Short-term rentals for sale, underwritten like an investment.
Browse Airbnb and VRBO investment properties for sale across the Gulf Coast, the Carolinas and the Smoky Mountains. Every listing shows projected revenue, cap rate, cash-on-cash return, DSCR and a clear STRONG / MAYBE / NO verdict, so you can see the numbers before you make an offer. No agent hype. No guesswork. Just honest numbers.
Built for investors who buy short-term rentals for the numbers
Projected revenue on every listing
See estimated annual revenue, average daily rate (ADR) and occupancy for each property, calculated from market benchmarks and property details such as bedroom count.
Lender-ready investment metrics
Cap rate, cash-on-cash return, NOI and DSCR are calculated for every listing, so you can screen properties against your financing and return targets.
A 0–100 STR Score and a clear verdict
Each property gets an STR Score and a STRONG, MAYBE or NO verdict that weighs projected revenue, occupancy stability, pricing power, regulatory risk and seasonality.
Regulation and HOA red flags
Listing remarks are scanned for language that suggests short-term rentals may be restricted, and those listings are flagged for verification before you get attached to a deal.
Compare markets side by side
Every market has an STR Market Score plus average daily rate, occupancy and annual revenue, so you can pick the destination before you pick the property.
Search on a map
Explore every matching listing on an interactive map and zoom in to see only the properties in the area you care about.
Browse short-term rentals for sale by market
Choose a market to see current listings, average daily rates and occupancy. Each market page includes an STR Market Score and notes on local short-term rental regulation.
- Destin, FL short-term rentals for sale — Emerald Coast beachfront STR market.
- Gatlinburg, TN short-term rentals for sale — Gateway to the Great Smoky Mountains.
- Gulf Shores, AL short-term rentals for sale — Alabama gulf-coast vacation rental market.
- Myrtle Beach, SC short-term rentals for sale — 60 miles of Atlantic coastline. America's #3 STR market by gross revenue.
- North Myrtle Beach, SC short-term rentals for sale — Family-focused beach market with strong seasonal STR demand
- Orange Beach, AL short-term rentals for sale — Premium Alabama gulf-coast STR market.
- Outer Banks, NC short-term rentals for sale — North Carolina barrier island STR market.
- Panama City Beach, FL short-term rentals for sale — High-volume Florida panhandle STR market.
- Pigeon Forge, TN short-term rentals for sale — Smoky Mountains cabin STR hub.
- Sevierville, TN short-term rentals for sale — Tennessee mountain STR market adjacent to Pigeon Forge.
How to buy a short-term rental investment property
Buying a short-term rental, meaning an Airbnb or VRBO-style vacation rental, is different from buying a long-term rental. This is the process most investors follow.
Pick a market with real rental demand
Look for destinations with strong year-round or seasonal demand, healthy occupancy and a nightly rate that supports your numbers. Compare markets by average daily rate, occupancy and annual revenue before you look at individual properties.
Confirm short-term rentals are allowed
Rules vary by city, zoning district, HOA and condo declaration. Check local ordinances, permit and licensing requirements, lodging-tax obligations, and any rental caps or minimum-stay rules before you make an offer.
Underwrite the numbers
Estimate revenue from ADR and occupancy, subtract operating costs (management, cleaning, utilities, insurance, property taxes, HOA dues, supplies, maintenance and platform fees), then calculate NOI, cap rate, cash-on-cash return and DSCR. Stress-test the result with conservative occupancy.
Line up financing
Options include conventional second-home or investment-property loans and DSCR loans, which qualify the property mainly on its rental income. Lenders treat short-term rental income differently, so ask early how yours does.
Inspect, furnish and launch
Order an inspection, budget for furnishings and professional photos, set up your Airbnb and VRBO listings and pricing tools, and plan your cleaning and guest-communication workflow before the first booking.
Operate and review
Track actual revenue and expenses against your underwriting, adjust pricing with the seasons, and decide whether to self-manage or hire a property manager.
Short-term rental investment metrics, explained
- ADR (Average Daily Rate)
- The average nightly price guests pay. Formula: rental revenue ÷ booked nights.
- Occupancy rate
- The percentage of available nights that are booked over a year.
- Projected revenue
- Estimated annual gross rental revenue before expenses.
- NOI (Net Operating Income)
- Projected revenue minus operating expenses, before debt service.
- Cap rate
- NOI ÷ purchase price. A financing-independent way to compare properties.
- Cash-on-cash return
- Annual pre-tax cash flow ÷ total cash invested. It shows the return on the money you actually put in.
- DSCR (Debt Service Coverage Ratio)
- NOI ÷ annual debt service. DSCR lenders commonly look for roughly 1.0 to 1.25 or higher, depending on the lender. STRwinners' STR Winner badge requires at least 1.2x.
- STR Score
- STRwinners' 0–100 screening score based on projected income, financing viability, market appeal and risk factors.
Short-term rental investing: frequently asked questions
Where can I find short-term rentals (Airbnb properties) for sale?
STRwinners lists short-term rental and vacation rental properties for sale in beach and mountain markets across Florida, Alabama, South Carolina, North Carolina and Tennessee. Every listing includes projected revenue, cap rate, cash-on-cash return and DSCR, and you can filter by market, price, bedrooms and investor metrics or explore on a map. You can also work with a local agent who specializes in vacation rentals.
Is buying a short-term rental a good investment?
It can be, but it depends on the market, the purchase price, local rules and how well the property is run. Short-term rentals can earn more per night than long-term rentals, but they also carry higher operating costs, seasonality and regulatory risk. Underwrite each property on projected revenue, expenses, cap rate, cash-on-cash return and DSCR, and stress-test with conservative occupancy before you buy. Projections are estimates, not guarantees.
How much can you make with a short-term rental?
Revenue depends mainly on the market, the number of bedrooms, location, amenities and how well the listing is priced and managed. Gross revenue is roughly the average daily rate (ADR) multiplied by the nights booked, and your profit is what remains after operating costs and financing. STRwinners shows projected annual revenue, NOI and cash-on-cash return for every listing so you can compare properties on the same basis.
What is a good cap rate or cash-on-cash return for a short-term rental?
There is no single right number. It depends on your goals, financing and risk tolerance. Because short-term rentals take more work and carry more risk than long-term rentals, many investors want returns comfortably above what a simpler investment would earn. For reference, STRwinners only awards its STR Winner badge to listings that show signs of an existing rental operation and clear minimums of 7% cash-on-cash return, 1.2x DSCR, a 6% cap rate and a 10% gross yield.
What is DSCR, and can I get a DSCR loan for an Airbnb?
DSCR (Debt Service Coverage Ratio) is a property's net operating income divided by its annual debt payments. A DSCR loan is an investor mortgage that qualifies the property largely on its rental income instead of your personal income. Many DSCR lenders do finance short-term rentals, but how they count Airbnb-style income, for example by requiring an appraisal rental schedule or a booking history, varies, so confirm with the lender early. STRwinners calculates DSCR for each listing so you can see whether it is likely to clear typical lender thresholds.
How do I check whether short-term rentals are allowed before I buy?
Check three things: local zoning and short-term rental ordinances (including permit or license requirements, rental caps and minimum-stay rules), the HOA or condo declaration, and tax obligations such as lodging or occupancy taxes. Ask the listing agent and the city or county, and get answers in writing. STRwinners scans listing remarks for language that suggests rentals may be restricted and marks those listings Verification Required, but you should always confirm the rules directly before making an offer.
What is the STR Score?
The STR Score is STRwinners' 0–100 screening score for a property. It combines projected revenue against comparable properties, occupancy stability, nightly-rate pricing power, regulatory risk and seasonality. Each property also gets a STRONG, MAYBE or NO verdict. It is a tool for building a shortlist, not a substitute for your own due diligence.
Which short-term rental markets does STRwinners cover?
STRwinners markets include Myrtle Beach and North Myrtle Beach (SC), the Outer Banks (NC), Destin and Panama City Beach (FL), Gulf Shores and Orange Beach (AL), and Gatlinburg, Pigeon Forge and Sevierville (TN). Each market page shows its average daily rate, occupancy, estimated annual revenue and STR Market Score.
What is the difference between a short-term rental and a long-term rental investment?
A short-term rental is rented by the night or week to vacationers, typically through Airbnb, VRBO or direct bookings, while a long-term rental is leased for months or years. Short-term rentals usually have higher revenue potential but also higher costs, more management work, seasonal swings and more local regulation. Long-term rentals tend to be steadier and simpler to run. Compare both on net cash flow, not just gross income.
How does STRwinners estimate revenue, and how accurate is it?
Revenue estimates start from market-level benchmarks for average daily rate and occupancy, adjusted for property characteristics such as bedroom count, and every listing runs through the same model so properties compare fairly. They are estimates, not guarantees. Actual results depend on pricing, reviews, management, seasonality and regulation, so validate the numbers with local property managers and adjust the assumptions on any property page to match your own plan.
Is STRwinners free to use?
You can browse listings and compare markets for free. Free accounts get a limited number of detailed property views each day and a monthly free analysis report, and Premium unlocks more views and reports. See the Billing page for current plans.
Find your next short-term rental investment
Browse current listings with projected revenue and investor metrics on every property. Browse short-term rentals for sale.
STRwinners is not a registered investment, legal, tax, or real-estate adviser. Projections are estimates, not guarantees.