All Forum Posts by: Lisa Choi

Absolutely, you're already thinking like an investor! 

Thanks for sharing more about your home—it sounds like a beautiful, well-maintained property with great features. Being a former model home with solar panels, water softener plumbing, wood blinds, and a manicured yard really sets it apart. And 78224 has seen solid rental demand, especially for homes that are move-in ready like yours.

You're spot on about checking Zillow, Redfin, and Realtor.com—they're great for ballpark figures. Just keep in mind, their estimates can vary and don’t always reflect what properties actually rent for. To dial in your target rent more accurately, here are a few steps I’d recommend:

Run a Quick Market Check 

• Look at Active + Recently Rented Listings: Try to find 3–5 homes similar in size, condition, and location (ideally within a mile or so). Pay special attention to the leased listings—they’ll tell you what tenants are really paying, not just asking rents.

• Talk to a Local Property Manager: Even if you don’t plan to hire one, many are happy to give you a rental range based on experience in the area. That insight can be gold.

STR vs. MTR vs. LTR

Based on your home’s details (3/2.5/2, upgraded finishes, solar, great curb appeal), here's a quick market snapshot for 78224 as of May 2025:

Long-Term Rental:

• Rent Range: ~$1,600 to $1,950/month

• Given the upgrades and former model status, your home could likely command closer to the top end—$1,850–$1,950.

• Best for: Predictable income, low turnover, and less active management.

Mid-Term Rental: 

• Rent Potential: ~$2,200–$2,600/month

• Especially strong if you furnish it and market to travel nurses, contractors, or military (Brooks City Base is nearby).

• Best for: Higher cash flow with less churn than STR.

Short-Term Rental: 

• Nightly Rate: ~$100–$140/night

• To reliably cover a mortgage, you’d need 20+ booked nights/month—which can be tough in this ZIP, as tourist demand is more modest compared to downtown San Antonio or New Braunfels.

• Best for: Experienced hosts or homes in high-demand leisure areas.

Given your goals and desire for stability, LTR or MTR might be your sweet spot:

• LTR gives peace of mind and steady income.

• MTR could boost returns while staying relatively passive—especially if you furnish it once and cater to travel professionals.

And please don’t feel discouraged—it’s completely normal to feel a bit uncertain when entering a new space. But you’re asking all the right questions, taking thoughtful steps, and leaning into a community that’s here to support you. That’s how momentum starts. 

Hope this helps! 

Hey William, first off—thank you for your service, and major congrats on stepping into this new chapter. It’s awesome that you and your wife have been so intentional with your savings and are ready to invest with a multifamily—great way to build long-term wealth.

On the topic of new builds vs. existing properties, I totally understand the hesitation with new construction. While new builds offer lower maintenance up front, existing multifamily properties often come with more opportunity to add value and force appreciation, especially if you're willing to do some light rehab or operational improvements.

I’m based in San Antonio and actually have a few value-add multifamily properties currently for sale—ranging from duplexes to small and mid-size buildings (quads, 7–8 units, even a 31-door)—if that’s something you’d want to explore. Nothing pushy at all, just happy to share if you're curious what’s out there.

Also happy to connect you with local agents, lenders, and vendors who work closely with VA buyers and investor-focused clients. You're in a great market and at a great starting point—excited for what's ahead for you!

Wow, I’m really sorry you’re going through all of that—what a tough situation, especially after the excitement of closing on a new lake house. It’s completely understandable to feel overwhelmed and frustrated, especially when you took the right steps upfront with multiple inspections.

Unfortunately, hidden issues like mold and termites inside walls can be incredibly hard to catch, even with a general inspection, unless there are visible signs or strong indicators that would warrant further invasive investigation. Inspectors are limited by what they can see and access without opening things up—which sounds like what you had to do after the freeze.

As for legal action, you're right to be cautious and explore your options, especially if there's any indication the sellers may have knowingly concealed major defects. If you do go down that path, consulting a real estate attorney could help clarify whether there's a case worth pursuing.

That said, these situations often come down to what can be proven, and legal routes can get expensive fast—so weighing the cost, stress, and potential outcome is definitely important. It might make more sense financially and emotionally to focus on repairs and turn this around into the getaway you hoped for.

Sending good thoughts your way—thanks for sharing your story. It’s a valuable reminder for all of us to stay vigilant, even beyond what inspections cover.

Hey Mason, big congrats on knocking out your first flip successfully—that’s a huge milestone! Even better that you're already gearing up to take on more than one a year. That momentum is gold—keep it going!

If traditional lenders are giving you a hard time, it might be worth exploring hard money lenders. They're typically more focused on the deal itself rather than your income or long credit history, which can be a great fit for someone scaling their flip game.

Also, I’ve got a solid network of agents and lenders in the Fort Worth area who work specifically with investors. If you’re looking for deal flow or financing options, I’d be happy to connect you with people who can help keep things moving.

You’re definitely on the right path—cheering you on as you grow your portfolio!

Best, 

Hey Emiliano! 

Welcome to San Antonio — it’s a great market for multifamily investing with lots of potential.

I’m a local real estate agent here who works specifically with investors.  While I personally work more with hard money lenders, I do know that there are some investor-friendly mortgage brokers in the area — happy to point you in the right direction or connect you with others who’ve gone the traditional financing route.

If you're open to it, I’d love to connect while you’re in town — whether it's grabbing coffee or touring some properties. I work with investors regularly and can share insights on local neighborhoods, rental demand, and value-add opportunities.

Safe travels, and feel free to reach out!

Best,

111 Cactus Wren Ln, McQueeney, TX 78123

Hey there, congrats on taking the leap into becoming a landlord — that’s a big move, and it sounds like you’re already off to a solid start!

Self-managing can definitely feel overwhelming at first, but with systems in place, it gets much more manageable over time.

On Avail: I've heard good feedback from landlords using Avail, especially for a single rental or small portfolio. It's user-friendly and covers key functions like rent collection, lease signing, and maintenance tracking. If you ever grow your portfolio, you might outgrow it and want to explore tools like Buildium or RentRedi, but for now, Avail should work just fine.

A few tips as a new landlord:

1. Screen tenants thoroughly — background, credit, income verification, and rental history. Don’t skip any of those steps, even if someone seems nice.

2. Set clear expectations up front — a solid lease and good communication go a long way.

3. Document everything — from move-in photos to communication records, just in case.

4. Budget for maintenance and vacancies — aim to set aside at least 10% of rent for repairs and maintenance.

5. Know your local landlord-tenant laws — Texas is landlord-friendly, but still make sure you understand notice periods, deposit handling, and eviction rules.

For networking:

• In Fort Worth, check out Fort Worth Wealth Builders or the local REIA groups — a quick search should pull up Meetup groups or their websites.

• In San Antonio, Alamo REIA is a solid group, and they do regular in-person events.
  BiggerPockets forums are great too, but nothing beats face-to-face networking for partnerships and referrals.

You’re doing great by asking questions and being proactive. Keep learning, stay consistent, and don't be afraid to make small mistakes — it’s all part of the journey.

Wishing you all the best with your rental!

📍 1409 W Woodlawn Ave, San Antonio TX 78201

🔥 8 Units (2/1s) | 16 Beds | 8 Baths 

📈 Major Upside – 2/1 Units in a 1/1 Market

📍 PRIME LOCATION:

✅ 13 min to Airport

✅ 9 min to Downtown

✅ High demand rental area

New roof (2023)

New flooring & appliances (2020)

Separately metered = tenant-paid utilities

Just 1 unit vacant – Cash flow starts now!

📊 COMP EDGE:

Local 1/1s (smaller) renting at $1,150+

Your units = 2/1s = VALUE + CASH FLOW

📬 DM NOW for Rent Rolls, Rehab Scope, and Financials! 210-852-0050

Cash or Hard Money Only, No Creative Financing. 

Welcome and huge congratulations on closing—and more importantly, on your incredible journey! 🎉

I’m Lisa Choi, a real estate agent here in San Antonio who works closely with investors, and it’s always inspiring to see strong women stepping into real estate. Your story is amazing—thank you for your service, and major respect for all you’ve overcome and accomplished. 💪

New Braunfels is such a great area with growing demand, and getting your current home on Airbnb could be a smart move, especially with the flexibility and income potential it offers. With your background and drive, I’m sure you’ll find success in this space quickly.

You’re in the right place—this community is full of people eager to share, and I’d be happy to support however I can, whether that’s market insights, local connections, or just cheering you on.

Excited to see what you build next!

Hey Michelle, congrats on the new build and welcome to the investing side of things! 🎉 I’m Lisa Choi, a real estate agent and investor-focused advisor based in San Antonio, so I love seeing more local investors like you getting started.

Your plan sounds solid—leveraging Airbnb for your San Antonio property could definitely help offset moving costs, and renting rooms in the new house is a great way to house hack.

A few thoughts on your questions:

1. Furnishings: I totally understand wanting a fresh start, especially if the old furniture carries emotional weight. Leaving it in the STR can actually be a win-win—it saves you on initial Airbnb setup costs, and guests won't know the history. You can always gradually replace pieces with more standardized, guest-friendly options over time as your cash flow improves.

2. STR vs. LTR: It depends on the neighborhood, demand, and how hands-on you want to be. STRs can earn more but come with more work and turnover. Since you're new, you might also want to check out PadSplit as a hybrid option—it's a room rental platform designed for workforce housing. My brokerage is actually partnering with them soon, and it might be a great way to rent by the room while benefiting from more structure and less turnover than Airbnb.

3. Renting 3 rooms in your new home: Be clear with house rules up front (quiet hours, shared space use, cleaning duties), use written agreements, and try to screen tenants like you would for a standard rental. Living with your tenants means you’re basically your own property manager, so setting boundaries early will help keep things smooth.

If you want to dive deeper into any of this or have questions about how to price your STR or get started with PadSplit, feel free to reach out—happy to help!