Vacation Rentals in the Yosemite Area

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Vacation Rentals in the Yosemite Area

Bob L.
Rental Property Investor · San Jose, CA · Member since 2017 · 22 posts · 12 votes

Please share your experience running a vacation rental in the Yosemite Area.  I am looking into towns such as Sonora and Mariposa because they are the closest towns right before the park from my location.  I read discussions on Mammoth Lake and Big Bear, but no threads on Yosemite.  

How many bedrooms is your VR?  Your occupancy rate during peak and slow times.  How difficult is it to find cleaners and handyman in your area?

Thanks for sharing.

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Luke CarlPro Member
Rental Property Investor · Tennessee Florida · Member since 2016 · 4k+ posts · 5k+ votes
8y
This question is asked on this forum twice a week with random markets. Your best bet is to go on AirBnB and study your neighbors incessantly. The chances you’ll find someone on here in that market aren’t good. And even if you do it’ll just be one person. But they will all be in AirBnB/VRBO!
Podcast Guest on Show From Surviving on $30/Day to 30+ Properties Thanks to Blue-Collar Skills
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  • Julie McCoy
    Real Estate Agent · Sevierville, TN · Member since 2015 · 1k+ posts · 1k+ votes
    8y

    I believe Oakhurst is the primary VR "capital" of Yosemite, though I'm sure a VR could do nicely in Mariposa or Sonora.  I don't have any properties in those markets, however, so I can't speak to your specific questions.  I'd expect summer to be peak, winter to be low season (especially since so much of the park is closed off), but if you are willing to adjust your rates you can get good traction year-round.  

    1Reply
  • Chai Xiong
    Investor · Orlando, FL · Member since 2012 · 312 posts · 165 votes
    8y

    I say just go to homeaway and find out whats avail during those times.. I do that for Disney over here in Florida

    1Reply
  • Roseann Scrivens
    San Pedro, CA · Member since 2017 · 21 posts · 13 votes
    8y

    My mom runs an Air BnB 15 miles north of Mariposa. She is booked virtually non-stop in the summer months. Most of her guests are international (which is pretty cool). Because she is 15 miles north, and out of the way she has only sporadic guests in the colder months. I believe that if she were in Mariposa or Midpines she could be booked more consistently and charge higher rates. I believe that Oakhurst is a good option as well, but will have similar constraints.

    There is a very small labor pool, and also impoverished people problems in Mariposa i.e. drugs, reliability issues etc. There is a huge demand for local rentals and not enough available. Maybe there is a way to leverage this if you have a multi unit property, you could have a live-in groundskeeper who helps with your BnB cleaning etc and provides year round rental income? Just an idea.

    2Reply
  • Luke CarlPro Member
    Rental Property Investor · Tennessee Florida · Member since 2016 · 4k+ posts · 5k+ votes
    8y
    This question is asked on this forum twice a week with random markets. Your best bet is to go on AirBnB and study your neighbors incessantly. The chances you’ll find someone on here in that market aren’t good. And even if you do it’ll just be one person. But they will all be in AirBnB/VRBO!
    Podcast Guest on Show From Surviving on $30/Day to 30+ Properties Thanks to Blue-Collar Skills
    3Reply
  • Bob L.
    OP
    Rental Property Investor · San Jose, CA · Member since 2017 · 22 posts · 12 votes
    8y

    Thanks for all the replies.  I figure the winter season is not too busy in the yosemite area since there are no ski resorts and there are park and road closures.

    Yes, my best bet is probably to ask the hosts directly on airbnb in an area I am interested in.

    0Reply
  • Michael Royce
    Contractor · Sonora, CA · Member since 2016 · 3 posts · 3 votes
    8y
    I live in Yosemite National Park and grew up in Sonora. There are several options, Yosemite West is a private property area within the park boundary that you might want to consider looking into. Also, check Groveland which is a bigger gateway town than Oakhurst, you can look up the entrance gate car numbers year to year online. Sonora has a lot to offer other than Yosemite and would rent better year round than groveland. If you have any more questions feel free to private message me. Good luck.
    3Reply
  • Kaenan Whitman
    Specialist · Sonora, CA · Member since 2017 · 22 posts · 7 votes
    8y

    I live near Tuolumne City. Which is along the HWY 108 Corridor. HWY 120, which isnt to far away, will take you to Yosemite. I know a couple people who have Air BnB rentals in the Sonora and Tuolumne City area who get a lot of guest traveling to yosemite. They get Yosemite visitors during the summer and during the winter they get some visitors for Dodge Ridge Ski Resort. Pine Mountain Lake in Groveland is also nice, just remember to include HOA fees in your analysis. Best of luck.

    0Reply
  • Jessica Chaney
    Real Estate Agent · Mariposa, CA · Member since 2016 · 7 posts · 1 vote
    8y
    Hi Bob, not sure if you’re still looking for the area. I am a Realtor in Mariposa and work with a lot of vacation rentals in both Mariposa and Oakhurst. The market is fantastic over here usually starting right after memorial weekend carrying on until Labor Day weekend . It does slow down during the winter months but still active. Feel free to message me anytime to chat some more about the market over here if you’re still interested.
    1Reply
  • Catherine Wong
    Member since 2019 · 13 posts · 1 vote
    7y

    @Bob L. I found this old post of yours.  Just wondering if you ultimately decided to purchase a home near Yosemite?  If so, where did you purchase?

    0Reply
  • Bob L.
    OP
    Rental Property Investor · San Jose, CA · Member since 2017 · 22 posts · 12 votes
    7y

    @Catherine Wong,  https://www.biggerpockets.com/... I did not get any vacation rental in the Yosemite area.  For a vacation rental to get peak income, you need a property that will attract renters in all four seasons.  I realized Yosemite is slow in the winter season because many roads to the park in the higher elevation is closed due to snow.

    0Reply
  • Sid Kapoor
    Member since 2021 · 11 posts · 4 votes
    5y

    Hi, found this old post, and was wondering if anyone would like to connect re: investing in and around Yosemite National Park Area. Was primarily considering Oakhurst for vacation rentals, but based on the above comments looks like Groveland may also be a good alternative. 

    0Reply
  • Kushaal Malde
    Lender · San Francisco · Member since 2019 · 113 posts · 49 votes
    5y

    Hi Sid and others, I too am interested in vacation/2nd home rentals in the Groveland area. Loan programs are also attractive with 90 ltv and good rates. What kind of properties are you searching for?

    0Reply
  • Sid Kapoor
    Member since 2021 · 11 posts · 4 votes
    5y

    Hi Kushaal, good to connect with you. Primarily considering a vacation/second home as well around Yosemite area. Was initially focused on Oakhurst/Bass Lake, but now considering Groveland as well after reading this post. I'm from Santa Clara area. Are you aware of any permit restrictions/regulations that need to be followed for vacation homes? And, how is the Groveland market for travelers to Yosemite? 

    1Reply
  • Jeff Koval
    Member since 2021 · 17 posts · 22 votes
    4y

    Hey @Sid Kapoor, did you move forward with a property in the Groveland market? My wife and I are currently looking into that area as well to purchase a STR. Groveland looks like a good area but curious if you ended up purchasing.

    0Reply
  • Johnny Hernandez
    Gilroy, CA · Member since 2018 · 11 posts · 5 votes
    4y

    @Jeff Koval

    Jeff, were you successful in your search? If you have any agent contacts out there with a vacation rental background, please message me,

    1Reply
  • Sid Kapoor
    Member since 2021 · 11 posts · 4 votes
    4y

    @Jeff Koval 

    Yes, we just closed on a property last week. But we got it in Oakhurst, instead of Groveland. Based on our research Oakhurst is a bigger STR market than Groveland; allowing one to demand a higher ADR if done right. Plus the South Gate entrance attracts folks from SoCal as well. Groveland is a bit limiteD to SF/Bay Area folks.

    If jumping on the STR bandwagon, just be prepared to be aggressive in your strategy and have the numbers figured out ahead of time. Even though these are second tier markets, stuff is flying off the shelves.

    1Reply
  • Tenzin Wangdu
    Member since 2021 · 1 post · 0 votes
    4y

    @Sid Kapoor Congratulations for closing on your property. I am also thinking about buying a property in Oakhurst. I did some market research and I liked it's 

    Do you have recommendations for a great agent? 

    Do you self manage? If not then do you have recommendations.? 

    Appreciate your input. 

    0Reply
  • Ashley Keeler
    Rental Property Investor · Los Angeles, CA · Member since 2019 · 37 posts · 23 votes
    4y

    @Sid Kapoor congrats on the property,Sid. We are in the process for Oakhurst as well. We are unable to find anything on STR ordinances from the county. Do you know if there are any? We are unable to find any on the Madeira Cnty website

    0Reply
  • Sid Kapoor
    Member since 2021 · 11 posts · 4 votes
    4y

    @Ashley Keeler - here you go: https://www.maderacounty.com/g...

    I just googled Madera County + transient occupancy tax.

    1Reply
  • Ashley Keeler
    Rental Property Investor · Los Angeles, CA · Member since 2019 · 37 posts · 23 votes
    4y

    @Sid Kapoor thank you. That is all I have been able to find. So there isn’t an official application for this market? Just the transient tax and business license?

    The sister market in Mariposa had an extension list for permitting including inspections from fire Marshall, building inspector, etc. As well as rules such as only allowing three bedrooms or less to rent, quiet hours, septic tank inspection.

    I’m looking for similar rules in Oakhurst (Madera county) but it doesn’t appear to exist. Is this your understanding as well?

    0Reply
  • Senthilraja R.
    Sunnyvale, CA · Member since 2014 · 4 posts · 0 votes
    4y

    @Sid Kapoor

    I am also interested in the STR around Yosemite. I am also in Santa Clara. Do you self manage the property?

    0Reply
  • Gilbert Chan
    Investor · Member since 2019 · 9 posts · 3 votes
    4y

    Congrats @Sid Kapoor.

    How has the market been since you've gone in? are you getting good cleaners and help there? 

    1Reply
  • Judy WensloffBusiness Member
    Real Estate Agent · Oakhurst Mariposa Yosemite West Wawona Coarsegold, Fish Camp CA · Member since 2022 · 17 posts · 13 votes
    4y

    @Sid Kapoor

    Hello all, I'm and agent in Oakhurst pretty much specializing in the STR market in and around Yosemite. Oakhurst is actually in Madera County, and is pretty friendly in their regulations. Yosemite is actually in Mariposa County and has a stricter process to go through. We are seeing some good possibilities and anticipate the opportunities to grow as the summer progresses.

    [email protected]559-797-6797
    The Yosemite Real Estate Team brokered by eXp52 Reviews
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    1Reply
  • Joshua MessingerBusiness Member
    Property Manager · Poconos, PA · Member since 2020 · 443 posts · 264 votes
    4y

    Hey @Bob L.! 

    I couldn't agree more with @Luke Carl on this one. It's very hard to connect with someone that is looking in the exact market that you are looking at. But, the information that you can pull yourself is more valuable than you can imagine so it's good to make a checklist of items to know before making the decision if an area is viable for STRs or not.

    Here's a quick list of a couple of things I make sure to make a list of before making the decision that an area is viable to invest in or not: 

    - Amenities

    -  Rules, Regulations, Bylaws, Covenants of the areas County, Townships, and City. (They all will have different rules) 

    - Market analysis of occupancy, revenue, ADR, etc. 

    - What does your competition look like? 

    - What're the economic trends of the area look like? (Healthy, Poor, etc) 

    I hope this helps and if you have any more questions don't hesitate to reach out! 

    All the best,

    Josh

    [email protected]484-986-5012
    0Reply
  • Aileen McGann
    Member since 2021 · 22 posts · 0 votes
    3y
    Dear all, I am planning to buy a house in Oakhurst but I bit scared due to the repairs and we live far.  Can anyone recommend a contractor/ handy man near Oakhurst area?
    Thank you
    0Reply
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