Want to Purchase a Lake Tahoe Forest Service Cabin?

forest service cabin for saleOur Team receive phone calls and emails often from Lake Tahoe home buyers looking to purchase a cabin in the mountains. The word “cabin” means different things to different people, from those made of logs and in the middle of nowhere, to a modern chalet next to the ski resorts. Some buyers are intrigued when looking at Lake Tahoe real estate when they see US Forest Service cabins for sale and perhaps weren’t even aware that it was possible to purchase one of these quaint cabins. So here is some information to consider.

Owning a Forest Service Cabin

Lake Tahoe Forest Service cabins provide owners with unique opportunities. You enjoy undeveloped areas with rustic and natural surroundings and they fit the true meaning of “Getting away from it all”.

What are the USFS like?

Most USFS cabins are smaller in size, between 800sqft and 1,300 sqft and were originally built in the 1940’s and 1950’s. The common layout is the kitchen, dining, living area downstairs along with 1 bathroom and then the bedrooms upstairs. Some don’t have interior bathrooms and instead have a out-house located just outside the cabin. There are even cabins that have been extensively remodeled with higher end materials and appliances.

How much do USFS cost to purchase?

The price range for USFS cabins is very broad and mainly depends on the specific location of that cabin. There are cabins priced under $100,000 and a select few priced over $1,000,000. But most fall in the $120,000 to $250,000 price range. The higher priced ones are mainly located at Echo Lakes. To see an example of a high end Echo Lakes cabin that sold recently CLICK HERE.

With the average single family home in Lake Tahoe being priced around $500,000 you can see the attraction to USFS cabins with their much lower average price range under $250,000. So what are the differences between a single family house and a USFS cabin and why are they so much cheaper?

Here are the often asked questions and answers:

1)  Do you own the land when you purchase a US Forest Service Cabin?

You do not own the land. It sells with a Bill of Sale like personal property. You then lease the property from the Forest Service and you have a special use permit to use the cabin.

2)  Can I get a loan to purchase one of these cabins?

Conventional financing is not available to purchase them. These are “cash only” sales. Some home buyers will refinance their primary or other properties they own or use a line of credit for the purchase. It is common for cabin owners to provide seller financing for a new buyer.

3)  How does the IRS recognize a Forest Service cabin?

They are a Capital Asset much like a car or boat.

4)  How much are property taxes?

Owners pay the county 1.25% of the purchase price.

5)  What does the Forest Service get?

They receive the lease income. Depending on the area there may be Homeowner’s Association dues as well.

6)  Do I need to have Property Insurance?

Yes. You need to have insurance for the structure, personal property, and personal liability.

7)  Can I use my cabin in winter?

The short answer is Yes, but with some exceptions. It can be an adventure to visit most cabins in the winter with snowshoeing or skiing access. Water is disconnected most of the time to prevent freezing in the winter and normally the roads are not plowed. Find a safe place to park your vehicle off the main roads and away from Cal Trans plowing areas or your car could be towed, ticketed or even buried! Some cabin owners have contracted with independent snow plow operators to clear the roads after each large storm. Other cabin roads have gates that block driving access completely in the winter. If the cabin is located below 4,000 feet in elevation then the snow won’t be as much of a problem usually.

8)  What dates do I have access to the cabin?

The typical season is Mother’s Day in May to Halloween in October. Times are subject to change due to weather and temperatures. Cabins under 4,000 feet elevation may have a longer season, but these aren’t in Lake Tahoe since our lowest elevation is over 6,000 feet.

9)  How long does my lease last?

Currently, the Highway 50 corridor cabins have 20-year leases and everyone is on the same schedule. Some cabins have conditional permits until they meet certain criteria.

10) How much does a lease cost?

Annual fees range from $400 to $3,500 or more based on the appraised value. The value appraises about every ten years.

11) How much are the Escrow fees to transfer ownership?

Fees are about $400 for each the Buyer and the Seller plus an additional $50 for each UCC Name Search through the Secretary of State.

12) How can you get more information?

We are always available at 530-541-2465 and the US Forest Service Ranger office at 530-647-5354 (ask for a copy of the Guidelines for Summer Residences Handbook).  Or, here is their handbook and other information.

lake-tahoe-cabinWhere to Find Forest Service Cabins in Lake Tahoe

There are a total of 975 cabins in the Eldorado National Forest with over 15,000 in the whole country. There are currently a couple for sale in South Lake Tahoe and others located west of the lake off Hwy 50 in the Strawberry area.

Many of the South Lake Tahoe area cabins are found in Christmas Valley along the historic Hawley Grade as well as around Fallen Leaf Lake, Echo Summit and Echo Lake.

You have plenty of options available to choose from.  Some cabins in Lake Tahoe are privately owned and don’t have the same restrictions and rules as US Forest Service cabins.

Ready to Buy a Cabin in Lake Tahoe?

  1. Sign up for an email notification so you’ll know the minute a home is listed.
  2. Call us directly at 530-541-2465 or stop by my office and we’ll sit down and explore all options.
  3. Get my newsletter every other month which gives you an insight into Lake Tahoe real estate.
  4. Search all homes for sale around the lake.  Our website makes it easy to search for homes that match your criteria.
  5. Get valuable and current information when you sign up to receive Lake Tahoe real estate articles sent to your inbox.

Dan Spano did a fantastic job in finding the right property for us to purchase.

After making a decision to purchase our condo, Dan and his assistant Amanda Adams were outstanding in keeping us informed throughout the process to closing. They both have gone over and above their real estate duties and we could not be more appreciative.

John T.

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2018-08-08T01:25:40+00:00

John T.

After making a decision to purchase our condo, Dan and his assistant Amanda Adams were outstanding in keeping us informed throughout the process to closing. They both have gone over and above their real estate duties and we could not be more appreciative.

We were pleased with our experience buying a vacation home.

We came across Paradise Real Estate by chance and were pleased with our experience buying a vacation home. Amanda was very easy to work with and provided us abundant updates, videos, pictures and information as we moved through the process. We have already referred several friends and will seek her help again.

Steve R.

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2021-03-31T02:12:52+00:00

Steve R.

We came across Paradise Real Estate by chance and were pleased with our experience buying a vacation home. Amanda was very easy to work with and provided us abundant updates, videos, pictures and information as we moved through the process. We have already referred several friends and will seek her help again.

Dan and Amanda are the perfect professional realtor team!

They possess many years of experience and knowledge of all neighborhoods surrounding the beautiful and grand Lake Tahoe. They are proficient and responsive through email communications providing escrow and lending guidance along the way from start to finish. They know the right people who helped me through my purchase of a beautiful home in the Tahoe area. I am most grateful for their valued guidance.

Suzie B.

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2021-03-31T01:59:41+00:00

Suzie B.

They possess many years of experience and knowledge of all neighborhoods surrounding the beautiful and grand Lake Tahoe. They are proficient and responsive through email communications providing escrow and lending guidance along the way from start to finish. They know the right people who helped me through my purchase of a beautiful home in the Tahoe area. I am most grateful for their valued guidance.

She took care of every problem or issue large or small for us.

Our agent, Amanda Adams provided my husband and I outstanding service while selling our home in Lake Tahoe. Amanda handled every part of selling our home with professional and friendly service. She took care of every problem or issue large or small for us with her wealth of local contacts. We were very impressed with how well she communicated with to let us know what was happening at every point of our home being sold. We got a great price for our home and the selling process was virtually a stress free one. If we have property to sell or buy again in the future, we will be using Amanda! Thank you Amanda Adams!

Carol & Larry M.

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2021-03-31T01:53:57+00:00

Carol & Larry M.

Our agent, Amanda Adams provided my husband and I outstanding service while selling our home in Lake Tahoe. Amanda handled every part of selling our home with professional and friendly service. She took care of every problem or issue large or small for us with her wealth of local contacts. We were very impressed with how well she communicated with to let us know what was happening at every point of our home being sold. We got a great price for our home and the selling process was virtually a stress free one. If we have property to sell or buy again in the future, we will be using Amanda! Thank you Amanda Adams!

Amanda was extremely helpful on helping us put together a solid offer that got accepted.

We just recently purchased our South Lake Tahoe second home cabin with the help of Amanda Adams. She is very knowledgeable about the South Lake Tahoe real estate market and area. It's a very competitive market for buyers right now and Amanda was extremely helpful on helping us put together a solid offer that got accepted by the seller. She's very helpful also on working with out of state buyers and puts together very helpful video showings and walk throughs. I highly recommend using Amanda if you are looking to buy real estate in the South Lake Tahoe area.

Julie O.

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2021-07-06T03:57:39+00:00

Julie O.

We just recently purchased our South Lake Tahoe second home cabin with the help of Amanda Adams. She is very knowledgeable about the South Lake Tahoe real estate market and area. It's a very competitive market for buyers right now and Amanda was extremely helpful on helping us put together a solid offer that got accepted by the seller. She's very helpful also on working with out of state buyers and puts together very helpful video showings and walk throughs. I highly recommend using Amanda if you are looking to buy real estate in the South Lake Tahoe area.

I would not hesitate to use them again in the future.

Very Professional and knowledgeable about the housing market in South Lake Tahoe. This is my second transaction with them and I would not hesitate to use them again in the future.

Kevin M.

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2021-03-31T01:55:44+00:00

Kevin M.

Very Professional and knowledgeable about the housing market in South Lake Tahoe. This is my second transaction with them and I would not hesitate to use them again in the future.

We couldn’t be happier with Dan. He is not only an outstanding broker but also a person of exceptional character.

His extensive knowledge of the Tahoe basin and his insights regarding each community allowed us to quickly identify the areas that were a good fit for us...

Al

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2018-08-08T01:32:31+00:00

Al

His extensive knowledge of the Tahoe basin and his insights regarding each community allowed us to quickly identify the areas that were a good fit for us...

Always available to answer questions no matter the day or time.

Went above and beyond to ensure our offer was accepted and all our must-haves were met throughout the process.

Samantha I.

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2021-03-31T01:43:02+00:00

Samantha I.

Went above and beyond to ensure our offer was accepted and all our must-haves were met throughout the process.

Amanda made our closing happen as planned, during the busiest time.

We just closed on a place in South Lake Tahoe, and our agent was Amanda Adams in South Lake Tahoe. Amanda was recommended to us by another realtor in Tahoe City. Amanda did not disappoint, she was always available for our questions and assisted in every part of the closing. Amanda made our closing happen as planned, during the busiest time.

Lala & Karl J.

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2021-03-31T02:10:00+00:00

Lala & Karl J.

We just closed on a place in South Lake Tahoe, and our agent was Amanda Adams in South Lake Tahoe. Amanda was recommended to us by another realtor in Tahoe City. Amanda did not disappoint, she was always available for our questions and assisted in every part of the closing. Amanda made our closing happen as planned, during the busiest time.

We where so lucky to have found her.

We discovered Amanda because of her blogs that where so informative and educational. It helped established trust before we met her. Her calm, knowledgeable, and friendliness won us over immediately. She walked us through a very difficult escrow and was such an asset. We feel like we had a friend representing us and an amazing professional walking us through our first home purchase. She is patient, calm, knowledgeable, and down right cool. 

Mike & Renee M.

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2021-11-03T22:03:08+00:00

Mike & Renee M.

We discovered Amanda because of her blogs that where so informative and educational. It helped established trust before we met her. Her calm, knowledgeable, and friendliness won us over immediately. She walked us through a very difficult escrow and was such an asset. We feel like we had a friend representing us and an amazing professional walking us through our first home purchase. She is patient, calm, knowledgeable, and down right cool. 

They are true professionals and experts at what they do!

This is my second home purchased with the Dan Spano team. I thought my first purchase with the team couldn’t be any better, but then I bought a second property and they exceeded my admittedly high expectations. 

Melissa V.

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2018-08-08T00:02:14+00:00

Melissa V.

This is my second home purchased with the Dan Spano team. I thought my first purchase with the team couldn’t be any better, but then I bought a second property and they exceeded my admittedly high expectations. 

Having the right realtor is important, Amanda did not let us down.

Because we were purchasing a second home in Tahoe, we had to do a lot of research remotely. Our time to look at properties in Tahoe was limited so we met with multiple realtors during our first visit. Amanda impressed us with her local knowledge and recommendations on strategies to get an offer accepted. In this competitive market, having the right realtor is important, Amanda did not let us down. We couldn’t have made this purchase without her. 5 stars!

Vlad G.

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2021-05-30T18:32:36+00:00

Vlad G.

Because we were purchasing a second home in Tahoe, we had to do a lot of research remotely. Our time to look at properties in Tahoe was limited so we met with multiple realtors during our first visit. Amanda impressed us with her local knowledge and recommendations on strategies to get an offer accepted. In this competitive market, having the right realtor is important, Amanda did not let us down. We couldn’t have made this purchase without her. 5 stars!

Amanda has a wealth of knowledge about the area, knew what to look out for in Tahoe homes.

She patiently answered all of our questions, and was always available and responsive. I cannot say enough about how fantastic Amanda was and how much we recommend working with her. Thank you to Amanda for helping us make this purchase.

Trish V.

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2021-03-31T01:40:24+00:00

Trish V.

She patiently answered all of our questions, and was always available and responsive. I cannot say enough about how fantastic Amanda was and how much we recommend working with her. Thank you to Amanda for helping us make this purchase.

She had a knowledgeable answer for every question we had.

I have worked with multiple realtors over the years, and have to say, working with Amanda Adams made this the best real estate experience. She had a knowledgeable answer for every question we had. We were very impressed with how she handled every situation from start to finish. If you are looking to buy or sell in the Tahoe area, you should definitely reach out to Amanda. She knows her stuff! Thank Amanda for helping my wife and I with our beautiful home.

Michael I.

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2021-03-31T01:49:23+00:00

Michael I.

I have worked with multiple realtors over the years, and have to say, working with Amanda Adams made this the best real estate experience. She had a knowledgeable answer for every question we had. We were very impressed with how she handled every situation from start to finish. If you are looking to buy or sell in the Tahoe area, you should definitely reach out to Amanda. She knows her stuff! Thank Amanda for helping my wife and I with our beautiful home.

She went above and beyond to help us stay as stress free as possible

Amanda Adams was so helpful in our house buying process. She knew all the answers to our questions. She went above and beyond to help us stay as stress free as possible through a somewhat stressful process. We will recommend Amanda Adams to all our friends & family in the future. Thanks Amanda we couldn't have done this without you in our corner.

January & Lee S.

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2022-06-02T00:25:23+00:00

January & Lee S.

Amanda Adams was so helpful in our house buying process. She knew all the answers to our questions. She went above and beyond to help us stay as stress free as possible through a somewhat stressful process. We will recommend Amanda Adams to all our friends & family in the future. Thanks Amanda we couldn't have done this without you in our corner.

We recommend their services to anyone looking to buy or sell in the Lake Tahoe area.

When we had to sell our home in Meyers, we knew we would use Amanda & Dan because they had represented the purchase over 8 years earlier and we trusted them completely. We were very happy with the experience during the sale, and they got us the price we wanted within the time frame we required. They handled everything wonderfully, and we recommend their services to anyone looking to buy or sell in the Lake Tahoe area.

Katie E.

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2021-03-31T02:16:26+00:00

Katie E.

When we had to sell our home in Meyers, we knew we would use Amanda & Dan because they had represented the purchase over 8 years earlier and we trusted them completely. We were very happy with the experience during the sale, and they got us the price we wanted within the time frame we required. They handled everything wonderfully, and we recommend their services to anyone looking to buy or sell in the Lake Tahoe area.
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