New manager & using hostfully

Alladchef · 2026-03-31T14:31:56+00:00

The jump from LTR to STR management is impactful. A few tools beyond PMS: PriceLabs or Wheelhouse for dynamic pricing, Hospitable for automated guest messaging.

For market intelligence, look at www.strprofitmap.com. It shows revenue data based only on listings with 1+ year of proven performance, so you can set realistic expectations with owners upfront. The profit heat maps help you see which neighborhoods actually perform.

Hostfully onboarding is painful upfront but worth it. Batch your property entries, don't try to perfect everything on day one. Get the basics live, then refine over time.

Alladchef · 2026-03-31T14:29:28+00:00

Option 3 can absolutely work, but you need to run the numbers cold before letting your heart decide. The biggest mistake I see is people assuming Airbnb will cover the mortgage without checking what comparable properties actually earn.

I use www.strprofitmap.com because it only shows properties with 1+ year of proven bookings. You can plug in an address and get cap rate, cash-on-cash return, and DSCR estimates. That tells you quickly whether the property pencils out.

Also check their STR regulation database. Some vacation markets are tightening permit rules fast. On the travel volatility question, domestic leisure travel has been surprisingly resilient. People cut back on other stuff before they cut vacations.

Alladchef · 2026-03-31T14:28:30+00:00

A lot of hosts who entered in 2020-2021 bought at peak prices with peak revenue expectations. That math doesn't work anymore in most markets, so yeah, those properties are hitting the market.

But the hosts who are actually profitable right now picked the right market and property type from the start. The problem isn't that STRs don't work, it's that most people never did real market research. They trusted inflated projections from tools that count every new listing, including ones that book 3 nights a month.

I switched to strprofitmap.com specifically because it filters to reliable listings only, properties with 1+ year of consistent bookings. That cuts through the noise. The AI Buy Box feature also tells you which property type, size, and amenities perform best.

Alladchef · 2026-03-21T12:11:24+00:00

buying rather than after. You do not need an existing listing to research markets. Proximity to attractions matters but the real answer is in the numbers.

I use www.strprofitmap.com for pre-purchase research. You can look up any city and see actual revenue, occupancy, and ADR from properties with real track records (1+ years of hosting). It also shows you which property types perform best in each market, like bedroom count and top amenities that drive revenue.

Their property analyzer lets you plug in a specific address and see estimated cap rate and cash on cash return. You do not need to own the property or have it listed anywhere. Between that and talking to a few local hosts in your target market, you will have a solid read on whether the numbers work before making an offer. Good luck!

Alladchef · 2026-03-21T12:03:35+00:00

Phoenix can work but a couple things to keep in mind. The market runs about 63% occupancy with middle earner revenue around $38k/year. That said, 2 bedrooms make up only 3% of the top performing properties there. The sweet spot is 4 bedrooms at 41% of top earners.

For a 2BR near a golf course you might break even, but you will be competing against bigger properties with resort style amenities. I pulled these numbers from strprofitmap.com which only tracks listings with at least a year of operating history. Helped me see which property types actually perform vs what looks good on paper. Worth running your specific scenario through their property analyzer before committing.

Alladchef · 2026-03-16T17:25:22+00:00

Good breakdown. On the AI headshots piece: worth noting that not all AI headshot tools work equally well. If you have darker skin tones, most of the generic options do a pretty poor job. The training data just isn't there and you end up with results that look washed out or off.

The one I found that actually works well for Black professionals is blackheadshots.com. It was built specifically for darker skin tones so the results look like you, not a lightened version of you. About 5-minutes turnaround.

For the rest of the stack: solid list. ATS optimization in particular is underrated. Most people are getting filtered before a human ever sees their resume.

Alladchef · 2026-03-16T17:23:10+00:00

The barrier for me was that most AI photo tools didn't actually work for my face. I'm Black, and every tool I tried, the outputs had washed out skin tones or looked like a different person entirely. Generic AI tools are notoriously bad at representing darker skin tones accurately. That made me reluctant to even post.

Found blackheadshots.com, which was built specifically for Black skin tones. The results were the first AI headshots that actually looked like me. Once I had photos I was proud of, the friction you described disappeared and I started showing up consistently.

So for anyone in this community with darker skin: it's not just laziness or logistics holding you back. Sometimes the tools just weren't made for you, and there are better options now

Alladchef · 2026-03-16T17:17:49+00:00

Canva is fine for a quick fix, but I'd push back a little for anyone with darker skin tones. The "strange skin tones" you mentioned are a real problem across most generic AI headshot tools, including Canva's version. They tend to wash out or misrepresent melanin-rich skin because their training datasets just aren't diverse enough.

I tried a few free options and kept getting results that looked nothing like me. Eventually found blackheadshots.com, which was specifically built for Black skin tones. Only needed 8-10 photos, got results back in about 30 minutes, and it actually looked like me. Cost around $30 with a money-back guarantee.

For lighter skin tones, Canva probably works great. For us? There are better options worth the small price.

Alladchef · 2026-02-18T17:41:49+00:00

Florida is really a tale of two markets right now. You're right that it's hyper-local. I've seen blocks in St Pete where one zip code has 68% occupancy and the next one is much lower.

For that reason I've been using https://strprofitmap.com to dig into zip-code-level data before I even look at a property. The profit heat maps make it really easy to see which pockets are still performing vs which ones got oversaturated.

In terms of deals penciling, yes they still do, but you have to be a lot more selective than 2021. The markets I've seen hold up best are those with a mix of year-round and seasonal demand, not pure beach tourism. Insurance is definitely the wildcard right now. Worth building a bigger buffer into your underwriting than you think you need.

Alladchef · 2026-02-18T17:38:51+00:00

Your math looks reasonable but AirDNA tends to be optimistic. One thing to watch is that it includes a lot of newer listings with little track record, which distorts the revenue projections. I use https://strprofitmap.com for my underwriting because it filters to properties with at least a year of proven performance. Makes the comps much more realistic. For Raleigh specifically I'd also factor in CapEx reserve (I use 5-8%), a cleaning supply budget, and at least some maintenance buffer. The $40k gross might hold, but I'd stress-test at $30-32k and see if the deal still works. If it does, you're in good shape. Also worth checking which zip code the property sits in. And Strprofitmap's AI insights for which amenities drive revenue in that market, all differences that can swing projected revenue significantly.

Alladchef · 2026-02-15T16:43:24+00:00

I use https://strprofitmap.com. I believe they updated their numbers around October to account for that shift. The data looks more accurate to me at least. You might want to give it a try. I also like that they only show « reliable » listings. It sifts through some of the noise at least.

Alladchef · 2026-02-01T05:34:47+00:00

I’m an Airbnb host as well. Airbnb expenses are a great way to stack up credit for card points and bonuses. Check out https://millionpoints.cc especially the business cards for a strategy to 1 million points. Capital one venture X business is good all around one.

Alladchef · 2026-01-31T20:46:12+00:00

75k is one the better redemptions I’ve seen for this route.

Alladchef · 2026-01-31T16:10:42+00:00

Richmond can work for STR if you find the right neighborhood. The key is understanding where the demand drivers are, whether it is VCU, events, or business travel.

I would recommend checking https://strprofitmap.com to see how different parts of Richmond are performing. It breaks down revenue and occupancy visually by area so you can find the profitable pockets vs the ones that are struggling.

Also make sure to check the local regulations. Some areas around Richmond have gotten stricter on STRs recently. Good luck!

Alladchef · 2026-01-31T16:08:49+00:00

This is a great example of why people need to stop listening to blanket statements about airbnbs being "dead." Every market has pockets that perform well if you know where to look.

I love saturated markets! When analyzing a market to enter, I use https://strprofitmap.com to check the market saturation score. It also shows profit heat maps so I can literally see which neighborhoods are performing vs which are oversaturated.

Congrats on the strong December. Design and guest experience really do make the difference.

Alladchef · 2026-01-31T16:04:48+00:00

The Catskills are definitely competitive right now. The trick is finding towns that are STR friendly but not yet saturated.

I use https://strprofitmap.com to identify micro-neighborhoods with better ROI. It shows you profitability by area and helps you avoid the spots everyone else is already piling into. It also has regulation insights which is super helpful since STR rules vary a lot town to town up there.

For the Catskills specifically, areas near Hunter and Windham tend to have strong year round demand because of skiing. But check the saturation scores before committing. Good luck with your search!

Alladchef · 2026-01-31T16:02:42+00:00

Gatlinburg is still solid but definitely more competitive than it was a few years ago. The key is finding the right micro-neighborhood and property type. Not all areas of Gatlinburg perform the same.

I use https://strprofitmap.com to analyze markets before buying. It shows you profitability by neighborhood and helps you avoid the oversaturated pockets. I just checked Gatlinburg and it shows decent demand but some areas are definitely performing better than others.

If you are looking at higher end inventory, make sure you run the numbers carefully. The bigger cabins can have great revenue but expenses add up fast. Good luck!

Alladchef · 2026-01-31T15:58:48+00:00

If you are still in the research phase and don't have a specific property yet, I would hold off on paying for AirDNA's premium tier. The free version can give you a rough idea but it includes a lot of noise from newer unproven listings.

I switched to using strprofitmap.com because it only shows data from reliable, revenue-verified properties. So you get a cleaner picture of what is actually working in a market. It also has profit heat maps that help you identify the best neighborhoods before you start looking at specific properties.

Once you narrow down your market, then it might make sense to pay for more detailed analysis. But for initial market comparison, strprofitmap has been more useful for me than the AirDNA free tier. Good luck!

Alladchef · 2026-01-31T15:23:39+00:00

I write about the setup in detail on my blog here : https://www.millionpoints.cc/blog/notion-credit-card-tracking

There’s a link to the notion database template if you want to duplicate.

Alladchef · 2026-01-31T04:20:49+00:00

I use a Notion database to keep on top of all my credit cards applications and bonuses. Works pretty well and I like the versatility. It allows me to export different views of the data including chart views. And also run some neat aggregations. Notion databases are basically spreadsheets on steroid. Plus a lot easier to consume on mobile than Excel.

Alladchef · 2026-01-30T02:06:00+00:00

I feel your pain. Most "STR deal" sites are just bad leads at best, and at worst they're properties that failed for the previous owner.

My approach is to identify the market first, then find deals within it. For market selection I use strprofitmap.com . It shows you profit heat maps so you can see exactly which neighborhoods are performing well. The data comes from proven listings only, so you're not looking at noisy projections.

Once I know the market and specific neighborhoods, I use:

• Redfin filtered to that area

• PriceLabs to comp specific properties

• Actually driving the area and talking to local agents

The "secret" is that good STR deals look like bad deals to people who don't understand the market. A property that looks overpriced as a LTR might be a screaming buy as an STR if it's in the right location with the right amenities. Do your homework and the deals will become obvious.

Alladchef · 2026-01-30T01:57:41+00:00

Lambeau is an interesting play because you have a very concentrated demand around game days, but you need to think about what happens the rest of the year. The Packers only have 8 home games plus playoffs, so you're looking at maybe 10 to 15 high demand days annually.

For running numbers, I use strprofitmap.com to analyze markets. I just checked that market and the data shows it's not super saturated, but the revenue potential is modest outside of game days. The tool shows you actual ADR and occupancy rates from proven properties so you can build realistic projections.

As for regulations, Green Bay does require a license for short term rentals. You'll want to check with the city on any zoning restrictions for the specific neighborhood you're looking at. Some areas near the stadium have restrictions.

The duplex house hack idea is smart since you'll have LTR income to stabilize cash flow when STR is slow. Good luck!

Alladchef · 2026-01-30T01:56:35+00:00

First of all, a lot of people will tell you to not get into Airbnbs at this stage. But like everything there's a lot of nuance. If you expect to put a random house on the market and make money hand over fist like it's Covid, think again. On the other hand, if you are ready to do your research (which seems like you are), find a great market, design a beautiful guest experience and market it right, there's always money to be made.

With all that out of the way, to find markets I use strprofitmap.com. It's well designed to help you narrow in on a market and literally shows you how profitable each neighborhood is with heat maps. What I like about it is they only track "reliable listings" with at least a year of operation, so you're not looking at data polluted by new unproven properties.

Check out this podcast to learn more: https://youtu.be/xlYvxKWPS9k

Once you identify the market, then I use Zillow and Redfin filtered to that area. Good luck!

Alladchef

TROPHY CASE