Alaska Short Term Rental Viability

[Ryan McNamara]

Does anyone have experience in the Alaska short-term rental market? I'm researching the area with the intent to buy a large house within an hour of Anchorage with the intent to rent it out as a premium short-term rental. I'm planning to move to the area myself and would love to buy, occupy, and then convert it to an investment property after ~1 year. Unfortunately, my research so far shows low nightly rates that don't match the high purchase prices. 

[A Sanderlin]

I had 2 STRs within the MatSu Borough for about 3 years. Compared to our long-term rentals, the cashflow was significantly higher. The City of Wasilla is not nearly as “friendly” towards STRs, as the borough. If you are looking in this area specifically, I’d buy right outside Wasilla city limits and skip the hassle. That being said, I plan on going through the city hoops in order to convert one of my long-term rentals, when my current tenants lease is up. Short term rentals are in short supply in our area.