🔥 Top 10 Trending STR Homes for Sale

^{TOGETHER WITH:}

Helping investors build (cash) dry powder for their next deal.

Hello STR Scout Members,

Stay ahead in the STR market with this week’s insights and opportunities:

🔑 STR Classifieds: Explore the Top 10 Trending STR Homes for Sale.

📣  Tapping STR Equity: Build Cash Reserves for Operations & Opportunities.

🏠 News Nuggets: Trending Airbnb, Housing, and Economy News.

Happy Scouting!

Andy Thoms
Editor, STR Scout

Top 10 Trending STR Homes for Sale

🌴 $350K | Port Aransas, TX: 3BD/2BA 1,250 sqft oceanfront condo with million-dollar views. Features large balcony, 2 pools, hot tubs, sport court, and pet-friendly. STR-ready beach retreat! View Post

🏡 $380K | Davenport, FL: 3BD/3BA STR with private pool. Fully furnished, low HOA $100/mo. Potential $4K-$6K/mo income. Turnkey investment! View Post

🌲 $450K | Clayton, OK: 2BD/2BA Sardis Lake cabin on 7.5 acres near Flagpole Mountain. Active Airbnb with huge STR potential. Central AC/heat, in-unit laundry. Prime getaway spot! View Post

🏖️ $480K | Kissimmee, FL: 4BD/3BA STR with heated pool + 2 community pools, lake views. Fully furnished in resort-style community. HOA $257/mo (incl. landscaping). Potential $7K-$12K/mo income. View Post

🌅 $640K | Davenport, FL: 6BD/3.5BA STR with heated pool & lake views. Fully furnished, low HOA $47/mo. Potential $10K+/mo income. Ideal investment! View Post

🌅 $675K | Panama City Beach, FL: FSBO 2BD/2BA beachfront condo, 1370 sqft, sleeps 6+2 (bunks). Stunning views, private balcony, heated pool, Jacuzzi, gym, and reserved parking. STR-ready investment! View Post

🚜 $679K | Hunter, NY: 4BD/3BA farmhouse near Hunter Mountain on 1.02 acres. Features modern finishes, firepit, bocce ball, illuminated trails, and subdividable lot. Perfect STR potential! View Post

⛪ $845K | Austin, TX: Stunning 3BD/3BA + office home, reimagined from an original church. Features luxury finishes, European Oak floors, marble kitchen, and serene private yard. Unique East Austin gem! View Post

⛰️ $1.05M | Broken Bow, OK: 4BD/2.5BA cabin on 1.18 acres with heated pool, mini-golf, and mountain views. Sleeps 14, built in 2022. Fully equipped for STR with huge income potential. View Post

🌊 $1.495M | Panama City Beach, FL: 4BD/3BA waterfront home on 1/2 acre with 100ft lagoon views. Private pool, dock, no HOA. Fully furnished, STR booked through April. Turnkey investment! View Post

STR Loan News from Host Financial

Host Financial recently funded a 60% Cash Out refinance loan for an experienced Short Term Rental operator on a beautiful property in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. 

The loan was qualified using the borrowers historical short term rental income data in order to pull out trapped equity from the property to create cash reserves and redeploy into further real estate investments.

• Cash Out Refinances up to 75% Loan to Value.

• Rate & Term Refinances up to 80% Loan to Value.

• No W2's, Tax Returns, or personal Debt-to-Income Ratio required.

• Use the Actual or Projected STR Income of the property to qualify

• Nationwide lending – all states but North Dakota and South Dakota.

At Host Financial, we offer our signature Price Match Guarantee to match or beat any other competing offers, making us the One-Stop-Shop for all your real estate investment financing needs.

STR Scout members get a discount! Request a quote in as fast as 60 seconds! 

Real Estate Investor Decline

📉 In the third quarter of 2024, investors accounted for just 16% of U.S. home purchases, marking their smallest share since late 2020. This retreat comes amid rising home prices and elevated mortgage rates, which have dampened enthusiasm for flipping and renting properties. However, the total value of properties acquired by investors rose 3.4% year-over-year to $38.8 billion, reflecting higher property valuations. Investors continue to target low-priced homes, which made up 45.7% of their acquisitions, as these properties offer more accessible purchase costs and broader appeal to renters or buyers. report

With current inventory levels, pricing trends, interest rates, and investor activity, we expect increasing seller motivation, more price reductions, and improved opportunities in many markets. Cash-ready buyers who can close quickly will be well-positioned to seize these deals.

Short Term Rentals

🛏️ Cleaning fees are out, and hosts are embracing simplicity. An Airbnb host who ditched cleaning fees is making waves, arguing that straightforward pricing wins over guests and builds trust. With increasing competition, some hosts believe it’s better to absorb costs than to risk losing bookings to fee-free competitors. cleaning fees

🌍 Houston sharpens its stance on short-term rentals. New rules aim to tighten registration requirements and regulate noise and parking to balance the needs of locals and hosts. Houston joins a growing list of cities reevaluating STRs’ impacts on neighborhoods, seeking a middle ground between regulation and opportunity. short-term property ordinance

🏡 Airbnb is aiming higher—literally and figuratively. With a push toward high-quality listings, Airbnb is looking to attract guests seeking premium stays and alternative experiences. Whether it's unique architecture or luxury upgrades, the platform wants hosts to think big. higher quality listings

🚀 Ever dreamed of staying in a missile silo? One host’s ambitious renovation of a Cold War-era silo into an Airbnb is the talk of the town, but she’s grappling with niche demand and unexpected challenges. While unique, such properties highlight the high stakes of unconventional hosting. missile silo

Housing

📉 Mortgage rates may finally be inching down. The Mortgage Bankers Association predicts rates will dip below 6% by 2025, offering relief to buyers sidelined by this year’s 8% highs. With affordability on everyone’s mind, this news could reinvigorate the housing market. mortgage rates

🔍 Zillow’s crystal ball suggests mixed housing trends. A revised 2025 home price forecast reveals stabilization in some markets and slight declines in others. While booming cities may see slower gains, affordability issues continue to weigh heavily on the market. housing market map

💰 Homeowners are bracing for skyrocketing insurance costs. Breckenridge officials report 1,000% premium hikes, a growing issue nationwide as climate risks push insurers to raise prices or exit markets. This surge hits renters too, as costs trickle down through higher rents. homeowners insurance

Economy

💸 The U.S. debt crisis is catching up with us. With debt surpassing $36 trillion, rising interest costs are crowding out spending priorities and unnerving investors. As borrowing costs climb, policymakers face mounting pressure to curb deficits. debt crisis

👔 A white-collar recession looms for tech and finance. Despite a booming job market overall, high-paying sectors face layoffs, signaling potential turbulence ahead for six-figure earners. This shift reflects broader recalibrations as industries adapt to slower growth. white-collar recession

📈 Fannie Mae forecasts brighter days for home sales. With mortgage rates expected to ease, existing home sales could recover by 2025. While inventory constraints remain, buyers may find renewed opportunities in a more balanced market. home sales forecast

Destinations

✈️ Mexico’s tourist hotspots feel the slowdown. Cancun, Los Cabos, and Puerto Vallarta report a decline in international visitor growth, as rising travel costs and changing preferences shift demand to alternative destinations. Industry leaders remain optimistic about long-term recovery. visitor growth

🏖️ Thinking about retiring in Panama? The Central American gem offers affordable living, warm climates, and expat-friendly policies. From bustling Panama City to serene beach towns, retirees are flocking to the region in droves. retiring in Panama

Technology

🤖 AI agents are poised to transform 2025. Beyond moonshots, AI is set to integrate into daily life, from personal assistants to smart home automation. These developments promise to make homes more intuitive and rentals more efficient. AI agents

✨ AI is revolutionizing real estate operations. Beyond moonshots, 75% of brokerages now integrate AI into daily tasks, from crafting property descriptions to generating marketing content. Agents use AI to make transactions more efficient, with tools streamlining property listings and social media campaigns. AI integration