All Forum Posts by: Travis C.

We just started our first STR (Airbnb) in Bexar County, TX and I'm tryingto figure out if anyone can get me spun in the right direction with the local tax authority.

The City of San Antonio is in Bexar County. My STR is not in city limits but is in the County. I've read where there is a 1.75% HOT tax levied by the County but County properties are not subjected to City of San Antonio HOT taxes. I verified with the Office of Economic Development that city HOT taxes don't apply to me. However, I asked who or what department I could connect with in the County to set up a tax account or at least ascertain how to pay my County HOT taxes and no one can tell me! There's no apparent website managed by the County nor did the City office have a clue to whom I could be referred to.

I simply want to pay my monthly HOT taxes for what I will owe but I'm spinning my wheels as is. Anyone local have any ideas??

@Robert Finn we are both in SA! We are just now joining the STR world by converting one of our LTRs to a STR like this and I have so many questions. The renovation is almost complete and we are pretty close to Lackland AFB so really planning to have basic trainee families stay there weekly is what I'm thinking. If it goes well we may convert a few more to this operating model looking forward but one step at a time.

I am in fact definitely going to have the manual lockbox outside of the house for any issues that may arise. Super idea there! I'll also run with the keyless knob like the other poster recommended which is permissible under TX code so long as the deadbolt is keyed.

Glad I posted my questions and got quality responses. Really appreciate it! What part of town are your STR(s) in?

@John Underwood I like that idea. The only requirement is to have a keyed knob OR deadbolt so I think this solves it. I just hadn't thought of this so thank you!

I recently bought an August Smartlock and am located in Texas which has some different code requirements for rental security devices.

The August Smartlock fits over the deadbolt and generates a code that the guest can use to access the premises. That is fine and dandy for the deadbolt, but the actual door knob has to be keyed and the device doesn't fit on the knob but the deadbolt. The guest would still have to have a key for the knob to get in.

I am 100% certain other Airbnb hosts have used August and other Smartlock in Texas for STR's but I just don't know any. Can someone answer my technical question please? This is a really odd thing. Thank you!!

Ok, I need to follow this thread because I'm thinking if buying a STR in Port A myself!

@Eric James no. I've only bought vacant REOs in my 13 years of purchases.

@Eric James Easy - because I've never sold a property in my life. Understand now?

@Guy Gimenez you guessed it! Haha

@Guy Gimenez I have no concern. Someone was telling me you can't do it and I know better too.

The market is gangbusters in San Antonio and I am thinking about selling my whole portfolio of turnkey properties (SFH's) with tenants to one investor and sail into the sunset at this point.

However, and I probably need an attorney, but I'm getting mixed signals through my reading on the legal permissibility of selling when tenants are under leases. I'm sure apartment complexes change ownership constantly while occupied so how would this be any different than that I wonder?

Ideally, I'd sell to an investor who wants tenants in place under cash flow positive scenarios which mine are, but I'm just unsure what the consequences of doing so would be from a Texas Tenant-Landlord law standpoint.