How much can I realistically earn from a short-term rental in New Braunfels?

Yes, the City of New Braunfels does allow short-term rentals, but operators are required to register and obtain a permit through the city's development services department. Permit requirements include compliance with occupancy limits, parking rules, noise restrictions, and the collection and remittance of hotel occupancy tax. Non-owner-occupied STRs — properties where the investor does not live on-site — face additional requirements and may be subject to zoning or density restrictions depending on where the property is located. Because city regulations have been updated multiple times in recent years and continue to evolve, verifying current requirements directly with the city before purchasing is essential. An experienced local real estate agent can help connect buyers with the right city contacts during due diligence.

Yes, absolutely — and this is the most common expensive mistake that STR investors make in New Braunfels. HOA deed restrictions are private contractual agreements that exist independently of city regulations, and a city permit does not override them. Many subdivisions throughout the area explicitly prohibit rentals of less than 30 days in their CC&Rs, sometimes using language that is easy to miss if you are not reading carefully. Before making an offer on any property intended for STR use, the full HOA declaration and all recorded amendments should be reviewed — not just a verbal summary or a listing agent's assurance. Properties outside platted subdivisions or in communities with explicit STR allowances are the safest choices for investors.

Canyon Lake is genuinely underrated as an STR investment market and deserves serious consideration, particularly for buyers who find New Braunfels city-limit properties too restricted or too expensive. Most of Canyon Lake's shoreline falls outside incorporated city limits, which means municipal STR regulations are less onerous — though HOA deed restrictions still apply and must be reviewed on a property-by-property basis. Lakefront and lake-view properties attract a loyal repeat-guest profile of boaters, fishermen, and families seeking longer stays, which can produce strong occupancy with lower marketing costs over time. Purchase prices per square foot are generally lower than comparable river-adjacent New Braunfels properties, which can improve initial yield. Todd Spencer is familiar with the Canyon Lake submarket and can help investors evaluate specific properties and neighborhoods within it.

For investors who live in the New Braunfels area and have time to manage guest communications, cleaning coordination, and maintenance, self-management can improve net returns by avoiding the 20 to 30 percent management fee. However, STR management is genuinely time-intensive — especially during summer peak season when the market is busy — and the gap between a well-reviewed listing and a poorly reviewed one compounds over time in ways that materially affect revenue. Out-of-area investors almost universally benefit from professional management, and even local investors often find the time trade-off unfavorable once the property is generating bookings. If you are considering self-management, spend time on the major platforms reviewing how comparable properties are priced, described, and reviewed before committing to that approach.