Originally posted by @Evan Torrens:
Interesting Paul. Was actually wondering about this. Studied the market a little and didn’t seem saturated at all especially compared to where I am now. Where even with more and more listings coming on board I am still able to come up on the first page of search results in AirBnb
I’d think if the host is doing it the right way it would actually be beneficial to the neighborhood. As I’ve read there seems to be a lot of crime. Let me know how meeting goes. I think there’s still enough to go around down there. I’m also interested in just owning sim general as seems prices are low and there are some good deals.
Do you own or arbitrage ?
I’m also interested in possibly just buying some land. I saw some nice lots near the water. What are your thoughts on that? Read there’s is a lot of flooding issues.
Hey Evan
I own and I'm starting to manage some short term rentals for other Investors in the city I know. The issue is in reality there are not many "good area's" in AC and it seems any good area that has a property for sale that has potential is being bought and then used as a short term rental. Also to me it seem's many people doing this do it with no consideration to the area. My property is in a real quite area in bungalow park. I have strict rules and guide lines to my renters. That has not affected me. I'm a super host on Airbnb and was booked 85% of the time this summer. Yet I know at the end of my block there are 3 short term rental units and it seems like who ever owns the 3 units does not care about the quite block as the houses are very rowdy and leave trash all over the front of the property. I have had guests complain to me about activity in front of those specific units and I have to explain to them they are not locals that they are basically Airbnb party houses. I know for a fact there are people in code enforcement who are not very keen on out of town investors taking advantage of neighborhoods and trying to do short term rentals without the City's short term rental CO. Still is opportunity but the right area is key and doing it the right way is important as well. I will update you on the meeting tomorrow.
As far as land. I think that could be a good move especially near water. I have thought about it myself. Flooding is definitely a factor but if you were to buy land and build new you build to fema requirements and your good. Flooding is another obstacle to get through on any buy and hold property though. My property was build in 2004 so luckily I'm lifted about 4 feet and meet fema requirements my flood insurance a year is less then 400$. Most properties I looked at and got quotes for that were not lifted and near the water were between 2k and 3k a year. If it's not near the water and not lifted I got many quotes for properties like that for around 1500 a year.