All Forum Posts by: Arvin Chan

Hello people, I have been to smoky mountain area about 4 times now. I love it down here, I love driving through the winding roads. I love living in a cabin in the mountains as a vacation. In the past I keep looking past this area because driving distance was too far to have any grasp/maintain on the property. But everytime i come back to the area I want to buy a house to rent out as an airbnb. I am not sure how much houses run around here right now in the current market I have been looking on realtor 200k-400k, I am looking for basically a cabin preferably a short distance from pigeon forge and gatlinburg. I think my range will be somewhere around 300k. Any comments and ideas will be appreciated. Thanks for your time.

5 Votes

Gatlinburg/Pigeon Forge, Tennessee

Quote from @Jon Martin:

Michigan native here. There's no reason to look at places like Grand Haven or Saugatuck if you aren't going after the beach crowd. Even if you are, the price to be close to the beach in towns along Lake Michigan is astronomical. Lots of big money from Chicago. The further north or east you go, the more value you get.

If you want to cater to the inland stream and hunter crowd, then your options are vast. Look for places that are easily accessed from the highway from the places that you expect your market to come from that also have decent amenities. Also agree with @Michael Baum about seeing what places the blogs are talking about.

Yeah I am looking for an area that is not too crazy of a drive. And it doesn’t matter to me if it is a lake front or a river front property. I am more of a river guy though. Thanks for your input.

1 Vote

Quote from @Michael Baum:

So in @Arvin Chan's defense @Drew Sygit, he did state up front that he wants to use it regularly so it makes sense. It is pretty much the way we did things as well so I get that.

Plus the things he likes to do are things many people like to do so it should do just fine!

Arvin, just take some time and look at towns near the water. Check out some fishing blogs or sites that talk about Michigan. See where others are going en masse. Then you can make a more informed decision. Maybe take a weekend and head up there and look around!

In the end, we are here to make a profit and grow the business. Checking it all out is most of the fun!

Thanks for all your help and guidance. That is what I am doing now, Airbnb and realtor sites comparing.

1 Vote

Quote from @Michael Baum:

@Arvin Chan, I can't tell you that. There is no exact city. If I told you a city, I would be guessing. You will have to do the research yourself.

Pick a city. Look at VRBO or AirBNB. See how many rentals there are. See what property is selling for. Is it an area you could go and love it?

No one can tell you exactly where you should buy. You will have to drill down yourself.

Thanks Mike, I understand. Does STR do well in the UP?

0 Votes

Quote from @Michael Baum:

Hey @Arvin Chan, so I just did a quick look around the Upper P. and there are quite a few properties for under 300k. Even on the water.

What you can do is take a look on VRBO and AirBNB to see how they are renting in various areas you might be interested in. That will help narrow it down,

Anytime you can get something on the water, it should do well.

What city in the UP?

0 Votes

Hello, I am new here. I live in Indiana bordering Chicago. I am looking for my first investment in a vacation home that I can turn into a STR when I am not using it. Originally I decided on an area near the smoky mountains, but real estate near that area is so expensive and it's a very long drive. So I decided to look to my northern neighbor Michigan. I hear great things about Michigan from family and friends. I went through old posts on this website in my research, and cities such as Grand Rapids, Grand Haven, Saugatuck...etc were mentioned. Saugatuck seems on the more expensive side. In a vacation home, I am looking for access to streams and rivers cause I love fishing, I also want to be somewhere in a less crowded area but close to amenities with a car. I have also been using my limited access to airdna to acquire info. But I am still clueless on location, I am looking for properties preferably under 300k. Any comments and ideas will be appreciated. Thanks for your time.

1 Vote

All Forum Posts by: Arvin Chan

Arvin Chan has started 2 posts and replied 6 times.

Post: Smoky Mountain Vacation Home/STR

Post: Michigan Vacation home/STR

Post: Michigan Vacation home/STR

Post: Michigan Vacation home/STR

Post: Michigan Vacation home/STR

Post: Michigan Vacation home/STR