FINANCING
Since these cabins sit on Federal Land, you are not purchasing land or real estate. You are purchasing the structure which is considered personal property. That means you cannot expect to use traditional mortage financing to buy the cabin.
Instead, what you need to ask your bank is if they make "leasehold mortgages" or personal property loans. The best bets so far have been Tarbell Financial Group, Bank of America and any of the several Credit Unions. You can join a credit union as simply as openinga checking account. The current owner purchased with equity from another property.

WILLTHE OWNER FINANCE?
The owner would prefer not to finance the purchase as he is moving away and would like to purchase a home in his new home town. The owner when asked, suggested that he might finance with a full price sale, 25% down ($75,000) and a 8.5% rate for no longer than a 10 year term. The buyer must have good credit.

IS THE CABIN SERVED BY UTILITIES?
The house is served by San Diego Gas and Electric for power. The house is heated by propane which is delivered at regular intervals. The cabin has a modern wood pellet stove that the owner uses for heat on colder evenings. The cabin has a certifed septic tank and is served by a well. AT&T provides phone service. Wildblue Satellite Internet is available as is DISH Network Television. There is no trash service.

WHAT ARE SOME OF THE RESTRICTIONS PLACED ON THE CABIN BY THE FOREST SERVICE LEASE?
The Forest Service categorizes these forest structures as Recreational Residences. They are not meant to be your primary address. While many of the cabins serve their owners as residences, those owners maintain a separate address where their drivers license, voter registration and other legal connections can be shown.
You cannot have farm animals or livestock. You cannot put up any fences. This is supposed to look like the forest,not a subdivision in town.
You cannot construct garages but you can have a shed. You cannot rent the property on a permanent basis.
You can use about 1 acre of land around this particular cabin. You cannot plant non-native species.

HOW LONG DO THESE LEASE RUN FOR?
Technically, these are not leases, they are USE PERMITS and they run for 20 years. The Forest Service has renewed these leases since the Forest was established and have no intention of ending them.  The Forest Service has been doing this since 1915. If for some weird reason they dediced to end them, they must provide you with an additional 10 year notice of intention to end the lease....essentially making the term of the Permit 30 years.

WHY IS THE OWNER SELLING?
The owner's employer has closed the local office and the owner is currently working out of the house. Ultimately, the owner is going to relocate to a branch office on the Central Coast of California.

WILL THE OWNER SHOW THE CABIN?
The owner will show the cabin and will provide you with an architects perspective on the restoration and rebuilding of this unique historic structure. The owner only asks that you are serious, understand the lack of traditional financing and have a love for older houses. The house is being sold "as-is" and is the most up-to-date and modern rustic cabin in the entire Hot Springs Canyon area.


HOW MUCH DOES THE ANNUAL PERMIT FEE COST?
$888.90. It actually has dropped the two previous years. The amount is tied to a Federal cost of living index.

IS THE CANYON SAFE?
The owner states that this is one place where he feels safer than anywhere he has lived before. Crime is not an issue. It's a great place to raise kids. There are the obvious dangers from wildfire and wild animals but the owner has not encountered any of these. Keep in mind that a US Forest Service Fire Station is less than a half mile away.

DO I NEED 4 WHEEL DRIVE TO GET TO THE CABIN?
No. The dirt road is well maintained and has never been impassable.