Short-Term Rental Investment Loan Programs
Palm Beach County's STR market has matured significantly since 2020. The amateur single-property operator — someone running their vacation home on Airbnb during their absence — is still part of the landscape, but the segment we primarily serve is the professional operator building a dedicated short-term rental portfolio as a business. These operators are running 5-20+ properties, using dynamic pricing software, employing or contracting professional cleaning and maintenance teams, and optimizing their portfolios through data-driven acquisition and disposition decisions.
For these operators, financing needs to work at portfolio speed. Acquiring a promising Singer Island condo when it becomes available doesn't allow three weeks for a new loan application. That's why we offer pre-approved credit facilities for qualified STR portfolio operators — capital you can draw within 24-48 hours when the right property surfaces.
Our STR-specific underwriting evaluates income based on platform data (AirDNA, Rented.com, AllTheRooms) or actual booking platform history for existing operations. We apply conservative net income assumptions: typically 60-70% of gross revenue on a blended annual basis to account for platform commissions (3-15% for Airbnb/VRBO), cleaning costs, utilities, linen and supplies, maintenance, and seasonality. This produces a realistic DSCR calculation that holds up through a below-average season, not just peak-season projections.
- Pre-approved credit facilities for professional STR portfolio operators
- STR-specific income underwriting using AirDNA and platform booking data
- Conservative blended annual net income calculations for realistic DSCR
Palm Beach County STR Market Dynamics
Understanding Palm Beach County's STR landscape means understanding the seasonal pattern that defines the market. Peak season (mid-November through April) drives 60-70% of annual revenue for well-located coastal properties. The snowbird migration, Palm Beach social season events (charity galas, polo season in Wellington, regattas, and the vibrant social calendar of the island's clubs including the Bath & Tennis Club and Everglades Club), and the arrival of seasonal families from the Northeast combine to create extraordinary STR demand from November through Easter.
Jupiter and Tequesta, with strong boating and fishing demographics, have a longer effective season — spring fishing tournaments and summer boating activity extend peak demand beyond the traditional snowbird window. West Palm Beach urban condos serving business travel and cultural tourism have more uniform year-round demand. Singer Island oceanfront properties maintain strong summer tourism demand from Florida families and regional travelers.
Municipal regulations vary significantly. The Town of Palm Beach restricts most residential STR activity. Jupiter has an STR registration requirement with specific operational standards. West Palm Beach allows STR in most residential zones with registration. Boynton Beach and Delray Beach have their own frameworks. We evaluate the regulatory status of specific properties during underwriting and flag jurisdictions with restrictive or evolving frameworks.
- Snowbird season (November-April) drives 60-70% of annual revenue for coastal Palm Beach properties
- Jupiter/Tequesta fishing/boating demographics extend effective season
- Municipal regulatory frameworks evaluated property-by-property during underwriting
Portfolio Growth and Refinancing Strategies
The best STR portfolio operators in Palm Beach County build their businesses through consistent acquisition of high-quality properties in proven rental locations, professional operational systems that drive strong guest reviews and repeat bookings, and capital recycling through refinancing as properties appreciate and income history develops.
Cash-out refinancing of seasoned STR properties is a core growth strategy. A Singer Island oceanfront condo purchased for $450K in 2019 that's now appraised at $750K with 3 years of Airbnb booking history supporting $90K/year in gross revenue is an excellent cash-out refinance candidate. We provide cash-out refinancing for established STR properties based on current property value and documented income history.
For operators expanding into adjacent product categories — corporate housing and furnished mid-term rentals, seasonal residential management, luxury concierge rentals targeting the Palm Beach Island social season client demographic — we evaluate the specific income characteristics of each product type and structure financing appropriate for the operational model.
- Cash-out refinancing for STR properties with documented operating history and Palm Beach appreciation
- Flexible terms accommodating seasonal revenue patterns (interest-only option)
- Financing available for adjacent STR models: corporate, mid-term, luxury concierge