A realistic cash flow from airbnb based on your experience

[Dev Paul]

While doing my research and talking to people, its still hard to gauge the true numbers. My personal opinion (based on very limited knowledge) is that if one is not making atleast 2-3k per month net income while self managing a property(ies), I dont see much point of doing it as a full time gig. So, for example, lets say your 1 bd 1 bath apartment in Panama city beach or Nashville  costs 150 k and your monthly mortgage plus taxes and hoa fees etc is around 700-800 dollars (assuming 20% down payment). Plus, add another 500 dollars of cleaning, maintenance and rental taxes etc.  Now unless average nightly rate on it is 125-150 dollars, and occupancy rate is atleast 60-70%, its not going to be worth it. Ofcourse if you have 5 such apts, it will then be fine with even less nightly rates and limited occupancy. 

So I just wanted to throw this question out to see what im missing here and if some of you guys agree with my hypothesis above? And which places do you think are good candidates for these kind of numbers? 

[Julie McCoy]

What makes it "worth it" is definitely an individual choice.  Mine cash flow a minimum of $1k/mo which is totally worth the investment for me, but I'm not trying to live off of it (yet).  As I scale out I'll replace my monthly income (sooner than later) with a fraction of the time investment.  Right now, I can handle my three (soon to be four) properties on the side while working 60-70 hours/week for my regular job.  Those properties shovel in capital I'll use to buy the next property, etc. until I don't have to work anymore.  I already work less because I know the properties can carry me through slow employment times.

Those things make it totally worth it to me.  Does that mean it's worth it to you?  100% up to you.