Southampton, NY · Investment

Does buying an Airbnb in Southampton make financial sense?

On modelled assumptions — a $820,000 purchase with $205,000 down — a Southampton short-term rental produces $68,000 of net operating income, a 8% cap rate and positive cash flow of $18,901 a year after financing. You need 36% occupancy just to cover the mortgage.

Modelled estimate

Cap rate

8%

NOI ÷ purchase price

Cash-on-cash return

9%

Cash flow ÷ cash invested

Annual cash flow

$18,901

After operating costs and mortgage

Break-even occupancy

36%

Market models at 50%

The full modelled pro forma

Purchase price (modelled)$820,000
Down payment (25%)$205,000
Loan amount$615,000
Gross annual revenue$100,000
Operating costs (32%)−$32,000
Net operating income$68,000
Mortgage (30yr @ 7%)−$49,099
Cash flow before tax$18,901
Gross yield12%

Operating costs are modelled at 32% of gross revenue for a nightly rental (cleaning, supplies, utilities, platform fees, maintenance, insurance) and 14% for a monthly rental. Financing assumes a 25% down payment and a 30-year loan at 7%. These are planning assumptions, not quotes — replace them with your own numbers. The purchase price shown is modelled from nightly-rate benchmarks, not from listing data — swap in a real asking price before you make any decision. Property taxes, insurance premiums and HOA dues vary enough between properties that they sit inside the 32% operating cost assumption rather than as separate line items.

What would break this deal

  • Occupancy landing below 36% — the point where nightly income no longer covers the mortgage.
  • A rule change that adds a minimum stay or caps nights. Check the Southampton rules before you buy.
  • Paying peak-season prices for a property that only performs around Jun–Jul–Aug.

Next step

Run the numbers against a specific property and a real purchase price.

Compare Southampton with nearby markets

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