Athens is primarily known for being the home of the University of Georgia, but it has much more to offer, especially if you are a real estate investor!

Here are a few of my favorite REI niches in the Athens area:

1) Student Housing:

Let’s get the obvious one out of the way… The top reason that Athens is a desirable investment market is because there are a steady supply of tenants looking for somewhere to live for 1-6 years. With student loans backed by the government, and/or help from parents, this demographic is ideal for any investor.

Tips: Consider renting by the room, offering fully furnished housing, or rolling the utilities into the cost of the rent to increase rent price.

2) Single Family Housing:

Despite the large student population, the Athens area can also be a very attractive location for non-student renters. When you compare the lower cost of living & congestion to Atlanta, Athens is a clear winner. Here are a few types of tenants that fall in this category:

• Digital Exiles - With the ability to work a “big city” job from home and pay less for housing, many folks choose Athens. It’s the best of both worlds!

• Workforce Housing - Like it or not, Atlanta is expanding ever Eastward which means that there is a lot of construction and investment in new jobs.

• Families - Oconee and Jackson County schools are highly sought after, but the cost of a down payment is not always accessible for everyone. Renting a home in these desirable school districts is a solid strategy for many families. Plus, as Atlanta expands Eastward, there has been a significant migration from metro-Atlanta to the “new fringe”… Athens.

3) Medium Term Rentals (Traveling Nurses, etc.):

Behind the University of Georgia, Piedmont Athens Regional is the county’s second largest employer. Piedmont and Athens’ other healthcare facilities draw people from several surrounding counties which means that there is always a need for traveling nurses. Medium term rentals are a great balance between the lower maintenance & rates of long-term rentals and the higher rates & turnover of short term rentals. A happy “medium”, if you will…

4) Short Term Rentals:

If the hospitality business is your thing, then Athens is a great place to spread your wings. Some of the attractions for short term visitors include:

• Football Games - You can pay the mortgage with these weekends…

• Other UGA Events - UGA students’ friends and family are always highly motivated to attend, whether it is a concert, game, graduation, you name it!

• The Classic Center - In addition to the tradeshows, conferences and other events, the newly built Classic City Arena is bring a host of larger acts to town such as well-known musician & comedy acts. They even host the local hockey team, the Rock Lobsters!

• Local Events - Events such as Twighlight and Athfest draw unique visitors to the city annually!

5) Retirement Destination:

Recently, Athens has been rated as a top 5 destination for retirement. Many baby boomers are selling their homes and relocating to Athens for their golden years to take advantage of the cost of living, ample entertainment, mild weather, and slower pace of life.

6) Storage Units:

It’s a college town, so this one feels pretty self-explanatory…