The Growing Opportunity of Midterm Rentals

Midterm rentals are properties rented for more than 30 days but less than a year. They are gaining attention as a smart investment strategy for homeowners and investors. These rentals have become more popular in recent years because they can bring in good money, even in today’s challenging housing market.

What Are Midterm Rentals?

Midterm rentals fall between short-term rentals (like Airbnb) and long-term rentals (leases for a year or more). These properties are rented for months at a time, often to people who need a temporary place to stay but not for just a few days. Midterm rentals became even more popular during the pandemic when many cities put rules on short-term rentals.

Who Stays in Midterm Rentals?

Midterm rentals work well for:

  • Traveling Medical Staff: Nurses and healthcare workers often need a place to stay for a few months while working in different cities.
  • Workers on Temporary Projects: Construction workers, consultants, and other professionals who travel for work prefer staying in midterm rentals over hotels.
  • Families Trying Out a New City: People who want to move but aren’t ready to buy a home might rent a place for a few months to see if they like the area.

Why Invest in Midterm Rentals?

Midterm rentals can make more money than long-term rentals. This is because people staying for a few months often pay more than those who sign a year-long lease. Plus, midterm renters are usually professionals or families, so they tend to take better care of the home.

Unlike short-term rentals, midterm rentals don’t come with as many rules and regulations. This makes them easier to manage. Since people are staying longer, there are also fewer cleanings and turnovers, which saves time and money.

What Types of Homes Are Best?

Homes with 1-2 bedrooms are often the best fit for midterm rentals. This is because most midterm renters are single travelers, couples, or small families. A two-bedroom home where one room can be used as an office is also popular. Midterm renters look for places that are comfortable and well-kept, but the home doesn’t need to be fancy.

Where Should You Invest?

The best places for midterm rentals are cities or towns with:

  • Hospitals and Medical Centers: Traveling nurses and healthcare staff often need nearby housing.
  • Big Companies and Construction Projects: Workers coming in for temporary projects look for midterm rentals instead of hotels.
  • Areas with Few Hotels: If there aren’t many hotels or the hotels are too expensive, people will prefer midterm rentals.

Examples of Good Markets: Cities like Seattle and Nashville are popular, but smaller towns and rural areas with business hubs can be great options too. Check if there’s demand by looking at how many hotels or other rental options are in the area.

Is Now a Good Time to Start?

Yes! The midterm rental market is still growing and not as crowded as short-term rentals like Airbnb. Experts say it’s like how short-term rentals were in 2012, which was a great time to get started. By investing in midterm rentals now, you can build experience and get ahead as more people find out about this type of rental.

Tips for Starting:

  • Research Your Market: Know who will be renting and why. This could be medical workers, business travelers, or families.
  • Start Locally: If you live in or near a city with a big hospital or major companies, consider starting there. You already know the area, which helps with setting prices and marketing.

Ready to Explore Midterm Rental Options in Portland?

If you’re interested in exploring midterm rental opportunities in Portland, I’d love to help! Whether you’re looking to invest or simply learn more, I can guide you through the process. Schedule a time to chat with me using my link, and let’s discuss your goals and options.

What 5 Plumber Visits Taught Me About a Leaky Kitchen Sink

We’ve all been there – the moment you realize there’s a little puddle forming under your sink. After the deep sigh, you start to try to troubleshoot. Is it the handsprayer? Did we simply splash too much water near the fixture with that big dinner cleanup last night? Or could it be something much worse, like the pipes failing? Unfortunately, leaks can be elusive and troubleshooting can sometimes take weeks to figure out what the real issue is. If you’re like me, I don’t want to call a plumber or handyperson right away in case it’s an easy fix. So, I throw a dishtowel (and eventually a tupperware after the dishtowel starts to soak daily) down there while I observe. In this case, after about six disproven theories and four weeks, it was time to call in a specialist. OK, I’ll admit that I started with a handyperson which turned out to be a dead end – and THEN I called a Plumber. After five visits from two different plumbers, here’s what I learned:

1. Leaks can be elusive. They can be hard to recreate when a plumber is present. If possible, try to take a video of the active leak using your phone with flash on.

2. Troubleshoot and present a few theories. Since you use it everyday and are the one observing the leak, you’re going to have a better idea of what might be going wrong.

3. Document as you go. I found that by the fourth visit, it was tough to recall all of the details, what we’d already tried and what could still be causing the issue. If I jotted down a few notes as I went, it would have made things easier to summarize.

4. Hand sprayers are notorious for leaking. Especially side-sprayers vs sprayers built into the head. Side sprayers tend to allow water to drip down the line when putting them back in their mount. We ended up capping our side sprayer and moving to a fixture that has the sprayer built in. Much more usable and any water drips directly into the sink.

5. Rejuvenation plumbing fixtures don’t last and they don’t stand behind their products. Controversial, I’m sure. But once I accepted that the issue was our fixture, I looked into replacing it with the same, updated model from Rejuvenation – even though I felt like they didn’t last, the design is so good. Not only was it 4X as much as the Moen fixture we went with, but it would have taken two months to arrive and they didn’t offer returns. Their customer service, in my experience, is also lacking.

6. Many sprayer outlet lines are missing a rubber gasket under the cap. It will eventually fail and cause a leak. One of the three (truly wonderful) plumbers we had out has a background in commercial plumbing. He’d installed hundred of fixtures for large office and apartment buildings and saw this issue time and time again. Easy one to add to your troubleshooting theory list for the future.

One more parting thought: home warranties can be worth it if you have an older system (ie: older plumbing, late ‘90s AC, etc). Make sure you select the right coverage (or ask your realtor). Also, plumbers, contractors and specialists deserve respect and patience; we’re all human and we’re all doing our best.

If you’re dealing with a house headache and need advice or contractor recommendations – don’t hesitate to reach out. I’m happy to help you strategize, troubleshoot and call in expert support when needed. You can reach me at 971.371.0203 or @kcb_portland.