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All Forum Posts by: Cole Schlack

Cole Schlack has started 11 posts and replied 133 times.

Post: I am looking to make my first real estate investment and need guidance

Cole Schlack
Posted
  • Realtor
  • Hawaii, HI
  • Posts 145
  • Votes 95

You did not state what kind of Attorney but if it was me I think you should use your Legal background and look for properties with issues you can solve.  I personally hate Multi-family and long term rental. So boring, I love big appreciation options over cash flow.  Vacation rentals can be interesting and fun, land development (again with your background) maybe a great option.  If you invest in what everyone else is doing you will do a lot of work with little return.  

Post: Seeking Investment Advice: Best States to Invest in Right Now!

Cole Schlack
Posted
  • Realtor
  • Hawaii, HI
  • Posts 145
  • Votes 95

Ive been selling my investment in 7 states to invest in Hawaii County(the Big Island)  The best weather in the US, low crime, Investments from $10,000 to $10,000,000.  Lack of supply(very little construction even during the boom, strong demand even in downturns. Low property taxes(my AG parcels are $200 per year).  Many investment options- interesting Note- We do not have a single self service carwash on the island, the only drive-thur option closes at 5 pm!!  

Post: Anyone doing shared Ownership STVR Hack?

Cole Schlack
Posted
  • Realtor
  • Hawaii, HI
  • Posts 145
  • Votes 95
Quote from @Michael Baum:

Hey @Cole Schlack, this is something I wouldn't do personally. There are companies doing something like this already. Luxury rentals where you buy shares and get a return.

I personally like owning the places. No one to interfere with how we do stuff.


 Thank you for your input

Post: Anyone doing shared Ownership STVR Hack?

Cole Schlack
Posted
  • Realtor
  • Hawaii, HI
  • Posts 145
  • Votes 95

I have run the numbers on this concept and it seems like it could be a solid option for vacation rentals. The idea is you get 5 buyers to put 20% cash in, which seems like you would make less but when you account for interest on 80% at today rates, net income is about the same. Additionally you can get a better purchase price as its a cash deal(save maybe 10%) and you have 5 owners that can promote the property to their sphere to help fill the open dates. We are looking at options in Hawaii and Utah for STR but have not pulled the trigger on any yet. Anyone else doing this? I would think someone has thought of this in Florida or California by now.

Post: City of Vista ( north County San Diego) - STR license?

Cole Schlack
Posted
  • Realtor
  • Hawaii, HI
  • Posts 145
  • Votes 95
Quote from @Manraj Singh:

HI , I am trying to see if there is an ordinance against, or a license requirement to run a STR on a SFR house. The city of Vista website doesn't seem to have anything listed in this regard.
Is there a place to see which postcodes are/aren't exempt from STR Licenses? 


 First make sure you are in the city limits or in San Diego County

Post: Want to buy property either Beach or Mountain for STR. Is now the time?

Cole Schlack
Posted
  • Realtor
  • Hawaii, HI
  • Posts 145
  • Votes 95

Hawaii is one of the best options right now, rate and occupancy is strong. Great weather year-round(same temps), no rainy season, no seaweed, low hurricane risk  Outlook is good as people go back to more traveling. Can be a little hard in the $500k range. 

Post: Big Budget - Top Destinations

Cole Schlack
Posted
  • Realtor
  • Hawaii, HI
  • Posts 145
  • Votes 95
Quote from @Scott Weston:

Have access to a healthy amount of capital and I'm looking for larger scale, high end short term rentals that make sense.  Thinking in the $2MM-$3MM range.

What are some of the best destinations with sufficient rental demand to justify a relatively larger acquisition?  


 Hawaii  has some of the best options, I prefer the big island and Kauai 

One of the best deals Ive seen:   Asking $3.7m  16 acre ocean front, 2 homes.  

Post: Why are so many HOAs and local governments against STRs?

Cole Schlack
Posted
  • Realtor
  • Hawaii, HI
  • Posts 145
  • Votes 95

I think an HOA can be a huge help to STVR owners, I see it everyday in Hawaii. We have many great condo complexes that have mixed ownership. Many help with guest check-in for nominal fees, help guest learn the rules and keep the peace for the owners that live there. Buying a vacation rental in a condo complex has so many advantages for owners including lower maintenance costs, group insurance and shared cost of property management.

Post: Local Governments Restricting STRs

Cole Schlack
Posted
  • Realtor
  • Hawaii, HI
  • Posts 145
  • Votes 95
Quote from @Emanuel Blando:

On 5/3/2023 the City of Kansas City, MO announced that Short-Term Rentals will be completely banned in ALL residential zoning!  I had not taken it seriously until I read a couple of articles outlining their plans.  Most of Kansas City's STRs were already operating 'illegally' up to this point and the city doesn't have the resource to enforce their permitting requirements.  Just 7% of KC's BNBs were permitted.  But now they plan to enlist the help of the platforms like Airbnb in enforcing their law by requiring Airbnb to not list any properties that have a KC address, with heavy fines on hosts for not complying.  (links about all this below)

What I want to know:  Is there anyone that knows of other cities that have taken similar measures?  Has the government been successful in getting the cooperation of Airbnb and other platforms?  How does it all go down when a city begins to ban bnbs?

https://www.kcmo.gov/Home/Components/News/News/2033/16
https://www.kcur.org/news/2023-05-04/kansas-city-council-will-vote-on-restricting-airbnbs-in-residential-neighborhoods


 I think its interesting to think about the idea that long term(30 Day plus) is an acceptable  business operation in nearly 98% of all cities and counties with almost no regulation.  but you drop to 29 days and you are a business and need to pay taxes and fees have permits and be regulated.  Someone should be fight this seemingly arbitrary 30 day number.  Maybe it should be 8 nights maybe 10, maybe 14 . People should be asking why 30 and fight that angle . 

Post: Retirees looking for tax advantaged strategies to buy retirement home in Maui!

Cole Schlack
Posted
  • Realtor
  • Hawaii, HI
  • Posts 145
  • Votes 95
Quote from @Marc Estepa:

It’s been awhile Bigger Pockets Fam! Posting for a friend. My friends’ parents are in their 70s and retired in California. As they have gotten older, they have been seeking warmer climates and want to retire in Maui. They currently own two properties, their primary residence in the Bay Area where they owe approximately $300k and a rental property in San Diego where they also owe approximately $300k, but have about $400k equity.

Their goal is to snowbird 6 months out of the year in Maui, Hawaii, maintain their primary residence in the Bay Area and figure out the most tax advantaged strategy to sell their rental property and use it to buy their 2nd home in Maui. They are also looking to house hack a portion of the Hawaii home to help offset the costs of that 2nd mortgage.

They have pensions that pay for their day to day living expenses, but are just reaching the age where they must take their RMDs from their other investment accounts (which they don’t need at the moment). As a result, they are trying to find every tax advantaged strategy to do all of this without getting crushed on taxes. Good problem to have!

Anyway, they had reached out to me for my take on it and I think a 1031 exchange would be the best way to go about it, but I’m no expert. I suggested they talk to their CPA to ask specific tax questions to better understand the tax implications with everything else they have going on with their finances, and this has led them down the rabbit hole of reading tax codes and the such. That’s just painful, so it quickly discourages them from pursuing their retirement goals and just settling.

I think they have the pieces in place, but are surrounded by naysayers who don’t understand the real estate investing world enough to help them pursue their dreams, or others who simply discourage them. I told them that their first step would be to surround themselves with others trying to pursue similar goals. So, I naturally pushed Bigger Pockets.

I’m not the real estate investor expert, but I think they have all the pieces in place to do this - but wanted to hear from the community their thoughts. Am I advising right or are there other strategies you can think of to help push them in the right direction, maximize their income and avoid taxes as much as possible?


 I would recommend they look on the Big Island, lower cost of living and great option if they want a little more space. Ie home on 5 acres for $1.1m