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 19th, 2026

Good evening STR Report Community!

In today’s issue, you will find:

📱Today’s Article: Why Now Is the Best Time to Refresh Your Property Photos 📸

📈 Trending Market Highlight: Galena, Illinois and Springfield, Illinois

✉️ STR News: The Thrill Is Gone: Airbnb and the Crisis of Imagination in Short-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

Why Now Is the Best Time to Refresh Your Property Photos 📸

In short-term rentals, photos aren’t just decoration. They’re your first impression, your strongest sales tool, and often the deciding factor between a booking and a scroll-past. If your listing photos haven’t been updated in a while, now is the perfect time to refresh them.

1. Low Season = Less Pressure, More Flexibility

During slower booking periods, your calendar has breathing room. That makes it easier to schedule a photographer, stage the space properly, and even do small touch-ups without disrupting guests. You’re not rushing between check-outs and check-ins, and you can capture the property at its best—clean, calm, and guest-ready.

Low season also means you can think strategically. Updating photos now ensures your listing is fully optimized before demand spikes, rather than scrambling once peak season is already underway. If you have an STR in a market that peaks in the winter season, then consider a refresh in the summertime instead.

2. Showcase New Amenities (Before Guests Ask)

Added a hot tub? Upgraded the furniture? Installed faster Wi-Fi, a fire pit, or a dedicated workspace? If those upgrades aren’t clearly visible in your photos, they might as well not exist.

Fresh photography lets you highlight:

• Recently renovated kitchens or bathrooms

• New decor or upgraded furnishings

• Outdoor spaces guests love year-round

• Work-from-anywhere features that drive midweek bookings

Clear, current photos set expectations, reduce guest questions, and justify higher nightly rates.

3. Capture Seasonal Appeal That Drives Bookings

Every season sells a different experience. Cozy throws and warm lighting tell a winter story. Bright patios and open windows sell summer escapes. Transitional seasons are especially powerful because you can capture versatile images that work for months to come.

Season-appropriate photos help guests picture themselves in your space right now, not six months ago. That emotional connection is what converts browsers into bookers.

4. Stay Competitive in a Crowded Market

Many short-term rental listings rely on outdated photos taken years ago. A refreshed gallery instantly signals professionalism, care, and quality. It shows potential guests that the property is actively maintained, and that’s a trust builder.

Listings with modern, well-lit, accurate photos consistently:

• Get more clicks

• Book faster

• Command stronger pricing

Refreshing your property photos isn’t just a cosmetic update, it’s a revenue move. By taking advantage of the low season, showcasing new amenities, and capturing the right seasonal mood, you set your listing up to perform stronger when demand returns. Updated photos help your property stand out, build trust with potential guests, and maximize bookings when it matters most. Invest a little time now, and you’ll see the payoff all season long.

Galena, Illinois 🍁

Downloadable Galena, Illinois Short-Term Rental Market Report

• Average Daily Rate (ADR): $326 per night

• Occupancy Rate: 41%

• Annual Revenue Potential: Around $60,062 per year

Read our full Galena, Illinois Short-Term Rental Market Report attached above.

Springfield, Illinois

Downloadable Springfield, Illinois Short-Term Rental Market Report

• Average Daily Rate (ADR): $148.10 per night

• Occupancy Rate: 66.31%

• Annual Revenue Potential: Around $52,478 per year

Read our full Springfield, Illinois Short-Term Rental Market Report attached above.

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

✈️ OpenAI is Testing ChatGPT Ads — Travel Brands Should Pay Attention
OpenAI is finally turning on the revenue taps by piloting ads in its free and low-cost tiers. For travel brands, it means ChatGPT is moving from a pure utility to a massive, intent-driven marketing platform.

🏡 The Thrill Is Gone: Airbnb and the Crisis of Imagination in Short-Term Rentals
Airbnb’s struggle to translate technology into better stays mirrors the broader sector’s problem — digital scale without physical control limits how innovative short-term rentals can be.

💻 Did Google Just Make Travel Platforms Redundant?
Are we witnessing the possible death of big booking platforms like Airbnb, Expedia, and Booking.com?

💸Mortgage Rate Watch – January 19th, 2026

Current Mortgage Rates (as of January 19, 2026):

• 30-Year Fixed: 6.07% (+0.03%)

• 15-Year Fixed: 5.60% (+0.03%)

• 30-Year Jumbo: 6.35% (+0.01%)

• 30-Year FHA: 5.75% (+0.05%)

• 30-Year VA: 5.77% (+0.05%)

• 7/6 SOFR ARM: 5.63% (+0.01%)

Market Overview: Mortgage rates edged slightly higher today across most loan types. The 30-year fixed held at 6.07% with a modest increase, while government-backed loans saw a bit more upward movement. Overall, the market remains relatively calm, with lenders adjusting pricing cautiously as bond yields tick higher and economic data remains mixed.

Rate Trends & Forecast:

• Short-Term: Rates are likely to stay within a narrow range, with small day-to-day changes driven by bond market activity and upcoming economic reports.

• Long-Term: If inflation continues to cool and long-term Treasury yields ease later this year, there is potential for gradual rate improvement. However, meaningful declines will still require clearer signs of economic slowing or a shift in monetary policy.

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

Bored of staying at regular Airbnbs?

How about staying in a one of a kind luxury treehouse? ✨

This brand-new, stylish retreat offers a one-of-a-kind escape tucked above the ordinary, blending comfort with unforgettable design. Wake up surrounded by nature while staying just minutes from Orlando’s top attractions. Every detail is thoughtfully curated to make your stay feel special, private, and truly memorable. It’s perfect for couples, creatives, or anyone craving something different. Stays like this don’t come around often—and it books fast. Don’t miss the chance to turn your trip into an experience you’ll be talking about long after checkout.

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!