Greetings, we are beginners with str investing, went under contract for a new construction house, 3/3.5, 2000 sq ft, across the street from the beach, good area with many restaurants and entertainment. Having cold feet! Estimates say the rental potential is 55 to 75k a year. I notice a lot of competition from beach front condos of the same size. The community has 120 houses, similar size, all eligible to be strs. Large community pool, 2400 Hoa a year. The house is not on a water. We are 6 hour drive away, so plan to use management comp. No mortgage, so can skip the insurance (is it a good idea at all?). My hope is if it will not give lots of cashflow, at least we’ll cover the expenses and it will appreciate as the area will develop, inflation raises etc. My thinking- many ppl escape Florida now bc of taxes and insurance cost. Maybe Alabama cost will flourish soon. Any thoughts? Should we do it? Have to decide by Friday.
HI Natalia, we specialize in STR investment homes. What is the purchase price? Proposed carrying costs?
740k, 2000tax, 2400 Hoa, ~3500 insurance we’d need to furnish the house and do additions to the back yard, I’d say 30k more. As to maintenance while rented- hard to say.
Hmm if it appreciates historically you would be okay right?
Appreciation over years would be a pessimistic scenario. The idea was to invest to get profits as substantial cash flow. We wanted a beach house for a long time, Florida seems problematic lately with raising costs and tightening str restrictions.
I usually join all the facebook and meetup groups in the area in which I buy and go through 3 months of posts:) and then connect and meetup and then see..but then I am very patient...
I usually join all the facebook and meetup groups in the area in which I buy and go through 3 months of posts:) and then connect and meetup and then see..but then I am very patient...
That’s one great advice, but I have only till Friday to either go ahead with the purchase or get out. What should we look for instead, if this is not that great of an option? We looked for a house, str permited, no hoa or low hoa in Sarasota area since October- couldn’t really find anything decent.
2.Back out and spend 2 months doing research on Destin , Fort Walton Beach and also other places like Biloxi MS, connect with investors and realtors there and see if you can do better
2.Back out and spend 2 months doing research on Destin , Fort Walton Beach and also other places like Biloxi MS, connect with investors and realtors there and see if you can do better
I know Destin, 30a, Panama City beach, we go there all the time. The orange beach came to play bc of low taxes and basically same beach quality. Same 6 hour drive for us. Sarasota clear water has longer season/warmer, but houses are old and again, taxes 8-10k on a 550 house, plus insurance 6-7.
Greetings, we are beginners with str investing, went under contract for a new construction house, 3/3.5, 2000 sq ft, across the street from the beach, good area with many restaurants and entertainment. Having cold feet! Estimates say the rental potential is 55 to 75k a year. I notice a lot of competition from beach front condos of the same size. The community has 120 houses, similar size, all eligible to be strs. Large community pool, 2400 Hoa a year. The house is not on a water. We are 6 hour drive away, so plan to use management comp. No mortgage, so can skip the insurance (is it a good idea at all?). My hope is if it will not give lots of cashflow, at least we’ll cover the expenses and it will appreciate as the area will develop, inflation raises etc. My thinking- many ppl escape Florida now bc of taxes and insurance cost. Maybe Alabama cost will flourish soon. Any thoughts? Should we do it? Have to decide by Friday.
I have a few thoughts: -Homes just off the water (in walking distance) almost always have better ROI due to lower purchase price. It's honestly the prime location. -Is there a garage? Can you convert into another bedroom? -Don't skip insurance! -I know the panhandle well in terms of STRs. We had quite a few there with the last large fund I was with and A LOT of the homes look exactly the same and have all the same amenities. I think this area is prime to stand out but you'll need to spend likely more than 30k to furnish and amenitize. I think 25k to furnish, stage and stock with essentials (linens, towels, kitchen, etc.) Then, I would add some stand out amenities and convert the garage if you can (or another small space if available). This should significantly boost your revenue and make you stand out among the competition.
I have a few thoughts: -Homes just off the water (in walking distance) almost always have better ROI due to lower purchase price. It's honestly the prime location. -Is there a garage? Can you convert into another bedroom? -Don't skip insurance! -I know the panhandle well in terms of STRs. We had quite a few there with the last large fund I was with and A LOT of the homes look exactly the same and have all the same amenities. I think this area is prime to stand out but you'll need to spend likely more than 30k to furnish and amenitize. I think 25k to furnish, stage and stock with essentials (linens, towels, kitchen, etc.) Then, I would add some stand out amenities and convert the garage if you can (or another small space if available). This should significantly boost your revenue and make you stand out among the competition.
Thank you Annie, that’s helpful. the community is 3 min drive/12min walk to the beach. Some homes are smaller 1500sq ft on pillars, which gives them three parking spaces under the house. Our chosen house is bigger but on a slab, I liked it bc it’s more spacious and looks better quality with tall ceiling etc. But no garage :/. Pillar ones do not have any backyard. We have nice size backyard, all sand, I was thinking to add a sitting area/outdoor eating area/firepit. Private pools not allowed, maybe a hot tub, still don’t have definitive answer if it’s allowed. The subdivision is on the wetlands, its nature protected area. You are exactly right, the houses that stand out (wetland view, kids game room..) have already more reviews on Vrbo in this subdivision. We’d have to stand out somehow. Does the pillar home make more sense, same 3/3,5 but it’s 500 sq ft smaller. It’s also cheaper 675k.