A Buyers Perspective on Buying & Managing a STR in Gatlinburg/PF

[Karen Chenaille]

Hey Folks! My husband Scott and I had the honor of being interviewed by Julian Sage on the STR Success Stories podcast. We talked a lot about our experience shopping for and managing our two STR's in the smokies. Give it a listen!

https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/short-term-rental-success-stories/id1457263788?i=1000462559664

Big shout out to @Avery Carl, @Luke Carl and @Parker Borofsky for all their help during the process.

[Julie McCoy]

@Karen Chenaille I listened today, great info, thanks for sharing your experience!  Appreciate the real talk on how fast the Gatlinburg/PF market moves.  

@Tanner Barnes Don't get too buried in the details, that's the makings of analysis paralysis right there. There's an inverse relationship between occupancy rate and nightly rate. Smaller has higher occupancy, less rate fluctuation; bigger has a lot more rate fluctuation AND occupancy fluctuation, but you make bank in the high season and in the 4+BR space your ROI is typically better than the smaller ones that are more consistent.

View/no views = both rent great, views rent better but they cost $$$$ so from an ROI perspective you may very well get a better return from no view.

Location = no appreciable difference between PF, GB, or in between.  Just stick within a 15 minute drive of either Parkway in Pigeon Forge, or downtown Gatlinburg.  Try to get roads that don't suck.  

Bottom line - sweet spot is in 4-5BR cabins for peak ROI, but all sizes will cash flow well, so it's okay to just go with what you're comfortable with, too. Most important thing is to make a move. :)