Buying a Home in Fort Lauderdale for Short-Term Rental – Advice Needed

[Caleb Chow]

Hi BiggerPockets community,

I’m based in Singapore and interested in buying a home in Fort Lauderdale with the idea of using it as a short-term rental (Airbnb/VRBO). This would be my first US property purchase, so I’m very new to the process and trying to learn as much as I can.

A few beginner questions I have:

• - Are there specific neighborhoods in Fort Lauderdale that are popular or well-suited for short-term rentals?

• - What city or county rules should I know about before buying?

• - What are the busy seasons for STRs in Fort Lauderdale, and how does that affect occupancy?

• - For an international buyer, what are the key challenges I should be prepared for (financing, management, taxes, etc.)?

I’d really appreciate any advice from people who have done short-term rentals in Fort Lauderdale or from others who have purchased property in the US as a foreign buyer.

Thanks in advance!

[John Underwood]

Make sure you understand insurance prices for this area.  They can be expensive.