Everything you've learned so far gets executed — or wasted — at the purchase. This is where deals are made or quietly ruined.
Buy like an operator, not a homebuyer
- A regular realtor prices houses. An STR agent prices revenue. Most agents can pull comps on sale price; very few can tell you what a property should gross on Airbnb, whether that specific parcel is even eligible for a permit, or which streets in town are zoned out. An agent who does STR deals every week catches problems a generalist never sees.
- Permits usually do NOT transfer. The nastiest turnkey trap: you buy a "licensed, cash-flowing Airbnb," and the license dies at closing — most cities issue permits to the operator, not the property. In capped or waitlisted cities, the turnkey STR you just bought may never legally host again. Verify transferability with the city, in writing, before you offer.
- Reviews and rankings don't transfer either. The listing, its Superhost badge, and its review history belong to the seller's account. You start at zero. Price the deal like it.
- Verify revenue with documents, not screenshots. Ask for platform payout reports and occupancy-tax filings — not a spreadsheet the seller typed.
- Run STR-specific due diligence. Beyond the standard inspection: permit eligibility, HOA and deed restrictions, an insurance quote in hand, and septic capacity versus advertised sleeper count.
Go deeper
Finding that agent is literally why STR HUB exists. We match investors with STR-specialized agents in their target market, free — no obligation, no spam. Get matched with an STR-specialized agent.
ACTION: Send your top 3 underwritten deals to an STR-specialized agent and get their read on comps, condition, and permit transfer before you offer.
Next lesson: keys in hand — how to go from closing to your first guest in 90 days.