Short Term Rental Secrets Podcast

AirDNA just dropped its biggest platform update in years, and if you’re not using these tools, you’re falling behind. From custom comps to Airbnb integration, this episode breaks down the new features, how to use them, and what they reveal about the 2025 STR landscape. What you’ll learn: * How to use the new Rentalizer confidence score and custom comps * Why saved projections and expense tracking are game changers * The truth about 2025 booking trends (and who’s winning) * What AirDNA’s forecast says about rates, RevPAR, and smart investing If you’re serious about short-term rentals, you can’t afford to miss this. Want to get our Latest Deal Analyzer? Just click the link to our Instagram below and send 'Rentalizer' https://ig.me/m/mike.sjogren?utm_source=Podcast&utm_medium=Captivate&utm_campaign=T015&utm_content=Rentalizer [https://ig.me/m/mike.sjogren?utm_source=Podcast&utm_medium=Captivate&utm_campaign=T013&utm_content=Contract] 02:35 – Why the Update Matters: Major Interface and Logic Changes 05:10 – Data Model Shift: From Historical to Projected Revenue 08:00 – The 3 Core Metrics You MUST Understand in the New Version 11:00 – Updated Filters: Comp Selection and Market Targeting 13:30 – Accuracy Considerations: What AirDNA Gets Wrong (and Right) 16:45 – Real-Time Demo: Using the New Tool to Analyze a Property 20:20 – How to Reverse Engineer a Successful STR Deal with AirDNA 24:00 – Hidden Pitfalls: Common Mistakes People Make Post-Update 28:10 – Strategic Recommendations for Using the New Rentalizer Get FREE Access to our Community and Weekly Trainings: https://group.strsecrets.com [https://group.strsecrets.com/]

Fouad spent 20 years in banking and 11 more consulting banks before walking away from corporate life when his wife’s income surpassed his. What happened next? A wild ride through the world of short-term rentals, driven by family, strategy, and a long-term vision few operators ever reach. In this episode, Fouad breaks down: * How a personal medical emergency forced him to buy his first Airbnb * Why most operators price listings wrong—and how he uses math instead * The real difference between luxury and comfort STRs (and why he runs both) * His custom tech stack using Go High Level * And the real reason he’s scaling to $12M/year before exiting This one’s for the operators who want to scale smart, stay profitable, and build something sellable. What you’ll learn: * How to scale with dual verticals (luxury + comfort) * Why you must reverse-engineer around your exit * How banking lessons apply directly to STRs * Why pricing = math, not emotion * How Fouad thinks about purpose and legacy Ready to build a business that banks would beg to fund? Fouad shows you how. 03:30 – Breaking the Golden Handcuffs: Why He Left Corporate 07:00 – First STR Deal: Starting Small With Big Vision 10:00 – Smart Risk: Learning to Bet on Yourself 13:00 – From 1 to 10+ Units: Scaling With Confidence 17:00 – Wealth Mindset: Thinking Like an Owner, Not an Operator 20:00 – Cash Flow vs Time: Redefining Success Metrics 24:00 – Building a Business, Not a Job: Systems and Team Growth 27:00 – Lessons From the Field: What He’d Do Differently 30:00 – Purpose-Driven Investing: Time, Family, and Freedom Guest Bio: Fouad Bazzi is a professional in the short-term rental (STR) industry. His activities include owning, managing, and building new build-to-rent properties, as well as consulting and educating others in the STR space. He also owns a pool servicing company that specializes in serving STR properties. Guest Link: https://www.instagram.com/fouad_airbnb [https://www.instagram.com/fouad_airbnb] Get FREE Access to our Community and Weekly Trainings: https://group.strsecrets.com

Airbnb just rolled out its biggest update of the year, and if you’re a host, you need to know what’s coming. In this live breakdown, we cover: • The truth about Airbnb’s new “Services” feature and why it matters • What this means for photographers, chefs, massage therapists, and YOU • How Airbnb plans to monetize add-ons (and why you might not see a cut) • Major liability concerns Airbnb isn’t talking about • How this could affect your guest experience—and your reviews • Why this is really a pivot toward becoming the Instagram of Travel Plus: actionable strategies to get ahead of this change, build local service partnerships, and protect your property. TLDR? This update means more work for hosts, unless Airbnb starts paying us to help them grow. Watch this now so you’re not caught off guard. Want to get the summary of Airbnb's Latest Update? Just click the link to our Instagram below and send 'Update' https://ig.me/m/mike.sjogren?utm_source=Podcast&utm_medium=Captivate&utm_campaign=T014&utm_content=Update [https://ig.me/m/mike.sjogren?utm_source=Podcast&utm_medium=Captivate&utm_campaign=T013&utm_content=Contract] 00:00 – Bold Shift: Airbnb’s 2025 Release Redefines the Platform 01:30 – Major Update 1: Cleaning Services Now Offered to Guests 04:00 – Major Update 2: Handy Services and Maintenance on Demand 06:30 – Control at Risk: Services Can Be Scheduled Without Host Approval 08:45 – Host Autonomy Undermined: Who Has Access to Your Property? 10:30 – Guest Experience Prioritized: Host Voice Being Muted 12:00 – Airbnb’s Strategic Shift: From Booking Site to Service Ecosystem 13:30 – Host Action Plan: Communicate, Audit, and Prepare Get FREE Access to our Community and Weekly Trainings: https://group.strsecrets.com [https://group.strsecrets.com/]

In this raw, no-fluff episode, Hostaway CEO Marcus Rader shares the hard-won lessons behind building a billion-dollar vacation rental software company, starting with zero industry experience. Marcus breaks down: * Why most entrepreneurs aim too small and why it costs them everything * The mental and physical toll of building at scale (including 7 years without a dentist visit) * How he filters “good money” vs “bad money” when raising capital * The future of short-term rentals in a regulated, AI-powered world * Practical leadership advice for scaling teams without losing your mission Plus: his marathon training, travel hacks, and how to avoid becoming a micromanaged founder. Whether you’re a startup founder, STR operator, or tech junkie—this is a must-listen for anyone who wants to win big without burning out. Ready to scale? Tap into Marcus’s billion-dollar playbook now. 00:00 – Go Bigger: Why Playing Small Carries the Same Risk but Less Reward 00:39 – Craft Over Hype: The Power of Repetition and Mastery 02:04 – Be There: Why Leading Remotely Doesn’t Win Markets 03:45 – Market Leadership: How Hostaway Beat Older, Bigger Players 05:58 – Hiring Giants: From 50,000 Applicants to the Top 0.1% 08:59 – Cost of Ambition: Health, Relationships, and the Real Price of Building 12:29 – Go for Billionaire Moves: Why Medium Goals Aren’t Worth the Sacrifice 15:31 – Choosing Good Money: Partnering with Investors Who Let You Lead 17:23 – No Kitchen Rules: Keeping Creative Control While Scaling Up 20:27 – Invisible AI: How Hostaway Uses Tech to Deliver Unseen Excellence 23:00 – Review Intelligence: Turning Guest Feedback into Business Strategy 25:30 – Tool Advantage: Hostaway’s Marketplace as a Growth Engine 27:17 – Global Expansion: Owning New Markets One Continent at a Time 29:33 – Regulation Shakeout: Why Strong Rules Are Good for Professionals 32:50 – Reputation Reset: Cleaning Up the Industry with Standards That Matter Guest Bio: Marcus Räder is co-founder and CEO of Hostaway, the leading all-in-one vacation rental management software. Originally from Finland, Marcus has lived in many countries around the world including Sweden, Poland, and The Netherlands before settling in Canada. It was this passion for travel, real estate and his dedication to learning about the vacation rental ecosystem that enabled the creation of Hostaway. The company quickly grew thanks to the deep technological expertise of its founders, with over a decade of tech start-up success between them. Hostaway gives property managers all the tools needed to compete with hotels and other vacation rentals, including sales channel management, dynamic pricing and hospitality services. It now boasts preferred partnerships with Airbnb, Vrbo and Booking.com, in addition to a marketplace of over 100 integrated software partners. Guest Link: https://www.linkedin.com/in/marketingmarcus/ Get FREE Access to our Community and Weekly Trainings: https://group.strsecrets.com [https://group.strsecrets.com/]

This episode unpacks the real playbook behind scaling short-term rental businesses with AI, leadership, and culture. Straight from the STR Boardroom event in Salem, hosts Chris and E break down their biggest takeaways from Dr. Rachel Gainsbrugh’s AI workshop to the emotional breakthroughs in hot seats, to Mark from Minoan’s CEO mindset at 50+ employees. What you’ll learn: • The AI stacking method Rachel used to double her sales team’s close rate • The 5 levels of VA hiring, from cheap help to AI-powered specialists • Why great team members outgrow companies, and how to lead through it • The exact moment a founder must pivot from operator to people leader • How to use the 5 Dysfunctions of a Team framework to build culture that scales • Why emotional safety is the hidden growth lever most CEOs ignore • And how to actually implement event takeaways before you lose momentum This isn’t another tech tips episode. It’s a tactical and vulnerable deep dive into what it takes to scale, lead, and stay grounded in 2025. 00:00 – Building Confidence: Lessons from Struggle, Sales, and Self-Belief 04:00 – Rewiring Identity: From Overwhelm to Intention 08:00 – Leveraging Chaos: Why Adversity Becomes Your Superpower 12:00 – The Four Levels of Competence: From Unconscious to Mastery 16:00 – Winning in Business: Simplifying Systems, Offers, and Time 20:00 – $20K Days in 5 Hours: Prioritizing High-Leverage Work 24:00 – Clarity Is Power: Why Lack of Decision-Making Kills Momentum 28:00 – Excuse Audit: The Hidden Stories That Keep You Small 32:00 – Emotional Regulation: How to Respond Instead of React 36:00 – Final Challenge: Step Into Power and Choose a New Story Get FREE Access to our Community and Weekly Trainings: https://group.strsecrets.com [https://group.strsecrets.com]