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Tampa AirBnB Investment Properties For Sale

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Tampa is a great market if you want to get into short-term rentals. With many tourist attractions and events happening year-round, it may be possible to fill your booking calendar throughout the year. Our Tampa Realtors can help you explore options and find the perfect property to convert to an Airbnb.

About Tampa

Tampa is the third-largest city in Florida, home to approximately 400,000 people. It was originally founded as a military center and remains a military hub with nearby MacDill Air Force Base. Today, Tampa’s economy focuses on tourism, finance, health care, insurance, technology, the maritime industry, and construction.

Tampa is part of the Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater area, which has over 4 million residents in the greater Tampa Bay region. The city itself is full of great, unique neighborhoods, including:

• Downtown Tampa
• Ybor City
• Ballast Point
• Hype Park
• Davis Islands
• Seminole Heights
• Harbour Island
• Forest Hills
• Tampa Palms
• Tampa Heights
• Palma Ceia
• College Hill
• Channelside
• Water Street

Tampa is a relatively young, diverse city with plenty to offer residents and visitors. Some of the top things to do in Tampa include:

• Nightlife in Channelside, Ybor City, SoHo, and International Plaza
• Museum of Science and Industry (MOSI)
• Tampa Museum of Art
• University of South Florida Contemporary Art Museum
• Tampa Bay History Center
• Henry B. Plant Museum
• Ybor City Museum State Park
• Glazer Children’s Museum
• David A. Stratz Jr. Center for the Performing Arts
• Tampa Theater
• Gorilla Theater
• MidFlorida Credit Union Amphitheatre
• Florida State Fairgrounds
• More than 165 parks and beaches, including the Hillsborough River State Park
• Busch Gardens Tampa Bay
• Adventure Bay
• ZooTampa at Lowry Park
• Florida Aquarium
• Big Cat Rescue
• Gasparilla Pirate Festival
• Port of Tampa (popular port for Caribbean cruises)
• Professional sports teams, including the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Tampa Bay Lightning, Tampa Bay Rays, Tampa Bay Rowdies, Tampa Bay Titans and the Tampa Bay Sun
• Major League Baseball Spring Training
• Conventions like Metrocon at the Tampa Convention Center

Tampa is known for its Cuban, Spanish, “Floribbean,” Greek, barbeque, Puerto Rican, Vietnamese, and Italian cuisines. Ybor City, Seminole Heights, South Tampa, and Tarpon Springs are all known for their restaurants. There is also a lot of great shopping in Tampa, including at WestShore Plaza, Hyde Park Village, the SoHo District, and International Plaza.

In addition to these attractions, Florida is also home to several colleges and universities. This includes the University of South Florida, the University of Tampa, Hillsborough Community College, Southern Technical College, and the Tampa Law Center.

All of these tourist attractions and things to do - combined with the nearby military base and universities - make Tampa a hotspot for visitors. For this reason, investing in an Airbnb property in Tampa may be a smart move.

Short-Term Rental Laws in Tampa

Before purchasing an investment property in Tampa, it is important to understand the legal landscape. Generally, short-term rentals (referred to as transient rental accommodations) are permitted in Florida. A rental is considered “short-term” if it is for a period of 7 days or less.

In Hillsborough County - where Tampa is located - there are some limits on short-term rentals. If a particular neighborhood is zoned for short-term rentals, then you can operate an Airbnb there with the proper licenses from the state and county. Short-term rentals are allowed in some residential and commercial zones. If you have any questions about whether you can run an Airbnb in a particular neighborhood, reach out to the Hillsborough County Land Development office.

Of course, there are some neighborhoods that are simply better for an Airbnb property than others. Purchasing a property in a quiet neighborhood might result in fewer rentals than a place near major attractions. An experienced Tampa real estate agent can help guide you to the best investment property for your specific needs.

Pros and Cons of Purchasing an Airbnb Investment Property in Tampa

If you are weighing the purchase of a short-term rental investment property in Tampa, we’re here to help. Below are some factors that can help you decide whether to take the plunge into the Tampa Airbnb rental market.

Pros

• Strong demand: one of the biggest industries in Tampa is tourism. This can be a huge benefit when owning an Airbnb property, as tourists flock to the city to visit nearby beaches, attend sporting events and music festivals, or simply enjoy all that West Central Florida offers. There may also be demand for people visiting college students, military stationed at MacDill AFB, or simply in town to visit family. Tampa also has a thriving job market, which opens up the possibility of renting to people in the area for work.
• High income: with the right location, you can earn a steady stream of passive income from a Tampa Airbnb property. This income may be even higher during times of peak interest, such as bowl games, festivals, and other special events
• Affordable houses: real estate prices in Tampa have been on an upward trend, but plenty of reasonably priced homes throughout the city remain. This includes single-family houses, condos, townhouses, and apartments in up-and-coming areas.
• Building equity: as with any other investment property, if you purchase a short-term rental property, you can build equity in the home over time through the payments made by your renters.

Cons

• Legal requirements: in Tampa, you will need to make sure that your investment property is zoned for short-term rentals, plus obtain licenses from the county and the state. If you fail to do so, you could be fined.
• Strong competition: because Tampa is considered a hotspot for tourists, plenty of investors have jumped on the Airbnb wagon. If you want your rental to stand out from the crowd - and be profitable - you might have to do something extra.
• Expenses: any short-term rental can have unexpected expenses - not all of which can be passed onto renters. This can include regular maintenance, service charges, and damage to the property itself.

Work with a Tampa Real Estate Agent

If you want to learn more about buying an Airbnb property in Tampa, we can help. Our real estate agents understand the real estate market - whether you’re buying, selling, or renting out a home. At Eaton Realty, we serve the greater Tampa Bay area with full-service real estate and property management services. Contact a team member today by calling 813-672-8022 or filling out a contact form to learn more about how we can help you explore investment property options in Tampa and beyond.

Other Cities to Consider Around Tampa

There is a consistent demand for short-term rentals in Tampa and surrounding areas. If you’re interested in buying an investment property but aren’t sure if Tampa is the right choice for you, consider one of these cities:

• Apollo Beach
• Brandon
• Dover
• Gibsonton
• Lithia
• Plant City
• Riverview
• Ruskin
• Seffner
• Temple Terrance
• Thonotosassa
• Valrico
• Wimauma