What is the best airstream for full time living

[tomgsaunders]

I want to buy an airstream to use as a rental unit in Portland Oregon.
Is there a model that is best suited to this where I do not drive it around but park it and landscape and build a deck and rent it out either Air B&B or to a long term tenant. I am a little concerned about heating and insulation in the winter. Are the newer ones better insulated than ones from the 60s or 70s or 80s? I have room for any size even for several if things work out.
I am looking to spend between 10 to 30 thousand am am not looking for a project.

[rodsterinfl]

You mean like a park model Airstream apartment? I would think that any larger model would do. They made a panamerica and a few different ones. At one time there was a 34' Swiss Army unit gutted inside that could become an apartment. Airstreams are what I consider to be- true travel trailers, made to travel. I guess the nostalgia is of one is a good thing too.

[rodsterinfl]

What about something like this:

1972 Airstream Sovereign 31 - Florida

[ericpeltier]

All trailers are projects. Especially ones that don't roll, and thus become happy homes for our smaller friends.

[DaveFL]

Originally Posted by ericpeltier

All trailers are projects. Especially ones that don't roll, and thus become happy homes for our smaller friends.

Originally Posted by tomgsaunders

I want to buy an airstream to use as a rental unit in Portland Oregon.

I own a few house rentals, now empty, too much pia for a retiree to keep up with. Are Oregon people different than Florida?
You might want to talk to a "Landlord" especially one experienced with trailers.
Maybe you can find b and b clientele that want the AS experience without the maintenance and ownership, which leaves the drudgery up to you sounds like project time.

[BoldAdventure]

Yes, Portland is different than Florida. I decided completely against rentals in Florida because the market is wrong there.

After recent visits to Portland using AirBNB I can see an older restored Vintage Airstream being a fun rental. Especially if it's a short term rental thing. Either way, Portland certainly has the kind of "clientele" that would find that appealing.

Check this out for some great ideas: https://www.airbnb.com/wishlists/airstreams

I'd look for something 30ft or larger to give you all the space to cover the things someone would need.

[Ray Eklund]

I rented four apartments that were not on wheels and had existed on the second floor of a commercial property for one hundred years. DaveFl was holding back a bit with just a PIA. After 15 years the three commercial properties found new optimistic capitalist owners and one gained four apartments and the PIA. Commercial property was easy. I wish them ALL well.

Add wheels, someone with no idea how to drive anything bigger than a Prius... pulling with your or their Tow Vehicle... and their only experience with pulling a trailer was behind their John Deere lawn tractor. Buy an apartment, rent it for a couple years and sell what is left to DaveFL. No way. No how. I got a great education and learned to fix everything that could go wrong, but something that moves... better have a fat checkbook and can afford to be taken to the "cleaners".

[PDXRick]

Tom,
Having been a landlord in Portland for the last 40 years, I can tell you that this is the perfect market for an Airstream apartment.
The problems are 1) finding space to put it in one of the most expensive cities in the U.S. for multi-zone property, and 2) getting the City of Portland to go along with the idea. It's a very difficult place to work with city hall.
If you were able to make this s reality, I think you could have a great return.
Good luck!
Rick