AirBnb Limitations with FHA

[Andre Crabb]

Hey all,

Just curious, if I get a property with an FHA, how much of it can I legally rent out with AirBnb?

If its a residential MFH, I can rent or AirBnb the other units, right?

If its a single property with multiple bedrooms, I should be able to rent or AirBnb the other bedrooms, right?

If its a single property with one bedroom, can I live in it but AirBnb it out here and there when I'm out? (For example, if I travel for a weekend.)

Thank you!

[Sean McDonnell]

@Andre Crabb

Based off my research, the guidelines of the FHA loan are not conducive to short term rentals. The FHA loan single family handbook, HUD 4000.1 addresses the notion of short term rentals although it does not call out Airbnb, VRBO or any other social network vacation rental site by name. The handbook states that homes purchased with a FHA Loan may not be used for hotel/transient/intermittent occupancy purposes.

"FHA will not insure Single Family Mortgages secured by:

• boarding houses
• hotels
• motels
• condotels
• tourist houses
• private clubs
• bed and breakfasts
• other transient housing
• vacation homes
• fraternity and sorority houses”

If wanting to use a FHA loan on a multifamily, there is nothing against long term rentals. I would recommend looking for a 2-4 unit, live in one, and rent out the rest to stable, long term tenants. Although, I dont think the FHA would approve of your ideas, your mind is in the right place in looking for creative ways to achieve success in real estate.