After reviewing the latest ordinances, reports, and city guidelines, here’s a summary of my findings as of 11/18/2024:Key FindingsPermit Types and Fees:Type 1 (Owner-Occupied): $300 for 3 years.Type 2 (Non-Owner-Occupied): $450 for 3 years.Density caps apply to Type 2 permits (12.5% of block face).Enforcement:3 violations in 3 years lead to permit revocation.Fines up to $500/day for violations.Hotel Occupancy Tax (HOT):City: 9%, County: 1.75%, State: 6%.Platforms like Airbnb and VRBO will remit directly to the city starting Feb 2025.Platform Obligations:STRs must have valid permits; unpermitted properties will be removed by platforms like Airbnb.Special Exceptions for Density Limits:Require approval by the Board of Adjustment (BOA).Zip Code BreakdownI focused on these 11 zip codes:Under San Antonio Rules:78205, 78204, 78215, 78210, 78212, 78245, 78258Independent Municipalities (Separate Rules):Alamo Heights (78209)Leon Valley (78238)Helotes (78023)Next Steps:Research density caps and zoning in specific zip codes.Dive into independent municipality rules for Alamo Heights, Leon Valley, and Helotes.Evaluate market maturity and income potential using tools like AirDNA.If anyone has experience operating STRs in San Antonio or these specific zip codes, I’d love to hear your insights, especially about density limits, enforcement trends, or community sentiment.Thanks in advance!

Are you focusing on online lead gen like Facebook ads, Zillow, or platforms like BiggerPockets?

That’ll give you flexibility to automate and integrate workflows as your needs evolve.A direct booking site is a nice-to-have down the line if you want to save on platform fees and build a brand, but starting with platforms like Furnished Finder or VRBO is a solid way to keep things simple while you’re getting started.Good luck—sounds like you’re on the right track!

I’ve made a conscious effort in automating and digitizing more of my rental management tasks and can share some of the tools I've been exploring that might be helpful to others.I use Baselane a lot, it is a platform that's really geared towards landlords and real estate investors.

Vrbo and Airbnb sync with each other for free, Vrbo has free dynamic pricing, both platforms send out enough automated messages for me.I check in on guests after they arrive to provide that small personal touch.We get consistent 5 star reviews with minimal effort.

From what I've seen, the average view-to-application ratio on platforms like Facebook Marketplace can vary quite a bit, but a general ballpark is around 5-10%.

What are the pros and cons compared to other platforms? 

AirBNB is a platform you list your STRs on.I didn't get that you want zero income like @Bill B. mentioned but it should be pretty easy to to get this rolling.

If you don't want to use an attorney, you can make an LLC through the secretary of state website https://www.ohiosos.gov/businesses/information-on-starting-a... or other software platforms like zen business and rocket lawyer. 

I love that the features of Avail and other property management softwares are integrated into the platform