Personally, I like to see signs of organic population growth rather than speculative vacation traffic, because when people are moving in for jobs and schools it usually means steady long-term rental demand; on the flip side, I’d be cautious about towns that look attractive just because they’re “near the water,” since insurance costs and flood maps can change quickly, and that can eat into cash flow if you’re not careful.

For me, it’s easier to make up the difference by having a fuller calendar rather than playing around with exact fee offsets.I’d rather price competitively so I stay attractive in search results and let volume carry the revenue.

So, tenants will typically be attracted to a newer rental vs older - all else being the same.- Reality though, is that "all else" is rarely the same as most new homes are built in subdivisions - so, location compared to an older home will be different.Biggest difference is deferred maintenance.Most owners allow their SFR properties to degrade over time to maximize cashflow.

Rent-ready homes attract the best tenants, who tend to stay longer, ultimately saving you money in the long run.

COVID created a chaotic spike in both the sale & rental markets, attracting even more new real estate investors.

These were buyers who were attracted by putting only $500k down rather than the $800-900 needed for institutional financing. 

The city has been adding new affordable housing and investing in neighborhoods, so it’s worth keeping an eye on.Overall, the Double Track rail project is making all of NW Indiana more attractive to Chicago commuters, which is good news if you’re holding or flipping near those lines.

Renting the basement as is could work, but keep in mind that unfinished spaces with limited access to kitchen and bathroom might limit how much you can charge and the type of tenant you attract.

It might be less attractive for those focused on maximizing market rents or STRs.Curious what you all think:Would you consider building an ADU under these terms?

While searching for the tax optimizing strategy, the real estate professional status seems attractive.