$54,377
$4,531/mo · at 37% occupancy & $402/night
$919
$77/mo after costs & mortgage
Cap rate
6.2%
Cash-on-cash
0.6%
DSCR
1.03
Confidence
Your assumptions
Revenue
$54,377/yr
Market avg: $54,377/yr · 37% occ · $402 ADR
Financing
$29,939/yr
Operating costs
$23,519/yr
How this property compares to similar short-term rentals nearby.
Comparable set · 50 properties
$223–$670
Median $402
13%–68%
Median 37%
$29.9K–$160.0K
Median $50.3K
236–365
Median 325
This property · $54.4K
Comparable properties (50)
Cash flow potential Medium · Appreciation potential Medium
365 days available · 253 days booked ·
312 days available · 131 days booked ·
331 days available · 201 days booked ·
365 days available · 143 days booked ·
291 days available · 143 days booked ·
303 days available · 145 days booked ·
236 days available · 150 days booked ·
317 days available · 139 days booked ·
360 days available · 131 days booked ·
314 days available · 120 days booked ·
276 days available · 94 days booked ·
245 days available · 145 days booked ·
298 days available · 146 days booked ·
281 days available · 167 days booked ·
364 days available · 170 days booked ·
333 days available · 106 days booked ·
303 days available · 117 days booked ·
306 days available · 124 days booked ·
333 days available · 100 days booked ·
329 days available · 138 days booked ·
331 days available · 116 days booked ·
344 days available · 96 days booked ·
278 days available · 118 days booked ·
309 days available · 96 days booked ·
365 days available · 97 days booked ·
293 days available · 112 days booked ·
341 days available · 149 days booked ·
337 days available · 115 days booked ·
346 days available · 140 days booked ·
307 days available · 127 days booked ·
300 days available · 123 days booked ·
365 days available · 102 days booked ·
302 days available · 112 days booked ·
315 days available · 98 days booked ·
329 days available · 114 days booked ·
302 days available · 124 days booked ·
261 days available · 95 days booked ·
316 days available · 138 days booked ·
324 days available · 115 days booked ·
315 days available · 103 days booked ·
354 days available · 203 days booked ·
344 days available · 114 days booked ·
333 days available · 73 days booked ·
325 days available · 103 days booked ·
317 days available · 96 days booked ·
354 days available · 64 days booked ·
329 days available · 86 days booked ·
340 days available · 107 days booked ·
360 days available · 93 days booked ·
365 days available · 74 days booked ·
Revenue and occupancy reflect Chalet's modeled estimates from observed booking activity for comparable active listings. Individual results vary with management, seasonality, and pricing.
Who this property is for
The same property is a great buy for one investor and a trap for another. Here's the honest read.
1031 / high-equity buyer
~$123.5K
Year-1 tax shield
Buying with cash or low leverage removes the debt-coverage problem entirely, so the thesis rests on appreciation plus a large first-year write-off. At roughly 25% of purchase price, the shield is substantial enough to carry the deal on its own.
Price-disciplined buyer
$515.4K
Break-even purchase price
The deal already breaks even at or above the Zestimate, so you don't need a discount to make the math work. Buy at asking and the numbers still hold — rare enough in Big Bear Lake to be worth moving on.
DSCR cash-flow buyer
1.03
DSCR at asking
The property covers its debt service at asking but sits below the 1.20 most lenders want to see, so expect a larger down payment or a rate buy-down to get it financed. There's no margin for a soft season.
For a buyer who materially participates and qualifies for the STR tax treatment.
$123.5K
Estimated first-year deduction · range $102.5K–$140.8K
Why this matters here
At a marginal bracket, this deduction can be worth $37.9K–$52.1K in estimated federal tax saved.
This only applies if you meet the IRS material-participation tests for short-term rentals and are not using a full-service property manager.
Estimate, subject to CPA review. Cost-segregation percentages shown here are illustrative and depend on an actual study of the property.
California does not conform to federal bonus depreciation, so your state tax treatment will differ from the federal figures above.
Chalet can introduce a cost-segregation partner — this is not tax, legal, or financial advice.
How cash-on-cash return moves with purchase price. The marked line is break-even (1.0 DSCR).
At this price: cash-on-cash +0.6%, DSCR 1.03, cash flow $919/yr
| Price vs asking | Price | Cash-on-cash | DSCR | Band |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| -25% | $375,000 | 7.2% | 1.37 | Positive |
| -22% | $390,000 | 6.2% | 1.32 | Positive |
| -15% | $425,000 | 4.1% | 1.21 | Positive |
| -8% | $460,000 | 2.4% | 1.12 | Positive |
| Asking | $500,000 | 0.6% | 1.03 | Positive |
| +8% | $540,000 | -0.9% | 0.95 | Below break-even |
| +15% | $575,000 | -2.1% | 0.90 | Below break-even |
Break-even price
$515,354
~-3% under Zestimate. Where this property reaches 1.0 DSCR and neutral cash flow.
Discount needed
−$15,354
The gap between asking and the price a cash-flow buyer can underwrite.
If refi to 5.5% in 24 mo
+$4,388/yr
Illustrative cash-flow improvement at asking price if rates fall. Planning figure, not a forecast.
Annual avg $4,531 · peaks at $7,030 in Dec
Annual avg 39% · peaks at 50% in Jul
$77/mo after all expenses
Cash to close
Down payment, closing costs, and furnishing
$145,000
Return on cash:17.9%
You qualify for STR financing
Your DSCR is 1.03 · lenders typically require 1.0+.
Get matched with 2–3 vetted STR lenders, free.
What the deal returns over the hold — including the tax shield, which is the whole point for an appreciation buyer.
Levered IRR
19.8%
over 5-yr hold, with tax shield
Equity multiple
2.1×
total proceeds vs. $145,000 invested
Projected value at exit
$638,141
year 5 · 5.0% annual appreciation
Tax shield contribution
+7.2 pts
of IRR comes from year-1 depreciation
| Year | Equity | Appreciation | Cumulative cash flow | Total value |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | $128,809 | $25,000 | $46,614 | $200,423 |
| Year 2 | $132,894 | $51,250 | $48,349 | $232,493 |
| Year 3 | $137,274 | $78,813 | $50,911 | $266,998 |
| Year 4 | $141,970 | $107,753 | $54,314 | $304,038 |
| Year 5 | $147,007 | $138,141 | $58,570 | $343,717 |
Projection, not a promise.
Assumes 5.0% annual appreciation, 1.5% rent growth (operating costs held flat), and that the property qualifies for short-term-rental tax treatment. The year-1 depreciation shield depends on a real cost-segregation study and your tax situation — consult a CPA.
Appreciation is the dominant driver of this return. When cash flow is negative, the deal depends on the property gaining value — it is not paying for itself from income.
Appreciation, rent growth, and financing rates are editable under Edit financials.
STR deals turn on local rules and demand that a generalist agent misses. Chalet matches you with a vetted Big Bear Lake agent who knows which properties actually cash flow — and which to avoid.
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Real Estate Investment Analysis & Market Insights
Disclaimer. This page and the data presented are for informational purposes only. The information provided should not be construed as financial, legal, or investment advice. Market conditions can change rapidly, and past performance does not guarantee future results. Always consult with qualified professionals before making investment decisions.