All Forum Posts by: Tom Borton
Tom Borton has started 1 posts and replied 6 times.
Post: Help me analyze: Potential STR mountain cabin build (Packwood WA)

Tom BortonPosted
- Portland, OR
- Posts 6
- Votes 6
AirDNA
Post: Help me analyze: Potential STR mountain cabin build (Packwood WA)

Tom BortonPosted
- Portland, OR
- Posts 6
- Votes 6
Thanks Evan! That's super helpful, and always something to keep in mind and watch out for. It's also the down side of doing a new build project. The conditions on the ground going into the project may not be the same as when you complete!
Post: Help me analyze: Potential STR mountain cabin build (Packwood WA)

Tom BortonPosted
- Portland, OR
- Posts 6
- Votes 6
@Lacie Carver @Khushboo Agarwal
We love Packwood. We got a bit delayed in the permitting process...We had to get a geotechnical report done due to a slope on the back side of the property, but are now back in process again. Firming up our construction loan and should be starting soon! Our builder is Bill Lowe, who we really like so far.
Post: Help me analyze: Potential STR mountain cabin build (Packwood WA)

Tom BortonPosted
- Portland, OR
- Posts 6
- Votes 6
Thanks Dennis, I think you're right that planning for a more conservative return would be a good idea.
I re-ran my numbers at an even more conservative level:
Lower ARV: $800,000
Lower income levels (I'm assuming it will take a couple years to get up to full potential income, but giving myself 3 years was a conservative estimate):
Year 1: 50k (NOI $1,000)
Year 2: 80k (NOI $31,000)
Year 3: 100k (NOI $51,000)
My ROI numbers come out to:
1% (year 1)
46% (year 2)
76% (year 3)
This scenario seems like an acceptable risk to me, when the upside seems far more profitable. Thoughts?
I re-ran my numbers at an even more conservative level:
Lower ARV: $800,000
Lower income levels (I'm assuming it will take a couple years to get up to full potential income, but giving myself 3 years was a conservative estimate):
Year 1: 50k (NOI $1,000)
Year 2: 80k (NOI $31,000)
Year 3: 100k (NOI $51,000)
My ROI numbers come out to:
1% (year 1)
46% (year 2)
76% (year 3)
This scenario seems like an acceptable risk to me, when the upside seems far more profitable. Thoughts?
Post: Help me analyze: Potential STR mountain cabin build (Packwood WA)

Tom BortonPosted
- Portland, OR
- Posts 6
- Votes 6
Thanks Tim, that's exactly the feedback I was looking for! We're new to looking at AirDNA numbers and assessing where we would fit. And the unknowns of a build, as you point out, are also hard to gauge. Your listings are beautiful... you guys have a great design eye. I think the Packwood market still seems to have lots of outdated places. The comps we've been looking at are these:
https://www.airbnb.com/rooms/4... (1 bed/1.5 bath, 104.5k revenue)
https://www.airbnb.com/rooms/4... 3 bed/2 bath, 124.9k revenue)
https://www.airbnb.com/rooms/5... (3 bed/2 bath, 113.3k revenue)
We've been working with a local builder to pre-plan, and estimate costs. But it sounds like you have some experience too... I know build costs are coming down, but maybe we're still too low? My estimates are also accounting for $20,000 in septic (not included in the $400k number). The lot is flat and level, so we only need a short gravel driveway. Community water, and electric are at the street.
It does sound like we have similar interests (and design styles), so we would love to connect!
https://www.airbnb.com/rooms/4... (1 bed/1.5 bath, 104.5k revenue)
https://www.airbnb.com/rooms/4... 3 bed/2 bath, 124.9k revenue)
https://www.airbnb.com/rooms/5... (3 bed/2 bath, 113.3k revenue)
We've been working with a local builder to pre-plan, and estimate costs. But it sounds like you have some experience too... I know build costs are coming down, but maybe we're still too low? My estimates are also accounting for $20,000 in septic (not included in the $400k number). The lot is flat and level, so we only need a short gravel driveway. Community water, and electric are at the street.
It does sound like we have similar interests (and design styles), so we would love to connect!
Post: Help me analyze: Potential STR mountain cabin build (Packwood WA)

Tom BortonPosted
- Portland, OR
- Posts 6
- Votes 6
Hi all, my wife and I are finally getting serious about investing in real estate this year, and have been so thankful to have found this community! We've been devouring all the BP podcasts, and starting to read the forums. We own our primary home in the Portland area, and have had an STR condo in Seaside OR for 2 years. Hoping to add a mountain cabin (both for investment and to bring our three young daughters to when we can). After this, we are hoping to pursue more destination-location STRs in Oregon and Washington, and possibly BRRRR LTRs closer to home to diversify a bit.
Help me analyze this potential build. I think I have calculated the appropriate numbers, but this our first new-build adventure and I would appreciate more experienced eyes on this analysis.
We are considering purchasing land in Packwood, WA and building an upscale modern 3/2 1500 sq ft A-Frame cabin. Hoping for $325,000 for the build (budgeting for $400,000 with overages). I'm not sure I can copy and paste my Excel spreadsheet, so i will approximate the numbers here.
Strategy:
Take a Home Equity Loan (second) on our primary @ 5%.
Pay off existing HELOC (variable, at 7.5% now), use remainder ($120k) to buy the land (plus 30k of our own cash).
Use the land as down payment on a construction loan. Refi after construction.
These numbers consider only the portion of costs of the HEL attributable to the land purchase, not the payoff of the HELOC (which we took out to buy the Seaside condo).
Cash In: $66,166 (Cash, 1 year of debt service of HEL, debt service of const. loan, furnishing)
Amount Financed: $548,000 (home equity loan + construction loan + closing costs)
Total Cost of build: $614,166
ARV: $850,000 (or rather "after construction value")
Refi $637,500 (75% of value + closing costs)
Cash Out $89,500
New payment $4500/month (54,000/year)
Estimated Cash Flow (pre-tax numbers, so actual mileage may vary)
airBNB year 1: $70,000 (net income $16,000)
airBNB year 2: $100,000 (net income $46,000)
airBNB year3+: $120,000 (net income $66,000)
ROI (construction year): 0
ROI Year 1 of STR: 24.2%
Help me analyze this potential build. I think I have calculated the appropriate numbers, but this our first new-build adventure and I would appreciate more experienced eyes on this analysis.
We are considering purchasing land in Packwood, WA and building an upscale modern 3/2 1500 sq ft A-Frame cabin. Hoping for $325,000 for the build (budgeting for $400,000 with overages). I'm not sure I can copy and paste my Excel spreadsheet, so i will approximate the numbers here.
Strategy:
Take a Home Equity Loan (second) on our primary @ 5%.
Pay off existing HELOC (variable, at 7.5% now), use remainder ($120k) to buy the land (plus 30k of our own cash).
Use the land as down payment on a construction loan. Refi after construction.
These numbers consider only the portion of costs of the HEL attributable to the land purchase, not the payoff of the HELOC (which we took out to buy the Seaside condo).
Cash In: $66,166 (Cash, 1 year of debt service of HEL, debt service of const. loan, furnishing)
Amount Financed: $548,000 (home equity loan + construction loan + closing costs)
Total Cost of build: $614,166
ARV: $850,000 (or rather "after construction value")
Refi $637,500 (75% of value + closing costs)
Cash Out $89,500
New payment $4500/month (54,000/year)
Estimated Cash Flow (pre-tax numbers, so actual mileage may vary)
airBNB year 1: $70,000 (net income $16,000)
airBNB year 2: $100,000 (net income $46,000)
airBNB year3+: $120,000 (net income $66,000)
ROI (construction year): 0
ROI Year 1 of STR: 24.2%
ROI Year 2 of STR: 69.5%
ROI Year 3+ of STR: 99.7%
Did I calculate these ROI numbers right? The numbers seem too good to be true, but I tried to use pretty reasonable estimates throughout. In the mean time we're looking at other STR and BRRRR options in Oregon and Washington.
Thanks everyone!
Tom