Seasonal rental in Lake Havasu (Lake Havasu City: for sale, real estate, foreclosed)

[waltcolorado]

We did our part to help lower Arizona foreclosed home inventory and this spring bought a small house in Lake Havasu City. I plan to eventually spend winters there but at the moment, cant retire yet so the house is pretty much vacant.

Im thinking of trying to do a seasonal rental with the house. I would rather just sit on the house than do a regular rental but am thinking that something like a winter time only seasonal rental with maybe a one month min, four months maximum would result in the place only being rented by retired snowbirds. Seems like these would be good tenants.

Im going to talk to some seasonal rental agents in Lake Havasu but would like any advice from people already doing this (such as DONT DO IT).. I think the house must be fairly nice in all aspects to attract the right client which we are working on now.. Any advice would be appreciated..

[sassy2]

I've had several friends rent their places out to snowbirds and they haven't had any trouble.

[Havasu]

Put your house on this website Homes for Sale & Rent - River Dave's Place

[waltcolorado]

Thanks for the responses!

Since I'm usually 900 miles away, I'm going to be more comfortable using some sort of rental management company - if this is possible.

Someone told me that if you rent, the property tax will go up. I can certainly see paying income tax on money brought in (I really only want to break even on utility and tax costs) but it sounds questionable that the property tax rate would change if you rent at all???


We are heading there next week. I wonder if it will be warm? I'm excited to get to work up on the roof. Some pictures from last February at 8600 feet in Colorado to cool things down a little below..

[loves2read]

if there is an HOA for your neighborhood--the rules may prohibit renting out your house for seasonal people vs renting to one person for the entire year...

[waltcolorado]

No HOA

[Havasu]

Originally Posted by waltcolorado

We are heading there next week. I wonder if it will be warm? I'm excited to get to work up on the roof. Some pictures from last February at 8600 feet in Colorado to cool things down a little below..

Nice pictures, and it wont be "warm" it will be HOT!!!!!!!!
115 today and love it!!

[Gandalara]

Originally Posted by waltcolorado

Someone told me that if you rent, the property tax will go up. I can certainly see paying income tax on money brought in (I really only want to break even on utility and tax costs) but it sounds questionable that the property tax rate would change if you rent at all???

The property tax assessment rate does not change if you rent out your property.

You report rental income and expenses on Schedule E. You’ll be able to deduct your mortgage interest on the rental property, insurance premiums, real estate taxes, advertising costs to rent the house, rental management fees, utilities you pay if any, travel to and from the property, and legal and accounting costs.

You can deduct depreciation -- basically the purchase price of the house (but not the land) divided by 27.5 each year -- and the cost of repairs. You can’t deduct home improvements that add value to the property, but you add the cost of improvements when figuring depreciation. If your expenses exceed your rental income, you can deduct up to $25,000 of the loss against other kinds of income.

(IRS Publication 527, Residential Rental Property)

PS - Really nice pictures!

[sassy2]

In Mohave County the tax rate goes up if it's a rental...just don't tell it is.

[Gandalara]

Then I apologize for giving incorrect information!