In this Monday Market Data Report, Mark Lumpkin breaks down Gatlinburg, Tennessee, one of the most talked-about short-term rental markets in the country. Using real performance data, Mark walks through how revenue, occupancy, and nightly rates change as you move from three-bedroom cabins to six-plus bedroom luxury properties.

In this episode, you’ll learn:

• How three-bedroom STRs in Gatlinburg earn between $55K and $95K annually
• Why four-bedroom properties can generate $20K–$45K more per year than three-bedrooms
• How five-bedroom cabins separate average performers from true top-tier experiences
• Why six-plus bedroom properties show the largest revenue jump Mark has seen in any market
• How ADR and occupancy work together to drive outsized returns in Gatlinburg
• What the data reveals about guest expectations for larger, experience-driven homes

If you’re considering investing in Gatlinburg or already own in the Smokies, this episode breaks down exactly what size property performs best and why.

Tune in every Monday for market data reports and every Friday for expert guest interviews on the STR Investing Podcast.

Cody Cramer went from hotel revenue management to building a multi-market short-term rental co-hosting business, all while operating remotely. In this episode, Mark sits down with Cody to break down how he scaled across the Smokies and Florida markets, why systems matter more than location, and what actually drives guest satisfaction.

In this episode, you’ll learn:

• How Cody transitioned from hotels into STR co-hosting
• What it really takes to manage properties remotely without sacrificing quality
• Why your cleaning and maintenance team is the most important hire you’ll make
• The exact tech stack they use: Hostaway, PriceLabs, Breezeway, and Happy Guest
• How non-traditional partnerships created early deal flow
• The four metrics that matter in any STR market: bedroom count, RevPAR, booking lead time, and amenity saturation
• How better communication reduces guest questions and improves reviews

Connect with Cody / Ascent Co-Hosting:
Website: www.ascentcohosting.com
IG: Ascent Cohosting
FB: Ascent Cohosting

In this Monday Market Data Report, co-host Mark Lumpkin breaks down the short-term rental numbers for Gulf Shores, a popular Gulf Coast vacation market with far more upside than many investors realize.

This episode walks through how revenue, nightly rates, and occupancy change as you move from 3-bedroom homes to 6+ bedroom properties, and why larger, well-executed homes dominate this market.

Inside the data, you’ll learn:

• What 3-bedroom homes earn at average vs. top-tier performance levels
• Why adding a 4th bedroom increases revenue even with slightly lower occupancy
• How 5-bedroom properties unlock a major jump in annual income
• Why 6+ bedroom homes in Gulf Shores can push $200K–$250K+ in annual revenue
• How higher nightly rates — not just occupancy — drive strong net returns

The numbers reveal a massive gap between average listings and top performers, proving that design, amenities, and bedroom count matter just as much as location in beach markets.

Whether you already own on the Gulf Coast or are underwriting your next STR deal, this episode gives you clear, data-backed insight into what’s possible in Gulf Shores when you do it right.

Have a market you want us to break down next? DM Mark and we’ll bring the data.

AI is changing short-term rental marketing—but not always for the better.

In this episode of the STR Investing Podcast, Taylor sits down with Conrad, founder of BuildUp Bookings, to break down what actually drives bookings in today’s crowded STR market.

They discuss how overused AI messaging can turn guests away, where automation still adds real value, and why authentic communication is becoming a competitive advantage for Airbnb hosts and property managers. Conrad shares practical insights from nearly a decade in STR marketing, helping operators rethink how they attract, convert, and retain guests.

Key topics covered:

• AI vs human messaging in STR marketing
• How to improve bookings without sounding automated
• Guest psychology and conversion fundamentals
• Marketing mistakes hurting Airbnb performance

If you want more bookings without relying on spammy AI tactics, this episode delivers clear, actionable insight.

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Episode Sponsored By:
STR Search

STR Search is the industry leading property finder service. They've helped investors acquire over 325+ profitable STRs across the US. If you'd like the data professionals to help you find your next STR, reach out to STRsearch.com

In this Monday Market Data Report, co-host Mark Lumpkin breaks down the short-term rental numbers for Austin, one of the most talked-about STR markets in the country.

This episode dives deep into how revenue, occupancy, and nightly rates scale as bedroom count increases, and why Austin strongly rewards larger, high-performing properties.

You’ll learn:

• What 3-bedroom properties earn at average vs. top-tier performance levels
• Why adding a 4th bedroom can unlock a major revenue jump—even with slightly lower occupancy
• How 5-bedroom homes outperform smaller properties by tens of thousands per year
• Why 6+ bedroom homes in Austin are producing some of the highest STR revenues we’ve seen nationwide
• How higher nightly rates and strategic occupancy can lead to stronger net returns

The numbers show massive gaps between average listings and top performers—ranging from under $40K per year to well over $300K—making Austin a clear example of how property size and performance drive outcomes.

If you’re investing in Austin, underwriting a deal, or deciding whether expanding your floor plan is worth it, this episode gives you clear, data-backed insights to guide your strategy.

Have a market you want us to cover next? DM Mark and we’ll bring the data.

Cleaning issues, last-minute cancellations, and unreliable contractors are some of the biggest threats to STR performance.

Chris Rule, VP of Customer Experience at Turno, joins the show to explain how top operators are solving these problems—and what’s coming next for the industry.

Chris shares how Turno is helping hosts and property managers eliminate turnover chaos by connecting guest cleanliness reviews directly to cleaners, automating scheduling, and creating real accountability at scale. The conversation dives deep into why turnovers are one of the most stressful (and most overlooked) parts of short-term rental operations, and how better systems lead to better reviews, happier guests, and fewer late-night emergencies.

We also explore Turno’s rapidly expanding ecosystem, including global contractor coverage, cleaner guarantees, faster payouts, tax compliance, and what’s next beyond cleaning—including maintenance and handyman services designed specifically for STR operators.

Whether you’re managing one property or hundreds, this episode breaks down how professional operators are building reliable, scalable systems that protect performance and peace of mind.

Topics covered:

• Why turnovers make or break guest experience
• How guest cleanliness reviews create real cleaner accountability
• Preventing last-minute no-shows and operational emergencies
• Scaling cleaning and maintenance without growing headaches
• Turno’s expansion into maintenance and contractor services
• What STR operators should expect in 2026 and beyond

If you’re serious about running a high-performing short-term rental, this is a must-listen episode.

Get in touch with Chris:

LinkedIn: Chris Rule

Sign up at Turno here today!

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Episode Sponsored By:
STR Search

STR Search is the industry leading property finder service. They've helped investors acquire over 325+ profitable STRs across the US. If you'd like the data professionals to help you find your next STR, reach out to STRsearch.com

In this episode, co-host Mark Lumpkin breaks down the short-term rental numbers for Big Bear Lake, one of Southern California’s most well-known mountain vacation markets.

This episode takes a data-driven look at how revenue, occupancy, and nightly rates shift dramatically by bedroom count — and why Big Bear Lake behaves very differently from many STR markets across the country.

You’ll hear insights on:

• Revenue potential from 3-bedroom through 6+ bedroom homes
• How much income each additional bedroom can unlock
• Occupancy trends that stand out compared to national averages
• The massive gap between average and top-performing properties
• Why larger homes dominate revenue in this market

Whether you already own in Big Bear Lake or you’re underwriting a potential deal, this episode gives you clear, actionable data to understand where the real upside lives.

In this episode of the STR Investing Podcast, Taylor sits down with Nate Klatt — CPA, former startup operator, and co-founder of HomeHop — to break down how he went from flipping houses with thin margins to building a short-term rental portfolio, launching a property management company, and raising STR investment funds.

Nate shares the real behind-the-scenes of scaling: why conservative underwriting matters when you’re taking friends-and-family money, how they structured investor returns, what changed once they brought in real design, and why they’re shifting toward bigger homes and higher-end amenities in their next fund.

In this episode, you’ll learn:

• Nate’s path from Michigan State football + CPA to real estate entrepreneur
• The biggest mistakes (and lessons) from their first flips
• Why they stopped chasing cheap renovations and started building properties people fall in love with
• How promissory notes helped them scale early — and why they eventually launched a fund
• The exact structure they used: preferred return, margins, and staying conservative on projections
• What it takes to build a real property management operation (tools, SOPs, and hiring VAs)
• Why larger homes and “hero amenities” are becoming the clearest path to outperforming in today’s market
• Where HomeHop is headed next: expansion decisions, fund strategy, and growth over the next 12–24 months

Connect with Nate:
LinkedIn: Nate Klatt
Website: homehop.com

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Episode Sponsored By:
STR Search

STR Search is the industry leading property finder service. They've helped investors acquire over 325+ profitable STRs across the US. If you'd like the data professionals to help you find your next STR, reach out to STRsearch.com