Student Rental Purchase - Is Timing A Concern?

[Geoff Sdano]

Hello Everyone,

With Student Rental properties, I am curious to know when people think the best time to purchase a new property would be, while minimizing holding costs? 

Deals don't always come at the most opportune moment, however if you find a property days before school starts for example, what is the likelihood of placing tenants that same semester in your experience?

Is timing really even that much more of a concern with Student Rentals verses Single Family Homes? And if so, are most people just factoring in cash reserves on hand to cover any initial months of vacancies from the start during analysis?

Thank you for any advice!