With today’s uncertain market, it’s hard to determine the best place to invest. Traditionally, real estate has always been a safe bet; but with housing prices predicted to plummet over the next year, many are hesitating. However, there is one area where real estate is showing significant returns: the short term rental market. This is an area of great promise to those in the know. But if you’re unfamiliar with how to choose a property, renovate it, style it, and advertise it for rental, you may find yourself in over your head.
That’s where Techvestor comes in. The minds behind this innovative platform asked the question: can technology create an algorithm that successfully determines what to buy, where to buy it, how to best finance it, how to operate it, if the property is in a sustainable market, and what realistic growth looks like? With over 100k properties underwritten every month, $37MM raised, and 75+ properties in its portfolio, it seems that Techvestor is answering in the affirmative.
Techvestor’s proprietary software analyzes over 18MM data points and 250 markets each month, and this company is taking the guesswork out of short term rental (STR) investments. Techvestor serves as an investment platform, property sourcer, interior designer, and property manager all in one, allowing investors to make passive income – and also enjoy stays at the company’s huge portfolio of premium properties.
The company was co-founded by COO Sabrina Guler and CEO Sief Khafagi. Since leaving their engineering careers with Apple and Facebook, respectively, Guler and Khafagi have created a company that is quickly building a strong portfolio of STRs across North America. They explain that in starting Techvestor, they were convinced that technology could open up passive investments in STRs for a broader segment of society.
“Techvestor is a pioneer in this lucrative new asset class,” says Guler. “Since Airbnb was founded in 2008, the industry has exploded.” In fact, the global market value for STRs was estimated at $99.38 billion USD in 2021, and is expected to grow at a CAGR of 11.1% from 2022 to 2030.
Guler adds that while the Techvestor platform is state of the art, it’s not a replacement for human expertise. “You can have the most incredible tech at your fingertips, but if you don’t know how to interpret its data or understand STRs, then its impact will be dramatically reduced,” Guler says.
Khafagi agrees. “When we created our platform, we truly believed that Techvestor could eliminate so much of the guesswork from investments in real estate and STRs in particular,” he says. “However, we knew that we could never let the platform get ahead of us. Instead, we had to stay in command of it and always analyze what it was telling us. There is no replacement for accurate interpretation.”
To that end, Guler and Khafagi stand at the intersection of experience and today’s innovation. Both executives were independent investors in STRs before founding Techvestors, and they credit that experience with giving them the practical knowledge to identify, redesign, run, and exit STRs in the U.S.’ hottest markets. At the same time, Guler and Khafagi are, of course, tech enthusiasts at heart, and they understand how to use it to finetune STR investments.
They also believe in taking no chances, so the decision to invest in a property is backed by the company’s 16-point strategy, which includes uniqueness, seasonality, tax benefits, diversification, and STR-friendly states as well as other crucial factors.
“That leads us to the right short-term rental for Techvestor to invest in, but once we bring it into the portfolio, we have internal programs that allow us to plan its redesign, manage the property and its revenue, operate it, and more under the same roof,” Guler explains.
Investment properties depend upon passive investors, and the Techvestor team is sensitive to that, offering desirable terms. Investors receive 100% of all tax benefits and are not liable for any loans. Investors also take advantage of instant diversification with the company’s 75+ properties.
In addition, partners enjoy the fruits of their investment by enjoying their own vacations in Techvestor properties. “Some of our best marketing is done by our own investors who stay in our properties,” Khafagi says. “Owner Stays allow our investors to get away from it all at any property, at any time that it’s not otherwise occupied, for up to 30% off our normal rates. This is how we express our gratitude to our passive investors.”
A successful exit plan is also key to Techvestor’s strategy. During the first five years that Techvestor holds a property, they receive quarterly reporting and dividends, and the company targets a 7-12% cash on cash annually. After the projected hold period, Techvestor looks to sell the portfolio. It sells properties based on revenue or value, whichever is higher.
With Techvestor, you don’t need insider expertise, as the company’s cutting-edge technology is redlining the way passive investors can earn from STRs. With the firm’s powerful platform, backed by its experienced team and solid infrastructure, Techvesor optimizes every STR for optimal earning potential.
About Techvestor
Techvestor is the leader in passive investments in STRs in the United States. It was co-founded by Sabrina Guler, a former Engineering Project Manager at Apple, and Sief Khafagi, who worked at Facebook/Meta and was a Forbes Business and Young Entrepreneur Council Member. Guler and Khafagi have grown Techvestor’s portfolio to encompass STRs across the United States, resulting in seven and eight figures in commitments and LOIs. In 2023, Techvestor will continue to expand, listing more properties in Southern Florida and other hot markets. For more information, please see www.techvestor.com.
