All Forum Posts by: Bryant Xavier

Hi, Helena and Welcome! 

These are great questions and a great idea to do some due diligence before the purchase. I have recommendations for all 3 and I will send you a request to connect so I can send those your way. 

Hey, Lauren and congrats on considering your first STR investment! I've been in the STR game for 6 years, managing multiple properties, and here are some of the tech tools that have been game-changers for me—both for evaluating and managing properties.

  For Evaluating STRs: 1. AirDNA – This is my go-to for market research. It gives you insights into occupancy rates, average nightly rates, and revenue potential in your target area. 2. Pricelabs Market Dashboards – Great for analyzing local comps and pricing trends. 3. Mashvisor – Helps compare long-term vs. short-term rental potential, especially useful if you’re weighing both options. 4. Beyond (formerly Beyond Pricing) – Useful for dynamic pricing and also provides some solid market data.       For Managing STRs: 1. Hospitable (formerly Smartbnb) – Automates guest messaging, reviews, and integrates with multiple platforms like Airbnb and VRBO. 2. OwnerRez – A comprehensive PMS (property management system) that handles bookings, guest communication, and even direct booking websites. 3. RemoteLock or August Smart Locks – Essential for remote check-ins; integrates with booking platforms to auto-generate codes. 4. NoiseAware – Monitors noise levels to help prevent party problems without invading guest privacy. 5. Turno (formerly TurnoverBnB) – Automates scheduling for cleaners and syncs with your booking calendar. 6. Ring Cameras – Great for monitoring the exterior of your property for security purposes.   Bonus Tip: If this quadruplex is out of state, I’d highly recommend building a reliable local team (cleaners, handymen, etc.) and maybe consider hiring a co-host or VA to help with day-to-day tasks, especially if you scale up.   Hope that helps, and good luck with your STR journey! Feel free to reach out if you’ve got more questions.

Quote from @Todd Douglas:

Quote from @Bryant Xavier:

Todd,

You knocked this one out of the park, man! You'll have to keep me posted on your next move!

 hey man, yeah Im working on it now that the holiday season is over. Im just putting deals together and working on finding a new project for myself.

 Looking to do the same. How’s your market in MI? 

Quote from @Chris Magistrado:

Quote from @Bryant Xavier:

Hey, Spencer. I got started in arbitrage in 2019. Found an awesome deal on Craigslist and it allowed me to get my foot in the door with an investor (owner of the property I arbitraged.) I made a great connection with that property owner and proved the concept since he was unfamiliar and hadn't even heard of rental arbitrage. I used the concept to do arbitrage on 3 more of his properties and then transitioned to more of a management model in 2020 to offset my risk. My wife and I started managing more properties for others as word of mouth recommendations started and we started to use the management and arbitrage cash flow to acquire our own properties and fund the BRRRs we were working on.  

Curious to know if anyone else does the model this current day. 2019 was a different ballgame than todays market for sure and I think the model can work but it's very few and far between where the numbers will make sense in todays market.

Despite if it works and or what anyone says... arbitrage will always  have a special place in my heart since it was what got me started in this RE game. 

VERY cool strategy and progression story. At how many doors did you decide to go more into management side of things?

 We were managing 7 properties when transitioning to management. We are now at 21 doors under management and 3 are personal units that we self manage. Has been an awesome ride! 

Chanel,

Welcome back to the group. As a General Contractor myself here in east central Texas, I can tell you that connecting with local GCs via Facebook groups can be incredibly helpful. YouTube is also a fantastic resource—it's free and you can learn at your own pace, which is a huge benefit. Connecting with local GC groups in your area will help you connect with subcontractors, find out tips and tricks of the trade in your local area (since all areas and their real estate differ slightly).

Also, have you considered the motivation behind building a brand-new duplex versus finding one on the market? Sometimes, buying an existing property can be more cost-effective and less time-consuming and maybe require slightly less permits, etc. 

Hope this helps! Feel free to msg me, I'm happy to help

Enrique, 

Welcome to the group! I'm in Texas also.. right down the road in CS / Bryan, Tx. 

Tammy,

I am a realtor in the Bryan / College Station, Tx Market right down the road from you. I have a few lenders in my circle that are great to work with on lines of credit. I'm happy to make some intros and see if they can help out. Please send me a text or PM.

903-245-4874 

Hey, Spencer. I got started in arbitrage in 2019. Found an awesome deal on Craigslist and it allowed me to get my foot in the door with an investor (owner of the property I arbitraged.) I made a great connection with that property owner and proved the concept since he was unfamiliar and hadn't even heard of rental arbitrage. I used the concept to do arbitrage on 3 more of his properties and then transitioned to more of a management model in 2020 to offset my risk. My wife and I started managing more properties for others as word of mouth recommendations started and we started to use the management and arbitrage cash flow to acquire our own properties and fund the BRRRs we were working on.  

Curious to know if anyone else does the model this current day. 2019 was a different ballgame than todays market for sure and I think the model can work but it's very few and far between where the numbers will make sense in todays market.

Despite if it works and or what anyone says... arbitrage will always  have a special place in my heart since it was what got me started in this RE game. 

Hi Alex,

Welcome to the group! It's great to have you here. I'm right down the road in College Station/Bryan area and would be happy to connect anytime I'm in your area and vice versa. I'm a real estate investor specializing in STR properties, a realtor, and I own a construction company.

Your background as an electrician and experience in general contracting and project management will be incredibly valuable in the real estate world. Looking forward to connecting and collaborating with you!

Best,

Chad,

It sounds like you have a solid plan for your dad's house. Using the cash flow to help with your kids' college expenses is a practical approach. A HELOC or home equity loan on your personal home could be a viable option to fund the rehab, but it's always a good idea to chat with a lender to explore all your options and find the best fit for your situation. I have a great line up of lenders I am happy to make intro's for you.

As a realtor, investor, and owner of a construction company down the road in College Station, TX. I'd love to bid on the project and see if we can work something out on the remodel. Feel free to reach out if you need any assistance or have any questions!