Buying a Vacation Rental to Live in Part Time

Buying a Vacation Rental to Live in Part Time

Portland, OR · Member since 2017 · 5 posts · 0 votes

Long story, but I'll try to simplify: My wife got a one year contract job at a university about an hour away from our primary residence. It happens to be near a tourist destination (Oregon wine country). Originally, I was thinking we'd buy a rental property to live in for the year (which would get us the owner-occupied benefits), then rent it out to long term renters and move back to our current house. 

Another thought occurred to me though: What if we bought a vacation rental type home and rented it out on the weekends and only lived there during the week for the year (actually only 9 months) that she'll be employed out there, then turn it into a full time vacation rental when we're done (I don't think there's as strong of a long term rental market in the area). I know there are potential pitfalls and lots to figure out about this plan, but I'm specifically curious about how this type of arrangement would affect the owner-occupied mortgage situation. I'm wondering if there is a maximum number of days you're allowed to rent, or minimum number of days you have to live there to qualify for the benefits. Or if we rent it at all during the first year, is it a no-go? 

Anyone have experience with this? I suppose I could ask the mortgage broker, but I don't want to give away too much info before I have to...

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Investor · Orlando, FL · Member since 2012 · 312 posts · 165 votes
8y

First ask the County to see if there's any restrictions, then if there's a HOA ask if they also have restrictions.

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  • Investor · Orlando, FL · Member since 2012 · 312 posts · 165 votes
    8y

    First ask the County to see if there's any restrictions, then if there's a HOA ask if they also have restrictions.

  • John UnderwoodPro Member
    Investor · Greer, SC · Member since 2014 · 13k+ posts · 17k+ votes
    8y

    @Jeffrey Lee I don't think living in a property for only 1 year will get you owner-occupied benefits especially if you have a primary residence with a mortgage elsewhere.

    You can classify it as a second home and then change it to a investment property on your taxes when you start renting it out.

    If you do a split between your use and rental you just need to give that info to your CPA come tax time.

    When you take out the mortgage you need to declare it as a primary, secondary or investment property. This will change the type of loan and the down payment.

    You could ask these questions from a mortgage broker that you don't intend to use just in case.

  • Realtor · Murrieta, CA · Member since 2016 · 373 posts · 203 votes
    8y

    @Jeffrey Lee

    Not sure about loan wise, but that is a great idea! 

    First off, I echo what @Chai Xiong said above--make sure it's legal before you start. Luckily you aren't buying it specifically for a vacation rental, so it gives you other options. 

    As for it being a wine country area, it will probably always get booked on the weekends. My wife and I do extra rooms out of our primary house and we are located right next to wine country, pretty much every weekend we are booked. 

    If it's your first time doing Vacation Rentals, feel free to ask for some tips when you set it up! I'm sure us hosts would love to help you :)

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