Best STR Markets for New Investors in 2026: Data-Backed Low-Risk Entry Points
First-time STR buyers need stability, not trophy ADR. StaySTRA data identifies 9 markets with low occupancy variance, accessible entry prices…
Senior Data Analyst & Research Editor
I started my career as a government statistician, spending years buried in housing and tourism datasets before moving into private-sector market research. That work taught me something important: behind every spreadsheet is a human story waiting to be told clearly. Eventually I found my way to the short-term rental industry, and it turned out to be the perfect intersection of everything I care about, data, housing, communities, and the way they all connect. As Research Editor here, I dig into rental market trends, regulatory impacts, and the real numbers behind the headlines. If a city says its new ordinance improved housing availability, I'm the one checking that claim against actual inventory data. I believe good analysis should feel accessible, not intimidating, so I try to write the way I'd explain something to a smart friend over coffee. I'm based in Santa Fe, where my desk is covered in Pueblo pottery and there's always a fresh mug of black coffee within reach.
First-time STR buyers need stability, not trophy ADR. StaySTRA data identifies 9 markets with low occupancy variance, accessible entry prices…
Top 10 short-term rental buys for July 27, 2026: $238,000–$895,000, led by Anderson, SC (StaySTRA Score 92, 16.1% cap, 36.4%…
STR cap rates are calculated differently from long-term rental cap rates, and most online sources get it wrong. StaySTRA data…
At a 25% PM fee, your property manager needs to generate 33% more gross revenue than you would self-managing just…
Top 10 short-term rental buys for July 24, 2026: $215,000–$574,995, led by Florissant, CO (StaySTRA Score 94, 16.1% cap, 36.8%…
Top 10 short-term rental buys for July 22, 2026: $215,000–$539,900, led by Joliet, IL (StaySTRA Score 98, 15.5% cap, 24.4%…
StaySTRA data reveals that seasonal resort markets like Destin FL earn nearly 2x more annually than true year-round markets like…
Top 10 short-term rental buys for July 20, 2026: $283,170–$485,000, led by Round Rock, TX (StaySTRA Score 92, 16.5% cap,…
StaySTRA data across 53 markets plus AirDNA's 2026 Outlook confirms the STR recovery is real, market-specific, and concentrated in supply-constrained…
StaySTRA data shows which STR market types deliver 8 percent or better cash-on-cash returns at 7 percent DSCR loan rates…
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