Should I AIRBNB this one???

Should I AIRBNB this one???

Atlanta, GA · Member since 2014 · 240 posts · 130 votes

BP!

I have 10 rental units in Atlanta, and like everyone else, have been having a harder time finding solid deals that produce the way my current ones do. So, I've been thinking about getting creative and trying something new to me -- AIRBNB.

I'm a mountain biker, and I found a property that would appeal to me as a renter. It's a duplex (3/2, 2/1) that needs a complete cosmetic overhaul + HVAC, but has a lot of character (exposed brick, large deck, unique rooms, etc.). It also has a small garage that potentially could be a third efficiency unit.

It's on two acres of land that backs up to one of the best mountain bike trail systems in the Atlanta region. I think it would be a fun place to rent out for a few days and go biking right out the back door.

They want $204K for it (it's been on the market for 100 days), and I bet they would take a good bit less. I would think it would take about $90K to get both units looking great and ready for short term rental, plus maybe $10-20K to landscape the property, add a fire pit, porch swings, etc. Down the road, another $20-25K to turn the garage into an efficiency unit.

I went through the steps, and AIRBNB seemed to recommend starting the 3BR unit off around $70/night and anticipated about a 60% occupancy rate.

Okay, so there's the basics. My question:

How can I tell if this would be a good AIRBNB rental? It's hard to do the numbers, since there are several unknowns. Any ideas about how to calculate the return? Any other tips in making the decision?

Thank you for the help!

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Jake CohenPro Member
Rental Property Investor · Denver, CO · Member since 2017 · 201 posts · 126 votes
7y
@Joshua Feit I dove into Airbnb about a year ago in Colorado. I had been focusing on long term rentals but ran a hotel for 5 years and thought I might enjoy short term rentals more. So I sold a property in Denver and bought a duplex in Steamboat Springs, a great ski/biking town. We spent 2.5 months fixing it up and it has been going gang busters ever since we posted it in January. It has done so well, I just sold my other 4 plex in Denver and bought a triplex to do the same thing. We are just getting the listings ready to post. I think it’s a great way to invest in Real estate and have found it more fun than managing long term tenants. You asked about evaluating the property to know how it’ll do. While there are a lot of factors, there are a couple sites that give you at least an estimate to make some projections. I like www.eliotandme.com, the Airbnb and VRBO estimates on their sites and if I am serious about a property will do a market report with www.pricelabs.co . I also called around to some property managers in the area to discuss management. While I ended up deciding to self manage, they each have a rental estimate as well. If you find you don’t like managing you already have an idea of who to call to manage your place. Good luck! If you have any specific questions let me know.
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  • Investor · Denver, CO · Member since 2016 · 533 posts · 433 votes
    7y

    Hi Joshua,

    A couple of ideas.  First download @Jon Crosby 's app called click to flip and run a few numbers just to get a broad idea of feasibility.  Then I would start search ABB for "like" properties and build the big spreadsheet all of us successful investors have done in the past to analyse the feasibility of the property.  Once you've beat it to death and chopped your numbers in half, then in half again, if its still a viable angle - charge ahead.  Make sure to check the local municipalities for regulations as well.  At a glance, I really like your idea, and it appears that the funkier, the better so keep that in mind when you're looking to furnish.  

    Best of luck,

    Mike

  • Atlanta, GA · Member since 2018 · 66 posts · 32 votes
    7y
    @Michael Greenberg would you link the app? I couldn't find it in the app store or on Google.
  • Investor · The worst town to live in, KS · Member since 2016 · 4k+ posts · 4k+ votes
    7y

    I've had pretty good results with STRs to working people, not people on vacation.  They get a weekly per diem, usually around $500/week per person.  I charge $200/week for each bedroom in the house and rent out the house in its entirety.  The average stay is usually 3-6 weeks, but it's not unusual for someone to stay as long as 6 months.  

    There is a refinery in my town.  I rent to the contractors that work there.  Welders, pipefitters, etc.

  • Atlanta, GA · Member since 2014 · 240 posts · 130 votes
    7y

    Where do you live in Kansas? I have an 'investment' property in Harper County, which is by far the worst investment I have ever made...

  • Atlanta, GA · Member since 2014 · 240 posts · 130 votes
    7y

    Sorry for the off-topic remark... Keeping it on track. Would love to hear from some folks who have taken the plunge with AIRBNB vacation rentals. Thanks!

  • Investor · Denver, CO · Member since 2016 · 533 posts · 433 votes
    7y

    Sorry @Julia Fair it's Click2Flip  I just double checked on the Google Play Store, I'm assuming it's on Apple as well.

    Mike

  • Investor · The worst town to live in, KS · Member since 2016 · 4k+ posts · 4k+ votes
    7y

    @Joshua Feit  Coffeyville Kansas.  Just Google "worst town to live in Kansas"  Our per capita homicide rate is right behind Baltimore and Chicago.  You can drive down any street and see someone walking while whacked out on meth.  There is a house for sale or rent sign on just about every block.  Property values have fallen about 50% in the last 20 years.  It's great if you are buying property.  It's terrible if you turn 65 and planned on retiring somewhere else on the money you planned on making when you sold your home.  A house sold for $57,000 in 2007.  We bought it last month for $9500.  3BR, CH/A.

  • Atlanta, GA · Member since 2018 · 66 posts · 32 votes
    7y
    Originally posted by @Michael Greenberg:

    Sorry @Julia Fair it's Click2Flip  I just double checked on the Google Play Store, I'm assuming it's on Apple as well.

    Mike

     Got it, thank you!

  • Luke CarlPro Member
    Rental Property Investor · Tennessee Florida · Member since 2016 · 4k+ posts · 5k+ votes
    7y
    @Joshua Feit It’s no plunge. It’s my bread and butter and I’m retired at age 37. It all depends on your market. My market a 250k house with a mortgage brings home about a grand a month when it’s all said and done. Obviously there’s more too it.... but it really is that simple
  • Jake CohenPro Member
    Rental Property Investor · Denver, CO · Member since 2017 · 201 posts · 126 votes
    7y
    @Joshua Feit I dove into Airbnb about a year ago in Colorado. I had been focusing on long term rentals but ran a hotel for 5 years and thought I might enjoy short term rentals more. So I sold a property in Denver and bought a duplex in Steamboat Springs, a great ski/biking town. We spent 2.5 months fixing it up and it has been going gang busters ever since we posted it in January. It has done so well, I just sold my other 4 plex in Denver and bought a triplex to do the same thing. We are just getting the listings ready to post. I think it’s a great way to invest in Real estate and have found it more fun than managing long term tenants. You asked about evaluating the property to know how it’ll do. While there are a lot of factors, there are a couple sites that give you at least an estimate to make some projections. I like www.eliotandme.com, the Airbnb and VRBO estimates on their sites and if I am serious about a property will do a market report with www.pricelabs.co . I also called around to some property managers in the area to discuss management. While I ended up deciding to self manage, they each have a rental estimate as well. If you find you don’t like managing you already have an idea of who to call to manage your place. Good luck! If you have any specific questions let me know.
  • Rental Property Investor · Denver, CO · Member since 2017 · 179 posts · 208 votes
    7y

    @Joshua Feit my biggest tip would be to make sure all of your numbers work assuming you long term rent it i.e. don't rely only on STR revenue in your analysis. Shoot me a link to your property and I can offer some more thoughts if you'd like.

  • Denver, CO · Member since 2018 · 4 posts · 1 vote
    7y

    also for analyzing properties look at AirDna.co

  • Real Estate Agent · Colorado | stan.store/JamesCarlson · Member since 2014 · 2k+ posts · 2k+ votes
    7y

    @Joshua Feit 

    I say go for it. As @Michael Greenberg said, definitely check out the laws in your area. Here in Colorado, there are a lot of Denver suburbs that allow Airbnb due to a lack of laws and then there's Colorado Springs, which allows short term rentals through an active ordinance permitting it. Those are very different. The latter provides some certainty. The former not as much.

    @Jake Cohen ... Sounds like you're killing it. Congratulations. Once you get a taste of it, it's hard to go back to long-term rentals. 

  • Investor · Denver, CO · Member since 2016 · 533 posts · 433 votes
    7y

    @Jake Cohen I had not heard of elliotandme.com - thanks for sharing, interesting tool.

  • Jake CohenPro Member
    Rental Property Investor · Denver, CO · Member since 2017 · 201 posts · 126 votes
    7y

    @James Carlson thanks for the shoutout. Actually have spoken with your partner @erin spradlin about investing in Co Springs as well. I hear you have a place thats doing really well there. Congrats on that.

    @Michael Greenberg glad you got some new info out of the feed. Amazing how quickly new tools are popping up.

    @Joshua Feit good luck with this investment. Airbnb is great and I think you can find great rentals in any area as long as the laws allow it!

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