Buying an Airbnb in The Smoky Mountains of Tennessee

The Short Term Shows
  • 5.0 (8)
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Welcome to the Short Term Shop's specific market series! In each episode of the series we'll be doing a deep dive on a particular aspect of owning/renting an airbnb. Each episode will be hosted by a variety of short term shoppers as well as short term shop agents.

  1. FEB 12

    February Market Update with Reagen

    Luke Carl sits down with Reagen to break down the February 2026 market update in the Smoky Mountains. They discuss a noticeable shift in activity, including the highest monthly closings since December 2021, declining inventory levels, and what that means for buyers navigating a market that’s moving from a strong buyer’s market toward balance. Reagen also shares insights on turnkey new construction pool cabins, high-end luxury builds already booking deep into 2026, fixer-upper challenges, and why long-term cash flow and smart buying matter more than obsessing over first-year cash-on-cash returns. Connect with an agent: agents@theshorttermshop.com Connect with us: The Short Term Shop - https://theshorttermshop.com/ https://stsplus.com/ Follow Avery Carl on Instagram Follow Avery Carl on TikTok Join the Short Term Shop Facebook group Check out the Short Term Shop on YouTube   For more information on how to get into short term rentals, read Avery’s books: Smarter Short Term Rentals - Buy it on Amazon Short-Term Rental, Long-Term Wealth: Your Guide to Analyzing, Buying, and Managing Vacation Properties – Buy it on Amazon Chapters (00:00:00) - Smoky Mountains Real Estate: December was the biggest month since December(00:04:09) - Do Small Houses Deserve a Small Home?(00:05:28) - The Smokies: Bougie Town(00:07:42) - 499 Acre Cabin, Gatlinburg(00:11:50) - Two Bed, Three Bath Cabin Near Gatlinburg(00:15:30) - Tongue and Groove Cabin, Private Beach(00:17:56) - Are There Any Fixer Uppers Available In Gatlinburg?(00:21:34) - Cabin Community: A High-End Luxury Property(00:24:47) - The Secret to Famous Footwear(00:25:20) - How to Sell Your Real Estate

    28 min

  2. 11/14/2025

    Market Target Update with Matt

    On this episode of the series, Luke sits down with Smoky Mountain agent and long-time investor Matt Castle to break down what's happening right now in the Smokies market, including a surge in pending contracts and how shifting Fed policy and mortgage rates may impact short-term rental buyers. They talk through timing purchases and listings around tax strategy and seasonal slowdowns, why winter months can be prime time for both buyers and sellers, and how fundamentals like strong photos, themed design, cleanliness, and strategic deep cleans separate top-performing cabins from the rest. Matt also contrasts turnkey vs. value-add STR opportunities, shares how serious multifamily/commercial investors are adapting to the unique metrics of short-term rentals, and emphasizes not overthinking it—focusing on “heads in beds” and guest experience.   How to connect with Matt Castle Best way to reach him: matt@theshorttermshop.com     Connect with us: The Short Term Shop - https://theshorttermshop.com/ https://stsplus.com/ Follow Avery Carl on Instagram Follow Avery Carl on TikTok Join the Short Term Shop Facebook group Check out the Short Term Shop on YouTube   For more information on how to get into short term rentals, read Avery’s books: Smarter Short Term Rentals - Buy it on Amazon Short-Term Rental, Long-Term Wealth: Your Guide to Analyzing, Buying, and Managing Vacation Properties – Buy it on Amazon Chapters (00:00:02) - Smoky Mountain Real Estate Podcast(00:00:22) - Matt Castle Discusses the Smokies Real Estate Market(00:01:23) - Real Estate Listings in the Great Smoky Mountains(00:02:23) - Pending vs Sold Home Loans(00:08:48) - President Trump's policy on monetary policy(00:09:40) - Economist: Expect another rate drop in December(00:10:48) - Are Commercial Real Estate Sales Up?(00:17:22) - January and February: Are they a good time to buy a house(00:23:23) - Smoky Mountains Real Estate Update(00:23:52) - When to Sell Your Cabin?(00:26:06) - How to Buy a Cabin in the Smokies

    29 min

  3. 09/29/2025

    Market Target Update with Natalie

    In this episode of the series, Luke Carl chats with Natalie from The Short Term Shop about the Smokies market. They discuss why “saturation” is misunderstood, how 15–20 million annual visitors support demand, and where to buy. They cover shifting momentum in the market, pricing realities for sellers, what amenities actually matter and two live examples of current listings.   Connect with us: The Short Term Shop - https://theshorttermshop.com/ www.strquestions.com Follow Avery Carl on Instagram Follow Avery Carl on TikTok Join the Short Term Shop Facebook group Check out the Short Term Shop on YouTube   For more information on how to get into short term rentals, read Avery’s books: Smarter Short Term Rentals - Buy it on Amazon Short-Term Rental, Long-Term Wealth: Your Guide to Analyzing, Buying, and Managing Vacation Properties – Buy it on Amazon Chapters (00:00:01) - Market Targets: The Smokies(00:01:05) - Real Estate in the Smokies: Back to Business(00:03:43) - Taylor Swift on the Haters(00:04:25) - Does Smokey Mountains Tourism Have Reached Saturation?(00:10:08) - Tourism in North Georgia(00:13:07) - How to Find a Hot Rental in Gatlinburg(00:16:13) - Exploring Townsend: The Smokies Resort(00:18:34) - The state of new construction in the Smokies(00:21:39) - Have buyers shifted gears?(00:27:17) - The Seattle home market's pick up(00:31:56) - Want a Smokey's Cabin?(00:36:41) - Cabin in the Smokies for $650(00:39:03) - Short Term Sales Advice

    39 min

  4. 09/29/2025

    Market Target Update with Reagan

    In this episode of the series, Luke Carl sits down with Reagan from The Short Term Shop to break down what’s happening in the Smokies market this fall. They cover how recent rate cuts and shifting inventory are shaping buyer leverage, strategies for writing strong offers in today’s environment, and what to watch for with new construction quality. Reagan also shares how she uses AirDNA to evaluate realistic revenue ranges for two-bedroom cabins and why grounding your numbers in data matters when deciding on a purchase.     Connect with us: The Short Term Shop - https://theshorttermshop.com/ www.strquestions.com Follow Avery Carl on Instagram Follow Avery Carl on TikTok Join the Short Term Shop Facebook group Check out the Short Term Shop on YouTube   For more information on how to get into short term rentals, read Avery’s books: Smarter Short Term Rentals - Buy it on Amazon Short-Term Rental, Long-Term Wealth: Your Guide to Analyzing, Buying, and Managing Vacation Properties – Buy it on Amazon Chapters (00:00:01) - Exploring the Smoky Mountains of East Tennessee(00:01:16) - Real Estate Interview(00:06:42) - Should You Offer a Million-Dollar Home?(00:08:43) - Smokies New Construction Market(00:14:27) - How To Build a Sheetrock House(00:14:50) - How To Analyze Vacation Deals in the Smokies(00:17:04) - Air DNA: The Smokies Real Estate(00:18:52) - How to Compare Your Property with Others on Airbnb and VRBO(00:24:55) - Property Assessment: 88,000 vs Buying a House(00:27:41) - The Smoky Mountains: Guest Experience

    29 min

  5. 08/15/2025

    Special Episode: A deep dive to PriceLabs with Wayde Hall

    On this week's episode, Avery is joined by Wayde Hall from the Short Term Shop for a hands-on walkthrough of how he uses Price Labs Market Dashboards to analyze properties in detail. Wayde demonstrates step-by-step how to filter for specific property types, review counts, and amenities, then sort by revenue to identify top performers and pinpoint areas for improvement. He shows how to spot seasonality trends, set realistic pricing expectations, and understand which amenities or policies impact booking rates. The episode is packed with actionable tips for both beginner and seasoned investors who want to get beyond surface-level data and make smarter STR decisions.      How to connect with Avery: The Short Term Shop - https://theshorttermshop.com/ www.strquestions.com Follow Avery Carl on Instagram Follow Avery Carl on TikTok Join the Short Term Shop Facebook group Check out the Short Term Shop on YouTube   For more information on how to get into short term rentals, read Avery’s books: Smarter Short Term Rentals - Buy it on Amazon Short-Term Rental, Long-Term Wealth: Your Guide to Analyzing, Buying, and Managing Vacation Properties – Buy it on Amazon

    33 min

  6. 06/17/2025

    Hot Tubs

    On this week's episode of Short Term Rental Management, Luke interviews Ryan Ferguson, an electrician-turned-hot tub repair expert serving East Tennessee's Smoky Mountains. They dive into common hot tub issues in vacation rentals—like economy mode, airlocks, and water damage from improper draining—while sharing maintenance tips, regulatory insights, and hilarious stories involving bears, raccoons, and overloaded tubs. Ryan also emphasizes the importance of simplicity, proper electrical installation, and regular inspection to keep STR hot tubs guest-ready and code-compliant.   How to connect with Ryan: Website Phone #: (865) 635-9383 Email: FergusonPM865@gmail.com   How to connect with Luke: The Short Term Shop - https://theshorttermshop.com/ Follow us on Instagram  Follow us on TikTok Join the Short Term Shop Facebook group Check out the Short Term Shop on YouTube   For more information on how to get into short term rentals, read Avery’s books: Smarter Short Term Rentals - Buy it on Amazon Short-Term Rental, Long-Term Wealth: Your Guide to Analyzing, Buying, and Managing Vacation Properties – Buy it on Amazon

    54 min

  7. 06/03/2025

    STR Photographs with Mike Sutton

    On this week's episode of Short Term Rental Management, Luke Carl talks with photographer Mike Sutton about what makes great short-term rental photos, especially in the competitive Smoky Mountains market. They discuss the evolution of the vacation rental photography space, how to vet and select a photographer, what types of shots matter most (like twilight, drone, and 3D floor plans), and why authenticity in staging is more important than over-styling. Mike also shares personal insights into raising eight kids, his journey from IT to photography, and how hosts can prepare for seasonal and update sessions the right way.   Check out Mike's portfolio: https://mikesuttonjr.com/   How to connect with Luke: The Short Term Shop - https://theshorttermshop.com/ Follow us on Instagram  Follow us on TikTok Join the Short Term Shop Facebook group Check out the Short Term Shop on YouTube   For more information on how to get into short term rentals, read Avery’s books: Smarter Short Term Rentals - Buy it on Amazon Short-Term Rental, Long-Term Wealth: Your Guide to Analyzing, Buying, and Managing Vacation Properties – Buy it on Amazon

    1 hr

  8. 07/17/2023

    Airbnb Pricing and Calendar Management in the Smoky Mountains (TN)

    In this episode of the series we'll be talking about all things calendars! We'll go over the seasonality of the Smoky Mountains, how to set up custom calendars, how far in advance to open your calendar, some pricing mistakes to avoid and more!   Connect with Avery and the Short Term Shop: www.theshorttermshop.com www.strquestions.com Short-Term Rental, Long-Term Wealth Book - https://amzn.to/3Adg6PA Short Term Show and Short Term Rental Management Show - https://linktr.ee/strmshow The Short Term Show - https://linktr.ee/theshorttermshow https://www.facebook.com/groups/shorttermshop https://theshorttermshop.com/cash-flow-calculator/ https://theshorttermshop.com/estimated-returns/ https://theshorttermshop.com/lp/smokymountains/

    44 min
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Welcome to the Short Term Shop's specific market series! In each episode of the series we'll be doing a deep dive on a particular aspect of owning/renting an airbnb. Each episode will be hosted by a variety of short term shoppers as well as short term shop agents.

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