I'd love to hear any advice on how other hosts in similar situations do this!  

Making a decent profit has everything to do with the right market...each and every one is different in guest avatar, ADR, and yearly revenue...the property itself, and the host and how knowledgeable they are on the STR industry right now because that is also an ever-changing landscape!  

Hey @Robert Rixer, there are a few in FtL @George Munoz and @Scott Kidd are hosts of a couple meet ups.

If in an LLC, you do not need to wait with some firms, especially for a rate and term. 

I own a property in the Disney market and co-host/manage another 25 in the area.Disney I think is a good market if your goals are more aligned with traditional long term real estate goals, and a bad market if your goals are more immediate gratification and short term cash flow.The major benefit of the Disney market is that it's about the safest market you can find from a long-term perspective. 

You could also try seasonal decorations, like for Halloween or Christmas, to make your property stand out.For help managing the STR, look into property managers who specialize in short-term rentals or join local real estate groups to connect with experienced hosts.

Hey hosts! 

Hi, I'm considering buying a property and would like to connect with fellow hosts in the area.

I've worked for several PM firms in the area and one company stole like 30k in commissions from me when I no longer wanted to work at their god awful company.I can definitely advise you on some property management companies to stay away from, as well as some new and upcoming property management companies in the area that are taking a more hands on and professional approach.  

It's very similar to what wall street firms are doing in large markets like Atlanta or Phoenix.