All Forum Posts by: Lake Lutes

Hey man! I am active duty and have been an active investor for 5 years, and active agent for 4 years. I started while stationed at JB Pearl Harbor Hickam, and have been an agent now in Florida just about a year and a half after my PCS to Eglin. It is definitely doable, but takes a lot of sacrifice. Outside of my day to day job, I give up a lot of social events and trips for clients, transactions, and investment opportunities. But I love it because it's what's important to me! Let me know if you want to talk anymore about it, I'd love to get together.

 I recommend looking in Panama City Beach (PCB) for cashflow purposes, with the potential for some solid growth over the next 5 years. Okaloosa Island, which is technically Fort Walton Beach just West of Destin, also has some room still for solid cashflow and growth over the next 10 years. Those would be my 2 recommendations.

Hit me up if you want to look at some specific deals! This is my specific investing and agent market.

The Emerald Coast of Florida is still highly attractive due to the steady occupancy and the projections to continue appreciating. Between the military bases, hospitals, and gentrification - this area is going nowhere but up any time soon. It has also not been stung as bad from a STR revenue standpoint when compared to other STR markets.

Let me know if you want to chat any more about it!

Hey @Ben Adamo! Stoked to have you down on the Emerald Coast from time to time over the next few years. I do both - I have a few LTRs down here as well as an STR in Destin. There is no question that the STR has phenomenal numbers - if you advertise right and your expenses aren't too crazy, you can make some extremely good money in the Florida Panhandle on STRs. I will say though, this is a very underrated area for LTRs. You can find homes in the $300s that rent for $2500+. I just leased my home that appraised at $331K for $2500 - even with my refinance at 7.5%, it cashflows about $500/mo.

In short - both methods are great for this market. I'll shoot you a PM and am happy to link up and chat when you're here!

Hey James! Im a local investor and agent here. Have helped a few folks find house hacks, but mainly looking at homes with ADUs/MIL suites as like you mentioned, the multifamily scene is pretty slim here, and they tend to be in areas that I wouldn't necessarily advise living in. There are exceptions of course, but SFH with an area to rent out might be your best bet.

Would love to connect and help you on your search man, this is my bread n butter!

 Hey Lisa! I'd be more than happy to help you find and run the most accurate numbers, they're going to differ greatly per property. As for winter months, the likelihood is high if your property is well maintained, renovated, and managed. I've gotten 3 November to February requests already and we're in May for my 2 bed 2 bath condo in Destin.

I've been doing more and more subject to and seller financed deals in this market to make the numbers make more sense, you just need to know how to find them!

Hope to chat soon!

@Nick Loukas Happy to help! I'm a realtor here in the panhandle, and local investor. I have short term and long term rentals, and help tons of investors with their short term goals. Happy to talk you through some areas and run numbers for you!

Super excited to have you out here soon, Sophie!! Safe travels and see ya soon.

Welcome @Candace Ganhann! I am an investor and agent in Fort Walton Beach - you're definitely in one of the best areas you can be for multiple investing strategy options and finding deals. Happy to link up and chat real estate and NW Florida anytime!

 Uncle Sam is giving you TAX FREE BAH to put towards a mortgage - in my opinion, there are very few scenarios when it would be better to put it in a landlords pocket instead of towards your own equity.

With that being said, Hawaii is its own beast. The entry price is steep, and the risk is higher. I would advise looking out of town if you want to keep your HOAs down and purchasing power up. Mililani, Ewa Beach, Aiea, or even Pearl City could give you some lower HOAs and purchasing power in your BAH range. Shoot me a message if you need some help, would love to connect! Spent 3 years investing and as an agent in Hawaii, and am still active on Oahu. Love where your head is at already!