STR Investing, The Podcast

Mark Lumpkin & Taylor Jones
  • 4.0 (12)
  • Investing
  • Updated Weekly

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.

  1. 2d ago

    Monday Market Data: Breakdown of San Diego, CA Market

    San Diego has some of the strongest STR revenue numbers we’ve seen—but getting into the market comes with a major hurdle. In this Monday Market Data Report, Mark Lumpkin breaks down the San Diego, California short-term rental market, including tourism, regulations, revenue by bedroom count, and the amenities investors need to compete. The numbers get interesting fast: 1 Bedroom → ~$81K/year average2 Bedrooms → ~$92K/year3 Bedrooms → ~$102K/year4 Bedrooms → ~$115K/year5 Bedrooms → ~$161K/year7 Bedrooms → ~$200K/year averageThe biggest jump? Going from four to five bedrooms adds roughly $45K+ in average annual revenue, while some top-performing larger properties are reaching $300K–$500K in revenue. Mark also breaks down San Diego’s amenity stack, where fire pits and hot tubs are common—but movie theaters, saunas, mini golf, and pickleball courts remain rare. The opportunity is there. The challenge is navigating San Diego’s strict STR permitting environment and finding a property that can actually operate. Tune in for the complete breakdown.

  2. 5d ago

    How To Master Your 4 Hour Window From Check Out to Check In

    What does it actually take to keep a short-term rental guest-ready - not just clean? In this episode, Mark Lumpkin sits down with Jonathan Wicks, Founder of Well & Good, one of the largest vacation rental cleaning and servicing companies in the industry. Jonathan breaks down the systems behind operating STRs at scale, from cleaning and off-site laundry to restocking, inspections, maintenance issues, and the tight turnover window between guests. They cover: Why “clean” doesn’t always mean guest-readyThe biggest mistakes STR owners make with cleanersWhy cleaning, laundry, and restocking should be separate processesHow Well & Good handles hundreds of turnovers during peak seasonWhat owners should expect from their boots-on-the-ground teamHow to build operating systems that scaleWhether you own one STR or manage hundreds, this episode is packed with practical ways to improve your operations and deliver a better guest experience. __ Episode Sponsored By: STR Search STR 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

  3. Aug 3

    Monday Market Data: Breakdown of Indianapolis, IN Market

    Is Indianapolis a good market for short-term rentals? In this week's Market Monday, Mark Lumpkin breaks down the numbers behind one of the Midwest's most event-driven STR markets. From the Indianapolis 500 and NFL games to NCAA tournaments and major conventions, Indianapolis offers strong revenue potential—but only if you understand the seasonality, pricing strategy, and what it takes to stand out. Mark covers the latest market data, revenue by bedroom count, and the amenity stack that's helping top-performing properties generate well into six figures. In this episode, you'll learn:  Why Indianapolis is a strong event-driven STR market  Revenue potential by bedroom count  Which property sizes generate the highest returns  The amenities that separate average listings from top performers  Why dynamic pricing is critical in this market  How to build a "super property" with minimal competition Whether you're considering your first investment in Indianapolis or looking to optimize an existing property, this episode gives you the data you need to make smarter decisions.

  4. Jul 31

    STR Law

    Owning a short-term rental is exciting - but are you legally protected? In this episode, Mark Lumpkin sits down with Katie Johnson, Founder of STR Law, to discuss the legal side of owning and operating vacation rentals. From LLCs and rental agreements to insurance, guest safety, and changing regulations, Katie shares the steps every STR owner should take to protect their investment before a problem ever happens.  You'll learn:  How to legally protect your short-term rental business  The four pillars every host should have in place  Why LLCs and rental agreements matter  Common legal mistakes investors make before buying a property  How to reduce liability around pools, hot tubs, and guest safety  What the future of STR regulation could look like Whether you're buying your first Airbnb or managing a growing portfolio, this episode will help you protect your business, your guests, and your peace of mind. __ Episode Sponsored By: STR Search STR 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

  5. Jul 27

    Monday Market Data: Breakdown of College Station, TX Amenities Market

    In this week's Monday Market Data Report, Mark Lumpkin breaks down the short-term rental market in College Station, Texas—home of Texas A&M University and one of the country's most seasonal STR markets. Football weekends, graduation, and major sporting events create huge demand, making pricing strategy just as important as the property itself. In this episode, Mark covers: * Revenue potential by bedroom count * Why 4 and 5-bedroom homes outperform the rest * The unique seasonality of a college-town STR market * Which amenities help properties stand out The data shows: • 1–2 Bedrooms → ~$35K/year average • 3 Bedrooms → ~$41K/year average • 4 Bedrooms → ~$53K/year average • 5+ Bedrooms → ~$70K/year average Amenity penetration: * Fire Pits → 42% * Game Rooms → 16% * Pools → 9% * Pool Tables → 8% * Hot Tubs → 8% * Pickleball Courts → 2.5% * Mini Golf → 3% * Movie Theaters → 4% The takeaway? In College Station, your biggest advantage isn't just amenities—it's owning the right-sized property and maximizing revenue during peak football and graduation weekends. Subscribe for new Market Data Reports every Monday and expert guest interviews every Friday.

  6. Jul 24

    From Peru to 15 Million-Dollar Fund

    In this episode, Mark Lumpkin sits down with George Salas, Founder of Empress Capital, to discuss what it really takes to build a scalable short-term rental business. George shares his incredible journey from immigrating to the United States with almost nothing, to starting with rental arbitrage, surviving the challenges of COVID, and building a vertically integrated hospitality company focused on experiential short-term rentals, boutique hotels, and institutional-quality operations. You'll learn: How to think beyond buying individual AirbnbsWhy unit-level economics are critical for long-term successThe systems and financial tracking every STR investor should haveHow George evaluates deals, manages seasonality, and scales operationsWhy execution—not just acquisitions—is the key to building enterprise valueThe mindset shifts that helped him grow from operator to CEOWhether you're buying your first STR or building a large portfolio, this conversation is packed with practical insights on scaling smarter, operating more efficiently, and creating a business built to last. If you enjoyed this episode, be sure to subscribe, leave a review, and share it with another STR investor looking to take their business to the next level.

  7. Jul 13

    Monday Market Data: Breakdown of St. Louis, MO Amenities Market

    In this week's Monday Market Data Report, Mark Lumpkin breaks down the short-term rental market in St. Louis, Missouri—and the data reveals one of the biggest opportunities we've seen all year. With more than 25 million annual visitors, growing STR occupancy, and an incredibly under-amenitized market, St. Louis may be the perfect place to build a true "super property." In this episode, Mark covers: Revenue potential by bedroom countWhy 4, 5, and 7-bedroom homes see the biggest revenue jumpsThe current STR regulations and market trendsThe amenities your competitors have—and more importantly, the ones they don'tThe numbers are shocking: • Game Rooms → Less than 7% of listings • Playgrounds → Less than 7% • Pickleball Courts → 2% • Mini Golf → 1.5% • Pools, Hot Tubs, Saunas, Fire Pits & Home Gyms → Less than 1% The takeaway? Most St. Louis Airbnbs have almost no amenities. That means investors willing to build something unique have an opportunity to create a true one-of-one property with very little competition. Subscribe for new Market Data Reports every Monday and expert guest interviews every Friday.

  8. Jul 6

    Monday Market Data: Breakdown of Destin, FL Amenities Market

    In this week's Monday Market Data Report, Mark Lumpkin breaks down one of the most requested short-term rental markets in the country: Destin, Florida. With more than 8 million annual visitors across the Destin and Fort Walton Beach area, this Emerald Coast destination continues to be one of the strongest beach markets for STR investors. In this episode, Mark covers: Revenue potential by bedroom countWhy larger homes dramatically outperform condos and smaller propertiesThe amenities every Destin investor needs to competeWhich upgrades still help you stand out in a crowded marketHere's what the data shows: • 1 Bedroom → ~$50K/year average • 2 Bedrooms → ~$80K/year average • 3 Bedrooms → ~$103K/year average • 5 Bedrooms → ~$164K/year average • 8 Bedrooms → ~$250K+/year average On the amenity side: Pools → 92% of listingsHot Tubs → 45%Game Rooms → 22%Waterfront → 22%The biggest opportunities? Less than 10% of properties have pickleball courts, gyms, or playgrounds, while movie theaters, mini golf, and saunas remain extremely rare. If you're buying or optimizing an STR on the Emerald Coast, this episode is your roadmap to standing out and maximizing revenue. Subscribe for new Market Data Reports every Monday and expert guest interviews every Friday.

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About

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.

Information

  • Creator
    Mark Lumpkin & Taylor Jones
  • Years Active
    2024 - 2026
  • Episodes
    138
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2026 STR Investing, The Podcast
  • Show Website
    STR Investing, The Podcast

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