The Deal Lab

Use the intended offer price. Confirm closing and setup costs separately.

Ask the lender for the actual down-payment requirement and permitted property use.

Use a written quote. This model holds a fixed principal-and-interest payment; it does not model refinancing.

Enter an amortizing loan term. Balloon and interest-only loans are outside this prototype.

Include lender fees, title/escrow and other acquisition costs from a written estimate.

Dedicated property cash held after acquisition, separate from your household emergency fund.

Include furnishing, repairs, permits and pre-opening carrying costs.

Use comparable paid-night rates, not only peak advertised prices. Room revenue only; excludes cleaning fees and tax collections.

Paid nights divided by available nights. Personal-use days must be removed from availability.

Exclude personal-use and unavailable nights. The prototype distributes availability evenly across months.

Check the host fee schedule for the listing platform and fee structure you expect. This model charges it on room revenue.

Use a written management proposal. Confirm which revenue the fee applies to and extra leasing or setup charges. This model applies the percentage to collected room revenue.

Estimate recurring repairs from property condition and contractor/manager input. Capital replacements belong in the replacement budget. This model applies the percentage to collected room revenue.

Enter variable utilities, supplies and net cleaning cost per night. If cleaning fees fully offset cleaning expense, include neither.

Ask the assessor about the expected assessed value after purchase, exemptions and special assessments. Save the estimate and date.

Obtain a written quote for this rental use. Check exclusions, deductibles and interruption coverage; do not reuse an owner-occupied quote.

Request twelve months of bills. Separate fixed utility charges from STR usage already included per occupied night.

Review the current dues schedule, rental restrictions and special assessments.

Check official local renewal fees. Put initial setup fees in setup costs; avoid counting the same fee twice.

List what this includes in your evidence notes. Do not include debt service, capital replacement funding or costs already entered elsewhere.

Build a component list: roof, HVAC, appliances and furnishings. Estimate remaining life and replacement cost. This internal allocation reduces distributable cash, not consolidated reserve cash.

Include rent-ready repairs, initial leasing and pre-opening carrying costs.

Use rent supported by comparable leases or a local manager. Separate concessions and utility arrangements.

Base allowance for vacancy and nonpayment combined. Do not count the same lost rent twice.

Use a written management proposal. Confirm which revenue the fee applies to and extra leasing or setup charges. This model applies the percentage to collected rent.

Estimate recurring repairs from property condition and contractor/manager input. Capital replacements belong in the replacement budget. This model applies the percentage to collected rent.

Ask the assessor about the expected assessed value after purchase, exemptions and special assessments. Save the estimate and date.

Obtain a written quote for this rental use. Check exclusions, deductibles and interruption coverage; do not reuse an owner-occupied quote.

Request twelve months of bills. Separate fixed utility charges from STR usage already included per occupied night.

Review the current dues schedule, rental restrictions and special assessments.

Ask local managers about tenant placement, renewal fees and expected tenancy length. Annualize recurring leasing costs; initial placement belongs in setup.

List what this includes in your evidence notes. Do not include debt service, capital replacement funding or costs already entered elsewhere.

Build a component list: roof, HVAC, appliances and flooring. Estimate remaining life and replacement cost. This internal allocation reduces distributable cash, not consolidated reserve cash.