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.

January 15th, 2026

Good evening STR Report Community!

In today’s issue, you will find:

📱Today’s Article: What Your Guests Really Loved Last Year — and What They Didn’t

📈 Trending Market Highlight: Queen Creek, Arizona and Fairbanks, Alaska

✉️ STR News: Inside the data: What’s driving the rise in mid-term rentals? & 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

What Your Guests Really Loved Last Year — and What They Didn’t

Reviews aren’t just feedback — they’re your roadmap to higher occupancy, better visibility on Airbnb, and more repeat bookings. Guests increasingly talk about specific details, and understanding those themes can differentiate a good host from a great one.

⭐ What Guests Loved Most

1. Thoughtful Details and Personal Touches

Many guests rave about extra touches that make a place feel welcoming and cared for — like local snack baskets, quality toiletries, or handwritten welcome notes. These small gestures often get called out specifically in positive reviews.

Actionable tip:
✔ Provide a small welcome basket with snacks/drinks and a local guidebook with your favorite spots.

2. Cleanliness That Feels Like Home

Clean spaces remain a top driver of 5-star reviews. Guests routinely highlight properties that exceeded cleanliness expectations.

Actionable tip:
✔ Audit your cleaning checklist — think beyond surface cleaning: fresh linens, dust-free corners, spotless bathrooms, and well-organized storage.

3. Clear Communication & Smooth Check-In

Guests love when hosts communicate proactively. Detailed check-in instructions and fast replies reduce confusion and boost comfort.

Actionable tip:
✔ Set up automated messages for booking confirmation, check-in details, and check-out reminders.

4. Accuracy of the Listing

Guests quickly call out when photos and descriptions match reality — this builds trust and avoids disappointment. Accurate details lead to better satisfaction and fewer complaints.

Actionable tip:
✔ Review your listing quarterly to ensure photos, amenities, and descriptions are exactly what guests will experience.

⚠️ What Guests Didn’t Love — and What You Can Fix

1. Missing or Hidden Amenities

Guests often mention frustrations when promised amenities (Wi-Fi speed, kitchen tools, parking, A/C) are unclear or don’t work. This is a leading reason for 4-star and 3-star reviews.

Actionable tip:
✔ Create an amenities guidebook — include Wi-Fi details, appliance instructions, and upfront info on parking or neighborhood quirks.

2. 4-Star Reviews With No Clear Complaints

Many hosts report guests giving good but not great scores without specific reasons, which can hurt your ranking. Often the cause? Small annoyances that weren’t worth mentioning but still impacted the stay.

Actionable tip:
✔ Add a guest guide with tips to elevate comfort — thermostat instructions, noise tips, local transit info, and check-out processes.

3. Unexpected Issues Upon Arrival

Even minor surprises — like unclear key pick-up instructions or confusing locks — show up in reviews. Guests value simplicity.

Actionable tip:
✔ Invest in smart locks and leave a visual guide (photos or short video link) for check-in procedures.

4. Lack of Local Context

Guests increasingly appreciate local recommendations — and they notice when that’s missing.

Actionable tip:
✔ Curate a neighborhood guide with coffee spots, hidden gems, walking routes, and seasonal events.

📈 Why This Matters

Airbnb now highlights listings based on guest satisfaction metrics — including cleanliness, communication, accuracy, and value — which directly influence your visibility and chances of getting that coveted Guest Favorite badge.

That badge isn’t just cosmetic — it can improve search ranking and attract more bookings.

By taking review themes seriously — both the praises and the criticism — you can adapt your hosting approach and move from good to great in the eyes of your guests. Happy hosting!

Queen Creek, Arizona 🚴

Downloadable Queen Creek, Arizona Short-Term Rental Market Report

• Average Daily Rate (ADR): $214.14 per night

• Occupancy Rate: 61.53%

• Annual Revenue Potential: Around $44,651 per year

Read our full Queen Creek, Arizona Short-Term Rental Market Report attached above.

Fairbanks, Alaska ❄️

Downloadable Fairbanks, Alaska Short-Term Rental Market Report

• Average Daily Rate (ADR): $197.76 per night

• Occupancy Rate: 60%

• Annual Revenue Potential: Around $54,133 per year

Read our full Fairbanks, Alaska Short-Term Rental Market Report attached above.

📬 See our collection of 120+ market reports here: Prior Trending Market Reports

📝 Inside the data: What’s driving the rise in mid-term rentals?
According to a report from AirDNA and Furnished Finder the demand for mid-term rentals is on the rise across the US. ShortTermRentalz spoke with Jeff Hurst, CEO of Furnished Finder and Jamie Lane, Chief Economist at AirDNA on the key trends behind the shift and how to tap into this rising segment of the rental market.

🏡 Kasa Acquires Mint House in Bet After Silver Lake’s Backing
Kasa's takeover of Mint House creates the largest U.S. manager of apartment hotels after a wave of failures in the U.S. segment.

💸 RMS integrates with smart access provider Salto
Hospitality platform RMS has integrated with smart access provider Salto to streamline access management.

💸Mortgage Rate Watch – January 15th, 2026

Current Mortgage Rates (as of January 15, 2026):

• 30-Year Fixed: 6.07% (+0.00%)

• 15-Year Fixed: 5.58% (–0.01%)

• 30-Year Jumbo: 6.34% (–0.01%)

• 30-Year FHA: 5.74% (–0.01%)

• 30-Year VA: 5.76% (–0.01%)

• 7/6 SOFR ARM: 5.69% (+0.01%)

Market Overview: Mortgage rates were mixed today, with the 30-year fixed holding steady at 6.07% while most other loan types edged slightly lower. The lack of meaningful movement reflects a cautious market as investors digest recent economic data and monitor bond market trends. Overall volatility remains limited.

Rate Trends & Forecast:

• Short-Term: Rates are expected to remain within a narrow range, with modest daily fluctuations tied to bond market activity and upcoming economic reports.

• Long-Term: If inflation continues to cool and long-term Treasury yields trend lower, rates could gradually improve over time. However, meaningful declines remain unlikely without clearer signs of economic slowdown or changes in 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.

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!