Sign up for our newsletter
Monthly insights, tips, and exclusive offers for STR investors.
All Real Estate Services are offered through Chalet Realty (DBA of Mahalla Realty LLC).
Texas Real Estate Commission Consumer Protection NoticeTexas Real Estate Commission Information About Brokerage ServicesTREC DisclaimerChalet (“GetChalet Inc.”) provides general educational content and tools for real-estate investors. Chalet is not a law firm, CPA firm, or investment adviser, and does not provide tax, legal, or accounting advice. Nothing on this site creates a CPA-client, attorney-client, or fiduciary relationship. Tax laws change, and state rules may differ from federal rules (e.g., California decouples from federal bonus depreciation). Always consult your own qualified tax and legal professionals about your specific situation.
The term 'Airbnb' is used on our site in a colloquial sense, akin to saying 'I am going to Airbnb it.' This usage is intended to refer broadly to the concept of short-term rentals and not specifically to the Airbnb platform or services. Airbnb, Inc. is not affiliated with Chalet, nor does it endorse or sponsor our services. We use the term in this generalized manner to easily convey the idea of participating in short-term rental activities, recognizing 'Airbnb' as a term familiar to many in this context.
Affiliate & Referral Disclosure. Chalet may receive referral fees or other consideration when you engage with featured agents, lenders, cost-seg providers, or other partners referenced on this site. These relationships may influence which partners we present. We follow the FTC Endorsement Guides and aim to disclose material connections clearly and conspicuously.
Chalet (DBA of GetChalet Inc.) is not affiliated, associated, authorized, endorsed by, or in any way officially connected with Airbnb, Airbnb.com, or any of its subsidiaries or its affiliates. The official Airbnb website can be found at http://www.airbnb.com. The name "Airbnb" as well as related names, marks, emblems and images are registered trademarks of Airbnb, Inc.
2505 Thornton Rd, Austin, TX 78704, USA
Covers its debt with margin to spare at the current price.
Investment potential
Your scenario · adjust the levers below or open advanced settings to see how returns change
$61,287
$5,107/mo · at 56% occupancy & $383/night
$26,783
$2,232/mo after costs & mortgage
Cap rate
15.4%
Cash-on-cash
28.5%
DSCR
2.57
Confidence
Your assumptions
Revenue
$61,287/yr
Market avg: $61,287/yr · 56% occ · $383 ADR
Financing
$17,071/yr
Operating costs
$17,433/yr
How this property compares to similar short-term rentals nearby.
Comparable set · 29 properties
$246–$714
Median $383
29%–86%
Median 56%
$33.2K–$158.0K
Median $50.9K
144–353
Median 277
This property · $61.3K
Comparable properties (29)
Cash flow potential High · Appreciation potential Medium
347 days available · 284 days booked ·
338 days available · 266 days booked ·
343 days available · 202 days booked ·
318 days available · 172 days booked ·
269 days available · 205 days booked ·
308 days available · 126 days booked ·
285 days available · 156 days booked ·
347 days available · 190 days booked ·
260 days available · 174 days booked ·
259 days available · 138 days booked ·
144 days available · 114 days booked ·
267 days available · 151 days booked ·
242 days available · 168 days booked ·
353 days available · 140 days booked ·
320 days available · 121 days booked ·
278 days available · 171 days booked ·
299 days available · 136 days booked ·
261 days available · 190 days booked ·
204 days available · 144 days booked ·
210 days available · 139 days booked ·
241 days available · 125 days booked ·
305 days available · 117 days booked ·
335 days available · 105 days booked ·
209 days available · 124 days booked ·
274 days available · 113 days booked ·
326 days available · 110 days booked ·
242 days available · 137 days booked ·
260 days available · 129 days booked ·
277 days available · 128 days booked ·
Revenue and occupancy reflect Chalet's modeled estimates from observed booking activity for comparable active listings. Individual results vary with management, seasonality, and pricing.
Who this property is for
The same property is a great buy for one investor and a trap for another. Here's the honest read.
1031 / high-equity buyer
~$70.4K
Year-1 tax shield
Buying with cash or low leverage removes the debt-coverage problem entirely, so the thesis rests on appreciation plus a large first-year write-off. At roughly 25% of purchase price, the shield is substantial enough to carry the deal on its own.
DSCR cash-flow buyer
2.57
DSCR at asking
At asking price the property clears the 1.20 DSCR most lenders require, so it should qualify for DSCR financing and cover its own debt service from day one. This is the buyer this deal is built for.
Price-disciplined buyer
—
Break-even purchase price
Even a deep discount doesn't get this deal to break even within a realistic range, so there's no price anchor to negotiate toward. A price-disciplined buyer should pass unless the revenue assumptions change.
For a buyer who materially participates and qualifies for the STR tax treatment.
$70.4K
Estimated first-year deduction · range $58.4K–$80.3K
Why this matters here
At a marginal bracket, this deduction can be worth $21.6K–$29.7K in estimated federal tax saved.
This only applies if you meet the IRS material-participation tests for short-term rentals and are not using a full-service property manager.
Estimate, subject to CPA review. Cost-segregation percentages shown here are illustrative and depend on an actual study of the property.
Some states do not conform to federal bonus depreciation, so your state may not allow the same first-year treatment shown above.
Chalet can introduce a cost-segregation partner — this is not tax, legal, or financial advice.
How cash-on-cash return moves with purchase price. The marked line is break-even (1.0 DSCR).
At this price: cash-on-cash +28.5%, DSCR 2.57, cash flow $26,783/yr
| Price vs asking | Price | Cash-on-cash | DSCR | Band |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| -25% | $213,825 | 41.1% | 3.43 | Positive |
| -22% | $222,378 | 39.2% | 3.29 | Positive |
| -15% | $242,335 | 35.4% | 3.02 | Positive |
| -8% | $262,292 | 31.9% | 2.79 | Positive |
| Asking | $285,100 | 28.5% | 2.57 | Positive |
| +8% | $307,908 | 25.4% | 2.38 | Positive |
| +15% | $327,865 | 23.0% | 2.23 | Positive |
Break-even price
Out of range
This deal does not reach break-even within ±25% of asking.
Discount needed
—
The gap between asking and the price a cash-flow buyer can underwrite.
If refi to 5.5% in 24 mo
+$2,502/yr
Illustrative cash-flow improvement at asking price if rates fall. Planning figure, not a forecast.
Annual avg $5,107 · peaks at $7,533 in Oct
Annual avg 55% · peaks at 62% in Oct
$2,232/mo after all expenses
Cash to close
Down payment, closing costs, and furnishing
$82,679
Return on cash:49.6%
You qualify for STR financing
Your DSCR is 2.57 · lenders typically require 1.0+.
Get matched with 2–3 vetted STR lenders, free.
What the deal returns over the hold — including the tax shield, which is the whole point for an appreciation buyer.
Levered IRR
51.2%
over 5-yr hold, with tax shield
Equity multiple
3.8×
total proceeds vs. $82,679 invested
Projected value at exit
$363,868
year 5 · 5.0% annual appreciation
Tax shield contribution
+10.9 pts
of IRR comes from year-1 depreciation
| Year | Equity | Appreciation | Cumulative cash flow | Total value |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | $73,447 | $14,255 | $52,838 | $140,540 |
| Year 2 | $75,776 | $29,223 | $80,541 | $185,539 |
| Year 3 | $78,274 | $44,939 | $109,176 | $232,388 |
| Year 4 | $80,952 | $61,441 | $138,758 | $281,151 |
| Year 5 | $83,823 | $78,768 | $169,302 | $331,893 |
Projection, not a promise.
Assumes 5.0% annual appreciation, 1.5% rent growth (operating costs held flat), and that the property qualifies for short-term-rental tax treatment. The year-1 depreciation shield depends on a real cost-segregation study and your tax situation — consult a CPA.
Appreciation is the dominant driver of this return. When cash flow is negative, the deal depends on the property gaining value — it is not paying for itself from income.
Appreciation, rent growth, and financing rates are editable under Edit financials.
STR deals turn on local rules and demand that a generalist agent misses. Chalet matches you with a vetted Austin agent who knows which properties actually cash flow — and which to avoid.
© 2026 Chalet. All rights reserved.
This analysis is generated by Chalet's Airbnb Calculator
Visit getchalet.com for more tools
Real Estate Investment Analysis & Market Insights
Disclaimer. This page and the data presented are for informational purposes only. The information provided should not be construed as financial, legal, or investment advice. Market conditions can change rapidly, and past performance does not guarantee future results. Always consult with qualified professionals before making investment decisions.
Zilker Zephyr Miniature Train, Austin, TX, USA
3 bed 2 bath 8 guests
Revenue
$55,429/yr
Daily Rate
$384
Occupancy
0.5%
1900 Barton Springs Rd unit 3038, Austin, TX 78704, USA
3 bed 2 bath 8 guests
Revenue
$53,967
909 Garner Ave, Austin, TX 78704, USA
3 bed 2 bath 8 guests
Revenue
$54,126/yr
906 Daniel Drive, Austin, TX, USA
3 bed 2 bath 8 guests
Revenue
$38,254/yr
1422 Collier Street, Austin, TX, USA
3 bed 2 bath 8 guests
Revenue
$48,039/yr
1811 Kinney Ave, Austin, TX 78704, USA
4 bed 3 bath 10 guests
Revenue
$100,239/yr
Daily Rate
$362
Occupancy
0.5%
Daily Rate
$339
Occupancy
0.7%
Daily Rate
$309
Occupancy
0.7%
Daily Rate
$335
Occupancy
0.5%
Daily Rate
$549
Occupancy
0.6%