Elena Danley, Realtor

11/19/2022

1155 Kendalia Rd., Blanco, TX 78606
Charming private ranch on the most desirable and usable 10.48 acres located just minutes from Blanco River and Blanco downtown Square. This stunning property is unrestricted and is Ag exempt, keeping your taxes very low. The whole meticulously maintained ranch is completely fenced and cross-fenced, featuring a private well, livestock, solar panels with batteries and generator, huge pole barn, covered parking for many cars, tractors, etc., plenty of storage, and a root cellar that aids in making this ranch self-sustainable. The main house offers a gorgeous, vaulted ceiling living area with natural light and a massive Texas limestone fireplace. The home also features an elegant formal dining room overlooking the back patio. The oversized master bedroom boasts a walk-in shower, whirlpool bath bathtub, large walk-in closet, and a secluded private back porch to enjoy resort-style morning coffees. A gourmet kitchen with a large granite island and stainless-steel appliances has a welcoming breakfast hearth room where this home's second fireplace is located. A bonus room or office also features dedicated private access with a door to the front and another to the back patio. The ranch is cleared of cedar trees except for those providing the property's abundant privacy. This allows more room for the many large legacy oak trees to grow and thrive, providing a beautiful park-like setting. Enjoy the property as-is or build separate dwellings for friends, family, or vacation rentals. Enjoy sunset walks to Blanco River, or to grab a gelato in downtown Blanco. With 10.48 acres, the possibilities are endless.

08/05/2022

07/17/2022

Charming private ranch on the most desirable and usable 10.48 acres located just minutes from Blanco River and Blanco downtown Square. This stunning property is unrestricted and is Ag exempt, keeping your taxes very low. The whole meticulously maintained ranch is completely fenced and cross-fenced, featuring a private well, livestock, solar panels with batteries and generator, huge pole barn, covered parking for many cars, tractors, etc., plenty of storage, and a root cellar that aids in making this ranch self-sustainable. The main house offers a gorgeous vaulted ceiling living area with natural light and a massive Texas limestone fireplace. The home also features an elegant formal dining room overlooking the back patio. The oversized master bedroom boasts a walk-in shower, whirlpool bath bathtub, large walk-in closet and a secluded private back porch to enjoy resort-style morning coffees. A gourmet kitchen with a large granite island and stainless-steel appliances has a welcoming breakfast hearth room where this home's second fireplace is located. A bonus room or office also features dedicated private access with a door to the front and another to the back patio. The ranch is cleared of cedar trees with the exception of those providing the property's abundant privacy. This allows more room for the many large legacy oak trees to grow and thrive, providing a beautiful park-like setting. Enjoy the property as-is or build separate dwellings for friends, family or vacation rentals. Enjoy sunset walks to Blanco River, or to grab a gelato in downtown Blanco. With 10.48 acres, the possibilities are endless.

03/16/2022

Becoming an Airbnb Host: Step by Step

Airbnb is one of the fastest growing businesses in the world. It generated $5.9 billion in revenue in 2021, a 73% year-to-year increase. If you’re thinking of investing in Airbnb properties and want to run a successful Airbnb business, there is a step-by-step guide to becoming an Airbnb Host.
1. Find your property to rent on Airbnb
Real estate is all about location - and hosting an Airbnb is no different. If you’re considering buying a property or using your existing house for short-term rentals, make sure you’re clued up about the right place to choose. Think about who you want your place to appeal to – are you wanting your Airbnb to be the go-to location for romantic city breaks, a weekend away from responsibility, or a cheap and cheerful spot where your clients can rest their head before a day of exploring the local sites? Having this in mind before you start will make the rest of these steps that much easier.
i. Check your property is legally allowed to be rented on Airbnb
There are some subdivisions with certain restriction regarding short-term rentals, prohibiting this kind activity. So, before you go any further, ask your realtor what area you should be looking to invest, or if you are using existing house check with your homeowner’s association if you are allowed to use the property for short-term rentals.
ii. Research your competition
If you want to succeed and make profit, you need to look at the competition. It is vital to do your market research before investing in the property and setting your pricing rate. Some questions I encourage you to ask yourself in your research:
• How many other short-term rentals are there in your chosen location?
o If there are a lot of other short-term rentals, then you can have some reassurance that this is a popular destination, but you may need to offer something special to stand out from the rest.
• How much are other rentals charging in your chosen location?
• Are the other short-term rentals in your location getting booked?
• What are your competitors offering that makes them stand out? What amenities do they have? What don’t they have that you could offer (e.g., hairdryers, towels)?
• What is the booking rate in the area?
A really useful tool to help you research is https://www.airdna.co/vacation-rental-data which shows you market data for free, with an option to subscribe and get more detailed information.
2. Insure your property
Insurance is necessary for all types of business, and your Airbnb business is no different. As a minimum, you should be getting property insurance (for your Airbnb), and business insurance (for yourself). These give you protection in case the worst happens. Insurance can also be a legal requirement in some situations.
3. Furnishing and maintaining
Keep in mind that guests for short term properties are often looking for a luxury vacation experience to have fun and make memories. Travelers want to feel a sense of uniqueness in their vacation rental experience. That is, after all, why they’ve opted for a vacation rental instead of a standard hotel. Make sure your property has the potential to create special moments for your guests to enhance their stay and get them to rebook for following vacations.
Furnishing
• To get high rating feedback (and therefore attract more traffic), you should carefully furnish and decorate your house, creating a character and style. Depending on your budget, get quality furniture, that can last long and give comfort to your guests, that will pay you back with good feedback and more traffic. Make sure you have at least three sets of lines for each bed and two sets towels for each guest, body wash and shampoo for shower, Kleenex, hair dryer. Equip your kitchen with cookware, kitchen utensils, coffee bar, essential small appliances. You should have complete place settings for the maximum number of allowed guests at your Airbnb. A complete place setting should include plates, bowls, cups, forks, knives, spoons, wine glasses, coffee mugs and pantry staples, such as salt, pepper, and condiments.

There is some basic equipment that I would recommend investing in:
• A digital keyless entry system to make it easy for you guests to access your place (without needing to coordinate collecting and dropping off keys);
• Wi-Fi and, depending on the size of your property, a Wi-Fi network extender.
• a Smart TV.
Of course, you could provide many more amenities - from ironing boards to wine openers. Depending on your budget, you could wait and add items as needed by your guests.

Cleaning
One of the very important points is cleanness of the property.
I recommend you hire a professional and reliable cleaning company and automate as much of the cleaning of your Airbnb as you can. Some tips to make your life as easy as possible:
• Make a cleaning calendar and share it with your cleaner.
• Automate the dates of cleaning for your cleaners to follow shortly after a guest has checked out of your Airbnb; and
• Schedule a deep cleaning of your rental twice a year.

Some cleaning apps you could use:
• TurnoverBnB.
• Properly.
• MaidThis.
• Handy.
• Airtasker.
• Doinn.

Maintenance

To keep your properties in a good standing and run the Airbnb business without interruption you should have a list of reliable handymen, plumbers, electricians, pool maintenance, landscapers. You can ask your realtor for recommendations.

4. Automate your Airbnb management
I highly recommend that you automate of your Airbnb management that will make running your Airbnb business as efficient as possible and will give you the best chance of getting positive feedback from your guests. The two parts of managing your Airbnb I suggest you automate are: the general management (such as guest booking and payments); and cleaning.

General management

It can be hard to know where to start as there are so many options out there. I’ve compiled this list to help you start your search for the software that will work best for your situation and your budget:
• Beds24
• Guesty
• Your Porter
• Turnonverbnb
5. Create your Airbnb listing
Make sure you give this step your full focus and complete it carefully, so all your hard work up until now can pay off.
i. Publish your property on Airbnb
Now is the time to post your property on Airbnb. Make sure you follow the Airbnb’s steps carefully and thoroughly before you publish, as it can look unprofessional for a guest to see an incomplete listing. Successful listings on Airbnb include the following:
• An appealing and informative title of the property.
• High quality and professional pictures of the property
• A detailed description of the property. This is where you show why guests should stay at your property:
o What makes your property special? Do they have access to a pool? Is there wilderness or lake nearby? Does your property offer downtown city life, or would they be placed in the heart of the local historical sights?
o What convenience are nearby and are there some restaurants, grocery stores?
o What other features makes your place an ideal place for them to stay?

Your profile shows your potential customers who you are, so make sure your profile has a professional picture and your account is eye-catching. Follow the steps on Airbnb to get your profile verified, giving your clients additional confidence in renting your property.
ii. Set the price for your Airbnb
Make sure that the price you set for your Airbnb covers your ongoing costs (general management, cleaning, etc.) as well as an additional margin for all the expenses that you put in your space. Keep in mind that you need your property to be competitive with nearby short-term rentals.
iii. Set the rules for your property
Be open and honest with your potential guests as this will help them to choose the right place for their stay and helps to ensure your property is used as you intend. Consider the following:
• What is the maximum number of guests your property can safely hold?
• Is your property suitable for pets and are you comfortable with any potential damage caused by a pet?
• Are you comfortable with your property being used for parties?
• Is there a smoking area or would you only prefer non-smoking guests?
As you set up your Airbnb account, you can select which of these rules you would like to apply to your property.
iv. Set a cancellation policy
Sometimes the unexpected happens and your guests will need to cancel their stay. To protect yourself financially from cancellations and no-shows, make sure you have a suitable cancellation policy for your guests.
6. Post your property on social media
Social media is one of the best platforms to promote your business. Your business can reach a wider audience with social media and its millions of users. Consider having a Facebook business page or a dedicated Instagram handle for your property. Share posts, use hashtags, and offer discounts to let know your audience about their potential next vacation destination.

02/14/2022

Airbnb-record breaking year demand
Airbnb also known as Air bed and breakfast (Air mattress and breakfast ) was originally founded in San Francisco by Joe Gebbia, Brian Chesky, and Nathan Blecharczyk in 2008. It is being operated in more than 190 countries and the cities engaged with its network are more than 80,000. The number of users is being increased with every passing day. There is always a history behind any success. The same is the case with Airbnb-record breaking year demand as pandemic has disturbed every walk of life by locking people in their houses and putting a pause on traveling. The whole forecast was destroyed, and revenue generation got a reverse gear in the year 2019. It continued for almost more than two years but fortunately, the sale is coming back to its peak due to facts stated by the company after disclosing the Airbnb-record breaking year demand.
Facts about Airbnb and its success
Those times are long bygones when people used to live in fancy hotels with expensive per night charges, lobby full of people, dining halls teeming with guests, noisy corridors, and stairways or elevators always busy to carry people. Everyone was there in the hotel to visit famous points in the cities. Now regular travelers are more willing to live in a common area that has a simple lifestyle and interactive locals. They want to live in a house where they are no longer treated as a guest but are like a house member doing routine chores and roaming around the area and feeling like a native. So, living anywhere has become the reality of this era. Now you no longer need to worry about your residences, breakfasts, and communicating with the people across the rental area. Pandemic and decrease of Airbnb sales
When pandemic started, it was thought to be just an ordinary flu outbreak that will end in a few weeks. It was never assumed that it would be putting a question mark on worldwide economy dynamics. Just like other businesses, Airbnb also faced a catastrophic decrease in their business and their sales fall as approximately 85% of new bookings were canceled. So, in broad terms, Airbnb was exposed to a major setback in 2019 due to pandemic. The net sales remain 4.4 billion UDS in 2019 and loss followed in 2020 as well leading to 30 percent year-on-year loss with net sales figures of 3.4 billion USD.
2021 and Rise in Airbnb-record breaking year demand
As per statements by forecast analysts of Airbnb, after vaccination against the pandemic, job opportunities were reopened as people were now used to working from home, they started looking for accommodations that are available in popular cities with reasonable prices. To provide the required accommodations, Airbnb was most active, and it helped the house owners to connect to their guests. And the same happened with the travelers who wanted to visit far-off areas with the least rush and threats of getting the infection. Airbnb provided them with the best affordable serviced and there was a huge surge in demand.
The actual rise in demand was generated at the start of the third quarter of 2021 with an approximate 12.8 billion USD host earning and innumerable booking requests were in pipeline. It is interesting to state that our Q3 revenue was 36 percent higher than that of 2019.
Commercial Analysis of Q3-2021
Airbnb bookings were restarted by the start of 2021 and at that time it was uncertain to set an annual sales forecast for the year 2021. The second quarter showed a boost of 10 percent as compared to the sales of the year 2020. It was quite surprising for the company to have a peak season just by the start of July 2021. The overall rise was up to 36 percent. When the financial year was closed, net sales figures were showing a more than 210 % stand up than the relevant quarter of 2019. So, in short quarter three of 2021 has been highest yielding time leading to Airbnb-record breaking year demand. The overall sales of the Q3-2021 are 834 million USD.
Sales forecasting, Chief Executives of Airbnb, and upcoming years
The company’s chief executives and founders are pleased to share the record-breaking sales of Airbnb after a temporary downfall and decrease in sales amidst pandemics. Now they are looking forward to maintaining and upgrading the figures in coming years i.e., 2022.
Chesky has stated in the company’s letter that they are trying to control the factors that affect bookings and overall business. They have discussed with shareholders about price issues as the main focus of Airbnb is to provide alternative residencies with the best possible affordable services.
The sales forecast analysts of the company are motivated about increased traveling around rural areas and their likeness to Airbnb as it is open throughout the year. They have shared positive reviews about the hosts connected via Airbnb. Moreover, post-vaccination safety has led to a surge in the utilization of these alternative accommodations and relative preference over conventional options of habitation.
The strategical planning for upcoming years involves a few changes like the addition of food delivery to the guests and availability of long term stays for more than 90 days so that the people working from home yet staying at other cities can easily reside in. the option of becoming super hosts also encourages the provision of the best possible services.

02/14/2022

Long Term Rentals VS Short Term Rentals: Let's Assess The Real Estate Market
Real estate is an excellent way to invest money while avoiding the continual fluctuations in the stock market. Owning a tangible asset is reassuring in a world where money can seem like just a number on the screen. The fact you can leverage money to purchase, appreciating assets provides the opportunity for huge returns. That leaves the question of whether or not to rent your property on a long-term or short-term basis.
Demand for the short term continues to rise as people prefer a larger private space to a hotel room. But, a long-term tenant can provide a steady income for you to pay the mortgage and other bills.
If you're debating whether it would be better to invest in a traditional long-term rental or short-term rental. Evaluate the advantages and disadvantages so that you can make an educated decision.
Let's break down this mystery for you, so keep reading.
Short Term Rentals
Many of those who own short-term rentals purchase it as an investment that they could also use when it's available. They can rent the place out during peak season and have it for their enjoyment when it's not rented. Likewise, it can be used for personal enjoyment and occasionally rented to help offset the cost. This is a huge perk because there is no chance of using a property rented on a long-term basis unless it's being turned over for the next tenant.
Let's discuss some detailed pros of the short-term investment.
1. Increased Profitability
This is by far the single largest advantage to renting short-term. It generates higher income. Short-term rentals are often more profitable than long-term rentals, especially when the property is in an area popular with vacationers. By renting to vacationers, owners can charge a higher price and earn greater cash flow than they would by renting to locals.
2. Better Management and Maintenance
I noted that long-term leases require less ongoing upkeep for owners, but there are two sides to this. Vacation rentals are often better kept since the owner will normally have the property properly cleaned between guests (and will pass the expense on to the renter). Not only are they cleaned often, but because of the higher turnover, it may be simpler to spot maintenance issues before they become severe difficulties.
3. Flexibility In Tax Regulations
When the property is rented out on a short-term basis, you may be able to deduct property expenditures from your taxes. However, before you expect large tax advantages, research your state income tax regulations and local property tax laws to discover if tax breaks exist in your local market.
4. Personal Vacation Use
With regular intervals between visitors, vacation rental owners may easily allocate a few days for leisure use. If you rent your home out for a vacation, you will enjoy the rental income while away. If you own a vacation home, have a place for your personal use, like a getaway home for you.

Long Term Rentals
Long-term rentals generate more consistent income because the tenant occupies the property for a longer time. There is no need to worry about what's next month income will look like during the slow season. If the economy takes a turn for the worse, the rent will be more likely to continue, further adding to this stability.
People always need a place to live, but a recession can be a nightmare for an owner dependent on other vacationing habits. Once you sign a lease and place a long-term tenant, there's not much work to do.
Let's dig up some pros of the long-term rentals.
1. Management of the property is easy.
Long-term rentals demand less time, whether you handle the property yourself or employ a property manager. You don't have to market the property as frequently, deal with constant tenant turnover, or ensure it's ready to rent.
2. No Need To Worry About Bills
In the case of long-term rentals, it is common to practice to have renters pay the utilities. This implies that your tenants will have their water, sewage, garbage, gas, electricity, and internet accounts and pay the utility companies directly. This not only reduces your rental payments as the owner but also saves you the stress of handling extra line items in your bookkeeping.
3. Security Deposit
Assuming you're anxious about the better components of leasing, like protection, tenant contracts, and security stores, just relax. You may normally demand a substantial security deposit for long-term rentals, which is usually repaid to the visitor after the lease unless there is property damage. When renting out their properties, these deposits may provide owners with a lot of peace of mind.
4. Choose Your Investment Wisely
Rentals aren't a one-size-fits-all proposition. Your specific aims and preferences determine short-term vs. long-term leases.
Assuming you're willing to put away additional time and cash on the rental in return for higher pay, a short-term rental perhaps will be your most ideal choice.
However, if you want a more passive, steady income, you could be better off as a long-term rental owner. Whatever rental you pick, several listing sites will be your partner in locating appropriate tenants. They provide property owners with speedier lease-ups and greater ROIs.
Contact us immediately for a customized plan to increase your rental's profitability.

Final Thoughts
Of course, every disadvantage of one choice benefits the other.
When you rent long-term, the trouble of connecting with new visitors regularly decreases.
When you pick the short-term option, you don't have to worry about turning up your properties and abandoning control over them for up to a year.
If it appears to be a toss-up that may go either way, depending on which obstacles the property manager finds more difficult, it's because we haven't reached the tiebreaker.
When it comes to the final variable, the one that arguably bears the most weight for everyone in the business world – earning power – there is a significant difference between long and short-term leases.
Discover Your Trust With Me!
Buying investment properties is stressful and time-consuming.
Imagine you can make money by buying properties with tenants who pay you for the rent. This is a reality with Airbnb properties; it makes finding tenants easier; you can charge a premium price & build a large cash flow that you can then use to fund your passion projects.

I am inviting you to read my latest article on my website, where I discuss all aspects of investing in Airbnb properties and how I can help you find properties for sale in your area.
Contact me today to get a quote.

02/12/2022

How Inflation Is Affecting Real Estate
Inflation is a part of life for nearly every country on the planet. From ancient Rome to modern-day America, inflation has happened in just about every nation collecting and spending money.
Unfortunately, inflation is usually a sign of economic decline. It's a phenomenon that has the power to wipe out vast amounts of investment money if it's not properly managed.
There has been a lot of talk and speculation in the news recently about the future of our monetary system in the United States. Strong inflation is predicted by one expert, deflation by another, and stagflation by still another. While no one can foretell the future, intelligent real estate investors should understand how real estate inflation works, how a high inflation market affects your assets or debt, and how to hedge inflation the best way possible.
It remains to be seen if the United States experiences near-normal or exceptionally high inflation rates due to these distortions in the regular economy. Regardless of the present economic conditions, real estate investors can hedge against inflation and ensure that their real estate portfolio flourishes in these times.
This article will help you understand what real estate investing has to do with inflation and how you can profit from this knowledge.
Let's Breakdown The Term Inflation
Inflation is a loss of money's purchasing power, as evidenced by an increase in the economy's cost of goods and services. As a result, as inflation rises, every dollar you make loses value, reducing your spending capacity.

While the housing market was already experiencing a lack of supply and strong demand before the pandemic's entrance, it is reasonable to argue that its presence worsened these tendencies. Many renters entered the housing market in quest of their first house, while many homeowners sought possibilities to trade up and expand their living space. As this rising demand took shape, many current homeowners chose to stay put, reducing the supply of available houses.
Let's review how inflation is impacting Real estate investment.
For Homeowners
Inflation is beneficial to building owners for a variety of reasons. The most obvious advantage is that the value of your property grows in tandem with the rate of inflation. Because supply is limited and demand is great, sellers may set their asking prices as high as they like and, in many cases, receive bids at or over their asking price. This makes it a perfect moment to sell but a very tough time to purchase.
For Investors
If you buy a house as a borrowed asset, especially now when interest rates are so low, you'll end up paying the same fixed rate even if the value of your home increases. We have yet to see financing rates rise in lockstep with inflation in this current inflationary environment. Consequently, you may expect your return on investment (ROI) to explode.
For Prospective Investors
Not unexpectedly, the conditions of potential investors in an inflationary market differ significantly from those of present owners. With that in mind, the most crucial consideration for this group is time.
How long do you plan on keeping the property? If you're in it for the long run, you should expect the same value rises as current owners have. If you're searching for a shorter investing time horizon — possibly by flipping a house, for example — we recommend "buyer beware."
Real Estate Appreciation VS Inflation
Real estate appreciation is a powerful hedge against rising prices. In truth, the rate of appreciation of US real estate has regularly outpaced inflation for more than a decade. While this method may not provide large returns as prices increase, it will protect your investments and net worth from inflation's eroding effects.
Choose Rentals For Best ROI
Rental houses are, without a question, the most profitable assets during an inflationary environment. Real estate developers will benefit from the trend by asking for higher rents as more consumers forgo loans in favor of traditional rental residences. Landlords will get a very high return on investment because of the strong rental revenue and low vacancy rates. More significantly, a fixed-rate mortgage investor may use this high income to quickly and efficiently service their debt.
High Morgage Rates Due To Inflation
Interest rates generally rise in lockstep with inflation. When inflation rises, central banks frequently increase short-term interest rates to combat the inflationary situation.
When loan rates are low, more people borrow, resulting in more money to spend. This raises the rate of inflation. Consumers will likely save more than spend when central banks boost interest rates to combat inflation because the gains from higher interest rates are enticing. The expectation is that by reducing consumer demand, inflation will be reduced.
Mortgage rates often rise in an inflationary economy.
Is Inflation And Real Investment Are on Opposite sides?
Given that an inflationary climate typically leads to increased rents and asset values, real estate is seen as an excellent inflation hedge. This is because of three general phenomena:

• Rents grow in lockstep with inflation.

• Inflation raises the value of your property.

• The debt on your asset depreciates when the value of the loan declines.

However, investors should be cautious in high-inflation conditions, partly because borrowing costs will rise, placing downward pressure on cash flows and demand for real estate if you wish to sell. It also raises the expense of new real estate development.
What are the Appropriate investments in an inflationary environment?
The market and the property's location constantly influence investing in real estate. In a high-inflation economy, however, the following real estate investments outperform others:

• Residential, commercial, multi-unit, and single-family rental properties will likely have higher-than-average demand and returns.

• Banks might be offloading higher-than-normal numbers of notes, resulting in less competition and lower prices.

• Real estate investment trusts (REITs) follow market needs and appreciation in the same manner that physical real estate does, and they can be an excellent way to spread your money over a wide range of assets.
Final Thoughts
As with any major financial choice, it's critical to be on the lookout for economic dangers. Smart management, goal setting, and seeking financial advice, on the other hand, may aid in keeping you and your money safe.