All Forum Posts by: Matthew Miller

Thanks everyone for the information!

Originally posted by @Kevin Landry:

@Matthew Miller Most of May and August can earn decent rental income. It is best to limit personal use to the Spring and Fall and any last minute gaps. If you want 6 weeks on your terms, I wouldn’t plan on breaking even.

So utilizing 3 non-consecutive weeks between May and August wouldn't allow me to break even?

And to your point about last minute gaps, that is exactly how I envision using the other 3 weeks.

I'll also add, I'm totally flexible. I say 6 weeks, but it'll probably be more like 3-4 max. Probably only 2 weeks the entire peak season. I just wanted to get an idea about personal usage to see if it would pay, or ALMOST pay, for itself.

Thanks everyone for the input.

Wanted to clarify, the 6 weeks would not occur during peak season. I'm thinking a maximum of 3 weeks non-consecutive May-August, and the remaining 3 weeks would be spread out over the rest of the year in short stays. Like 2-3 days at a time.

With this in mind, would it be possible to break even/pay for itself or at least get close to paying for itself?
I don't mind having to pay some for a vacation home, but it would be nice if MOST of the mortgage could be covered from rental income.

Hello all! I am a total newbie to investment properties, so please bear with me.

I am considering purchasing a house in Gulf Shores/Orange Beach area initially as a vacation home and potentially as a retirement (way down the road) home.

Before I ask my questions, let me give some information:
I do not expect the home to be used by me, or my family, for more than 6 NON-consecutive weeks out of the year. Additionally, there would be limitations on when family could use the house - no, you can't go there for 3 weeks solid every July, you get the idea - to allow more rental availability.

I live 6 hours away, so I would need to use a property management company.

With those two points in mind, for those of you familiar with the area and investing there, will I be able to break even? Will the house pay for itself?

Cash flow would of course be nice, and who knows, maybe I'll venture deeper into real estate investing, but that is not at all my primary concern.

Thanks ahead of time for any and all information!