As a Lake Arrowhead local and business owner (Dogwood Tavern in Blue Jay and Dogwood Dockside at the Marina) I follow as many (if not all) local businesses on the mountain and their Instagram accounts, including the Airbnb’s, and while there are so many truly adorable and perfectly remodeled rental cabins up here, the Little Apple A Frame has got to be the most photogenic of them all.
I wouldn’t presume it’s THE CUTEST of all because, well, I also have my own little A-frame mountain office which makes me slightly biased 😉 It’s so cute that I should be posting about it and sharing it far more than I do…
ANYWAY… I was scrolling Instagram the other day and noticed that this cute little a frame has hit the market and is FOR SALE!
Now, I must say that since I sold my house (begrudgingly) in 2019, house prices have skyrocketed… and I mean literally doubled since 2020 and I think you might know why. If you don’t know, I’ll tell you… everyone was moving out of cities and moving up to the mountains in pandemic times and if they weren’t living here full time, they were buying cabins and renovating them and then renting them out for private little getaways since travel was put on hold. And since this mountain is relatively close to LA and the surrounding areas AND gets 4 seasons, its the perfectly magical vacation spot if you don’t or can’t go very far.
However, as an obsessive local housing market watcher, I have noticed in the past few months that houses have not been selling as fast as they once were. There was about a year when the new listings were few and far between and the day after they went up they were pending. Multiple offers would pour in and the house would be under contract by morning. I have first hand knowledge of this because I have friends in the business AND because we bought and sold a house in the same time frame (though I never shared the final reveal!). I also think the Airbnb business has slowed down in comparison to last year’s constant bookings, putting the financial burden on the owners to make the payments.
Now, I wouldn’t presume to know what is happening here or with this house in particular, BUT it is on the market and it is for sale and the price is HIGH for the area (all houses are overpriced IMO at the moment) and for the size (975sqft) especially considering it sold in 2019 (just before the market spike) for $218,000… however, it does have history and publicity and is adorably renovated…
And as someone who has now lived up here for just about 10 years and bought at a reasonable-to-what-felt-like-a-low price (for California AND compared to LA) back in 2012, the housing market and prices NOW/HERE are almost comparable to LA prices back when I left… but I am not sure they’ll stay high like LA prices because these are mostly second homes and Airbnb’s now and if they’re not booking, they’re not earning and then they’re not profitable businesses AND/OR aren’t even paying for themselves. So my prediction is that we’ll begin to see a lot more hitting the market very soon and within the coming years. But what do I know? 🙂
All that said, if you’re looking for the cutest little A-frame that is 100%-Instagram worthy and photoshoot-ready and has already been featured in magazines, then look no further, this Little Apple A-Frame cabin is for you!
Also R E A D : Sunset Magazine A Renovated A-Frame Near Lake Arrowhead Builds the Case for a Pink Front Door
30653 Live Oak Dr, Running Springs, CA 92382
1 bed 1 bath – 975 sqft – $565,000
From the listing…
The Little Apple A-Frame. Only three owners since 1959 and dubbed “The Star on the Rim” by the original owner (the maître d’ at Hollywood’s Brown Derby). This storied history can be yours to continue at this published A-Frame in Running Springs. Situated on nearly 1/2 an acre of land and fully renovated with a designer’s touch by the creative owners. Crisp mountain air, gorgeous sunsets and quintessential mountain living awaits you, complemented by tree top and ridge-line views which create a peaceful and serene environment. The living room is the center of the home with fireplace and floor-to-ceiling windows to take in the tranquil views. A main level bedroom with expansive sliding doors allows for indoor/outdoor living or opt for endless views from the additional sleeping loft. High-end kitchen with Bertazzoni range, Bosch refrigerator and custom cabinetry. Perched on a ridge in the quaint town of Running Springs, the cabin is close to Jensen’s, LuluBelle’s Bakery and Snow Valley Ski Resort, and just a short trip to both Lake Arrowhead and Big Bear!
NOTE: The kitchen remodel and colors remind me of this incredibly adorable : Glamorous Ikea Duktig Kitchen Makeover
Check out Little Apple A Frame instagram for “before” photos!
Happy Sunday Lovecats!
* Find all my Sunday House Crushes here
* Find my little Mountain A-Frame Office here
