Real Examples
See how the analyzer works with realistic property scenarios.
Here are fictional but realistic property examples to show you how the analyzer works and which strategies might work best.
Example 1: Suburban Family Home
Property Details
Location: Austin, TX suburbs
Price: $425,000
Bedrooms/Bathrooms: 4 bed / 2.5 bath
Square Footage: 2,400 sq ft
Year Built: 2015
Condition: Excellent
HOA: None
Annual Property Tax: $6,375
What the Analyzer Shows:
Long-Term Rental
Verdict: Good rental property - Solid monthly income, excellent DSCR for financing.
Short-Term Rental
Verdict: Not recommended - Austin suburbs lack the tourism demand for Airbnb. Too much competition, low occupancy rates.
Fix & Flip
Verdict: Not a flip - Excellent condition means no profit on resale. Better as a rental.
Your Best Strategy Here:
This property is a perfect rental. You'll make $285/month, and the property will appreciate over time. Austin is a growing market, so you'll likely see property value increase too.
Bottom line: In 30 years, you'll have paid off the mortgage AND earned $102,600 in pure profit, plus property appreciation.
Investment Summary
Down Payment (20%): $85,000
Closing Costs (4%): $17,000
Total Cash Needed: $102,000
Your actual cash investment to get started
Example 2: Beachfront Condo (Tourist Market)
Property Details
Location: Miami Beach, FL
Price: $550,000
Bedrooms/Bathrooms: 2 bed / 2 bath
Square Footage: 1,100 sq ft
Year Built: 2005
Condition: Good
HOA: $800/month
Annual Property Tax: $5,500
What the Analyzer Shows:
Long-Term Rental
Verdict: Not viable - High HOA fees kill profitability. You'd lose money monthly.
Short-Term Rental
Verdict: Excellent choice! - High tourist demand + premium nightly rates = Serious profit.
Your Best Strategy Here:
This is a perfect beachfront Airbnb property. You'll make $1,240/month even at 75% occupancy. Miami has millions of tourists, so occupancy will likely be higher.
Bottom line: You could pay for this property in 5-6 years with STR income alone. Long-term rental doesn't work here.
Investment Summary
Down Payment (25%): $137,500
Closing Costs (4%): $22,000
Total Cash Needed: $159,500
Higher down payment due to investment property financing rules
Example 3: Fixer-Upper (Fix & Flip Deal)
Property Details
Location: Cleveland, OH
List Price: $85,000 (distressed)
Bedrooms/Bathrooms: 3 bed / 1 bath
Square Footage: 1,400 sq ft
Year Built: 1970
Condition: Needs significant work
Issues: Roof, plumbing, electrical, kitchen/bath
Est. Repair Cost: $45,000
What the Analyzer Shows:
Fix & Flip
Verdict: Marginal deal - Profit exists but is modest considering the work and 6-9 month timeline.
Why This Example Matters:
Not every fixer-upper is a great deal. This one shows positive profit, but:
- Only $3,700 profit for 6-9 months of work is ~$500-700/month of income
- It's riskier than it looks—unforeseen repairs could wipe out profit
- The property wouldn't work as a rental (renovation too expensive, market prices too low)
But What If You Negotiate Better?
If you could buy this property for $75,000 instead (negotiation skills!), the profit jumps to $13,700—a much better deal.
Deal Timeline
Month 1: Purchase & plan
Months 2-5: Renovations
Month 6: List & sell
Total Time: 6 months
Profit: $3,700
$617/month equivalent
Key Takeaways from These Examples:
- Location determines strategy: Suburbs = long-term rental. Beach = Airbnb. Don't force it.
- HOA fees matter: High fees can kill rental income.
- Run the numbers: Some deals look better on paper than in reality.
- Compare apples to apples: The analyzer shows all 4 strategies so you can see which actually works.