The agent listing this 3-bedroom home on E. 24th St. tells Swamplot that it’s one of the first homes in Houston specifically designed for potential AirBNB rent-outs — the new construction includes private-ish quarters with separate kitchens and bathrooms above both the main ground floor suite and the carport out back (above). The 3,000-sq.-ft. plot of land beneath the home(s) appears to have been formerly occupied by a driveway and a 2-car garage associated with nextdoor 857 E. 24th (which, along with its companion guesthouse on the back of the block, has since been knocked down for a taller rebuild. The surrounding area (which lies between covert N. Main tiki bar Lei Low and rhyming blues joint Dan Electro’s Guitar Bar) is populated by a shifting balance of low-slung 1930s-and-40s bungalows and long-and-tall townhomes.
The 2-story space was designed by kinneymorrow (whose relocation and redesign of its own newly slotted office house got some AIA praise last year). Here’s what the place looks like from the front:
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A peek through that tiny square window shows the long, narrow living space:
The first floor includes various other nooks:
Upstairs to the next living unit:
Here’s the front-facing upstairs patio, with the stairs poking through:
The third living unit (visible to the north through the window above) sits atop a rear carport-slash-storage-shed, accessible through an alley off Princeton St.:
Both upstairs units contain their own laundry facilities, though the listing only gives away the hide-away location of 1 washer-drier set:
- 855 E. 24th St. [HAR]
Photos: HAR
I really like the concept and the efficient use of space!
Not so fond of the cold surfaces, able to be hosed off? Shiny white doesn’t do it for me, but kudos!!
We spent the night in Tel Aviv in a building that had clearly been built for AirBnB rentals – looked like the rest of the buildings in a residential area, no sign on the door, keypad entry into the building and at least three one bedroom units. Each had its own keypad entry and ours had a bedroom and bathroom. It was kinda cool and kinda creepy.
How many bad ideas can you pack inside 1945 square feet? It’s a triplex. It requires a jumbo loan. The individual units are not separately metered. It’s in an area where tenants expect to pay around $1,000 a month to live in a one-bedroom unit in triplex. As for the AirBNB idea, there is a lot of AirBNB availability already in the outskirts of the Heights, so expect to rent it out a few days a month at $50-$75 per night, nowhere near the revenue necessary to justify spending $619K on this. If this sells, look for it on the foreclosure listings in a couple of years.
In some cities, like Austin, this would probably be illegal. But city regulations vary a lot from place to place, and I’m sure it’s just fine in Houston. Right?
This is subject to the hotel occupancy tax.
Here are the average stats on Air BNB rentals. https://smartasset.com/mortgage/where-do-airbnb-hosts-make-the-most-money
Like the idea of having options as an owner. I think the target of Airbnb might not be the best idea. Having mid to long-term renters materially contribute to the property’s mortgage while homesteading it seems the better approach. @matthew, re: foreclosure, why? There are plenty of well capitalized people that don’t need to hit the lottery on real estate purchases. Sour for some reason? Generally like seeing architectural ideas that don’t depend on weird materials to look unique and remain functional. Three units on a 3k lot sounds like a good idea to me, especially being on two floors, and it would be really interesting to see what the numbers look like in whatever scenario the owner decides to pursue. Downside of course is that you’re committed as an owner, in a sense, to a certain use of your property.
You don’t have to rent the upstairs unit. It’s up to the individual’s needs. The back unit could be used as an office, studio or for a mother-in law quarters. The house was designed to be versatile. Medical tourism and corporate renters were factored into the design. The average length of stay is 89 days to up to a year depending on the scenario. Depending on the furnishings (high end preferred but minimal chic) the rentals would cover the mortgage based on extensive marketing and analysis. Houston is the 4th largest Corporate housing market in the US.
It’s decent on the inside… I suppose, but sure is butt-ugly on the outside. Renters get to enjoy such a lovely view of the fence from the kitchen.