Vacation Investment Real Estate Agent in the Clearwater, FL Area

[Adam Diehl]

Hey BP folks,

I am looking for a real estate agent in the Clearwater, FL area that has vacation rental experience. My wife and I love to visit and have some family in Tampa, but live in Texas. We are interested in finding a good investment property in Clearwater that we can setup as a vacation rental on VRBO, Airbnb, or other property management company that focuses on vacation rentals when we are not using the house. 

We are not as familiar with the areas in Clearwater, but see on Zillow and Realtor houses in the 25k to 75k range we could possibly cash purchase and then rehab. 

Would be interested in any contacts that know the area and could steer us to the kind of property we are looking for. 

[Stephan K.]

CW Houses in the 25K to 75K range are usually in areas that do not work as vacation rentals. There is a reason they are priced that way. Usually this are drug areas etc. 

Also, only very few houses qualify as vacation rentals. It is a zoning issue. It might for for a while, but the City monitors these websites.

[Melvin List]

@Adam Diehl I would not be looking in this price range in Clearwater because they are probably in war zones.  

[Jason Muenchow]

@Adam Diehl I currently own a triplex in Clearwater. Just to echo what everyone else is saying, that price range (like the other two posters stated) will only get you a mobile home or a bad condo typically. There are only 50 properties in total on the MLS in that price range. I would say up your prince point or look in a different area. Best of luck!

[Tom Parris]

Pinellas county has some tough laws pertaining to vacation rentals, I think you might have to actually live on the property to do airbnb, and Homeaway, but I'm not 100%. I recommend you buy a Condo-Hotel, you'll get all the benefits you're looking for. The condo rents out your unit like a hotel room, they clean and maintain it for a portion of your earnings, and you get to stay there when you like. Condo-Hotels aren't a warrantable condo, so if you were to buy it, and borrow money for the purchase, it would have to be a portfolio loan with a higher downpayment. If that does sound like an option, I'd recommend you close sometime in November, so you can be ready for the tourist season here (December-May). Shoot me a message if you need help!

[Phil Weiler]

Hello @Adam Diehl,

Both the County (Pinellas) and State are generally not against Airbnb as Airbnb automatically pays county and state tourist development taxes on bookings. Most of the towns are just looking the other way and not enforcing local ordinance. However, it is still a very gray area. My recommendation for anyone looking at this option is to make sure the numbers work as a regular property and then if your able to increase your return with AirBnB consider it a bonus.

I know a some people who make a full-time living from there short term rental properties in the Clearwater area. There thought process is that the money is really good in the short term. Long term, if legislation changes, they can turn them into regular rentals or exit with the appreciation they've built.

I would love to help you find a property that fits your needs. PM me if I can help.

[Ed Jackson]

What's the best price range? I agree that a condo-hotel would be good. I researched one in Ruskin, but never knew there were some on Clearwater.

Thanks

[Adam Diehl]

Thanks for the info everyone. Sounds like this might not be the best situation for us. I am not a fan of condos and it looks like that would be the best bet.