As a productive Real Estate Professional and an active real estate owner and investor I believe in Property Rights and the need to protect them.  I never like to see rule changes after someone has invested in a property, many of which rules are pushed through by a small number of active residents.  I also believe there is a big misconception surrounding the type of people that typically rent homes out on a nightly basis but due to a few bad apples the “Bunch gets spoiled”.  Lastly, most, if not all communities that do allow short term rentals also have nuisance laws in place but rarely do concerned residents take the proper steps to correct the issue. Instead they cope with the disturbance and it goes unreported.

When buying Lake LBJ Real Estate it is important to first decide if the ability to short-term rent is important to you. You may ask yourself questions like:

1. Do I want to rent now?
2. Will I want the option to rent in the future?
3. How would I feel if my neighbor was renting their home out?

Answering these simple questions at the beginning of your search will really help you narrow your search and focus on communities that meet your needs.  If you decide to pursue a property that is a rental you need to pay close attention to waste water system. Is it on septic vs sewer?  We prefer an actual sewer system that moves the waste off site as opposed to a septic system that leaches everything on site.  With large groups, and non-consistent use, these rental days can stress the septic systems out and cause big problems.  Guests also tend to dispose of items that are bad for the system which will damage that septic system over time.  Before you panic, many successful rental properties use convention or aerobic septic systems and do just fine, so long as they are properly maintained to ensure functionality and guests are informed on proper usage.

I also recommend paying close attention to HOA rules as well as deed restrictions that may be specific to your property and uncovered only by careful review of your title commitment.  Understanding how these short-term rental rules might change in the future is important to understand before you make a long-term financial commitment.

Buying and selling waterfront property on Lake LBJ is no easy feat.  We recommend engaging a Local Expert that is active in the Lake LBJ Real Estate market to help you understand what you are buying and avoid costly mistakes.  Reach out if I can be of assistance!

I am often asked about Short-term rentals (STRs) on Lake LBJ.  What many people do not realize is that most of Lake LBJ restricts STRs and the areas that actually allow them are few and far between.  Most of Kingsland allows STRs as Kingsland is not a municipality and the area is only governed by the county who does not regulate such uses.  There are a few areas, enclaves and subdivisions in which STRs are specifically deed restricted  or prevented by rules or regulations of a neighborhood or home / property owner’s association (HOAs).

The City of Horseshoe Bay does not restrict STRs however there are some HOAs that specifically restrict.  Sunrise Beach, for example, has a different rule which states that a homeowner cannot rent to more than one tenant in a 30 day period.  In my understanding of the rule it is that a particular homeowner could rent to a tenant for 1 day or 30 days he just would not be able to rent to another tenant for another 30 days.  Most people see this as a rule allowing monthly rentals and you see some of that going on in Sunrise Beach.  It should also be noted that what is true now may not be true in the future as rules can change.

Each property owner has a different motivation and so whether or not short term rentals are allowed is up to the property owner and their specific uses for the property.  For example, some property owners purchase a property strictly to rent out as an investment opportunity, while others will use rentals only to off set some holding costs associated with the property.  Still others, do not want renters next door to their luxury vacation home and seek areas that disallow STRs altogether.

Depending on where you fall on the spectrum its important to understand what a particular property allows and disallows and how that might change in the future.  Its important to work with a trusted real estate broker on Lake LBJ that can help you navigate through your property purchase.  Contact me, Eric Carvajal today at (512) 786-1515 for assistance with short term rentals on Lake LBJ or any other Lake LBJ real estate needs you may have.  I look forward to hearing from you!

As property values increase and holding costs become increasingly more expensive many buyers look to short term rentals to help generate income on these second home properties.  However, many areas on Lake LBJ have specific bans on short term rentals making them rare and hard to find.

When looking for a rental property on Lake LBJ it is very important to look clearly at your title policy and title commitment to ensure that there are no hidden deed restrictions that prevent an owner from renting out their property on a nightly basis.  Currently, most properties that are in Kingsland, Horseshoe Bay and Oak Ridge have no specific restrictions against short term rentals but buyers should always do their own homework and research before relying on such information.  In a few instances we have seen specific HOAs that prevent nightly rentals and that could be discovered during the title phase.

If you have questions specific to short term rentals on Lake LBJ or would like assistance with anything pertaining to Lake LBJ Real Estate contact me at (512) 786-1515