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All Forum Posts by: Anja Schaer

Anja Schaer has started 0 posts and replied 88 times.

Post: Urgent: Need STR Market Advice to Slash Capital Gains Taxes – $250K Ready to Invest!

Anja Schaer
Posted
  • Investor
  • Atlanta
  • Posts 90
  • Votes 36

Hey Yair, as an STR/MTR host & co-host in Metro Atlanta, I'd say don't rush just for tax benefits—make sure the deal actually works. STR Insights is a great resource to find lucrative markets based on your budget and buy box—I highly recommend booking a demo call with them. Use AirDNA/RABBU to validate numbers and ensure you can meet 500+ material participation hours. Focus on long-term profitability over urgency.

Post: Hire cleaning or do it myself?

Anja Schaer
Posted
  • Investor
  • Atlanta
  • Posts 90
  • Votes 36

Hey Ashley, As an STR/MTR host & co-host in Metro Atlanta, I’d say it depends on your time vs. value. If you're local and have the flexibility, cleaning yourself can save money and ensure quality. But as you scale, it can become too much to handle.

Staging is key for guest experience—if you hire cleaners, train them to place pillows, set up decor, and follow a checklist to maintain consistency. Many professional cleaners will include this if you communicate your expectations upfront.

You can also test it out—start by cleaning yourself to understand the process, then decide if outsourcing is worth it. Your time is valuable—invest it wisely!

Post: New to Investing

Anja Schaer
Posted
  • Investor
  • Atlanta
  • Posts 90
  • Votes 36

As an STR/MTR host & co-host in Metro Atlanta, I’d say you’re on the right track. Since you have good personal credit but no capital, house hacking is a great way to start—live in one unit, rent the others, and leverage low down payment loans.

To build business credit, start with a business bank account, business credit card, and small vendor trade lines. Also, networking with local investors and lenders can help you find creative financing options like DSCR loans, seller financing, or partnerships.

I would be happy to connect and share insights! Keep pushing forward!

Post: New Upcoming Investor!

Anja Schaer
Posted
  • Investor
  • Atlanta
  • Posts 90
  • Votes 36

Hey Jessie, Love to see your drive at 20! As an STR/MTR host & co-host in Metro Atlanta, I’d say you’re on the right path with house hacking—it’s a smart way to start. Either with a duplex or a home with a basement that has a separate unit downstairs. While saving up, focus on networking with investors, joining local REI meetups, and learning market trends. BP forums, Facebook groups, and in-person investor meetups around ATL/Cobb are great for connecting. The Atlanta REIA is a great place to connect to local Investors, so I would definitely check that out. They do in-person meetups but also onsite walkthroughs, which are super helpful especially for beginning investors like you.

Post: New to Bigger Pockets and Real Estate Investing

Anja Schaer
Posted
  • Investor
  • Atlanta
  • Posts 90
  • Votes 36

Welcome to BP, Stacy! As an STR/MTR host & co-host in Metro Atlanta, it’s great to see more investors focusing on Augusta, Macon, and ATL—all strong markets with great potential. Congrats on your first cash-flowing property!

If you’re considering expanding into short- or mid-term rentals, I’m happy to share insights on maximizing returns in these areas. Wishing you success as you grow your portfolio!

Post: Retired Navy, New investor looking to buy first Property in 2025

Anja Schaer
Posted
  • Investor
  • Atlanta
  • Posts 90
  • Votes 36

Welcome to BP! As an STR/MTR host & co-host in Metro Atlanta, I think both Huntsville and Augusta are great choices, but make sure you’re factoring in local regulations, demand, and property taxes when running numbers. Huntsville has strong growth and landlord-friendly laws, while Augusta has affordability and steady rental demand.

Having friends in each area is a big plus for building your team! Wishing you all the best, David!

Post: Georgia Lease Agreement/Rent Collection Method

Anja Schaer
Posted
  • Investor
  • Atlanta
  • Posts 90
  • Votes 36

Congrats on your first LTR! For leases, joining a local landlord association is a great way to get Georgia-specific, legally sound agreements. BiggerPockets also has solid lease templates you can customize.

For rent collection, I recommend Innago or Avail (RentRedi is a great alternative too)—both are low-cost and user-friendly. While free options like Venmo/Cash App work, they lack landlord protections, so switching to a dedicated platform can help long-term. Also check out Landlord-friendly online Banks like Baselane. They have Rent collection and bookkeeping built-in, combining diverse functionality in one platform.

Post: Glad to have found BP!

Anja Schaer
Posted
  • Investor
  • Atlanta
  • Posts 90
  • Votes 36

Welcome to BP! As an STR/MTR host & co-host in Metro Atlanta, I think self-managing in a tourist area can work well, especially if you automate as much as possible (smart locks, dynamic pricing, messaging templates, etc.).

Since you're just getting started, focusing on a turnkey or lightly updated property might make the transition easier. Happy to share insights if you have any questions on setup, pricing, or guest management!

Post: Beginner Looking for Guidance in This Space (Affordable Markets, Midwest & South)

Anja Schaer
Posted
  • Investor
  • Atlanta
  • Posts 90
  • Votes 36

You're on the right track! As an STR/MTR host & co-host in Metro Atlanta, I’d recommend house hacking a duplex to start. For affordable markets, Cleveland, Dayton, and South GA can cash flow well, but watch for maintenance issues.

For financing, check local banks/credit unions for better investor terms, and vet property managers carefully—they can make or break your deal. Happy to chat if you need insights!

Post: Augusta GA Investors

Anja Schaer
Posted
  • Investor
  • Atlanta
  • Posts 90
  • Votes 36
Quote from @Sandra McEwan:
Quote from @Anja Schaer:

Hey! I'm Anja, an STR/MTR host and co-host here in the area. It's great to see you getting into the investment world! I'd love to connect with more local investors and professionals. If you're interested in networking or have any questions about short-term or mid-term rentals, feel free to reach out! Looking forward to connecting!


Hey Anja! I have 4 MTR/STR in Augusta but I self-manage them remotely. So far I am managing ok. What zip codes do you co-host properties and are you local?


Hi Sandra,While we are currently serving the Metro Atlanta market with our hybrid STR/MTR model, we're always exploring new markets to see how we can help other investors and homeowners with our experience in the STR/MTR space. We're open to new opportunities and always looking to expand where we can make an impact.

How has your experience in Augusta been so far? Would love to hear more about what you're seeing in the market there!