Why a St. George Rental Property Can Be a Smart Part of Your Retirement Strategy

Why St. George Works for Long-Term Hold Investors

One of the most important decisions you need to make if you want to diversify your retirement planning with real estate is where to invest. St. George is an ideal location for long-term hold investors for a few reasons:

• Diverse renter base: year-round residents, “snowbird” seasonal renters, medical and tech professionals, and students/faculty at Utah Tech University help support occupancy.
• Lifestyle magnet: proximity to trails, golf, and Zion/State Parks makes St. George attractive to renters, both long and short term. Tenants stay longer when their lifestyle boxes are checked.
• Low-maintenance options: many newer townhomes and single-family homes in St. George are HOA-maintained (roof/exterior/landscape), reducing surprise costs.
• ADU potential: you'll find many properties with a separate suite, casita, or above-garage apartment that can flex between multigenerational living and income—use the unit now or later as your needs evolve.

Keep in mind that in St. George, short-term/nightly rental rules are location-specific and can change. If STR income is part of your plan, we’ll verify current ordinances, HOA rules, and licensing before you write an offer.

How a Rental Supports Retirement

Investing in a St. George rental property will bolster your retirement in planning in multiple ways. Starting right away, you can create another stream of income that can be reinvested or leveraged to buy more rental properties, allowing you to take advantage of the time you have between now and retirement. Then, when you do retire, cash flow rental income can offset living expenses or reduce required withdrawals from retirement accounts.

Owning a rental property also creates an inflation hedge for your retirementy ears. Rents and property values tend to adjust with inflation over time. As inflation rises, so does the value of your asset and the income you can expect from it. You've also got tax advantages to consider. Depreciation and operating expense deductions may improve after-tax returns, so coordinate with your CPA to see how this applies in your scenario.

In addition to the financial benefits of owning a rental property, there are other perks. You will have the flexibility to live in one unit and rent the other (house hack), convert an ADU from family use to an income property later, or sell 1 property to rebalance using a 1031 exchange. Talk to your financial advisor about how to best make use of the property as you get closer to your retirement age. 

Numbers You Can Feel: A Simple Example

Let's look at realistic numbers in the St George market for a typical property right now. Imagine a well-located townhome at $425,000 with expected rent of $2,200/mo. Here's an example of what you can expect:

• Gross annual rent: $2, 200 x 12 = $26,400

• Estimated annual expenses (example only): taxes/insurance/HOA $6,900, repairs & capex reserve $2,400, property management (8%) $2,112,vacancy (4%) $1,056 → Total ≈ $12,468
• Net Operating Income (NOI): $26,400 -- $12,468 = $13,932 


From there, subtract your financing cost to estimate your cash flow. We can customize this pro forma with real taxes, HOA dues, insurance quotes, and lender terms for the exact property you’re considering.

What to Buy: Property Types That Work in Our Market

If you're thinking it's time to buy a property in St. George, think about these types of properties:

A St. George rental—especially a home with an ADU or flexible floor plan—can diversify your retirement income, hedge against inflation, and offer lifestyle options for your family or future downsizing. With the right property and a data-driven plan, it’s not just real estate—it’s a retirement tool.