Short-term rentals in Joshua Tree & Big Bear, CA: rules, lenders and rates
The local STR rule from San Bernardino County, CA (unincorporated)'s own page, the DSCR lenders that publish coverage in California, and what investors paid in San Bernardino County in 2025.
- STR status
- Permit required
- Lenders in CA
- 22
- Median note rate, 2025
- 6.99%
San Bernardino County, CA (unincorporated)
16 list CA · 6 licensed
600 DSCR-style loans
Short-term rental rules Permit required
San Bernardino County, CA (unincorporated). Homes in the County's mountain and desert areas rented for 30 days or less need a County short-term rental permit.
Source: str.sbcounty.gov · checked Oct 19, 2026
This covers only San Bernardino County, CA (unincorporated), not every town in San Bernardino County or the wider Joshua Tree & Big Bear area. Neighboring cities, the county, HOAs and condo associations can have their own rules. Check with the jurisdiction for the exact address before you go under contract.
What investors paid in San Bernardino County, 2025
- Median note rate6.99%
- Middle 50% paid (25th–75th pct)6.625%–7.5%
- DSCR-style loans600
Public HMDA records for all of San Bernardino County, including long-term rentals. Note rates at closing, not today's quotes.
DSCR math Example only
An illustrative loan, not a quote and not a typical price for Joshua Tree & Big Bear, CA: $400,000 at 75% LTV (an implied $533,333 price), 30-year amortization at the San Bernardino County 2025 median of 6.99%.
- Monthly principal & interest$2,659
- Gross monthly rent for DSCR 1.00$2,659
- Gross monthly rent for DSCR 1.25$3,323
DSCR here is rent ÷ P&I only. Taxes, insurance and HOA dues are excluded; most lenders include them, which raises the rent you need. Many lenders also discount STR income.
DSCR lenders that lend in California
16 lenders list California in their published coverage; 6 more publish only their license list, which includes CA. Coverage is statewide; whether a lender will finance a short-term rental at a specific address is up to the lender. “Not published” means the lender doesn't publish that figure.
| Lender | CA coverage | STR income method | Min DSCR | Max LTV (purchase) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1st Nationwide Mortgage | Yes | Either | 1.00 | 80% |
| Acra Lending | Yes | 12-month history | Not published | 75% |
| America Mortgages | Yes | Either | Not published | 80% |
| Certain Lending | Yes | Either | Not published | 75% |
| CoreVest Finance | Yes | Not published | Not published | 70% |
| Defy Mortgage | Yes | Either | 0.75 | 85% |
| Dominion Financial | Yes | Not published | Not published | 80% |
| Easy Lending USA | Yes | Either | 1.00 | 85% |
| Easy Street Capital | Yes | Either | Not published | 80% |
| Griffin Funding | Yes | Either | Not published | 85% |
| Kiavi | Yes | Not published | 0.80 | 80% |
| LendingOne | Yes | Not published | 0.75 | 80% |
| Lima One Capital | Yes | Projection | 1.30 | 75% |
| New Silver | Yes | Either | 1.15 | 80% |
| Quickline Capital | Yes | Projection | 0.75 | 80% |
| Visio Lending | Yes | Either | Not published | 85% |
| A&D Mortgage | Licensed there | Either | Not published | 80% |
| Angel Oak Mortgage Solutions | Licensed there | Projection | Not published | 85% |
| LendSure Mortgage | Licensed there | Either | 0.75 | 85% |
| Newfi Wholesale | Licensed there | Either | 1.00 | 80% |
| NQM Funding | Licensed there | 12-month history | Not published | Not published |
| theLender | Licensed there | Projection | Not published | 85% |
Figures come from each lender's own pages, with a source and check date on the lender's page. Compare more terms on the lender matcher.
More markets: all 24 STR markets · real rates by county · STR DSCR loans by state
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Not a lender or broker. No referral fees. For education only. Figures come from each lender's public pages on the date shown and can change without notice, so verify them with the lender. Rates are estimates, not quotes. How we source data.