seattle, WA · Member since 2026 · 2 posts · 1 vote
Hello everyone,
I am super new here and want to learn about airbnbs and real estate investing. I want to connect with some local Seattle area investors and also wanted to know opinions about investing in San Juan islands and if there are any agents in that area that can guide me during my first investment. Thanks in advance.
Before you fall in love with a place up there, look at the county's vacation rental rules first. Island and resort areas all over the country have been capping or restricting short term rental permits, and if a house doesn't already have a valid permit you might not be able to get one. Ask any agent you talk to whether the permit stays with the property when it sells.
The other thing with the islands is the season. You'll probably do most of your revenue in about 4 to 5 months of summer, then winter is slow, and everything depends on the ferry. Cleaners, handymen, and supplies cost more when they have to come over on a boat. So when you run numbers, use a full year of actual booking data for comparable homes, not a summer nightly rate times 30.
A simple test I like is whether the house still covers its mortgage, taxes, and insurance as a regular long term rental. If it does, the Airbnb income is a bonus. If it only works as an Airbnb at a high occupancy, that's a lot of risk for a first deal.
@Tarunjit Singh, let's connect. The San Juans are a beautiful spot, but a short term rental out there usually means a seasonal calendar and upkeep from a ferry ride away.
San Juan County has its own rules on vacation rentals, so read up on those before you get attached to a property.
I know plenty of good people you could meet, and I'd pass along a few resources too. Is part of the appeal using it yourself in the summer?
Thank you for the response Marc. I am very new to this so didn’t really know that it would be seasonal. And no the appeal isn’t really personal use. Yes please let’s connect. How can I reach out to you?