Updated 5 months ago on . Most recent reply
Struggling to Pick My First STR Market
I'm a professional with a full time job looking into buying my first STR. I've spend countless hours researching on AirDNA, reading posts, and watching videos to pick a market. It just feels like I missed the boat on getting started. All the popular markets seem either oversaturated, out of our budget, or the numbers just don't make sense. Looking to people with more experience on what are some markets today that would be a good place to start for a rookie investor or even a reliable resource where I can do my own research. I have looked into many markets but one that I narrowed down to based on our budget is northern Indianapolis. Ideally I'd like to invest somewhere like the Catskill Mountains or Joshua Tree (based on my connections to the area). But I'm open to investing anywhere where the numbers make sense! Thank you!!
Most Popular Reply
This is something that will be personal to you. I would suggest finding a local market near your main base to jump in. Doesn't have to be a slam dunk on AirDNA. My first market is 45 minutes away, we had a little 1 bedroom condo in an older historic town (population under 2,000). Condo just did nearly 25% of its purchase price in revenue in 2025. This towns numbers aren't great on AirDNA at all but I noticed a bunch of the listings weren't "professional" looking. Good photos & description, consistent reviews & its been a hidden gem. Don't over complicate it.