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📬 Weekend Briefing – June 6, 2025

23 STR deals. Market pulse. Investor insights that matter.
This weekend’s roundup brings top trending STR listings, news you should know, and a few smart plays worth considering.

In This Issue:
🔥 23 STR Deals: Price cuts, motivated sellers, and multi-family opportunities
⚡️ Pro Tips: Tactical moves to stay competitive in a tighter STR game
📰 News Nuggets: Airbnb headlines, demand resilience, and Maui’s rental ban
📈 Market Watch: Mortgage rate shifts, inventory trends, and jobless claims drop

Let’s jump in 👇

—The STR Scout Team

🏠 Top Trending STR Homes for Sale

Explore 23 STR Homes for sale—organized by region for fast discovery. Join STR Scout Pro for full access!

🏞 Midwest

🔹 View Details $400k – St. Louis, MO
Seller offering rate buy-down or closing cost credit. Renovated historic home with $75K+ STR income, 3 beds, 2,001 sqft. Furnishings available.

🔹 View Details $2.8M – Branson, MO
Self-managed 15-unit STR grossing $305K with 65%+ occupancy. Appraised at asking. Owner financing or subto possible. Minimal updates needed.

🏔️ Smoky Mountains

🔹 View Details $589k – Sevierville, TN
Creative financing available with $50K down! Treehouse STR grossed $80K+ in 2023. 1 bed + loft, 208 Airbnb reviews, walk to wedding venue.

🔹 View Details $549k – Pigeon Forge, TN
Ground-level 4BR/3BA condo walkable to Parkway. No stairs, updated, STR-ready. Resort amenities include pools, gym, and cable/internet.

🔹 View Details $600k – Sevierville, TN
Creative financing with just 8% down! New-build STR with $60K income last 12 months. 1 bed + loft, fully operational Airbnb.

🔹 View Details $849k – Sevierville, TN
Modern 2BR/4BA cabin near Dollywood, 3,000 sqft, $90K income (partial personal use). Large lot, mountain views, bonus room.

🔹 View Details $949k – Sevierville, TN
2 turnkey cabins + buildable lot. $152K gross. Value-add potential with basement unlock + better mgmt. Financing options available.

🔹 View Details $1.089M – Sevierville, TN
Two turnkey cabins on 4+ acres. $124K gross income. Includes 3/3 main + 1/1 guest + garage + 2 mobile home lots w/rentals.

🌲 Northeast

🔹 View Details $375k – Tobyhanna, PA
Fully furnished 4BR STR in Pocono Farms. Renewed STR license, Airbnb active, resort amenities, fenced yard, bonus living space.

🔹 View Details $375k – Tobyhanna, PA
STR license renewed May 2025. Turnkey 4BD/3BA, 2,288 sqft home in Pocono Farms with Airbnb income, deck, and resort-style amenities including lake, pool, and golf.

🔹 View Details $435k – Pocono Lake, PA
$80K+ in last 12 months! 5BR/3BA STR near Camelback. Indoor hot tub, sauna, sauna, fenced yard, fully updated and turnkey.

🔹 View Details $949k – Naples, NY
$122K gross, $163K adjusted. 7BR STR on 30+ acres w/ pool, 3 hot tubs, barn, and room to sleep 20+. STR tax advantage potential.

🏝️ Florida

🔹 View Details $289k – Madeira Beach, FL
11% cap beach cottage! Renovated 2025, nets $30K/year. HOA covers flood ins, pool, cable, exterior, landscaping. Booked year-round.

🔹 View Details $455k – Bradenton, FL
Fully furnished 4BR/2BA STR with private heated pool and smart controls. Turnkey and STR-ready. Listing soon.

🔹 View Details $628k – Kissimmee, FL
Luxury STR near Disney in gated Formosa Gardens. 4BR/3BA, pool, low HOA, updated systems, designer interior. Short-term allowed.

🔹 View Details $1.2M – Riverview, FL
Riverfront estate on 3 acres with guest cottage, solar, pool, private dock, and 4,600+ sqft total. Turnkey retreat with lifestyle ROI.

🔹 View Details $1.4M – Manasota Key, FL
Price reduced! Off-market quadplex w/ 4BR/4BA, intercoastal views + private beach. No rental restrictions, Airbnb/VRBO grandfathered.

🏡 South

🔹 View Details $160k – Silsbee, TX
Active Airbnb for $3.5K/mo or primary home. 4BR, 2.5BA, 1,860 sqft. Tours by appt only due to guests. Owner-financing offered.

🔹 View Details $729k – Bentonville, AR
No HOA/STR restrictions! 4BR/3BA, 2 living areas + office. Walk to downtown, Walmart HQ, and new STEM campus. Potential $100K+ revenue.

🌄 Appalachia

🔹 View Details $249k – Meadows of Dan, VA
Turnkey Blue Ridge cabin with rental potential. 2BR/1BA, 975 sqft. Fully furnished, near Dan River, Primland Resort, fiber internet.

🔹 View Details $349k – Lottsburg, VA
$10K price drop! Renovated waterfront cottage, fully furnished 2BR/1.5BA. New HVAC, kitchen, pier, shed, and Trex deck. STR-ready.

🏔️ Northwest

🔹 View Details $834k – Lenore, ID
Motivated seller! Custom 5BR timber-frame lodge on 10 acres. STR potential w/ dual kitchens, wraparound deck, and valley views.

Got an STR to sell? Reach 100,000+ active buyers and 35,000 STR-focused subscribers—post your deal free today.

1️⃣ Own a Hyper-Specific Micro-Niche
Pro Move: Attract premium bookings by narrowing your focus
Go beyond “pet-friendly” and create listings like “ergonomic remote work retreats” or “chef’s dream kitchens.” These ultra-specific offerings speak directly to passionate guest segments—and often justify higher nightly rates.

2️⃣ Personalize Guest Stays Using Subtle Data
Pro Move: Surprise and delight repeat guests with small, thoughtful touches
Quietly note preferences (snacks, allergies, celebrations) and reference past stays to personalize each visit. This level of detail is rare—and can convert guests into loyal, direct bookers who skip OTA fees.

3️⃣ Partner Locally for Perks That Pop
Pro Move: Boost guest value and local referrals with exclusive experiences
Collaborate with nearby cafés, fitness studios, or guides to offer discounts or unique perks. Feature these in your welcome email or guidebook to elevate your listing and win word-of-mouth bookings.

4️⃣ Audit Your Listing Like a Guest
Pro Move: Go undercover to discover and fix hidden flaws
Book your own place (or send a friend) to experience it from a guest’s view. You’ll spot confusing check-in steps or missing essentials that most hosts overlook—then fix them fast.

5️⃣ Build Your Direct Booking Machine
Pro Move: Reduce platform fees and take control of your pipeline
Collect guest emails and encourage direct rebookings with simple perks like waived fees or early check-in. This strategy boosts profits and shields you from sudden OTA policy shifts.

📰 Top 10 News Nuggets

Skim curated headlines shaping Airbnb, STR investing, housing, lifestyle and travel—spot the signals driving the market now.

1. Maui Moves to Ban 7,200 Vacation Rentals
Maui’s Bill 9 advances to phase out short-term rentals in apartment-zoned areas, threatening nearly 7,200 legal units in tourist hotspots like Kihei and West Maui. Economic studies warn of losing $900 million in visitor spending and 1,900 jobs by 2029, as owners begin offloading properties amid mounting uncertainty. The industry is rallying against the bill, citing serious consequences for Maui’s economy and housing market.
Read more

2. Airbnb Reshuffles Leadership with Two Key Appointments
Airbnb has appointed Rebecca Van Dyck as Chief Marketing Officer and Hiroki Asai as Chief Experience Officer, emphasizing its focus on evolving into a holistic travel platform. These strategic hires aim to strengthen brand positioning and improve user experience amid global expansion and regulatory scrutiny. The leadership shake-up signals Airbnb’s ambitions beyond accommodations.
Read more

3. Airbnb’s $85 Billion Boost to the U.S. Economy
Airbnb’s 2024 economic impact report reveals an $85 billion contribution to the U.S. economy, supporting millions of hosts and driving tourism recovery. The data offers a powerful counterargument to regulatory efforts by showcasing STRs' role in sustaining local businesses and employment. Advocates cite the findings to resist restrictive policies in tourist-heavy areas like Hawaii.
Read more

4. Housing Value Declines Shake STR Investment Confidence
A downturn in home values is raising red flags for STR investors who bank on property appreciation alongside rental income. Newsweek highlights how regional fluctuations and economic uncertainty are creating both threats and openings in the real estate market. STR operators are reassessing portfolios as national housing indicators turn negative.
Read more

5. Spain Cracks Down on Airbnb Amid Overtourism Concerns
Spain joins the EU's growing anti-STR wave, tightening regulations on short-term rentals to combat overtourism and housing shortages. The move aligns with similar crackdowns in cities like Amsterdam and Barcelona, increasing compliance pressures for international STR investors. Operators must stay agile as European regulatory headwinds intensify.
Read more

6. Redfin Tracker Signals Strong Summer STR Demand
Redfin’s May 2025 rental market tracker shows resilient demand for vacation rentals despite economic jitters and rising regulations. The data helps STR operators refine pricing and occupancy strategies heading into the critical summer season. Markets with regulatory stability appear better positioned for growth.
Read more

7. Movie Set Rentals Offer STRs a Hollywood Edge
Unique STR properties in New Mexico and Kentucky that served as movie sets are tapping into pop culture tourism. These immersive rentals fetch higher rates by delivering themed, story-driven guest experiences. The trend underscores how differentiation and creativity can elevate occupancy and pricing.
Read more

8. AI Automation Disrupts STR Business Models
AI is upending business operations, including vacation rental management—from guest communication to scheduling maintenance. While automation offers efficiency gains, it also threatens the personalized service that sets STRs apart from hotels. STR operators must strike a balance between tech adoption and guest-centric service.
Read more

9. U.S. Housing Inventory Hits $700 Billion Record
Homes for sale in the U.S. now total nearly $700 billion in value, a new record reflecting a tight real estate market. While this benefits existing STR owners by limiting competition, high prices pose entry barriers for new investors. The milestone underscores both opportunity and risk in the current investment climate.
Read more

10. Luxury Amenities Like Hotel Pillows Win Guest Loyalty
Travel and Leisure spotlights luxury hotel pillows as an underrated upgrade that STR operators can adopt to boost guest satisfaction. Small touches like premium bedding can drive better reviews and justify higher rates. These hospitality details are key to standing out in a crowded STR market.
Read more

📈 Other Trending Nuggets

• Florida’s housing market shows signs of rapid decline, raising concerns for STR investors
• Redfin reports shifting trends in buyer and seller behavior across U.S. real estate markets
• U.S. job growth slows in May, offering mixed signals for travel and STR demand
• Architectural standout “Lutsen Dome” shows how unique Airbnbs can drive premium bookings
• Top jobs for expats in 2025 include roles relevant to global STR operations
• Debt concerns from Trump-era policy proposals could dampen travel demand, warns economist

Week of June 2–6, 2025

This week, the short-term rental (STR) market is navigating a landscape of slightly easing mortgage rates juxtaposed with rising inventory levels. While borrowing costs have dipped marginally, affordability challenges persist, and increased housing supply is intensifying competition among sellers.

📊 The Pulse

Mortgage Rates
• 30-Year: 6.85% ↓
• 15-Year: 5.99% ↓
→ A slight decline in rates provides a modest opportunity for buyers, but affordability remains constrained due to high home prices.

Builder Sentiment
• NAHB Index: 34 (−6 pts)
→ Builder confidence has declined, reflecting concerns over high mortgage rates and economic uncertainties.

Housing Starts & Permits
• Starts: 1,361K (+1.6% MoM)
• Permits: 1,412K (−4.7% MoM)
→ A modest increase in housing starts suggests builders are cautiously moving forward, while the decline in permits may indicate future slowdowns.

Median Rent
• $2,100 (−$40 YoY)
→ National median rent has slightly decreased year-over-year, indicating a cooling rental market.

Inventory
• Active listings: +31.5% YoY
→ Inventory levels have risen significantly, providing more options for buyers but increasing competition among sellers.

🗓 Macro Moves

Mortgage Applications
• −3.9% WoW
→ Mortgage applications declined, reflecting continued buyer hesitancy amid high borrowing costs.

Jobless Claims
• 208,642 (−1.5% WoW)
→ A slight decrease in jobless claims suggests a stable labor market, which could support housing demand.

Retail Sales
• −0.1% MoM
→ Retail sales dipped slightly, indicating cautious consumer spending that may impact housing-related expenditures.

Consumer Sentiment
→ Latest data not available this week.

📈 STR Stock Tracker

• Redfin (RDFN): $9.98 (−0.7% for the week)
• Zillow (Z): $69.80 (−0.6% for the week)
• Airbnb (ABNB): $137.29 (+5.9% for the week)
• Vacasa (VCSA): $5.39 (unchanged)
• Booking (BKNG): $5,570.52 (+2.5% for the week)
• Expedia (EXPE): $173.38 (+3.9% for the week)
• Travel+Leisure (TNL): $48.62 (−1.4% for the week)

→ STR-related stocks showed mixed performance this week. Airbnb led with nearly 6% gains, supported by renewed investor optimism, while Booking and Expedia also posted solid growth. Redfin, Zillow, and Travel + Leisure saw modest declines.

🧐 What STR Investors Should Know

• Rising Rates: Although mortgage rates have dipped slightly, they remain elevated, continuing to challenge affordability.
• Builder Pullback: Decreased builder sentiment and permit issuance suggest potential slowdowns in future housing supply.
• Soft Rents: A slight year-over-year decrease in median rent indicates a cooling rental market, impacting STR revenue potential.
• Elevated Inventory: Significant increases in active listings provide more options for buyers but heighten competition among sellers.
• STR Stock Moves: Mixed stock performances among STR-related companies highlight ongoing market volatility and investor caution.

🔭 STR Scout Rule of the Week

“In a market of rising inventory and cooling rents, differentiation is key—invest in unique experiences to stand out.”