Podcast
STR Investing, The Podcast
Hosted by Taylor Jones & Mark Lumpkin · ENGLISH
Unlock financial freedom through short-term rental investing with hosts Taylor Jones and Mark Lumpkin. Each week, they sit down with the biggest names in the STR industry to uncover what’s working right now — from acquisitions and design to operations, marketing, and scaling portfolios.
Taylor has helped acquire and manage over 500+ STRs, while Mark brings years of hands-on experience transforming properties into high-performing investments.
Together, they break down real strategies, real numbers, and real stories that help investors grow smarter and faster.
Whether you’re buying your first Airbnb or expanding a multi-market portfolio, this show is your roadmap to building wealth and freedom through short-term rentals.
Subscribe and start turning your STR goals into results.
115episodes
Episodes
Newest firstAll episodes
Monday Market Data: Breakdown of Chattanooga, TN Market
3d ago00:07:03Tap to summarizeChattanooga might be one of the biggest STR opportunities flying under the radar.In this week’s Monday Market Data Report, Mark Lumpkin breaks down why Chattanooga is still in the early innings of the amenity arms race — and how investors can create a true “unicorn” property with surprisingly little competition.The numbers are eye-opening:Only 18% of listings have hot tubsOnly 3.8% have swimming poolsLess than 1% have movie theaters, saunas, mini golf, or pickleball courtsTranslation?Most properties in Chattanooga still look basic.That creates massive opportunity for investors willing to buy the right property, add strategic amenities, and stand out in a market that hasn’t fully matured yet.In this episode, Mark breaks down:Why Chattanooga’s tourism market keeps growingThe events and attractions driving travel demandWhich amenities are becoming mandatoryWhich amenities almost nobody has yetHow to create a top-performing STR without competing against thousands of heavily amenitized propertiesIf you’ve been looking for a market where you can still get ahead of the curve instead of fighting oversaturation, this episode is worth your attention.__Episode Sponsored By:STR SearchSTR Search is the industry leading property finder service. They've helped investors acquire over 215 profitable STRs across the US. If you'd like the data professionals to help you find your next STR, reach out to STRsearch.com
Transcribe →Building my First Micro Resort
6d ago00:37:29Tap to summarizeAI is changing business faster than ever — and short-term rentals are no exception.Mark Lumpkin sits down with Nick Korwin to talk about building a luxury micro resort from the ground up while working full-time in the AI and autonomous vehicle industry.Nick shares:How he transitioned from traditional rentals into short-term rentalsWhy he chose to build a micro resort instead of buying more housesThe lessons learned developing raw land into luxury cabinsHow he’s using AI to automate parts of his STR businessWhy unique stays continue to outperform average rentalsThe realities of scaling while still working a W2 jobHow technology is reshaping hospitality and operationsThe biggest mistakes investors make when developing propertiesThey also dive deep into the future of AI, automation, hospitality, and what STR operators should be paying attention to over the next few years.If you’ve ever thought about building something bigger than a traditional Airbnb — or wondered how AI could give you an edge in business — this episode is packed with insights.__Episode Sponsored By:STR SearchSTR Search is the industry leading property finder service. They've helped investors acquire over 215 profitable STRs across the US. If you'd like the data professionals to help you find your next STR, reach out to STRsearch.com
Transcribe →STR Marketing Without Airbnb
2w ago00:33:19Tap to summarizeSTR software is evolving fast - but the best operators know the real edge isn’t just automation.In this episode of the STR Investing Podcast, Mark Lumpkin sits down with Amber Knight from bookingcloud.com to break down where the industry is headed—and what most hosts are still getting wrong.Amber shares her journey from helping scale early-stage operations at Vacasa to building new technology that drives visibility, bookings, and revenue for short-term rental operators.They dive into:• How automation is reshaping the STR industry• Why most hosts are still behind on direct booking strategy• The real role of AI in your business (and what it can’t replace)• How top operators are driving more visibility and bookings• Why guest experience is still the ultimate differentiatorAs Amber puts it: you can automate processes—but you can’t automate how a guest feels. If you’re managing properties, building a brand, or trying to scale your STR business, this episode will challenge how you think about tech, marketing, and hospitality.Listen now and start building a more profitable, experience-driven STR business.__Episode Sponsored By:STR SearchSTR Search is the industry leading property finder service. They've helped investors acquire over 215 profitable STRs across the US. If you'd like the data professionals to help you find your next STR, reach out to STRsearch.com
Transcribe →Monday Market Data: Breakdown of Scottsdale, AZ Market
2w ago00:07:33Tap to summarizeIn this week’s Monday Market Data Report, Mark Lumpkin breaks down the short-term rental data for Scottsdale and the greater Phoenix market — and answers the big question:Is it actually oversaturated?Using real data and strategy from STR Search, this episode shows why Scottsdale is still one of the most opportunity-rich STR markets in the country — if you know how to play it.Inside the episode: Why Scottsdale continues to see massive travel growth and demand What average properties earn vs. top-performing listings The key drivers bringing millions of visitors into the market How to filter from 23,000 listings down to ~450 real competitors The exact amenity + property strategy top performers are using to win The takeaway is simple:You’re not competing with 20,000 listings. You’re competing with a small, highly filtered group — if you buy and build the right way.If you’re considering Scottsdale, this episode gives you a clear, data-backed blueprint to stand out and win.
Transcribe →RVs The Next STR!
4w ago00:33:31Tap to summarizeWhat if your next investment wasn’t a house… but something on wheels?In this episode, Mark Lumpkin sits down with Gar Russell, founder of Fireside RV Rental, to break down an entirely different angle on hospitality investing.Gar shares how he went from building and losing a multi-million dollar real estate portfolio… to creating the largest RV rental management franchise in the country. They dive into: Why RVs are NOT traditional investments (and what most people get wrong) How unused RVs can turn into cash-flowing assets The biggest mistakes Gar made that nearly cost him everything What scaling to 70+ locations actually looks like Where the future of travel, AI, and hospitality is headed This episode is a raw look at entrepreneurship, failure, and finding opportunity in unexpected places.If you're thinking beyond traditional STRs or just want to sharpen your investing mindset, this one hits different.__Episode Sponsored By:STR SearchSTR Search is the industry leading property finder service. They've helped investors acquire over 215 profitable STRs across the US. If you'd like the data professionals to help you find your next STR, reach out to STRsearch.com
Transcribe →Monday Market Data: Breakdown of Big Bear, CA Amenities Market
Apr 1300:06:32Tap to summarizeIn this week’s Monday Market Data Report, Mark Lumpkin breaks down the short-term rental data for Big Bear Lake — including a full market snapshot + amenity performance breakdown.This episode introduces a new format, giving you a clearer picture of: Overall market supply and demand Where guests are coming from Seasonality and booking patterns And which amenities actually drive revenue Here’s what the data shows in Big Bear:• Hot Tubs (59%) → +$14,000/year • Fire Pits (48%) → +$3,600/year • Game Rooms (29%) → +$14,752/year • Saunas (2%) → +$38,000/year • Waterfront (<1%) → +$25,000/yearWith over 4,000 listings and steady growth, Big Bear is competitive — but still offers opportunity for investors who differentiate with the right amenities.Most guests are coming from Southern California for short, weekend stays — making design, amenities, and guest experience critical to standing out.If you’re investing in Big Bear or analyzing mountain markets, this episode gives you the data you need to compete.
Transcribe →Monday Market Data: Breakdown of Poconos, PA Amenities Market
Apr 600:06:30Tap to summarizeIn this week’s Monday Market Data Report, Mark Lumpkin breaks down the amenity data for The Poconos — one of the most competitive and heavily amenitized STR markets in the country.This episode reveals a massive truth about the Poconos:Amenities aren’t optional. They’re everything.Using data from STR Search, we break down what top-performing properties are doing differently — and why some homes generate $250K+ per year while others struggle to break even in the exact same location.Here’s what the data shows:• Fire Pits (83%) → +$42,750/year • Hot Tubs (75%) → +$45,600/year • Game Rooms (71%) → +$41,100/year • Playgrounds (41%) → +$55,000/year • Saunas (19%) → +$21,000/year • Movie Theaters (13%) → +$58,000/yearThe takeaway is clear: amenity stacking drives revenue in the Poconos.Properties with multiple high-impact amenities consistently outperform — while under-amenitized homes fall far behind, even if they share the same location, views, and bedroom count.If you’re investing in the Poconos, this episode gives you the blueprint to compete — and win.Subscribe for market data every Monday and expert guests every Friday.
Transcribe →Free PMS Changing the Industry!
Apr 300:38:04Tap to summarizeIn this episode of the STR Investing Podcast, Mark Lumpkin sits down with Pierre-Camille Hamana, founder and CEO of Hospitable, to break down how short-term rental software has evolved over the last decade and where the industry is heading next.Pierre shares how he went from hosting a single room in Brussels to building one of the most recognized property management platforms in the space. They dive into the early challenges of automation, the rapid evolution of integrations, and how technology has transformed operations for hosts and property managers.The conversation also explores the balance between automation and hospitality, why guest experience still matters more than ever, and how operators can stand out in an increasingly competitive market.At the end of the episode, Pierre reveals a major shift in how software will be offered moving forward — including a new $0 subscription plan designed to make professional tools accessible to every host.If you want to understand where STR tech is going and how to stay ahead, this is a must-listen.__Episode Sponsored By:STR SearchSTR Search is the industry leading property finder service. They've helped investors acquire over 215 profitable STRs across the US. If you'd like the data professionals to help you find your next STR, reach out to STRsearch.com
Transcribe →Building a Buy Box
Mar 2700:08:20Tap to summarizeIn this episode, co-host Taylor Jones breaks down a simple, practical framework for building your short-term rental buy box without needing expensive tools or large amounts of capital.If you’ve ever asked yourself where to buy, what to buy, and how to know if a deal actually works, this episode walks you through it step by step.Taylor explains how to use Airbnb itself to identify top-performing areas, how to analyze amenities and design trends, and how to reverse-engineer what’s already working in your market. He also dives into how to validate your assumptions with data tools like AirDNA or Rabbu and, most importantly, how to determine if a deal will actually cash flow.This is a straightforward, actionable approach to help you stop guessing and start making smarter acquisition decisions.__Episode Sponsored By:STR SearchSTR Search is the industry leading property finder service. They've helped investors acquire over 215 profitable STRs across the US. If you'd like the data professionals to help you find your next STR, reach out to STRsearch.com
Transcribe →The Instagram Strategy Behind $1M+ in STR Bookings
Mar 2100:29:38Tap to summarizeWe’re bringing back one of our most actionable episodes on using Instagram to drive real bookings.In this episode of the STR Investing Podcast, co-host Taylor Jones sits down with Ben Wolff, founder of Onera and a pioneer in the unique stays space.Ben shares how he built standout hospitality experiences that naturally attract attention online and convert that attention into direct bookings. From treehouse hotels to outdoor stays, his approach proves that the right content can become a powerful revenue engine.This episode breaks down the real strategy behind influencer collaborations, content marketing, and building a brand that drives demand. Including how one influencer partnership generated $25,000 in direct bookings with no upfront cost, and how these strategies contributed to over $1,000,000 in bookings.In this episode, you’ll learn:How Instagram can drive serious revenue for STRsWhy unique stays perform so well on social mediaThe strategy behind a $25K influencer winHow to turn content into consistent direct bookingsWhat’s working right now in STR marketingIf you’re looking to grow bookings and reduce reliance on OTAs, this is one to study.__Episode Sponsored By:STR SearchSTR Search is the industry leading property finder service. They've helped investors acquire over 215 profitable STRs across the US. If you'd like the data professionals to help you find your next STR, reach out to STRsearch.com
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