Anyone Own a Lake Rental Property? Share Your Experience

[Morgan Porter]

My wife and I spend quite a lot of time at a lake in southern Virginia (Kerr Lake, aka Buggs Island). We are contemplating buying a house down there and setting it up as a vacation rental. I know all houses are different and every lake is different but does anyone here have a lake property they rent on AirBnB (or similar site)? What was your experience? Can they pay for themselves or generate real profit?

[John Underwood]

I have a lake house that rent on VRBO and Airbnb. I make the bulk of the money via Homeaway/Vrbo and very very little on Airbnb.

Yes our lake house makes money well above just paying for itself.

Our house is close to a University so we get extra rentals from home game weekends, graduation etc. We also get top dollar for the summer months.

Surprisingly we rent out alot in the winter spring and fall.

There are major fishing tournaments that bring us extra bookings and people who just come up to fish.

We have a covered boat slip with a lift where my boat stays unless someone asks to use it.

We make improvements every year to make the place nicer. 

It's my happy place.