Podcast
STR Investing, The Podcast
Hosted by Mark Lumpkin & Taylor Jones · EN
Unlock financial freedom through short-term rental investing with hosts Mark Lumpkin and Taylor Jones. 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.
33episodes
Episodes
Newest firstAll episodes
STR Lessons From Surviving a Million Dollar COVID Loss
May 2200:34:06Tap to summarizeWhat happens when a short-term rental operator loses over $1,000,000 during COVID?In this episode of the STR Investing Podcast, Mark Lumpkin sits down with Jason Baxter to talk about the highs, lows, and future of the short-term rental industry.Jason shares how he accidentally got started in Airbnb over 10 years ago, scaled to a portfolio of 50 lofts in Montreal, and then watched everything collapse during the COVID shutdowns in Canada.Facing bankruptcy, Jason rebuilt from the ground up by leaning into technology, automation, hospitality, and smarter booking strategies.In this episode, they dive into:The early days of Airbnb automationSurviving a million-dollar loss during COVIDThe biggest mistakes STR hosts make with techWhy hospitality still matters more than AIHow Airbnb algorithms really workPricing strategy and booking optimizationThe future of direct bookings and alternative platformsWhy “short-term rentals are a long-term game”Jason also explains how the right positioning and strategy helped one property grow from $65,000/year to over $210,000/year in bookings.If you’re an STR investor, property manager, or host trying to scale smarter, this is an episode you don’t want to miss.__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 Charleston, SC Market
May 1800:09:10Tap to summarizeMark Lumpkin breaks down the short-term rental market in Charleston — one of the most desirable and tightly regulated STR markets in the Southeast.Charleston is a heavyweight market: Over 8 million annual visitors More than $14 billion in tourism impact Strong ADRs and occupancy And some of the strictest STR regulations in the country In this episode, Mark dives into: Why Charleston continues to attract massive tourism demand Where travelers are coming from and why they visit The importance of weddings, bachelorette groups, and food tourism Why Charleston’s strict regulations actually create opportunity What investors need to know before buying in the market The data shows that Charleston isn’t just another beach destination — it’s a premium travel market with strong demand, limited supply, and travelers willing to spend.If you can secure the right property in the right zoning area, Charleston can be an incredibly powerful STR market.
Transcribe →Smart Locks, Smarter Stays with Amber Baron
May 1500:36:35Summary readySmart locks are no longer optional in short-term rentals.In this episode, Mark Lumpkin sits down with Amber Baron from Dormakaba to talk about why access control is one of the most overlooked parts of the guest experience — and how bad systems can completely ruin a stay.They break down:Why check-in is one of the most important moments in hospitalityThe biggest mistakes hosts still make with property accessWhy physical keys are creating massive operational headachesHow smart lock systems integrate with PMS software and automationThe importance of backup systems and emergency access plansHow remote operators can manage properties more securelyWhere AI and smart access technology are headed nextReal stories from the field — including a property manager literally Kool-Aid-manning through a door to save a guest stayIf you own, manage, or plan to scale short-term rentals, this episode is packed with practical insights on security, operations, and creating a smoother guest experience.Listen now and learn why access is the new front desk in hospitality.__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
SummaryMonday Market Data: Breakdown of Chattanooga, TN Market
May 1100:07:03Tap 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
May 800:37:29Tap 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
May 100:33:19Tap 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
Apr 2700:07:33Tap 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!
Apr 1700:33:31Tap 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.
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