Living in Houston, I've never had to stay in a motel on a game weekend. But I understand all area motels are booked for every game weekend.

Can you actually cashflow/get a decent return on a single-family rental through game weekends and other events during the year?

I would post this on the Aggieland board.

I live in Spring but don't want to drive back and forth on game day so I rent a place in CS year round. I would have to imagine there's a market for it but the locals are probably a better source of info.

Thanks. I've been interested in acquiring rental properties for a while, and have amped up my research lately. I hadn't really considered game day rentals until I heard a guy talk about owning vacation properties.

So you actually rent it for the year, but only use during football season?

Pretty tough market in BCS these days. If you don't care about being super close to campus, it isn't bad. But everything near campus is going for a premium. Local investors are even having a hard time buying properties because they are going for so high that there is not way to make money off of rent. Like I said, if you are just needing something for the weekend, there is some good deals on places further out from campus.

I also go to basketball, baseball and am a member at Traditions so I'm in town quite a bit. I was spending a ridiculous amount on just football hotel rooms so I decided having something available year round made sense. I doubt that I'm alone.

I was in the same boat. 7-8 home games at 2 night min required plus 3-5 other overnight trips a year to CS and suddenly I figured out that those dollar almost equaled a reasonable mortgage on a nice house or condo.
We have owned our place on a few acres just outside of CS for 2 years now and still consider it the best buy we have made. We will retire to CS in a few years and are even thinking about remodeling, adding a few new rooms and making it our last home.

Why rent when you can own ??

Figure about 4000/year in property taxes to start, of course more expensive properties will be higher. Figure somewhere between 600-1000 on insurance. HOA or condo fees. Lawn service if the fees don't cover lawn maintenance.

CS seems to strongly dislike game day rentals. Someone on the Aggieland board said they're going after VRBO listings. Bryan doesn't seem to care as much.

76 I'm still choking down the cost of a son who graduated med school last year for one. The place I found is in an area with no students, is all bills paid, furnished, towels, linens and maid service included. I can't justify the extra hassles of ownership with that set up.

No. For the average investor owning a game day/event rental would not make as much since as owning a traditional rental. You have to furnish a game day rental. You have to pay utilities (plus TV/internet). You have to pay a make ready/maid service after each stay. Etc. Now, if you get some personal use out of the property (like the other posters on this thread who have bought places for themselves) then that's another story. But as a pure investor purchase, you'd be better off with a traditional rental where you get 12 month leases versus doing a game day/event rental.

To answer this thread's topic...there is absolutely a market for it. There are quite a few game day rentals around town and even a few mgmt companies that specialize in managing game day rentals. I just don't think the #'s from an investment standpoint (when comparing to a traditional rental) would work.

I am currently renovating an apartment complex with lots of green space just a few blocks from Northgate. I have already sold two 2/1 units for the season. I'm going to continue to remodel 6 more of the unit on college main. If interested you can get in pre-remodel and I'm willing to work with folks to kind of make it their own, flooring, countertops, etc. We love Aggie football and we were just tired of the hassle and want to make a space that a bunch of like minded folks can hangout all season. If interested give me a call. 512-962-6491

Block12ag, are you located in College Station? i will be down there this weekend and may be interested in taking a look at what you have going on in regards to the apartment complex.

Shoot me an email at k burj 21 at gmail dot com

We will be having an open house Friday and Saturday of parents weekend for our Gameday units. Give me a call for details. 512-962-6491

Also note that you are competing with college kids who rent out their place for the weekend and stay with friends. Couple of times that I have rented a place up there it usually is just some college kids making a few extra bucks for the weekend. Hard to compete with rent on places like that.

I thought College Station made game day rentals illegal unless the houses are registered as bed and breakfasts.

Is it not that hard to register as a bed and breakfast or are people just risking the fine because they'll make more profit than what they might have to pay as a penalty?

From a few years ago:

http://www.theeagle.com/news/local/ordinance-lays-out-rules-renting-out-homes-on-game-days/article_2ca8f2c2-07b4-5f49-bff4-21a64f7b379c.html

So...must be registered in CS. No registration required in Bryan.

"The homes that are rented out are considered bed and breakfasts in College Station, which are allowed in residential areas under a city ordinance but must be registered with the state as a business and must pay hotel/motel taxes. It must be the permanent residence of the owner, must be maintained with a residential appearance and is limited to four unrelated occupants. The property owner must remain on-site to operate the home the entire time it's being rented."

I can't imagine this is being followed so I guess some property owners are willing to gamble.

Emailed you.

Did I reply?

Not sure I got it if I didn't reply yet. Please send again. Thanks!

(Sorry...tons of daily emails and 22 month old twins and I'm losing my mind).