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.
3891 Apore Street, La Mesa, CA, 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
$69,669
$5,806/mo · at 63% occupancy & $395/night
$14,223
$1,185/mo after costs & mortgage
Cap rate
8.8%
Cash-on-cash
9.5%
DSCR
1.48
Confidence
Your assumptions
Revenue
$69,669/yr
Market avg: $69,669/yr · 63% occ · $395 ADR
Financing
$29,939/yr
Operating costs
$25,507/yr
How this property compares to similar short-term rentals nearby.
Comparable set · 44 properties
$256–$819
Median $395
42%–86%
Median 63%
$36.4K–$112.6K
Median $65.6K
184–365
Median 281
This property · $69.7K
Comparable properties (44)
Cash flow potential Medium · Appreciation potential Medium
285 days available · 155 days booked ·
339 days available · 197 days booked ·
302 days available · 235 days booked ·
290 days available · 204 days booked ·
350 days available · 271 days booked ·
224 days available · 183 days booked ·
365 days available · 209 days booked ·
278 days available · 170 days booked ·
278 days available · 206 days booked ·
325 days available · 175 days booked ·
286 days available · 140 days booked ·
311 days available · 164 days booked ·
263 days available · 185 days booked ·
295 days available · 161 days booked ·
329 days available · 260 days booked ·
287 days available · 151 days booked ·
270 days available · 139 days booked ·
365 days available · 205 days booked ·
308 days available · 180 days booked ·
255 days available · 191 days booked ·
320 days available · 193 days booked ·
317 days available · 180 days booked ·
269 days available · 206 days booked ·
274 days available · 192 days booked ·
276 days available · 209 days booked ·
308 days available · 138 days booked ·
217 days available · 150 days booked ·
365 days available · 246 days booked ·
270 days available · 199 days booked ·
247 days available · 164 days booked ·
240 days available · 163 days booked ·
294 days available · 160 days booked ·
316 days available · 134 days booked ·
252 days available · 116 days booked ·
249 days available · 159 days booked ·
275 days available · 150 days booked ·
257 days available · 116 days booked ·
184 days available · 136 days booked ·
301 days available · 152 days booked ·
271 days available · 111 days booked ·
224 days available · 166 days booked ·
283 days available · 165 days booked ·
242 days available · 141 days booked ·
230 days available · 115 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
~$123.5K
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
1.48
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.
$123.5K
Estimated first-year deduction · range $102.5K–$140.8K
Why this matters here
At a marginal bracket, this deduction can be worth $37.9K–$52.1K 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.
California does not conform to federal bonus depreciation, so your state tax treatment will differ from the federal figures 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 +9.5%, DSCR 1.48, cash flow $14,223/yr
| Price vs asking | Price | Cash-on-cash | DSCR | Band |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| -25% | $375,000 | 18.5% | 1.97 | Positive |
| -22% | $390,000 | 17.1% | 1.89 | Positive |
| -15% | $425,000 | 14.3% | 1.74 | Positive |
| -8% | $460,000 | 11.9% | 1.60 | Positive |
| Asking | $500,000 | 9.5% | 1.48 | Positive |
| +8% | $540,000 | 7.4% | 1.37 | Positive |
| +15% | $575,000 | 5.7% | 1.28 | 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
+$4,388/yr
Illustrative cash-flow improvement at asking price if rates fall. Planning figure, not a forecast.
Annual avg $5,806 · peaks at $7,254 in Jul
Annual avg 61% · peaks at 78% in Jul
$1,185/mo after all expenses
Cash to close
Down payment, closing costs, and furnishing
$145,000
Return on cash:27.1%
You qualify for STR financing
Your DSCR is 1.48 · 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
28.7%
over 5-yr hold, with tax shield
Equity multiple
2.6×
total proceeds vs. $145,000 invested
Projected value at exit
$638,141
year 5 · 5.0% annual appreciation
Tax shield contribution
+8.3 pts
of IRR comes from year-1 depreciation
| Year | Equity | Appreciation | Cumulative cash flow | Total value |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | $128,809 | $25,000 | $59,918 | $213,727 |
| Year 2 | $132,894 | $51,250 | $75,186 | $259,330 |
| Year 3 | $137,274 | $78,813 | $91,515 | $307,601 |
| Year 4 | $141,970 | $107,753 | $108,920 | $358,644 |
| Year 5 | $147,007 | $138,141 | $127,418 | $412,566 |
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 La Mesa 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.
92019 El Cajon Boulevard, La Mesa, CA, USA
3 bed 2 bath 8 guests
Revenue
$62,658/yr
Daily Rate
$346
Occupancy
0.7%
72nd Street, San Diego, CA, USA
3 bed 2 bath 8 guests
Revenue
$59,633/yr
San Diego Trolley, California, USA
3 bed 2 bath 8 guests
Revenue
$62,816/yr
4515 4th St Apt 11, La Mesa, CA 91941
3 bed 2 bath 8 guests
Revenue
$63,012/yr
4515 4th St, La Mesa, CA 91941, USA
3 bed 2 bath 8 guests
Revenue
$63,050/yr
2324 Golden Avenue, Lemon Grove, CA, USA
3 bed 2 bath 8 guests
Revenue
$59,002/yr
Daily Rate
$336
Occupancy
0.7%
Daily Rate
$346
Occupancy
0.7%
Daily Rate
$316
Occupancy
0.7%
Daily Rate
$322
Occupancy
0.7%
Daily Rate
$380
Occupancy
0.7%