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.

September 15th, 2025

Good evening STR Report Community!

In today’s issue, you will find:

🤫 Insider Scoop: You Found a Market with SummerOS… Now What?  

📱Today’s Article: The Best STR Markets in the South

📈 Trending Market Highlight by SummerOS: Gatlinburg, TN & Gulf Shores, AL

✉️ STR News: Boom partners with Tint to offer embedded insurance for STR operators

💸 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

Every few years, something comes along that forces everyone to rethink how the game is played. We believe our partner’s new software is that moment.
💻🤖 🗺️ 📍🏡💰

The first AI built for short-term rental operators — only from SummerOS.

Introducing Sunny - a new way to enter and understand the short-term rental market. It doesn’t just enhance existing tools—it defines a new category of accessible, expert-guided AI tools built for operators of all sizes.

Whether you’re a solo Airbnb host or expanding your portfolio into new regions, Sunny levels the playing field. It gives everyone—from first-timers to seasoned pros—the power to explore, evaluate, and invest like an expert with information that has only been available to the top 10% of all Airbnbs.

The Best STR Markets in the South

We’re kicking off a week-long deep dive into the best short-term rental markets for 2025 — focusing on 2 regions of the U.S. Twice this week, you’ll get a bite-sized breakdown of top-performing cities, real STR data from SummerOS, and a few stats worth bragging about at your next investor happy hour. 🥂 

Today, we’re heading to the South, where the Smokies meet the Gulf, and the payouts are just as sweet as the tea. Check out the data from Dolly’s hometown to South Carolina’s next big thing 👀

Sevierville, TN: Best for overall ROI

Yes, this is Dolly Parton’s hometown. Also yes, it’s a booking machine.

Sevierville stands out for its amazing return on investment thanks to the Smoky Mountains. Nestled at the foot of Great Smoky Mountains National Park, this tiny Tennessee town–we’re talking a population of 18,000–benefits from roughly 12 million annual park visitors in the area.

• Occupancy: 66%

• ADR: $378

• Annual Revenue: ~$78,000

• Why We Love It: Smoky Mountains views + year-round family travel = strong ROI.

Lubbock, TX: Best affordable investment

Where college football weekends turn into year-round booking season. Call it a win-win.

This West Texas college town (home to Texas Tech University) draws a constant flow of visitors for football games, graduations, and local arts events, all without the sky-high costs you’d find in bigger tourist cities.

• Occupancy: 58%

• ADR: $165

• Annual Revenue: ~$29,640

• Why We Love It: Accessible pricing, consistent bookings, and friendly STR regulations.

Beaufort, SC: Best under-the-radar area

Southern charm without the tourist swarm (and the numbers to make you smile).

Often overshadowed by Charleston and Hilton Head, this historic coastal town also has quiet streets lined with gorgeous homes, a vibrant waterfront park, and easy access to beaches and islands.

• Occupancy: 59%

• ADR: $198

• Annual Revenue: ~$37,881

• Why We Love It: Historic streets + weekend getaway vibes keep this market steady.

👉 Full list + data breakdown here.

Check out two southern markets with real data by SummerOS:

Gatlinburg, Tennessee 🥾

How Much Can I Make on an Airbnb in Gatlinburg, TN?

How much could a 5-bedroom Airbnb make in Gatlinburg?

• Annual Revenue: $94,967 (50th percentile), $126,695 (75th percentile), $165,296 (top 10%)

• Average Daily Rate (ADR): $531 (median), $720 (top)

• Occupancy: 52% to 75%

Read the full Gatlinburg STR data breakdown linked above.

Gulf Shores, Alabama ⛱️

How Much Can I Make on an Airbnb in Gulf Shores, AL?

How much could a 5-bedroom Airbnb make in Gulf Shores?

• Annual Revenue: $69,461 (50th percentile), $111,247 (75th percentile), $166,560 (top 10%)

• Average Daily Rate: $580 (median), $955 (top)

• Occupancy: 35% to 63%

Read the full Gulf Shores STR data breakdown linked above.

📬 See The STR Report’s collection of 80+ market reports here: Prior Trending Market Reports

📱Boom partners with Tint to offer embedded insurance for STR operators
Boom, an AI-driven property management system (AiPMS), has partnered with the embedded insurance platform Tint to provide tailored protection for short-term rental (STR) operators.

🤖 Booking Holdings Bets on Agentic AI to Challenge Big Tech
Booking thinks its future agentic AI experience would be able to out-personalize the ChatGPTs and Geminis. Maybe that's so. But the LLMs will have a helluva lot of customer data, as well.

💸Mortgage Rate Watch – September 15th, 2025

Current Mortgage Rates (as of September 15, 2025):

• 30-Year Fixed: 6.29% (↑0.02%)

• 15-Year Fixed: 5.72% (↑0.02%)

• 30-Year Jumbo: 6.25% (unchanged)

• 30-Year FHA: 6.00% (↑0.03%)

• 30-Year VA: 6.01% (↑0.02%)

• 7/6 SOFR ARM: 5.65% (↑0.02%)

Market Overview: Mortgage rates ticked upward slightly today, but remain within a tight band that’s hovering near some of their lowest levels in nearly a year. These small increases reflect modest shifts in the bond market and a general anticipation of upcoming economic data and the Federal Reserve meeting.

Rate Trends & Forecast:

• Short-Term: Expect continued stability, with small daily movements likely tied to fluctuations in Treasury yields, inflation data, and Fed policy signals. Unless there are surprises in macroeconomic reports, substantial rate shifts seem unlikely in the next few days.

• Long-Term: The overall downward trend in fixed mortgage rates—driven by easing yield curves and expectations for Fed rate cuts—may continue, but larger declines will depend on sustained economic softness, especially in labor markets and inflation. Adjustable rate products may benefit first from those shifts.

  For real-time mortgage rate updates, visit Mortgage News Daily.

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How about staying in the countryside in a treehouse?

Nestled among the trees at Bluebird Farm, this charming treehouse offers a unique countryside retreat. Wake up to the sounds of nature and enjoy a cup of coffee on the private deck overlooking the farm. The cozy interior features comfortable furnishings and large windows that invite the outdoors in. In the evenings, gather around the fire pit to unwind under the stars. The farm is home to friendly animals, adding to the rustic charm of your stay. Whether you're seeking relaxation or adventure, this treehouse provides the perfect base for exploring the beauty of rural Connecticut.

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.

Partner with Us!

If you have a project you’d like us to promote, or a product or service you’d like to share, please reach out to us at [email protected].

We appreciate you being a part of our STR community and for sharing our group with your business partners and associates. Thank you!