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Investment Properties for Sale in Laketown, Utah
Laketown sits at the south shore of Bear Lake, a 109-square-mile alpine lake straddling the Utah-Idaho line that locals call the Caribbean of the Rockies for its turquoise color. The town itself is tiny — a few hundred year-round residents tucked between the water and the Bear River Mountains — but the surrounding shoreline drives one of the most concentrated vacation-rental economies in Utah. Investment buyers here are almost always thinking about short-term rental income tied to the summer season: raspberry shakes at LaBeau's, jet skis at Cisco Beach, and a packed July 4th week that can book out a year in advance. Winter brings snowmobilers running the trails up to Logan Canyon and ice fishermen chasing Bonneville cisco, but cash flow is heavily weighted to roughly 100 prime summer nights.
Properties marketed as investments in Laketown fall into a few buckets: lakefront cabins (rare and expensive, often $1M+), lake-view homes on the bench above Highway 30, A-frames and cabins inside subdivisions like Sweetwater or Bear Lake West, and condos with pooled amenities that simplify management for out-of-area owners. Before writing an offer, check Laketown Town and Rich County short-term rental ordinances plus any HOA-specific STR caps — rules have shifted as the lake's popularity has grown. The active listings below include properties currently positioned for nightly rental, second-home use, or long-term hold, so you can compare what's on the market against your numbers.
August 2025 · Laketown market
Live from the Utah MLS — what's actually happening in Laketown right now.
Median sale
$1,087,500
2 closed in August 2025
Median DOM
171 days
listing → contract
Sale-to-list
91.1%
of final list price
Unsold inventory
1
active + pending
1 matching · page 1 of 1
Active listings
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Common questions
About investment properties in Laketown.
What kind of rental demand does Laketown actually have? ▾
Demand here is overwhelmingly seasonal — Bear Lake's turquoise water draws crowds from late May through Labor Day, with a smaller winter bump from snowmobilers and ice fishermen. Most successful rentals are short-term vacation properties booked through Airbnb, VRBO, or local managers like Bear Lake Vacation Rentals. Long-term tenant demand exists but is limited; the year-round population of Rich County is under 2,500.
Are short-term rentals allowed in Laketown? ▾
Laketown Town and Rich County have been more permissive than many Utah resort communities, but rules have tightened in recent years. Some HOAs around Bear Lake (Sweetwater, Ideal Beach, Bear Lake West on the Idaho side) have their own STR policies separate from town code. Always verify current licensing requirements with Laketown Town Hall and the specific HOA before writing an offer.
What price range should I expect for an investment-grade property? ▾
Lakefront and lake-view cabins typically run $700K to $2M+, while interior lots and modest cabins off the water can be found in the $350K–$600K range. Condos at Bear Lake-area developments sometimes trade in the high $200Ks to $500Ks and are popular with first-time STR investors because of shared amenities and easier management.
How does the seasonality affect cash flow projections? ▾
Realistic operators plan for roughly 90–120 high-revenue nights between Memorial Day and Labor Day, plus scattered weekends in spring, fall, and winter holidays. A well-located property can gross $40K–$90K annually, but expenses — cleaning, management, snow removal, propane, HOA fees — eat into that quickly. Run conservative numbers and assume shoulder-season vacancy.
Is financing different for a Laketown investment property? ▾
Yes. Second-home loans require 10%+ down and the property must be available for your personal use; true investment loans need 20–25% down with higher rates. Some lenders are cautious about log construction, off-grid features, or properties with heavy STR income reliance, so line up a lender familiar with Bear Lake before shopping.
How far is Laketown from Salt Lake City and the nearest airport? ▾
Laketown sits on the south end of Bear Lake, about 2 hours 20 minutes from Salt Lake City International Airport via US-89 through Logan Canyon. That drive time matters for guest turnover and your own visits — it's close enough for a weekend but far enough that most owners rely on a local cleaner and property manager.