All Forum Posts by: Lake Lutes
Lake Lutes has started 1 posts and replied 122 times.
Post: Buying two properties within a few months

- Real Estate Agent
- Fort Walton Beach, FL
- Posts 141
- Votes 114
Thanks @Raymond J. Rodrigues! @Eyan Hudson - cool name! Would love to chat through Pensacola and first time investor options. More than happy to be a resource for ya! Will shoot you a DM now. Quick answers...
1) Yes - you probably won't qualify for loans on two
2) Personal residences converted to investments is one of the best ways to invest
3) Don't be house poor!! Make sure your savings is more than what you plan to invest. Don't forget about closing costs.
4) Let's chat! I alot of good ones, some bad. Depends on priority and price point.
5) No - there's always a huge pool of potential tenants.
Post: Insurance for Portfolio of Homes (Texas - Single Families)

- Real Estate Agent
- Fort Walton Beach, FL
- Posts 141
- Votes 114
I am under contract to purchase a 10 unit package of homes in Texas (all-seller financed), we are doing 1 escrow. Does anyone have experience doing 1 insurance premium for a package of homes, or will they all need their own individual policies?
Thank you to all!
Post: Mid-term Rentals in Pensacola, FL

- Real Estate Agent
- Fort Walton Beach, FL
- Posts 141
- Votes 114
Quote from @Raymond J. Rodrigues:
@Lake Lutes any thoughts here?
Absolutely - East Hill is a really popular area for traveling heath care professionals, as well as military on short term TDY orders who are looking for furnished stays.
Keys to success for my condo have been keeping the furniture fresh, and not looking like every other listing out there. Stand out, be unique, and offer something of value that you would love if you were a traveler (cleaning service, amenities, a theme, etc.)
Happy to help you find a place if you want some help on the agent side. Just let me know!
Post: Moving to Destin, FL Soon – Looking to House Hack My First Property with VA Loan

- Real Estate Agent
- Fort Walton Beach, FL
- Posts 141
- Votes 114
Thanks @Raymond J. Rodrigues!!
@Keyshawn Johnson I'll connect via messages, but for the broader community:
• What should I know about buying property in Destin?
-Destin is primarily driven by tourism, military, and healthcare. There is also a mix of snowbirds and part-timers from southern states who consider this home. Beautiful beaches and weather, with great fishing and local food. Has appreciated a ton over the past few years, and will continue to do so!
• Any tips for maximizing house hacking opportunities in this area?
-Multi-family here is a little tough to come by. I would recommend buying a standard SFH with opportunities for an ADU, or a split floor plan where you could rent out the rooms! There are SOME MFH that do come-up, however.
2. Lenders and Financing
• Can anyone recommend lenders in Destin who are familiar with VA loans and can work well with first-time buyers?
-Ray (see above) is the man and can get you hooked up with great rates and low-fees!
Connect soon brotha!!
Post: New to Rental Property Investing

- Real Estate Agent
- Fort Walton Beach, FL
- Posts 141
- Votes 114
Thanks @Raymond J. Rodrigues!! @Tannia Castro - happy to chat and get you going on the right path! I operate from Pensacola to Destin to PCB. I'll shoot you a message!
Post: Referral Needed for Real Estate Agent in Santa Rosa Beach , FL

- Real Estate Agent
- Fort Walton Beach, FL
- Posts 141
- Votes 114
Just shot you a text directly Sherry - I'd be happy to help your friend here in the FL panhandle. Plenty of references and reviews available if needed :) Looking forward to connecting!
Post: Advice and potential connections for new investor moving to Destin/FWB

- Real Estate Agent
- Fort Walton Beach, FL
- Posts 141
- Votes 114
Thanks for the shoutout @Raymond J. Rodrigues! @Nicholas Bourgeois happy to connect man! I've done this personally and have helped a bunch of other investors do the same. Shooting you a DM now.
Post: PCSing to Pensacola - What's a good area?

- Real Estate Agent
- Fort Walton Beach, FL
- Posts 141
- Votes 114
@Brendan Bello Heck yeah man - good for you!
You will do great. Decide if you are going to use a PM or advertise and manage it yourself. If doing it yourself, have a plan for showing and screening tenants. There are a lot of good applications out there, but I use zillow for my rental applications. They have a good and simple lease builder as well.
Use rentometer and the BP Pro rental calculator to be sure you price it correctly, and take into consideration any expenses you might not have considered. Always prioritize the right tenant over getting it rented quicker! Best of luck man!
Post: Average annual occupancy for 2br/2ba condo in Destin?

- Real Estate Agent
- Fort Walton Beach, FL
- Posts 141
- Votes 114
Hey Judgery!! Happy to get you that info. I have an STR condo down here, and analyze STR deals for investors daily. I'll shoot you a message!
From a publically available standpoint, Air DnA and Pricelabs puts out great data for their paid products on nightly rate, occupancies, etc.
Post: Short Term Rental Gross Income

- Real Estate Agent
- Fort Walton Beach, FL
- Posts 141
- Votes 114
STR income will always be dependent on who I managing the property, how nice the finishes and furnishings are, and the actual location of a property within the given city.
With my STR in Destin, numbers are more or less the same as last year, perhaps down just a hair. I just refurnished much or it and got new pictures, and the activity has been good thus far.
A 2/2 beach side in Destin/FWB, income will depend on view of the unit, and the things mentioned above. Proximity to the beach matters as well! My unit is a 2/2 in Destin, but on the North side of the highway. It made $43K last year.