Short term rental (STR) in Soldotna/Kenai AK

[Sri Voodi]

Hi all AK investors,

We recently visited AK during month of June and fell in love with the wilderness/mountains/lakes etc. So, we are now planning to buy a property where we can stay in AK may be a month or two during summer (school summer break) and rent it out on Airbnb during the rest of the year. We live in Los Angeles and my wife works from home full time and my work can be very flexible. 

Do you guys think it is practical and a sound financial decision?

We are looking for something with 3bed/2bath, turnkey property.

I would really appreciate if any of the AK investors can answer these questions

• Is Soldotna/Kenai area a good choice for a STR compared to Anchorage/Seward/Girdwood etc.?
• Cooper Landing seems pretty good but the inventory is low and the prices are high. Is it worth investing in this area even though the prices are high?
• How much occupancy can we expect during Summer? (June - Sep)
• How much occupancy can we expect during Winter months? (Oct - May)
• Are there any property managers in that area that you would recommend?
• How are the property manager fees structured? By each visit/reservations/emergency calls?
• What can I expect regarding the charges by property manager?

Thanks in advance. 

Voodi

[Connor Dunham]

Hi Sri,

There's a fair number of STR managers to choose from between Girdwood and Willow. They will get more scarce as you get to Soldotna, Kenai, and Homer. Look up @Valerie Buss to find some connections on the Kenai, she lives down there. AirDNA.co has all the data you need to select the right market for an STR. 

Best of luck with your search.