Vacation rentals are a popular investment opportunity. While some families choose to simply go on vacation and book a hotel, vacation home rental management companies and vacation home owners are experiencing increasing profits each year due to the specialties of their vacation rentals and how they differ from the hotel experience. Whether you want to hit the mountains or want to sprawl out on the beach, there are many excellent vacation home rentals from which to choose.
Families often opt for vacation home rentals because they have more space and it eliminates the need to deal with hotel staff, which can affect the quality of the vacation experience. Sometimes the reason is as simple as wanting to save money by cooking for themselves; other times they have a big family which is difficult to accommodate within the confines of a hotel. For them, vacation home rentals are the perfect solution.
If you are considering renting out your own properties, you will need to weigh the pros and cons ahead of time – you have to consider many factors if you want to prove successful and provide an enjoyable experience to your guests. Let’s dive into the pros and cons of vacation home rental to help you determine if this is the right choice for you.
The Pros of Vacation Home Rental
Remember, there are many different types of rental properties that you can choose from, so do your research and see which one is right for you. Fortunately, there are many fantastic benefits inherent with offering vacation home rentals or investing in this type of enterprise; each of the following benefits are worth considering and greatly influence how people choose to invest in rental properties.
Greater Income:
You can earn extra income when you have a vacation rental home. The average Airbnb can make $924 a month. However, many make more than this, depending on their location and the area’s popularity, and if you list it in more than one location, it is more likely that you can earn a higher amount from the investment each month.
Location and Seasonality
Many of these rental properties are available in areas that are able to draw in visitors regardless of the time of year. You want to go with one with a year-round demand to help you make more money, though some may work in areas with a high demand at certain times of year too. Vacation homes are extremely popular in ski-areas during the winter. Carbondale, CO property management has been a major industry during the winter, much like how property management in California and Florida vacation homes rise during the Summer.
Amenities and Inclusions
You have a lot of freedom in deciding what you can add to the rental property to bring in more visitors. For example, pet-friendly vacation homes are likely to earn up to 20% more income compared to others. Consider which niche you can fall into when listing your rental property.
Personal Visits
You can also use the vacation property for your personal visits. Going off-season is usually the best so that you won’t miss out on the potential profits. Still, you can choose to go at any time.
Equity Appreciation
You own the property, so when the value of the home goes up, you will be able to enjoy some of the equity appreciation. It doesn’t matter whether the property is a vacation or a personal home; the equity can increase, especially in high-demand areas. If you do decide to sell it at some point, you can keep the equity.
Greater Tax Deductions
Renting out a vacation home is technically a business you can run. This means that you are able to write off some of the business-related expenses that may come up between maintaining and repairing the property. You can deduct the guest supplies, utilities, housekeeping, hosting fees, insurance premiums, mortgage interest, and more.
The Cons of Vacation Rental Properties
While there are many benefits to having a vacation rental property as an investment, there are also some negatives to this type of business model. Vacation rental properties are only an investment opportunity that works well for some.
Some of the cons of investing in vacation rental properties include the following:
Unexpected Expenses
A number of unexpected expenses come with owning one of these properties. Items and equipment can break or wear down or something can go missing, and you will need to get it fixed or replaced. There are also the costs for the mortgage, maintenance inside and outside, and other items that can come up along the way.
Laws and Regulations
You need to know the local laws when it comes to vacation rental properties. Some cities will put a ton of restrictions on whether a homeowner is able to do this or not, making it more complicated; fortunately, other areas provide a greater sense of freedom and will require you to jump through fewer hoops, so take this into account when choosing a proper location.
Higher Taxes and Insurance
If you rent out the vacation home for more than 14 days out of the year, you will need to pay federal taxes on the income you make. This is in addition to the property and state and local taxes. You also need to be aware that the insurance amount is going to be higher too. It would be best if you remembered some of these costs before you decide to do the rental property.
Nonstop Marketing
You need to constantly market in order to book it with potential tenants. You will not have a long-term tenant in place, making it harder to keep it full. It would be best if you took the time to come up with a full marketing plan to ensure that your property is found and you will be able to maximize your profits.
The Bottom Line
It will depend on your personal preferences and how well you research to determine whether these rental vacation properties make sense for your needs. There are a lot of positives to utilizing this as an investment source. Still, there are also some negatives that you need to learn about before you choose to invest. Understanding both sides will make it easier to figure out if this is the right investment option for you.
