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From Break-Even to Cash-Flowing 💰
Most underperforming listings don’t need a full overhaul — they need a few high-impact corrections. The operators who recognize this early are the ones who protect profits and keep owners confident.
Community Perks with The STR Report
🏠 Top-Tier Property Management – Lower fees, higher payouts, and premium service. Built for investors who want performance and peace of mind. See how much more your property could earn—click to get your free performance assessment.
🔎 Personal Airbnb Investment Finder – Connect with an expert to handpick profitable Airbnb properties that match your criteria. With 213+ successful deals, all cash-flowing, you’re in good hands. Take 15 seconds to fill out the form to see how all of these properties are experiencing a 10-15% Cash-on-Cash return.
🤑 STR Loans & More – Need funding for your next short-term rental? Expect expert guidance, personalized service, and the best possible rates.
February 12th, 2026
Good evening STR Report Community!
In today’s issue, you will find:
📱Today’s Article: From Break-Even to Cash-Flowing 💰
📈 Trending Market Highlight: Niagara Falls, New York and Portsmouth, New Hampshire
✉️ STR News: Deloitte report points to increased STR demand amid LA28 & more
💸 Mortgage Rate Watch
🎤 Unique Airbnb of the Week
🏫 Subscriber Perks: Go Live Playbook, including: Beginner’s Guide E-Book, Guest Communication Messaging Templates, Airbnb Welcome Guide Template, STR Buy Box Template, & Tax Savings E-Book
✅ Community Perks: Top-Tier Property Management, Personal Airbnb Investment Finder, and STR Loans & More
📬 See our collection of newsletters here: Prior Newsletters
From Break-Even to Cash-Flowing 💰
If your short-term rental is only covering expenses, you’re not alone — and it’s usually fixable.
Listings rarely underperform because of demand alone. More often, the issue comes down to pricing strategy, conversion, guest experience, or operational inefficiencies. The good news: small improvements tend to compound quickly.
Here are five areas worth reviewing.
Let’s take a look, shall we:
1. Revisit Your Pricing Strategy
Pricing is the fastest lever you can pull.
Common problems include setting rates too high during softer periods, keeping minimum stays too restrictive, or failing to adjust for weekday demand.
Try this:
Test modest rate adjustments to stimulate booking activity
Use gap-night pricing to fill short openings
Stay flexible with minimum stays during slower weeks
Consistent bookings typically improve search visibility, which helps stabilize revenue over time.
2. Make Sure Your Photos Are Competitive
Travelers decide quickly which listings to explore. If your photos feel dark, dated, or overly similar to nearby options, conversion suffers.
Consider refreshing photography if it’s more than a couple of years old, and focus on a strong cover image that clearly communicates the experience of staying there.
3. Look for Patterns in Reviews
Reviews often highlight exactly where revenue is being lost.
Pay attention to repeated comments about comfort, cleanliness, check-in, or missing amenities. Addressing recurring friction not only improves ratings — it can reduce the need to compete on price.
Fixing one consistent issue can pay off across hundreds of future stays.
4. Increase Revenue Per Reservation
If raising nightly rates feels unrealistic, look at ways to improve revenue per stay instead.
Simple options might include:
Early check-in or late checkout
Pet fees
Mid-stay cleanings
Equipment rentals
Individually these are small, but over a year they can meaningfully improve margins.
5. Control the Expenses That Quietly Add Up
Profitability isn’t just about driving bookings — it’s also about managing costs.
Review areas like cleaning coordination, maintenance workflows, utilities, and supply replacement. Preventing avoidable expenses often has the same financial impact as increasing revenue, with less operational pressure.
Break-even is usually a signal, not a verdict. It often means the property is close to performing well but needs tighter strategy and consistency.
Focus on incremental improvements, monitor the results, and adjust as you go. In many cases, moving into positive cash flow is less about one major change — and more about getting the fundamentals right.
Fix the leaks.
Create momentum.
Let the cash flow follow.
Niagara Falls, New York ⛴️
Downloadable Niagara Falls, New York Short-Term Rental Market Report
|
Average Daily Rate (ADR): $172 per night
Occupancy Rate: 49%
Annual Revenue Potential: Around $36,778 per year
Read our full Niagara Falls, New York Short-Term Rental Market Report attached above.
Portsmouth, New Hampshire
Downloadable Portsmouth, New Hampshire Short-Term Rental Market Report
|
Average Daily Rate (ADR): $297 per night
Occupancy Rate: 53%
Annual Revenue Potential: Around $53,770 per year
Read our full Portsmouth, New Hampshire Short-Term Rental Market Report attached above.
📬 See our collection of 120+ market reports here: Prior Trending Market Reports
✈️ 2026 Winter Olympics Milano: Why Fewer Bookings Are Making Hosts More Money
During the Opening Days (Feb 4–9) of the Winter Olympics Milano Cortina 2026, short-term rental markets saw occupancy drop but revenue surge.
💻 Marriott announces coming AI integrations for Bonvoy mobile app
At Marriott’s fourth quarter and full-year 2025 earnings call, CEO Anthony Capuano said that the company was set to leverage AI opportunities due to its scale and relationships.
📝 Deloitte report points to increased STR demand amid LA28
A Deloitte report has found critical gaps in available housing for 2028’s Olympic Games in Los Angeles, suggesting those could be assuaged by increasing short-term rental capacity.
💸Mortgage Rate Watch – February 12th, 2026
Current Mortgage Rates (as of February 12, 2026):
30-Year Fixed: 6.14% (+0.03%)
15-Year Fixed: 5.71% (+0.01%)
30-Year Jumbo: 6.30% (+0.00%)
30-Year FHA: 5.70% (+0.01%)
30-Year VA: 5.72% (+0.02%)
7/6 SOFR ARM: 5.50% (+0.05%)
Market Overview: Mortgage rates ticked slightly higher today, with the 30-year fixed rising to 6.14%. Most loan types posted modest increases, while jumbo rates held steady. Despite the minor upward pressure, overall rate movement remains limited, suggesting lenders are maintaining cautious pricing as bond markets show only small shifts.
Rate Trends & Forecast:
Short-Term: Rates are likely to stay in a narrow range, with minor day-to-day changes driven by bond market activity and upcoming economic data.
Long-Term: If inflation continues to moderate and long-term Treasury yields trend lower, mortgage rates could gradually ease over time. However, meaningful declines are unlikely without a clearer shift in economic conditions or monetary policy.
For real-time mortgage rate updates, visit Mortgage News Daily.
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Subscriber Perks:
📖🏡💰 Go Live Playbook
The "Go Live Playbook" is your all-in-one guide featuring a beginner’s guide e-book, messaging templates, Airbnb welcome book, STR buy box template, and tax savings tips to kickstart your short-term rental success.
Community Perks with The STR Report
🏠 Top-Tier Property Management – Lower fees, higher payouts, and premium service. Built for investors who want performance and peace of mind. See how much more your property could earn—click to get your free performance assessment.
🔎 Personal Airbnb Investment Finder – Connect with an expert to handpick profitable Airbnb properties that match your criteria. With 213+ successful deals, all cash-flowing, you’re in good hands. Take 15 seconds to fill out the form to see how all of these properties are experiencing a 10-15% Cash-on-Cash return.
🤑 STR Loans & More – Need funding for your next short-term rental? Expect expert guidance, personalized service, and the best possible rates.
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