Bought lot, built house south of 30A 1998. $85k for lot $240k for house, firnishings. Cash paid for lot and furnishings, $220,000 Mortgage. $9000 negetaive cashflow until sold. Used approxamatly 45 days per year, no fee's or rent, value $9000, in personal use, not paid to others. Sold 11/2003, net $525,000, rolled into 1 back from beach, total including furninghings 1.1mm, 400k mortgage, $70k more equity out of pocket. Total carry per year, on 2005 costruction, with all current hurricane construction standards, $42k. Net rental income $52k, + 45 days personal use. So 10k positive cashflow, no income taxes, and the equivilant of 10-12k for not having to rent from another. So no matter what the value, as long as I get my equity back out, or a tatal of 575k, upon a sale, my return is equal to 22k on an out of pocket investment of 180k for 12.2% return, annualy. Even in this market I should get my equity back + the laon balance in that the propery brings in 70k+ in gross revenues per year.
So Shelly, digest these #'s, and compare to like returns in equities, mm funds, or high yield corporates, or anything for that matter.