Landlord Diaries - The Monthly Rentals Podcast

Furnished Finder

Most landlords learn through trial and error. Landlord Diaries gives you the cheat codes for getting into monthly (mid-term) rentals and learning how they actually work.   Expert hosts Kelly Bailey and Katie Lyon reveal the secrets to finding success in the monthly rental game. They talk with real landlords who have figured it out, so you can learn real strategies on investment, property management, and building real estate income without the chaos of short-term rentals or the headaches of long-term leases. If you've ever wondered whether monthly rentals could work for you, this is where you start. Furnished Finder is the trusted leader in the category, connecting millions of travelers with furnished 30+ day housing across the US. No booking fees, no commissions, just one low annual listing fee, and you have total control of your rental. Your next rental strategy might be one episode away. Find recent episodes and meet Kelly and Katie at https://www.furnishedfinder.com/resources/podcast

  1. 1d ago ·  Video

    Are You Missing Out on Relocating Family Bookings?

    Why isn’t this 3 bedroom home booking? Kelly Bailey has six years of tenure on Furnished Finder, eight midterm rentals running at over 90% occupancy, and hosts the Landlord Diaries podcast. She’s also part of the Furnished Finder team. In this Listing Lab, she audits Angela’s 3 bed, 2 bath home near Mall of America in Minnesota and walks through the fixes that could turn around a listing that hasn’t booked since July.  Kelly also breaks down why relocating families are the fastest-growing tenant type on Furnished Finder, how to view your listing through their eyes, and why the Damage Protection Plan can open the door to kid/pet-friendly stays. List your furnished property or find midterm housing, visit https://www.furnishedfinder.com/ More on the Damage Protection Plan: https://www.furnishedfinder.com/blog/damage-protection-plan-a-simple-way-to-protect-your-property Subscribe for more midterm rental tips from real landlords in the field. Want your listing considered for the Listing Lab series? Fill out this form. https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/ZMGLVSJ Click this link for the full video experience: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VlqlMAYl1JQ Chapters 00:00 Relocating Families Are Surging on Furnished Finder 00:18 Meet Kelly and Today’s Minnesota Listing 01:03 Who Actually Rents a 3-Bedroom Midterm 01:51 Richfield Market Insights and Tenant Types 02:24 Searching the Listing as a Relocating Family 03:00 Why Your Calendar Must Stay Accurate 03:52 Photos That Sell to Families 04:26 Backyard Upgrades That Win Family Bookings 06:34 How Reviews Build Trust Early On 07:55 Reorder Your Interior Photos the Right Way 09:32 Writing a Stronger Title and Positioning 11:39 Pet Rules and Deposit Advice 13:33 Landlord Profile Tips and Your Homework TAGS: real estate investing, midterm rental, midterm rental landlord, furnished rental tips, furnished finder, furnished finder listing lab, relocating family rental, 3 bedroom midterm rental, midterm rental photos, damage protection plan, travel nurse housing, midterm rental setup, rental property tips, landlord tips, Mall of America rental, Kelly Bailey furnished finder, midterm rental landlord tips The Landlord Diaries is brought to you by Furnished Finder, where you can list your property for one low price and pay zero booking fees.

  2. Oct 8 ·  Video

    No Vacancy Series | Is Your Midterm Rental Priced Wrong?

    Pricing your midterm rental is one of the hardest parts of being a landlord, and most landlords get it wrong in one of three ways. Katie Lyon has 13 midterm rentals in her portfolio and is part of the Furnished Finder team. In this video, she breaks down three signs your rental pricing is off, how to spot the signs in your Furnished Finder dashboard, and the Market Insights data landlords should check before touching their price. Pricing isn't a one-and-done decision. It's a conversation between your listing and the market. Check the signs, adjust one variable at a time, and watch what happens. Want to list your furnished property or find midterm housing?  Visit https://www.furnishedfinder.com/ Subscribe for more midterm rental tips from real landlords in the field. Watch this link for the full video experience: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UbzAhxGBN4g Chapters 00:00 Why Pricing Is So Hard 00:25 Meet Katie Lyon 00:30 Pricing Isn't One and Done 00:40 The 3 Signs Your Rate Is Off 00:43 Sign 1: You're Overpriced 00:48 High Views, Low Inquiries 00:52 Where to Check Listing Performance 01:20 When Your Deposit Is the Problem 01:26 The Damage Protection Plan Alternative 01:34 Sign 2: You're Underpriced 01:41 Why Booking Out Fast Is a Warning 01:50 Raise Your Rate 10 Percent and Test 01:57 Sign 3: Priced Right, Listed Wrong 02:06 Highlight Your Best Amenities 02:12 Photograph Your Workspace 02:25 Fix the Listing Before the Price 02:28 Check Market Insights First 02:34 Where to Find Real Market Data 02:52 Stop Pricing on Gut Feelings 02:58 Pricing Is a Market Conversation 03:07 Track Inquiry Rate and Booking Speed 03:09 Change One Variable at a Time 03:14 Your Action Step This Week TAGS: real estate investing, midterm rental, midterm rental landlord, furnished rental tips, furnished finder, how to price a midterm rental, rental pricing strategy, furnished finder market insights, damage protection plan, travel nurse housing, midterm rental setup, rental property tips, landlord tips, remote worker housing, midterm rental landlord tips, landlord advice  The Landlord Diaries is brought to you by Furnished Finder, where you can list your property for one low price and pay zero booking fees.

  3. Oct 5 ·  Video

    The 30 Day Relocation Test Drive | Inside Furnished Finder's Fastest Growing Tenant

    They booked one month on Furnished Finder to escape the Arizona heat. Thirty days later, this Phoenix family was planning to move to the Pacific Northwest, and list their own home as a monthly rental. Nick and Danielle Golden walk landlords through the exact 30 day relocation test drive they ran, from their Furnished Finder search to the moment they realized they were making a life decision, not taking a vacation. Relocating families are now Furnished Finder's fastest growing tenant segment. More than doubled year over year in 2025, they represent 20% of overall tenant demand and rising. In this episode of Landlord Diaries, hosts Kelly Bailey and Katie Lyon get insider access to what these tenants actually need from your listing, why they book, and what wins the booking over the competition. If you own a midterm rental, monthly rental, furnished rental, or you are considering listing your property on Furnished Finder, this is the tenant type you need to understand. Landlords learn what relocating families search for and what makes a tenant reply to your housing request. You will also hear how Nick and Danielle are turning their scouting trip into a landlord strategy of their own, planning to list their Gilbert, Arizona home on Furnished Finder during the move. This is the traveler to landlord full circle moment that shows why remote work, midterm rentals, and monthly stays are reshaping how families relocate and how landlords earn. List Your Property on Furnished Finder: https://www.furnishedfinder.com/list-your-property Use code LLD10 for $10 off new listings. Chapters 0:00 Welcome to Landlord Diaries 1:00 Why Furnished Finder over Airbnb for a month long stay 2:25 How many landlords they messaged and what won the booking 3:10 The housing request feature that flipped their search 4:00 Average book to stay window for midterm rentals 4:30 How they picked their Seattle neighborhood 5:40 Landlord pro tip: update your calendar 6:10 What personalized landlord replies signal to tenants 6:55 How to attract relocating families to your rental 7:50 Families want comfortable, not luxury 9:00 A summer escape becomes a relocation playbook 12:20 Should you rent before you buy? The scouting month 15:15 No booking fees like Airbnb and Vrbo 17:00 The listing detail that sealed the booking 19:40 Red flags and green flags in a listing 22:05 A family of 4 chose a one bedroom for the month 22:55 What it was like living on the same property as the landlord 26:30 Grandparents as a relocating tenant segment 27:25 Visualize your tenant in your space 29:00 Don't forget these photos in your listing 31:00 What the Goldens will highlight in their own listing 31:50 Why Furnished Finder is a relocation asset 32:25 Manipulate the housing market with Furnished Finder 35:35 Landlord tips for getting started in midterm rentals 37:00 Renting month to month while selling the property 37:35 The doors Furnished Finder opened for this family 39:00 Rapid fire: American dream, monthly stay surprises 45:40 Damage Protection Plan for relocating families 46:25 Team Seattle or Team Portland? Comment below 47:35 Action items: Market Insights and listing spot check Trending Monthly Midterm Rental Resources: https://www.furnishedfinder.com/Resources/PMResources Meet your hosts Kelly Bailey and Katie Lyon, plus catch up on past episodes: https://www.furnishedfinder.com/resources/podcast Place the Goldens stayed: https://www.furnishedfinder.com/property/769427_1 Damage Protection Plan details: https://www.furnishedfinder.com/blog?q=damage+protection Topics covered: midterm rentals, monthly rentals, furnished rentals, Furnished Finder, relocating tenants, remote work, scouting trip, housing request, listing tips, deposit strategy, damage protection plan, Market Insights, Pacific Northwest, Seattle, Portland, real estate investing, rental income, side hustle, financial freedom The Landlord Diaries is brought to you by Furnished Finder, where you can list your property for one low price and pay zero booking fees.

  4. Oct 1 ·  Video

    Is Your Furnished Finder Listing Invisible? 4 Ways To Fix It Now

    Is your Furnished Finder listing invisible in search? Kelly Bailey has five years of tenure on Furnished Finder, eight listings running at over 90% occupancy year after year, and hosts the Landlord Diaries podcast. She's also part of the Furnished Finder team. In this Listing Lab, she audits a real 2-bed 2-bath listing in Gainesville, Florida, and walks through the pricing, photos, amenities, ranking and fee opportunities that any landlord can apply to their own listing today. Kelly breaks down how the Fast Responder tag works, why pet-friendly matters more than most landlords realize in this market, and how the Damage Protection Plan can replace a high deposit and keep your listing competitive. Furnished Finder Pricing Worksheet: https://www.furnishedfinder.com/blog/how-to-price-your-furnished-rental-a-landlords-guide Damage Protection Plan Options: https://www.furnishedfinder.com/blog/damage-protection-plan-for-landlords Want your listing considered for the Listing Lab series?  https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/ZMGLVSJ List your furnished property or find midterm housing: https://www.furnishedfinder.com/ Click this link for the full video experience:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AZXKDf-Xqi4 Subscribe for more midterm rental tips from real landlords in the field. Chapters 00:00 Welcome to Listing Lab 00:38 Today's Gainesville Listing Breakdown 01:07 Market Snapshot and Pricing Strategy 02:38 Photo Audit and Refresh Opportunities 05:12 Photo Best Practices Every Listing Needs 06:17 The Amenities Strategy That Wins 08:06 The Fast Responder Ranking Boost 09:27 Low Fees and the Damage Protection Plan 10:43 Your Listing Lab Homework TAGS: real estate investing, midterm rental, midterm rental landlord, furnished rental tips, furnished finder, furnished finder listing lab, furnished finder fast responder, how to rank higher on furnished finder, midterm rental photos, damage protection plan, travel nurse housing, midterm rental setup, rental property tips, landlord tips, Kelly Bailey furnished finder, midterm rental landlord tips The Landlord Diaries is brought to you by Furnished Finder, where you can list your property for one low price and pay zero booking fees.

  5. Sep 24 ·  Video

    The Truth About Airbnb’s New Fee Increase

    As of September 15, Airbnb service fees moved to a flat 15.5% commission on the host side, and the old fee break for long stays over 30 days is effectively gone. Katie Lyon is a midterm rental landlord with 13 units listed on both Airbnb and Furnished Finder, and she's part of the Furnished Finder team. In this video, she walks through the real math on a typical midterm stay, why raising your rate 15.5% still loses you money, and what this change means for landlords running both platforms. Katie also covers why cleaning fees and pet fees need to be adjusted (not just your nightly rate), how guest discounts on pricing affects longer stays, and what Furnished Finder CEO Jeff Hurst predicts is coming next for Vrbo. Want to list your furnished property or find midterm housing? Visit https://www.furnishedfinder.com/ Subscribe for more midterm rental tips from real landlords in the field. Click this link for the full video experience: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xol7dYS3pUU Chapters 00:00 The Airbnb Fee Change Explained 00:32 Inside the New Flat 15.5% Commission 01:16 The Math on a Typical Midterm Stay 02:29 Why Raising Your Rate 15.5% Isn't Enough 03:38 Raising Rates and Handling Price Discounts 04:44 Why Furnished Finder Books 80% of Katie's Tenants 05:09 How Tight Tenant Budgets Change the Math 05:54 What's Coming Next for Vrbo and Airbnb 06:28 Your Take on the Fee Change TAGS: real estate investing, midterm rental, midterm rental landlord, furnished rental tips, furnished finder, airbnb host fees, airbnb 15.5 percent commission, airbnb vs furnished finder, airbnb pricing change, travel nurse housing, midterm rental setup, rental property tips, landlord tips, vrbo fees, midterm rental landlord tips, Katie Lyon furnished finder The Landlord Diaries is brought to you by Furnished Finder, where you can list your property for one low price and pay zero booking fees.

  6. Sep 21 ·  Video

    Is Your Long Term Rental Losing Money? Ruben Doubled His Income with This Strategy | Ep. 173

    Ruben Galindo more than doubled his rent by converting all four of his long-term rentals to midterm rentals. His very first conversion went from $1,725 a month to $3,995, and he spent under $6,000 to furnish the property. In this episode of Landlord Diaries, Ruben walks us through exactly how he made the switch, what it cost, and how he now guides his real estate clients through the same decision. Ruben is a San Antonio investor who has spent 33 years in law enforcement and around a decade owning rental properties and working as a licensed real estate agent. He proves you don't have to quit your day job to build a profitable midterm rental portfolio. If you own long-term rentals and feel like you're leaving money on the table, this episode is for you. Ruben breaks down the furnishing myths that scare landlords away, why insurance and relocation tenants are integral parts of the midterm market, and how he focuses on midterm but fills the gaps with short term to keep his calendar optimized between stays. In this episode: The Furnished Finder Market Insights tool for pricing your rentalWhy construction workers and displaced insurance tenants are ideal midterm guestsAim for $7 to $10 per square foot when furnishing a midterm rentalHow to self-manage a midterm rental with a full-time W-2 jobWhy every long-term landlord should reconsider this strategy before placing another long term tenant Whether you're a long-term landlord chasing more cash flow, a short-term host tired of the hospitality grind, a retiree exploring a side income, or a real estate investor pursuing financial independence, Ruben's story shows that converting to midterm is less expensive and less risky than most landlords assume. List Your Property on Furnished Finder: https://www.furnishedfinder.com/list-your-property Use code LLD10 for $10 off new listings Chapters 0:00 Welcome to Landlord Diaries 0:40 Ruben doubled his profit with midterm rentals 1:50 Real example: $1,725 to $3,995 with MTR 3:20 What makes Ruben choose to convert a property 4:50 Relocation and insurance stays in vacation areas 5:30 Market Insights: let the MTR data speak 6:30 Ruben's 3rd and 4th long term to MTR conversion 8:10 Why construction crews make great MTR tenants 9:40 Biggest difference between midterm and short term tenants 11:20 Aim for $7 to $10 per sqft when furnishing 12:20 What matters in an MTR vs a short term rental 16:30 MTR hacks: flex rooms, room rentals, king beds 19:00 How long it takes to secure a midterm tenant 22:20 Hybrid STR/MTR strategy: pick your priority 25:35 Self-managing an MTR with a full time job 27:30 Find a real estate agent who is investor savvy 28:55 Tips to convert your LTR to MTR in the next 60 days 32:15 Rapid Fire: independence, splurges, and MTR myths Ruben's Listings on Furnished Finder: https://www.furnishedfinder.com/members/profile?id=210b24f-4b7a-a03-ab0-e7c41c What you need in a midterm rental: https://assets.ctfassets.net/8rvbu1uw8lem/4pKVOxeFmg0umMHL2vclew/0cfaabe735029d6f5181bb20cdf26aa6/Monthly_Rental_Essentials_Checklist_-Minoan-Furnished_Finder-.pdf Topics covered: midterm rentals, long term to midterm conversion, Furnished Finder, real estate investing, insurance housing, relocation tenants, hybrid rental strategy, financial independence, side hustle for landlords The Landlord Diaries is brought to you by Furnished Finder, where you can list your property for one low price and pay zero booking fees.

  7. Sep 17 ·  Video

    Listing Lab | A Focus On Property Fees | What You Need to Know

    In a recent Furnished Finder survey, 57% of tenants said they skip listings when the midterm rental deposit is too high. Kelly Bailey has eight midterm rentals on Furnished Finder, hosts the Landlord Diaries podcast, and leads the Listing Lab series. In this walkthrough, she reviews a real Washington DC listing and shows how to research fees and deposits against your local comps so you can find out whether your listing is priced to book or priced to sit. Furnished Finder Pricing Worksheet https://www.furnishedfinder.com/blog/how-to-price-your-furnished-rental-a-landlords-guide Want your listing considered for the Listing Lab series? Drop your Furnished Finder property ID in the comments. Want to list your furnished property or find midterm housing?  Visit https://www.furnishedfinder.com/ Subscribe for more midterm rental tips from real landlords in the field. Watch this link for the full video experience:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=28-EGjwFUMA Chapters 00:00 Why Fees Matter and accompany pricing 00:19 The 57% Deposit Survey Stat 00:38 Reviewing a Real DC Listing 01:08 Check You Midterm Pricing and Fees Together 01:32 Pulling Comps on the Furnished Finder Map 02:22 A Comp With a $2,500 Deposit 02:58 Property Booked with a Low $500 Deposit  03:26 A Higher-Priced Comp With No Deposit 03:36 Damage Protection Plan as a Deposit Alternative 04:19 Another Booked Listing With a Low Deposit 04:39 Why This Deposit Is Likely Too High 05:11 High Deposits Sit, Low Deposits Book 05:56 Your Steps to Check Your Fees TAGS: real estate investing, midterm rental, midterm rental landlord, furnished rental tips, furnished finder, furnished finder listing lab, midterm rental deposit, how to price a midterm rental, rental fees, cleaning fee, damage protection plan, travel nurse housing, midterm rental setup, rental property tips, landlord tips, Kelly Bailey furnished finder, midterm rental landlord tips The Landlord Diaries is brought to you by Furnished Finder, where you can list your property for one low price and pay zero booking fees.

  8. Sep 10 ·  Video

    No Vacancy Series: 6 Items Midterm Tenants Value (and Pay More For)

    Curious what midterm rental amenities justify a higher monthly rental rate? In this video, we break down the six amenities for your furnished rental that help remote workers or relocating family pick your listing and pay higher rental rates. Three are non-negotiable. Three are premium amenities tenants will pay extra for. The No Vacancy series is brought to you by Katie Lyon, a midterm rental landlord who is also part of the Furnished Finder team.  If you want more bookings at a stronger rate, this is the checklist to run your listing against today. Want to list your furnished property or find midterm housing?  Visit https://www.furnishedfinder.com/ Subscribe for more midterm rental tips from real landlords in the field. Watch this link for the full video experience: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nPjSp-X7KKk Chapters 00:00 Meet Katie Lyon 00:21 The Amenities That Raise Your Rate 00:38 Who Midterm Tenants Really Are 00:57 The 3 + 3 Amenity Framework 01:06 Amenity 1: Wi-Fi and a Real Workspace 01:37 Amenity 2: In-Unit Laundry 01:44 Where to Feature Laundry in Your Listing 02:03 Amenity 3: A Truly Stocked Kitchen 02:11 What Stocked Actually Means 02:31 Photograph Your Cabinets 02:43 Where the Premium Amenities Start 02:51 Amenity 4: Pet-Friendly Properties 03:01 The Value of a Fenced Yard 03:19 Easing Pet Damage Concerns 03:32 Amenity 5: A King Bed in the Primary 04:01 Amenity 6: Free On-Site Parking 04:40 Your Listing Challenge This Week TAGS: real estate investing, midterm rental, midterm rental landlord, furnished rental tips, furnished finder, midterm rental amenities, pet friendly rental, in unit laundry, king bed rental, travel nurse housing, midterm rental setup, rental property tips, landlord tips, remote worker housing, how to charge more for a rental, midterm rental landlord tips, Katie Lyon furnished finder The Landlord Diaries is brought to you by Furnished Finder, where you can list your property for one low price and pay zero booking fees.

4.7
out of 5
95 Ratings

About

Most landlords learn through trial and error. Landlord Diaries gives you the cheat codes for getting into monthly (mid-term) rentals and learning how they actually work.   Expert hosts Kelly Bailey and Katie Lyon reveal the secrets to finding success in the monthly rental game. They talk with real landlords who have figured it out, so you can learn real strategies on investment, property management, and building real estate income without the chaos of short-term rentals or the headaches of long-term leases. If you've ever wondered whether monthly rentals could work for you, this is where you start. Furnished Finder is the trusted leader in the category, connecting millions of travelers with furnished 30+ day housing across the US. No booking fees, no commissions, just one low annual listing fee, and you have total control of your rental. Your next rental strategy might be one episode away. Find recent episodes and meet Kelly and Katie at https://www.furnishedfinder.com/resources/podcast

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