Return to Investment Efforts After Hiatus

Return to Investment Efforts After Hiatus

Homeowner · Austin. TX · Member since 2023 · 6 posts · 7 votes

Disclaimer: Please pardon any instances of ignorance conveyed below. I am a work in progress.

Greetings!

I am attempting to return to a “House Hack” via RBTR in my owner occupied 2/2.5 condominium in North Austin. I started RBTR very soon after my purchase in 2009. This was highly beneficial and the LTR option coincided with my circumstances at that time. I continued for several years, shaving some years off my morgan terms and adding updates and improvements to the property. I ceased this practice in 2013 due to marriage.

Now (divorced) and carrying the PITI+HOA solo, I am desperately missing that second source of income and the perks that come with it. However, it's been so long that it feels like the entire playing field in the Austin rental game has changed. Additionally, I have no background or professional experience in real estate so I am struggling with initiation and access to vital tools and resources.

Goals in this movement: Apply rental income to continue to chip away at my principal balance. I have a little over 8 years currently remaining. I’d like to zilch that number and move towards converting this unit to a rental property, focusing my attention to the next potential purchase.

Areas where some guidance would highly appreciate.

  1. 1.Rental term selection. From the little information I have gathered, it appears there is an increasing movement away from traditional LTR to MTR, STR and RBTR (with multiple individual tenants in one dwelling) with sources like Air BnB as an intermediate. Is my assessment accurate and are there significant benefits for this "choppy" methodology? I am partial to LTRs but I am not entirely opposed to MTR or STR, but only if the benefits are significantly skewed from LTR.
  2. 2. Pricing: I have browsed online for a comparable market rate to my “offering”. However, all the rent calculating tools, including BP do not have options to account for shared spaces. Additionally numbers on websites like Apt.com seem to drastically vary for vacant apartment listings.Additionally, how would I determine accuracy of comparability to my RBTR while I am the additional occupant the the home? How to adjust for all bills paid options?
  3. 3. Rental Agreement: Almost all my previous occupants were required to a lease agreement, regardless of my personal relationship to them. However, my old resources no longer suffice. Where could I obtain a template for a RBTR/Owner co-hab agreement that is thorough in addressing conditions that are situationally relevant to ensure that all pertinent/legally required information is accounted for?
  4. 4. Are there any other educational tools/resources you can suggest would be vital or highly beneficial for my circumstance (Ex. Best practices for RBTR arrangements or just general landlord dos and donts?)

I know this is a lot to ask, so if you only have one single tip, I’ll take it. Each tiny piece of donated knowledge will be added to my Bank of Wisdom for future use.

Onward!

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Ryan ThomsonBusiness Member
Real Estate Agent · Colorado Springs, CO · Member since 2018 · 1k+ posts · 1k+ votes
3y

@Leah Trevino

1. Using those methods usually lead to more potential rental income. You are correct. 

2. Search Facebook marketplace for bedroom rentals and see what rooms are going for. Better yet, connect with a house hacking realtor. They will have a good understanding of this. 

3. I have a co-hab bedroom lease. Its for Colorado. Not sure how helpful it will be but you can certainly take a look. 

The Assumable Guy544 Reviews
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  • Ryan ThomsonBusiness Member
    Real Estate Agent · Colorado Springs, CO · Member since 2018 · 1k+ posts · 1k+ votes
    3y

    @Leah Trevino

    1. Using those methods usually lead to more potential rental income. You are correct. 

    2. Search Facebook marketplace for bedroom rentals and see what rooms are going for. Better yet, connect with a house hacking realtor. They will have a good understanding of this. 

    3. I have a co-hab bedroom lease. Its for Colorado. Not sure how helpful it will be but you can certainly take a look. 

    The Assumable Guy544 Reviews
  • Ryan ThomsonBusiness Member
    Real Estate Agent · Colorado Springs, CO · Member since 2018 · 1k+ posts · 1k+ votes
    3y

    For resources:

    1. For podcasts I really like the House Hacking episodes on Bigger Pockets Podcast and other channels. Here is a playlist with the best House Hacking Podcasts I’ve found: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/4A6uLsPfdWEMmJhG4TSjyb?si=743bb403548f47fb

    2. Great beginners guide: https://www.biggerpockets.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/Ultimate_Beginners_Guide_BiggerPockets.pdf

    3. The Book on House Hacking Strategies by Bigger Pockets is also a fantastic book

    4. Happy to talk if you want more advice

    5. Connect with a realtor who understands house hacking and has invested themselves

    6. Connect with a lender to see what you qualify for and how you can improve that situation

    7. Go to local Real Estate meetups and learn from people there

    The Assumable Guy544 Reviews
  • Real Estate Consultant · Austin, TX · Member since 2020 · 95 posts · 88 votes
    3y

    Hi @Leah Trevino, congrats on being just a little over 8 years away, youre almost there!

    1. Yes you can absolutely make more from airbnb but what you trade in return is time invested. So ultimately depends how much time you want to spend setting up and managing vs long-term. I run 3 airbnbs in Austin and my RBTR house I do only LTR per room to keep it easy. In my opinion, juice isn't worth the squeeze unless its the difference between your numbers not working vs working. From what I've seen here in Austin, a room that brings in $800 LTR will probably bring in $1000-$1250 MTR & $1250+ STR. Up to your situation if those numbers work.

    2. I would go to facebook groups like "Greater Austin Area - Housing and Roommate Finder" to see what other people are offering/how much engagement they are getting. For bills, I usually charge a flat fee to rent so its automated and one less thing I can think about, but you can manually split each month

    3. BP has rental agreements and if you want to shoot me an email, I can send over the one I've used in the past
    4. Check out Sam Wegerts episode on BP about doubling your cashflow, handsdown my favorite episode and you'll get lots of great gems.

    Hope this help!

  • Homeowner · Austin. TX · Member since 2023 · 6 posts · 7 votes
    3y

    Wow!! Thanks for all the great info! I will shoot you an email for that lease template. Thanks

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