How to find STR investors?

Question

Hi all! First time posting here.

I've been an LTR property owner/manager since 2011. I'd like to enter the STR/MTR arena and I think I'd be good at it, but I would need an investor for that. My kids are older now so I finally have more time available for active income opportunities. I think I'm in an ideal area for STR/MTR and I already have connections with several local contractors.

Does anyone have any tips on how to connect with local-ish investors for something like this?

Thanks for reading!

Jorge Vazquez · Answer

Alysha, my advice after 25+ years in real estate investing is to focus on education and relationships, not selling yourself to investors. Start posting educational content about STRs and MTRs, share reallife examples, explain what you've learned managing properties since 2011, and demonstrate your knowledge. Let your experience do the selling for you. Investors naturally gravitate toward people who consistently provide value.

Another strategy worth considering is getting your real estate license and joining an investor-focused brokerage where the agents are investors themselves. You'll surround yourself with people actively buying properties, analyzing deals, and building portfolios. Those relationships can lead to partnerships and opportunities.

I've built a portfolio of around 40 properties over the years, and one of my biggest lessons is that relationships and credibility create more opportunities than any sales pitch ever will.

Educate first, build trust, and the investors will come to you!

Jorge Vazquez · Answer

100% worth it! I was a wholesaler for almost 10 years before I had an issue with DBPR here in Florida and my attorney told me, Jorge just get your license, how hard can it be lol. I always thought getting licensed would bring more liability and headaches but honestly I was completely wrong. The minute I got my license I was able to give sellers more options, instead of just buying their property at a discount I could help them sell retail, work with investors, or find another solution that made sense for them. More options for the seller meant more opportunities for me and my income went up almost 30% that year. My only regret is not doing it sooner! I would also recommend joining a brokerage that works with investors, you will learn a lot more than just selling houses. After 25 years doing this I can tell you the license was one of the best decisions I made.

Hossein Sharifi · Answer

@Alysha Hartman the easier first step might be "let me run it" rather than "invest with me." Owners who already have an STR or MTR near you need a manager, and 15 years of LTR management plus a contractor bench is exactly what most of them are missing. Co-hosts typically earn 15 to 25% of gross bookings, and it builds an STR track record without raising any money.

If you do want a partner on a purchase, bring one property and real numbers. Pull a year of comps, cut projected revenue by 20%, and show it still covers the mortgage. Investors trust a conservative case more than an upside one. I'd also look hard at MTR for traveling nurses, since RiverBend is right there in Springfield.

Elijah Rodriguez · Answer

Local meetups, posting and connecting on here. cleaners, agents, lenders, etc are all professionals that likely know some str investors.

Alysha Hartman · Answer

I have been considering the real estate license option. Are there any programs you'd recommend? Do you think it's worth the money and time investment?

Matthew Tregoning · Answer

Alysha, your latest list of what sets you apart could become a very practical one-page service plan. For each promise, show how you’d deliver it: who answers an evening guest call, who covers a failed turnover, and how the owner learns about a maintenance issue. Your contractor relationships become much more tangible when an owner can see the handoff. That would give those local introductions something specific to talk about.

Andrew Steffens · Answer

I think it will depend on how competitive your market is. In Tampa where I am based and primarily, has between 150 and 250 active managers according to ChatGPT. What can you do better and/or cheaper than those who are currently active and operating with a track record and experience? I manage around 55 currently and that allows me a budget for some potent tools that will be hard for you to compete with as well, if you were trying to operate in my market. Just food for thought.

Alysha Hartman · Answer

Alright, I've been thinking a lot about your question! I wrote up a short list of what I think sets me apart from the competition. It also appears that there is not much local competition here. There is a decent amount of large property firms, but it being a college town, most of them have a bad reputations.

Alysha Hartman · Answer

How'd you get your start? What sets you apart from the other 250 active managers in your area?

Alysha Hartman · Answer

You know, I keep lumping STRs and MTRs together in my head but I think I need to stop doing that. Focusing on just the MTR category in my area would save me a lot of STR headaches and (I assume) it would be slightly more passive income. However, the STR profit might be too lucrative to pass up during the international track and field season. Lots to ponder!

Sounds like I need to dig into some maths and look into the "let me run it" idea you also mentioned.

I appreciate all the feedback, thanks!

Sounds like I need to dig into some maths and look into the "let me run it" idea you also mentioned.

I appreciate all the feedback, thanks!

How to find STR investors?

How to find STR investors?

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