🔥 STR Fire Sales: Price-Cut Listings, Auctions & Island Escapes

🔥 STR Firesale Deals Are Heating Up — And So Is the Market.

This week’s edition is packed with real-time intel for serious STR buyers and sellers. From price-slashed listings and seller fire sales to fast-moving market sentiment, we’ve got your weekend briefing covered.

Inside: auctions, motivated sellers, tropical STR escapes—and the 10 most important housing + economy headlines investors are watching right now.

• 🔥 STR Classifieds – Price-cut deals, auctions, and top-performing listings on our radar

• ⚡️ Motivated Seller Tips – Fast-track your STR sale with proven Pro insights

• 📰 Top 10 News Nuggets – Real-time Airbnb, housing, and economy signals

• 📈 Weekly STR Market Watch – Key housing and calendar trends decoded

Let’s dive in 👇

— The STR Scout Team

💼 STR Scout Pro Subscription is Coming
After 100+ weeks of sharing free, unbiased insights—and helping connect hundreds of STR buyers and sellers—we’re launching the next phase.

STR Scout Pro is a premium upgrade for serious STR investors—offering full access to the best deals, firesale opportunities, lifestyle assets, insider scouting reports, exclusive opportunities, and trusted local experts.

We’re not buyer or seller agents—just delivering pure, unbiased insights.
Fast, easy access to the weekly market pulse, trends, news, and deals—all in one place.

Free members get limited access.
Pro members unlock the full experience and resources.

Sourced from the largest STR buyer/seller network online.

🔥 Motivated sellers, top trending posts, and lifestyle-rich STR list—organized by region for quick discovery.

🏖 Southeast

🔥 View Details $409k – Davenport, FL
Huge price drop – seller wants to sell! 4BD/3BA, 1,860 sqft. STR near Disney with private pool. Fully furnished, updated, move-in ready with recent mechanicals and strong community amenities.

🔹 View Details $730k – Bradenton, FL
$75K Airbnb income with potential for $90K+. 4BD/2BA, 2,171 sqft. Turnkey with heated pool, spa, top reviews, and Superhost status. Minutes to Anna Maria Island, fully licensed.

🔹 View Details $2.1M – Destin, FL
Post reached 17,000 views. $188K 2024 income + $102K booked for 2025! 4BD/4BA, 2,682 sqft beachfront townhome. Private beach, renovated, 3 decks, turnkey, fully automated, high-end finishes.

🏔 Mountain & Lake

🔥 View Details Smoky Mountains, TN
$50K under market – motivated seller. 4BD/3BA cabin fully furnished and STR-ready. Rustic charm, mountain views, ideal for families, turnkey income generator.

🔹 View Details $399k – Fleetwood, NC
New custom-built 1BD/1BA, 860 sqft. Modern cabin with vaulted ceilings, gas fireplace, covered deck. STR-ready with low maintenance, wildlife views, and river access.

🔹 View Details $320k – Kings Beach, CA
Fully furnished STR condo 5 min to lake and resorts. Permit cap in place, high-demand area. Pool, spa, game room. Turnkey with modern layout, patio, and custom bunk beds.

🧭 Northeast & Midwest

🔥 View Details Auction – Moneta, VA
Lakefront STR opportunity. Private dock, boat slip, and jet ski lift. Spacious home with basement, detached garage, and garden. Auction sale, 0.78± acres near Smith Mountain Lake.

🌴 Beach & Tropics | International

🔹 View Details $525k – Isla Mujeres, MX
Tropical island condo. 2BD/2BA fully furnished with Can-Am buggy included. Three pools, gated garage, walkable to beach and ferry. $700/mo HOA covers internet and water.

📦 Multi-Unit / Unique Investment

🔥 View Details Auction – Pelham, TN
$367K+ 2024 revenue! Big Mouth Cave Retreat: 19 STR units, RV & tent campground, 5+ acres. Near The Caverns venue. Huge upside, onsite & online auction June 28.

🔥🔥 View Details $1.8M – Austin, TX
Firesale – seller must unload! 4BD/4BA, 3,406 sqft. Airbnb luxury home with $1M+ upgrades, pool, downtown views. $11.6K April bookings, influencer rental potential, turnkey.

🧠 Pro Motivated Seller Tips | Smarter STR Moves

Quick wins and actionable insights.

5 Pro Tips for Crafting a FSBO (For Sale By Owner) Sale:

1. 🚀 Post in 'STR Homes for Sale' Facebook Group
#1 STR Marketplace: Reach 100,000+ motivated buyers
Start by listing in the ‘STR Homes for Sale’ Facebook group FOR FREE—the top online marketplace for Airbnb/STR investors. With 100K+ members worldwide, this is where serious cash buyers and 1031 investors hunt for deals. Free exposure to reach a mass STR buyer audience.

2. 💰 Lead with Financials & Offer Seller Financing Option if Possible
Pro Move: Attract more buyers by easing the capital crunch
List your trailing 12-month gross income, net profit, and occupancy rate. Then sweeten the deal by offering seller financing with flexible terms. Creative financing widens your buyer pool and speeds up closing, especially in tight lending markets.

3. 🧰 Sell the Full STR Setup
Revenue Boost Tip: It’s more than a home, it’s a business-in-a-box
Be clear on furnishing inclusions, automation tools, cleaner and maintenance contacts, even your existing website (if you have one). Let buyers imagine taking over a cash-flowing business without lifting a finger. This appeals to first-time STR investors and busy professionals.

4. 🛡️ Use a Local Attorney + Title Company
Pro Move: FSBO done right protects both parties
Skip the agent, not the safeguards. Have a local real estate attorney draft your contract and a title company handle escrow and closing. Pro tip, find a title company that has both! They’ll ensure your seller-financing terms, due diligence periods, and contingencies are airtight—at a fraction of the cost.

5. 💸 Save Thousands on Commission—Cap Buyer Agent Fee at 2%
Why It Works: Keep more equity, get out whole, still attract agents
Make it clear: “No listing agent—buyer agents welcome at 2%.” This saves you 3–4% in listing commissions while still offering enough to incentivize agents to bring qualified buyers. Every dollar saved goes back into your pocket—or your next deal.

📰 STR News Nuggets – Your 2-Minute Market Pulse

Fast, curated, Top 10 headlines to keep you sharp on what’s driving the short-term rental market. From Airbnb shifts and pricing trends to housing and investment moves—get all the insights that matter, in minutes.

1. Vacation Home Purchases Plummet to 6-Year Low
The volume of vacation home purchases has dropped to its lowest level in six years, as rising interest rates and tighter economic conditions push many would-be STR investors out of the market. This sharp decline signals a significant contraction in future STR inventory.
Read full article

2. Airbnb Highlights Canadian Summer Booking Shifts
Airbnb reports evolving summer travel trends among Canadian users, showing increased interest in rural stays and cross-border trips into lesser-known U.S. towns. For STR operators near the border or in nature-focused locales, this signals a clear opportunity.
Read full article

3. Peak Season Prices Surge in Key Markets
A national pricing analysis shows that some destinations are seeing the most aggressive peak-season STR pricing in years. Rental operators in these areas are raising nightly rates significantly during summer months.
Read full article

4. U.S. Vacation Rental Market Faces Major Disruption
Industry analysts say the STR sector is undergoing a collapse from its pandemic highs. Normalized travel patterns and oversupply have left many properties underbooked and struggling.
Read full article

5. Canadian Snowbirds Dump U.S. Vacation Properties
Driven by exchange rates and lifestyle shifts, many Canadian owners are selling their U.S.-based second homes. This is reshaping the inventory in winter rental destinations like Florida and Arizona.
Read full article

6. Google Data Shows Miami Tourists Looking Elsewhere
Miami’s dominance as a travel hotspot is cooling. Google reports more searches for alternative destinations, possibly due to oversaturation, pricing, and regulation. STR owners in new markets should take note.
Read full article

7. Baja California Gaining Favor Over Cabo
Forbes highlights the rise of smaller Baja destinations that offer more charm and less crowd than Cabo. STR investors seeking undervalued markets may want to scout this coastline now.
Read full article

8. Hilton Head Island Prepares for Record-Breaking Season
Tourism demand in Hilton Head is surging ahead of summer, with local officials forecasting a historic high in visitor numbers. STRs in the area may command premium rates and extended stays.
Read full article

9. Foreign Visitors to U.S. Drop 61%
Policy changes have triggered a dramatic drop in international tourists, with a 61% year-over-year decline. STRs in gateway cities may need to pivot to domestic marketing strategies.
Read full article

10. Las Vegas Sees STR Headwinds as Tourism Slows
New regulations and shifting demand are leading to a dip in Las Vegas travel. With visitor numbers declining, STR owners may face pressure on pricing and occupancy.
Read full article

📈 Other Trending Nuggets (One-liner summaries)

• 😬 American travelers avoid international trips, boosting U.S. STR demand

• 💰 Wealthy travelers cut luxury vacation budgets for summer 2025

• ✈️ Airline disruptions could impact STR bookings across major destinations

• 📉 U.S. home prices fall in half the country, opening new buy windows

• 📈 STR investors may benefit as home sellers hold out for high prices

• 💼 Mortgage demand drops sharply after recent rate hikes

• 💳 Buyers with cash may gain leverage amid tightening lending environment

• 🏡 More homes for sale creates buying opportunity, not a warning sign

• 💼 Tech job cuts hammer San Francisco STR markets

• 📉 Redfin reports first national home price decline in months

🏡 STR Weekly Market Watch

Week of May 17–23, 2025

Short-term rental (STR) investors face a market marked by rising mortgage rates and declining builder confidence, signaling potential challenges ahead. While rents remain relatively stable, increased inventory offers opportunities for strategic acquisitions.

📈 “Mortgage rates climbed to the highest level in three months.”
— Wall Street Journal (WSJ)

📊 The Pulse

Mortgage Rates

• 30-Year: 6.86% ↑

• 15-Year: 6.01% ↑
  → Rates have reached their highest point since mid-February, potentially dampening homebuyer enthusiasm and impacting STR financing costs.

Builder Sentiment

• NAHB Index: 34 (↓6 pts)
  → Builder confidence has declined to its lowest level since late 2022, indicating caution in new construction projects.

Housing Starts & Permits

• Starts: 1,361K (↑1.6%)

• Permits: 1,412K (↓4.7%)
  → While housing starts saw a slight uptick, the decrease in permits suggests a potential slowdown in future supply, which could affect STR availability.

Median Rent

• $2,100 (↓0.4% YoY)
  → National median rent has slightly decreased year-over-year, indicating a stabilizing rental market beneficial for STR pricing strategies.

Inventory

• Active listings: +32% YoY
  → The surge in active listings to the highest level since 2019 provides STR investors with more options for property acquisition.

🗓 Macro Moves

Mortgage Applications

• ↓5.1%
  → The decline in mortgage applications reflects the impact of rising rates on buyer activity, potentially leading to more favorable conditions for STR investors seeking properties.

Jobless Claims

• 227K (↓2K)
  → A slight decrease in jobless claims suggests continued labor market resilience, supporting consumer spending and travel, which benefits STR demand.

Retail Sales

• ↓0.1% MoM
  → A marginal dip in retail sales indicates cautious consumer behavior, which could influence travel and STR bookings.

Consumer Sentiment

• 50.8 (↓1.4 pts)
  → Consumer sentiment has reached its second-lowest level on record, driven by inflation concerns and economic uncertainty, potentially affecting discretionary spending on travel.

📈 STR Stock Tracker

• Redfin (RDFN): $9.95 ↑1.74%

• Zillow (Z): $66.20 ↑1.80%

• Airbnb (ABNB): $127.13 ↓0.41%

• Vacasa (VCSA): $5.39 ↑0.56%

• Booking (BKNG): $5,332.11 ↓0.18%

• Expedia (EXPE): $159.74 ↓0.61%

• Travel+Leisure (TNL): $47.76 ↓0.27%

🧐 What STR Investors Should Know

• Rising Rates: Elevated mortgage rates may suppress homebuying, potentially increasing rental demand in the LTR market.

• Builder Pullback: Decreased builder confidence and permit issuance suggest a slowdown in new housing supply, impacting future STR inventory.

• Soft Rents: Stabilizing rents provide a predictable revenue landscape for STR operators.

• Elevated Inventory: An increase in active listings offers opportunities for STR investors to acquire properties in a less competitive market.

• STR Stock Moves: Mixed stock performances indicate market volatility, necessitating careful monitoring by STR investors.

🔭 Outlook

The STR market is navigating a complex environment of rising mortgage rates and cautious builder activity. However, stable rental prices and increased inventory present opportunities for strategic investments. Investors should remain vigilant, adapting to economic shifts to optimize their STR portfolios.

🔭 STR Scout Rule of the Week

“In uncertain markets, flexibility and adaptability are the keys to sustained success in short-term rentals.”