Property Management @ 10% = $2490Lawn and snow = $1000Property Insurance = $1400Real Estate Taxes = $1365He recently did some cosmetic upgrades (most baths and kitchens are newer) and also upgraded an old oil heater to electric heater.

The other reason I like this is that snow removal is a very unpredictable expense.

The experience here says: 50% of the rent of your 2% house will go to operating expenses(owner paid utilities, taxes, property manager, vacancy, tenant screening, property turnover(painting, cleaning), lawn care, snow removal, etc...), leaving the other half for profit + mortgage payment.

I've had a lot of real estate experience over the years; general contractor, home inspector, rehabbing properties as a kid growing up, real estate agent in the late 80's and early 90's. Now

Higher or Tahoe specific items on my P&L are as follows:Booking agency/payment processing/Advertising:  15%Housekeeping (pass thru to guest) 20%TOT (occupancy tax, pass thru to guest) 10%Spa 4%Electricity and Gas (10%)Cable(3%)Water (3%)Snow removal (2%)There are a few other line items like trash, maintenance, etc.  

I think I heard on CNBC or read in WSJ that in '05 and '06 something like 40% of SFH purchases were not primary residences.I realize that some % of that is people my age buying "retirement" homes early or buying beach or snow condos.

You need to also consider many other costs:- Insurance- Water- Repair costs- Maintenance costs (mowing the lawn, shoveling the snow)- Property management costs Personally, I don't abide by the "small losses every month are okay" logic.

Is snow removal an issue?

Despite the occasional news reports of snow and blizzards the weather is generally great here.

We had around 15 showings on the 2nd day as the first day was a 20”+ snow day.