Podcast
STR Law
Hosted by Katie Johnson · ENGLISH
🎙 STR LAW
Legal Tips for Short-Term Rental Hosts
Welcome to STR LAW, the podcast where short-term rental hosts get real legal guidance without the legalese. Hosted by real estate attorney and investor Katie Johnson, each episode breaks down the laws, risks, and must-know rules that affect your Airbnb, VRBO, or boutique vacation rental business. Episodes include STR zoning laws, rental regulations, guest disputes, liability protection, LLC formation, permits, compliance, hosting contracts, and practical resources at strlaw.com
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21episodes
Episodes
Newest firstAll episodes
Trusts + LLCs: The STR Owner’s Probate-Proof Game Plan
Mar 3000:19:59Tap to summarizeCalifornia probate can be slow, expensive, and messy, especially when you own rentals or run a business. In this episode, I am joined by Mark Abel, a Southern California trusts-and-estates attorney, to explain how estate planning and LLCs work together for STR owners and real estate investors.We cover why a living revocable trust is a go-to tool for avoiding probate, how a pour-over will “catch” assets that never make it back into the trust (often after refinances), and the documents that matter for incapacity planning so operations don’t freeze after an unexpected event.You’ll also hear our guidance on LLC successor planning, why trusts matter even more for families with minor children, and what Mark is seeing in California, including HOA crackdowns and STR lottery or waitlist systems.If you’ve been “meaning to get around to it,” this episode is your reminder: hope for the best, plan for the worst.Shop STR legal templates: strlaw.com#ShortTermRental #AirbnbHost #VacationRental #AssetProtection #LLC #STRLaw #RiskManagement
Transcribe →The Snatch-and-Grab Lawsuit: Why Your STR Needs LLC Armor
Feb 2300:45:33Tap to summarizeAsset protection doesn’t have to be confusing, especially when you own short-term rentals. In this episode, Katie is joined by attorney Kevin Snyder of Snyder Law to break down “layers of protection” for STR owners: insurance, LLC structuring, and when trusts may (or may not) make sense. They cover why separating properties into different LLCs can reduce risk, the real problem with “pooling” rentals under one entity, and how out-of-state LLCs (like Wyoming) can add an extra deterrent layer—especially for California owners concerned about charging orders. Kevin also explains the basics of piercing the corporate veil, the compliance habits that keep your LLC strong (bank accounts, operating agreements, annual upkeep), and where crypto fits into an asset-protection planShop STR legal templates: strlaw.com#ShortTermRental #AirbnbHost #VacationRental #AssetProtection #LLC #STRLaw #RiskManagement
Transcribe →Sell High, Don’t Rush: Tax-Smart Exit Strategies for Real Estate & Business Owners
Feb 500:29:24Tap to summarizeI sat down with Brett Swartz to unpack tax-smart exit planning for real estate investors and business owners—especially how a Deferred Sales Trust can help defer capital gains with more flexibility than a traditional 1031 exchange.If you’re thinking about selling, this episode is for you. Hit play, follow the show on Spotify, and share it with a friend who’s planning an exit.🎙️#ExitPlanning #CapitalGainsTax #RealEstateInvesting #TaxStrategies #WealthManagement
Transcribe →Zoning, Entitlements, and Creating Real Estate Value Before You Build
Jan 2100:31:38Tap to summarizeIn this episode of STR Law, attorney and real estate developer Ari Rastigar explains how zoning and entitlements shape real estate value long before construction begins.The conversation covers entitlement risk, rezoning strategies, large-scale development, 3D-printed housing, and how institutional investors approach housing in high-growth cities like Austin and Dallas.A practical discussion on land use, STR strategy, and why understanding zoning law is essential for developers, investors, and hosts. 🎙️BONUS!! For the next 72 hours only:Buy any STR Law Kit at strlaw.com and get a free 1-hour one-on-one consult with me to walk through your STR legal questions.#STRLaw #RealEstatePodcast #Zoning #Entitlements #LandUseLaw #ShortTermRentals #RealEstateDevelopment #HousingSupply
Transcribe →Small-Town Politics, Big Zoning Risks for STR Hosts with Ali Haney
Jan 1200:40:17Tap to summarizeWhat happens when a 90-acre Property collides with small-town politics and zoning boards?In this episode of STR Law, real estate attorney and Airbnb investor Katie Johnson sits down with Ali Haney—short-term rental owner, branding expert, and host of The Branded Market Podcast. Ali shares how she bought a 90-acre property in rural Kentucky to build a wedding venue with on-site stays, only to face neighbor backlash, packed hearings, and a conditional use permit loaded with 18 conditions.You’ll learn:How informal “zoning green lights” can fall apart at the hearingWhat conditional/special use permits really look like in practiceHow neighbor opposition can reshape (or kill) your business modelHow Allie pivoted from wedding venue plans to a successful STRIf you’re an STR host, investor, or aspiring venue owner, this real-life zoning story is a must-listen before your next deal. 🎙️
Transcribe →Build a sustainable short-term rental co-hosting business with Steph Weber
Jan 500:30:14Tap to summarizeFor this episode, our guest, Steph Weber—owner of The Weber Co, co-host at Hosted by the Webers, and partner in Cabins on the Cumberland—shares what it takes to build a sustainable short-term rental co-hosting business.Steph breaks down how branding and organic marketing helped her scale quickly, plus the lessons she learned the hard way about contracts, onboarding, client boundaries, scope clarity. Hosts, co-hosts, STR operators will gain practical insights to tighten systems, reduce friction, and protect the business.🎧 Tap play now, then follow STR Law so you don’t miss the next episode—plus leave a quick rating/review if this helped you.#STRLaw #ShortTermRentals #TheWeberCo #AirbnbHost #VacationRental #CoHosting #AirbnbBusiness #HospitalityBusiness #RealEstateInvesting #BrandStrategy #MarketingTips #SmallBusinessOwner #EntrepreneurLife #PropertyManagement
Transcribe →Getting Paid: Commercial Collections & Enforcing Judgments with Mark Rossman & Noah Matthews
Dec 1900:59:12Tap to summarizeWhen you win a lawsuit, the judgment is only as valuable as your ability to collect. In this episode of STR Law, real estate attorney Katie Johnson sits down with business litigators Mark Rossman and Noah Matthews of Rossman PC to break down what commercial collections really look like—especially when a debtor tries to dodge payment.They discuss the difference between cases where a client already has a judgment versus situations where you still need to sue, why acting quickly can dramatically improve recovery, and what enforcement strategies may be available—from post-judgment discovery and emergency motions to pursuing personal guarantors, challenging fraudulent transfers, and (in certain cases) piercing the corporate veil.If you’re a business owner, investor, or professional who’s ever thought, “We won…now how do we actually get paid?”—this episode is for you.This episode is for general educational purposes and is not legal advice.#STRLaw #BusinessLaw #CommercialLitigation #Collections #JudgmentEnforcement #RealEstateInvesting #Entrepreneurship
Transcribe →Renovate Without Regret: Contracts, Permits & Contractor Red Flags
Dec 1300:37:42Tap to summarizeRenovations can make—or break—your short-term rental. In this episode, real estate attorney and host Katie Johnson sits down with Minnesota investor Tanya Rooney to share a practical playbook for managing construction on STR properties. They explain how vague scopes create chaotic bids and walk through what to include in a detailed scope (counts, locations, specs, exclusions) so proposals reflect the same work. You’ll hear the real differences between commercial and residential contractors, how contracts with timelines and payment milestones prevent surprises, and why licenses, insurance, permits, and final inspections are non-negotiable. Tap the 🔔 for new episodes, leave a ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ rating, and share this with a host planning a renovation—then save it for your next contractor meeting.#STRLaw #ShortTermRental #AirbnbHostTips #RealEstateInvesting #Renovation #ContractorVetting #Permits #Inspections #CodeCompliance #ConstructionLaw #ProjectManagement #PropertyManagement #TanyaRooney
Transcribe →Financing STRs the Right Way: Non-QM, DSCR, and Avoiding Mortgage-Fraud Traps.
Nov 1300:38:24Tap to summarizeShort-term rentals are booming, but financing them is where a lot of hosts get tripped up. In this episode, Katie talks with Parker, a lender licensed in 45+ states, about how STR buyers can actually qualify using traditional QM (Qualified Mortgage) loans, more flexible non-QM products (bank-statement, 1099, full-doc non-QM), and DSCR (Debt Service Coverage Ratio) loans that rely on projected STR income or AirDNA data. This episode also explains when you can safely buy in your own name and deed it into an LLC, how to tell if a seller-credit or rate-buydown is actually helping you or just “lipstick on a pig,” and the exact point where lenders treat occupancy as non-negotiable so you don’t drift into mortgage-fraud territory.#STRLaw #ShortTermRentals #AirbnbInvesting #RealEstateInvesting #DSCR #NonQM #QualifiedMortgage #InvestorLoans #SellerCredits #LLC #MortgageComplianceGet in touch with Parker Borofsky: Here is her website!
Transcribe →Investing with Vision: Structuring Profitable Partnerships in Short-Term Rentals with Natalie Palmer
Nov 500:37:16Tap to summarizeShort-term rental operators can find the deals — the tricky part is bringing in investors without creating legal or partnership headaches. The questions start fast: How long is the hold? Who manages? What if someone wants out early?In this episode of STR Law, Katie Johnson sits down with Natalie Palmer (No Vacancy Podcast, Level Up Your Listing Summit) to break down a real deal she raised for an upstate New York STR. They walk through why they chose a 7-year exit, how they kept terms the same for every investor, using a manager-managed LLC, DSCR loans, and how to say “no” to non-ideal partners — without losing momentum.If you’re moving from “I own a couple of Airbnbs” to “I raise capital and partner,” this will help you set it up cleanly. #STRLaw #ShortTermRentals #AirbnbInvesting #CapitalRaising #RealEstatePartnerships #LLCStructure #RealEstateAttorney #NataliePalmer Natalie Palmer’s website: hostwithnatalie.com The conference Level Up Your Listing Summit: levelupyourlistingsummit.com
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