All Forum Posts by: Lake Lutes
Lake Lutes has started 1 posts and replied 122 times.
Post: Unlocking the Sunshine State: Exploring Short-Term Rental Markets in Florida

- Real Estate Agent
- Fort Walton Beach, FL
- Posts 141
- Votes 114
Love the break down Treg! Florida offers a unique opportunity to grow all in one state but stay diverse.
Where the insurance argument makes an entrance into the conversation, other states have area or state specific factors that play as a negative. There's never going to be a perfect 10/10 location with nothing going against it.
Keep crushing man.
Post: Florida Panhandle (Pensacola/Destin)

- Real Estate Agent
- Fort Walton Beach, FL
- Posts 141
- Votes 114
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.
Post: Thoughts on best STR locations in southern (east coast) FL

- Real Estate Agent
- Fort Walton Beach, FL
- Posts 141
- Votes 114
Quote from @Patricia Andriolo-Bull:
Quote from @Lake Lutes:
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!
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.
Post: Thoughts on best STR locations in southern (east coast) FL

- Real Estate Agent
- Fort Walton Beach, FL
- Posts 141
- Votes 114
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!
Post: STR or Long Term in Destin & Fort Walton Area

- Real Estate Agent
- Fort Walton Beach, FL
- Posts 141
- Votes 114
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!
Post: Househacking Fort Walton, Navarre, Destin Area

- Real Estate Agent
- Fort Walton Beach, FL
- Posts 141
- Votes 114
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!
Post: Str market in Florida panhandle

- Real Estate Agent
- Fort Walton Beach, FL
- Posts 141
- Votes 114
Quote from @Lisa Roberts:
Jumping in here.. I'm interested in purchasing an STR/vacation home in Destin - crystal beach, Miramar, blue mountain, seacrest, or inlet. I've been looking a lot. The issue I'm having is making the numbers work with the higher rates and, dang.. those prices have jumped as much as Austin. I'd like to come out and visit mid May and really look. What I need is accurate info on rental projections, flood insurance, prop taxes and HOA's. What is the likelihood of securing a midterm renter during the winter months? I would love to find a value add and a seller finance deal (on market is fine). Could finance conventionally but then the numbers even make less sense. looking to stay under 1M W/ 10% down to seller finance.
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!
Post: Str market in Florida panhandle

- Real Estate Agent
- Fort Walton Beach, FL
- Posts 141
- Votes 114
@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!
Post: New to Investing in/near Pensacola!

- Real Estate Agent
- Fort Walton Beach, FL
- Posts 141
- Votes 114
Super excited to have you out here soon, Sophie!! Safe travels and see ya soon.
Post: Fort Walton Beach local- looking to build my portfolio.

- Real Estate Agent
- Fort Walton Beach, FL
- Posts 141
- Votes 114
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!