Your Mt. Hood Cabin Adventure Awaits
Ask people what they love most about living in Portland, and a common theme emerges – Portland’s proximity to nature. You are an hour to the beach and an hour to the slopes. You can hike and picnic among stunning lakes or waterfalls. Imagine for a moment that you could escape to your vacation home, a cozy Mt. Hood Cabin nestled within the verdant canopy of the national forest. Steps to the trails, surrounded by nature, and just an hour away from home. And you can visit any time you like. What if your mountain vacation did not have to end as soon as the dreaded traffic began? Owning a Mt. Hood cabin may be your perfect next adventure.
What do you know about owning a Forest Service cabin on Mt. Hood? We are here to share our insights into this unique stewardship and partnership with the U.S. Forest Service.
Mt. Hood Recreation Residences
Mt. Hood is home to approximately 547 cabins – or “recreation residences” as the U.S. Forest Service calls them – built on National Forest land. What a tremendous, unique opportunity among a very limited supply of homes. If you buy a recreation residence, you agree to maintain the cabin to standards set by the Forest Service. You will need to collaborate directly with the local office on any number of improvements you may choose to make.
Some people may consider this oversight onerous. Most cabin owners delight in the rich history and tradition of the program. They enjoy the cabins’ scenic environment. And they appreciate the standards and regulations for cabin ownership that ensure proper upkeep. These rules create a strong program that can continue long into the future. And let’s face it, these rules and regulations help protect your investment.
Leased Land / Special Use Permit
Purchasing a Mt. Hood cabin, you enter into an agreement with the U.S. government. The government issues you a Special Use Permit which governs your use of the land and cabin. It is important to remember that the the land remains public land. You are responsible for certain maintenance of that land and the cabin, and your use of the cabin is for your own personal enjoyment and recreation.
As part of the Special Use Permit, you:
- agree to use the cabin for at least 15 days each year
- must obtain authorization from the Forest Service for exterior modifications to the cabin or outbuildings
- cannot live in the cabin as a primary residence, rather it is for recreation only – no commercial use
- pay an annual permit fee equivalent to 5% of the base value of the lot, which does not include the value of the cabin structure.
- agree to keep the area covered by the permit in good repair
- agree not to remove any soil, tree, or vegetation without permission from Forest Service. The land should resemble forest and you cannot remove trees or vegetation for views.
No Rentals of Cabins
You may not rent out your cabin as a short term rental. The cabin cannot be used commercially, or for company retreats. No AirBnB, VRBOs, Vacasa, or whatever the hot booking site of the moment happens to be. There are other options on the mountain if you seek a commercial investment.
Your first Special Use Permit will reflect the remaining years of the existing permit for the home you are purchasing. Any subsequent permit issuance may cover a full term. The permit spells out exactly what you can and cannot do with regard to the land and the cabin, and it offers instructions on how to communicate with the Forest Service, who manages the land on which the cabin sits. There are forms (this is the government, after all) related to home improvements, tree hazards, self-inspection, and the like. The Forest Service’s website is a robust treasure trove of detailed information about cabin ownership.
Who May Purchase a Mt. Hood Cabin?
The forest service will issue a special use permit to an individual, a married couple, and in certain cases, a qualified trust. While several individuals may own a cabin together, someone is the designated permittee.
The cabin cannot be your primary residence, so cabin owners must already own a primary residence.
Best Ways to Buy a Mt. Hood Cabin
It is important to note that the Forest Service does not maintain a list of cabins that are currently available, and the Forest Service does not allow For Sale signs on national forest land. While a Mt. Hood cabin owner may place a sign in their window, most cabins are not visible from the road. Your best opportunity for knowing about cabins that are currently on the market or “coming soon” to the market is to work with a trusted real estate broker who can keep you informed.
We stand ready to help you with your search. Expect to pay cash for a recreation residence. Very occasionally the current owner of a cabin may be willing to carry a private contract. As of this writing (Spring 2023), in the past 5 years, owner-carried financing accounted for fewer than 5% of cabin sales. The rest were all cash sales. If you think owning a Mt. Hood cabin is something you would like to explore, we would love to talk with you about your options.
Let’s Talk About Your Real Estate Goals
Danni Duggan and Charles (Bud) Garrison, OR Brokers, Premiere Property Group, LLC
- Danni: 503-719-2279 | danni@dannipdx.com
- Charles (Bud): 503-679-1893 | bud@dannipdx.com
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