Making money with condotels (2024)

Have you always wanted to buy a condominium unit that you can rent out? A lot of money, after all, can be made from leasing out a property, even if you live abroad or pursue a daytime job.

ADVERTIsem*nT

Maintaining a unit, however, can be quite a headache especially to a new homeowner. Plus, there is always the pressure to maintain a constant, paying tenant to ensure your steady income. Truth be told, it isn’t easy to rent out condominium units.

One local developer, however, has found a way to ease the troubles of condominium investors. Its solution? The condotel.

FEATURED STORIES

BUSINESS

Landbank-DBP merger in the works

BUSINESS

BIZ BUZZ: ‘Worrisome’ mining official

BUSINESS

BIZ BUZZ: Re-Filipinizing Citi

It’s not an entirely new concept, but it has so far proven to be one smart investment option that will allow you to earn passively from your property. Condotels — coined to mean a condominium with hotel units and facilities — offer the ease of owning a rentable unit stripped of the usual challenges and headaches. Sta. Lucia Land is among the first ones to introduce this concept in the country and bring it to provinces where real estate is now thriving.

Condotel defined

As its name suggests, a condotel is a cross between a residential condominium and a hotel. Like the typical condominium, a condotel’s ownership is shared among unit owners. The owners take care of the purchase, taxes, repairs, insurance fees and association dues.

The condotel, however, is different from its residential parent because it involves a rental agency, which takes care of housekeeping, marketing and bookkeeping. The team also manages the reception desk and customer service, similar to a hotel setup.

In terms of profit, the owner and the rental agency split any earnings made in renting out the units. The division of income depends on the parties involved. Generally though, the entity that takes in more income have more responsibilities.

As mentioned before, a condotel splits the responsibilities between the owner and the management. If you have the capital to invest in a rentable unit but you don’t have the time to maintain it, the condotel is perfect for you. In addition, you won’t have to worry about finding renters as the agency will take care of that for you.

Simply put, investing in a condotel allows you to own and earn from a rentable space without much hassle.

ADVERTIsem*nT

The Sotogrande Hotel in Palawan is the newest condotel project being offered by Sta. Lucia Land Inc.

Ideal locations

While there are some condotels around the world that are located in urban centers, surprisingly, these building types find the most customers in vacation areas.

Resorts, beaches, and other tourist spots often host the most successful condotels. There are those, however, that find popularity in cities and suburbs. Usually, these units cater to transient visitors and balikbayans craving for some pampering during their short stay in the area.

Today, if you travel around the Philippines, you’ll find condotels in a variety of places. They exist in busy districts such as Makati and Manila, and as well as in scenic spots such as Tagaytay. While they may be widespread now due to their success, a certain developer helped make the concept successful by bringing condotels across the different Philippine islands.

Pioneer of convenient leasing

Sta. Lucia Land Inc., a developer whose parent firm has been in the business for more than 40 years, can be credited for being one of the first companies to offer condotels to budding investors. Mainly focusing on the market of overseas Filipino workers (OFWs), the company provides condominium owners a chance to earn from their units with little stress involved.

Sta. Lucia management group general manager Imee S. Yu earlier said that a condotel investor can earn as much as 11 times on his unit compared to placing his money on a savings account. This amount holds true even if the hotel has a low occupancy rate of 35 percent. While some of the earning may go to expenses such as insurance, association dues, and the like, condotel investments have proven to be profitable for owners based on Sta. Lucia’s existing operations.

To date, the company manages a number of condotel projects across the Philippines including two in Mactan, Cebu which are the Sotogrande Hotel & Resort and La Miranda Hotel; Splendido in Tagaytay; La Breza Hotel in Quezon City; and Stradella Hotel in Cainta, Rizal, among others. More projects are expected to rise in the near future such as SotoGrande Palawan, a six-storey development of 147 units located alongside the National Highway.

Condotels provide you easy access to our country’s best vacation spots such as Palawan. Investing in condotels allow you to earn from your property without the hassle of maintaining it.

While Sta. Lucia primarily markets its condotels for investment, unit owners will be allowed to stay for 30 room nights a year in their units provided arrangement has been made beforehand.

Once an investor has bought a unit, he will have to enter a 15-year leaseback agreement with the hotel operator. Through this contract, the owner will be entitled to earn from the rentals of his unit depending on his floor area size. Once the 15 years are up, Sta. Lucia will provide new furniture to your unit and you are finally free to use it as your permanent home.

With real estate in boom, condotels appear to be the best new investments to be made for the future. Whether you’re an OFW, a soon-to-be-retiree or just someone looking to earn cash by renting out, buying a condotel unit is a wise move.

You get to reap the profits and at the end of 15 years, you also get to enjoy your investment. All of these are possible without having to endure the headache of maintaining and servicing your units for guests. It’s a win-win situation that can prove to be your best investment for life.

Sources:
Christian Paul del Rosario from Pexels.com
Pixabay.com
luxuryfractionalguide.com/
staluciamarketing.com
stalucialand.com.ph

Your subscription could not be saved. Please try again.

Your subscription has been successful.

Read Next

Condo living in the country

EDITORS' PICK

House energy committee chair Arroyo bats for cheap electricity

Kickstart summer with vivo’s hot smartphone deals this 3.3

PNP: No meddling in Adamson student’s hazing death case, all-out probe underway

PRC: 3,774 examinees pass Mechanical Engineering Board Exam

vivo announces PHP 1,000 price drop on vivo V25e

Bongbong Marcos vows to modernize, improve PH transportation system

MOST READ

Bongbong Marcos vows to modernize, improve PH transportation system

LOOK: QC gov’t converts Payatas dumpsite into bike park

Sarah Geronimo thanks parents Divine, Delfin on her 20th showbiz anniversary

Death by ‘brotherhood’: Family, university in grief

Don't miss out on the latest news and information. Making money with condotels (5) Making money with condotels (6)

Subscribe to INQUIRER PLUS to get access to The Philippine Daily Inquirer & other 70+ titles, share up to 5 gadgets, listen to the news, download as early as 4am & share articles on social media. Call 896 6000.

For feedback, complaints, or inquiries, contact us.
Making money with condotels (2024)

FAQs

Can you make money on a condotel? ›

Passive Income

One of the most attractive elements of a condo hotel as an investment is that the rent may defray some or all of the cost. If you are looking for a steady income stream, the right conditions could make a condo hotel a lucrative investment.

Do Condotels appreciate? ›

Even though condos generally appreciate at a slower rate than single-family homes, they're still likely to increase in value over time. Some of the factors that can impact appreciation include: Location.

How do condo building owners make money? ›

Rental Income

Or else. Rental income is the primary way that an apartment building makes money. The rents collected become the biggest chunk of the gross income for that month. Then, the mortgage and expenses are paid, leaving the net operating income, or NOI.

Are beach condos a good investment? ›

A beachfront condo has the potential to be an excellent long-term investment. Over the course of many years, you could easily earn several times what you paid for your investment. Not only that, but most owners of beachside real estate enjoy the added bonus of having a vacation home for their personal use.

Are condotels good investment? ›

Investing in condominiums is extremely popular among real estate investors due to various reasons. They are significantly cheaper than single-family homes and have lesser maintenance duties but can still yield a higher return of investments.

What are the drawbacks of condotel? ›

There can be drawbacks to owning a condotel unit. The costs for maintenance and cleaning services may be high. Charges may be based on the square footage of each unit. The owner of the unit may need to take out special insurance for the property.

What is the purpose of condotel? ›

Luxury condominium hotels or informally referred to as “condotels” are basically condominium establishments that operate like a hotel due to their nature involving short rental income services among other facilities usually found in hotel services.

What are the advantages of condo hotels? ›

Condo hotels offer hassle-free vacation home ownership. The on-site management company takes care of all upkeep, maintenance and interaction with renters. Owners of condo hotel units have the right to resell their unit at any time. They keep any profits derived from appreciation.

What is condotel investment? ›

A condotel is a hybrid between a condominium and a hotel that lets owners enjoy the unit (and the property's on-site amenities) themselves as well as generate income by offering it as a short-term rental property. A condotel is just what it sounds like—a cross between a condominium and a hotel.

Can you make money flipping condos? ›

Flipping condos can be a great way for new real estate investors to get started. The property purchase price and renovation costs are often cheaper, the risk of unforeseen structural problems is far lower, and there tends to be less direct competition from other investors.

Can resale condo still make money? ›

A resale condominium allows you to have a more predictable rental income because you can gauge it based on what current, or past tenants are paying for their rent. As such, you are able to make a more informed choice as to whether the resale condominium will be worth it to invest.

How do you build equity in a condo? ›

When you buy a condo, you could potentially build equity over time. As you pay more money into the property, you are building equity in that property. Home equity is the portion of the home that a person truly owns. It can increase over time if the property value increases or the mortgage balance is paid down.

Can you make money off a beach condo? ›

Generally, though, successful beach house vacation rentals could typically earn anywhere from $20,000 up to $50,000 in yearly rental income, although some could make less, and others, way more.

Can you make money on a beach condo? ›

Buying a beach house can bring an excellent return on investment, a reliable income stream, and access to a delightful vacation spot. Many beach house investors purchase homes that they subsequently rent out during peak tourism times.

Why do condos not appreciate in value? ›

On the other hand, when you purchase a condominium, you only own the specific unit. No land = less value. Also, it's likely that more condominium units can fit on single plot of land than single family homes, as condos are often built up instead of out. This higher supply of condos can in turn drive prices down.

Is the hotel industry a good investment? ›

Yes. Hotels are an excellent source of income for investors. Due to their adaptability, investors have ample opportunities to grow their revenue in facets such as renovation and operations. In this revenue structure, there's always an opportunity for negotiations in one facet without losing revenue from another.

What are the characteristics of a condotel? ›

A condotel is a condo that operates more like a hotel. Individuals own each unit, although the complex shares amenities like lobby registration and a cleaning service. When owners are away from the property, they have the option to make income by renting their condo out for short-term vacation stays.

What is the difference between condo and condotel? ›

A condotel is a building that's legally operating as a condominium but also functions as a hotel. It offers short-term rentals for occupants, and it also maintains a front desk.

What are the 4 risks facing the hotel industry? ›

The Most Common Risks in the Hotel Industry
  • Slips, Trips, and Falls. Whether it's a customer or employee, slips, trips, and falls happen often in the hotel industry. ...
  • Property Risk. The most apparent and common risk in the hotel industry is fire loss. ...
  • Spoilage. ...
  • Hotel Risk Management with RiskLimiter Inspection Suite.
Apr 19, 2022

Is Airbnb destroying the hotel industry? ›

Airbnb vs.

According to the latest stats, the hotel industry loses approximately $450 million in direct revenues per year to Airbnb. Not only that. A study by Florida State University found that aside from eating into a huge chunk of hotel revenues, Airbnb is also driving down room prices and occupancy rates.

What is the common problem in hotel industry? ›

Challenge. Hiring and retaining staff has always been one of the most common problems in the hospitality industry. Every hotel requires quality staff on all fronts; be it administration, maintenance, kitchen, housekeeping, or frontdesk.

Why do people stay in condos? ›

Condo living is a popular choice since it requires little maintenance and offers maximum convenience. Condominium units are also less expensive than single-family residences, making them a viable choice. Condominium is also a wise investment.

What does a concierge do in a condo building? ›

Condo concierges provide a personal touch for residents, guests, and visitors: they welcome residents home with a smile, learn their names and preferences, and attend to security matters and “front desk” customer service.

Why do condos have security? ›

Condo security officers reduce liability by ensuring that residents and visitors to the property adhere to building policies and local laws, acts, and regulations.

Why condos are great investments? ›

Investing in condos makes a lot of sense if you want to start investing in real estate and earning passive income. Condos are great investments because of their compact size, which makes them less expensive and easier to maintain while offering higher returns on your investment.

Why are condominiums good investment properties? ›

While renting can be an affordable option for those who aren't ready to invest in real estate, buying a condo can be a practical and lucrative move that sets you up for future financial success. This is because purchasing a condo allows you to build equity in the home that you wouldn't with renting.

What are the 5 benefits of owning a condo? ›

Advantages of Buying a Condo
  • Flexible Living. ...
  • More Affordable Than Single-Family Houses. ...
  • Cheaper Insurance. ...
  • Great Sense of Community. ...
  • Proximity to Entertainment & Business Districts. ...
  • Top-Notch Amenities. ...
  • Appliances Included. ...
  • Covered Maintenance.
Oct 28, 2022

What is the difference between condotel and time sharing? ›

When purchasing a timeshare, you choose a specific location and set week or two you will use your vacation home each year. In purchasing a condo hotel, you have the flexibility to use your unit whenever you want, though there are usually restrictions that prohibit making it a permanent residence.

Are Airbnb condos profitable? ›

Airbnb and other short-term rental platforms can be very lucrative, especially if you are patient and willing to do the work to attract renters and keep them happy.

What adds the most value to a condo? ›

Five Tips to Improve Your Condo's Value
  1. Purchase new appliances. Old appliances can make a beautifully decorated room look archaic. ...
  2. Paint and redo flooring. Floors, walls, and ceilings are the first things that people notice in a room. ...
  3. Touch up the bathrooms. ...
  4. Finish the basem*nt. ...
  5. Upgrade the kitchen.
Dec 28, 2022

What things increase home value? ›

8 ways to increase the value of your home
  • Clean and declutter. ...
  • Add usable square footage. ...
  • Make your home more energy-efficient. ...
  • Spruce it up with fresh paint. ...
  • Work on your curb appeal. ...
  • Upgrade your exterior doors. ...
  • Give your kitchen an updated look. ...
  • Stage your home.
Jul 5, 2022

How can you tell if a condo is undervalued? ›

Here are 3 simple steps:
  1. Find a resale condo with a number of new launches around it.
  2. Look at the price gap between the new launch and resale.
  3. If it's a big enough gap (for that district), then it's worth taking a closer look.
Jul 10, 2021

Which properties appreciate the most? ›

Answer: Since 2012, the data is clear – single-family homes appreciate the fastest, followed by townhouses/duplexes, and then condos. Since 2012, the average single-family home has appreciated 69% compared to 27% for condos. single-family homes.

Do condos hold their resale value? ›

Resale Value

Condominium resale values have been increasing since the end of the housing market crisis in 2007. Incredibly, resale values have seen five consecutive years of positive growth, paving the way for buyers and sellers to increase their ROI over a short period of time.

How much can a hotel owner make a year? ›

A well run hotel should typically run ~25-40% EBITDA Margins meaning that if you purchase a hotel doing $1M in annual revenue you could expect to make $250k - $400k per year which is about 3-5x the average salary of a hotel manager.

What are the benefits of a condo hotel? ›

Condo hotels offer hassle-free vacation home ownership. The on-site management company takes care of all upkeep, maintenance and interaction with renters. Owners of condo hotel units have the right to resell their unit at any time. They keep any profits derived from appreciation.

How do investors make money in hotels? ›

How To Invest in Hotels
  1. New Hotel Projects. Building a new hotel concept is a courageous endeavor and it can be difficult without the appropriate financing. ...
  2. Hotel Renovation. ...
  3. Hotel Franchise. ...
  4. Hotel Refinancing. ...
  5. Hotel REITs. ...
  6. Other Hotel Investments.
Apr 25, 2022

Is investing in hotel profitable? ›

The hotel industry is generally considered to be high risk and high reward, which means hotel investors that follow the right steps have the potential to benefit greatly from high returns. A well-managed hotel asset can deliver annual returns far exceeding those connected with many other real estate forms.

What is the 2% rule in real estate? ›

The 2% rule states that the monthly rent for an investment property should be equal to or no less than 2% of the purchase price. Here's an example of the 2% rule for a home with the purchase price of $150,000: $150,000 x 0.02 = $3,000.

What is the 70% rule in house flipping? ›

The 70% rule can help flippers when they're scouring real estate listings for potential investment opportunities. Basically, the rule says real estate investors should pay no more than 70% of a property's after-repair value (ARV) minus the cost of the repairs necessary to renovate the home.

How much do real estate flippers make a year? ›

As of Feb 28, 2023, the average annual pay for a Real Estate Flipping in the United States is $77,950 a year. Just in case you need a simple salary calculator, that works out to be approximately $37.48 an hour.

Top Articles
Latest Posts
Article information

Author: Arielle Torp

Last Updated:

Views: 6532

Rating: 4 / 5 (61 voted)

Reviews: 84% of readers found this page helpful

Author information

Name: Arielle Torp

Birthday: 1997-09-20

Address: 87313 Erdman Vista, North Dustinborough, WA 37563

Phone: +97216742823598

Job: Central Technology Officer

Hobby: Taekwondo, Macrame, Foreign language learning, Kite flying, Cooking, Skiing, Computer programming

Introduction: My name is Arielle Torp, I am a comfortable, kind, zealous, lovely, jolly, colorful, adventurous person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.