Help! I need REAL STRsearch.com reviews and testimonies since they WON'T provide!

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Help! I need REAL STRsearch.com reviews and testimonies since they WON'T provide!

Stephen Mcgowan
Member since 2026 · 2 posts · 2 votes

Hey everyone, I am new to STR and about to pull the trigger on investing through STRsearch.com but they for some reason do NOT want to give me referrals or testimonies which is holding me back and I think that is sketchy.

Does anyone have experience using them?
What was your experience like?
And this 20-25k fee they say INCLUDES a year of Co-hosting,
What does that actually mean and what hidden costs are they hiding from me that are going to make this a burden?

I want to invest in property mainly for some passive income to offset my fixed expenses, not for the tax saving benefits, all while growing equity but can't afford to drown in debt from a mortgage plus a 150k loan on renovations all while paying rent in NYC.

Any advice would be great and I would love to connect with anyone for 10 minutes of their time.

Thank you!

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Melissa HartvigsenBusiness Member
Real Estate Agent · Beaverton, OR · Member since 2020 · 192 posts · 159 votes
4d

Hi @Stephen Mcgowan

You are right to be cautious with this company. I have never heard of them until I came across your post, and seeing $20-25K in fees does not line up with what I would expect for a turn-key Airbnb.

You can find and agent and a lender on Bigger Pockets that are STR knowledgeable in your area. Either your realtor, or a local property management search can help you find a Co-hosting service (which is basically property management for STRs). Most Co-hosting services in my market charge 25-30% of the gross rent for the day-to-day management (messaging guests, managing the calendar, scheduling cleaners, completing maintenance), and have a separate fee schedule if you want them to help with decorating and furnishing.

Before you invest, I recommend reading: Avery Carl's Book "Smarter Short-Term Rentals". Link to purchase: https://store.biggerpockets.com/products/smarter-short-term-rentals. Even if you intend to hire someone else, it is important for you to understand the business.
Other places to gain knowledge: AirDNA Guides: Free Downloads for STR Hosts | AirDNA, Airbnb Market Finder – Best Airbnb & Short-Term Rental Markets

Best wishes,
Melissa

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  • Melissa HartvigsenBusiness Member
    Real Estate Agent · Beaverton, OR · Member since 2020 · 192 posts · 159 votes
    4d

    Hi @Stephen Mcgowan

    You are right to be cautious with this company. I have never heard of them until I came across your post, and seeing $20-25K in fees does not line up with what I would expect for a turn-key Airbnb.

    You can find and agent and a lender on Bigger Pockets that are STR knowledgeable in your area. Either your realtor, or a local property management search can help you find a Co-hosting service (which is basically property management for STRs). Most Co-hosting services in my market charge 25-30% of the gross rent for the day-to-day management (messaging guests, managing the calendar, scheduling cleaners, completing maintenance), and have a separate fee schedule if you want them to help with decorating and furnishing.

    Before you invest, I recommend reading: Avery Carl's Book "Smarter Short-Term Rentals". Link to purchase: https://store.biggerpockets.com/products/smarter-short-term-rentals. Even if you intend to hire someone else, it is important for you to understand the business.
    Other places to gain knowledge: AirDNA Guides: Free Downloads for STR Hosts | AirDNA, Airbnb Market Finder – Best Airbnb & Short-Term Rental Markets

    Best wishes,
    Melissa

    1Reply
  • Jules Aton
    MD/DC · Member since 2024 · 1k+ posts · 1k+ votes
    4d

    Agree with @Melissa Hartvigsen . Do some research and find a local, skilled Realtor to assist. What area are you interested in purchasing? Also important to understand that even with a PM brick and Mortar is far from passive investing.

    0Reply
  • Andrew SteffensBusiness Member
    Tampa, FL · Member since 2022 · 4k+ posts · 3k+ votes
    4d

    100% agree with the posts above, you do not need to hire this company, most of the time they work with established STR specialized Realtors in your given market anyways. You can cut out the middleman and go right to a good agent. This is what I do for the greater Tampa market and have assisted 22 investors this year complete their goals here. Make sure whoever you hire can demonstrate their track record of experience. Good luck!

    [email protected]813-563-0877
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    1Reply
  • Marc MoraPro Member
    Investor · Fort Lauderdale, FL · Member since 2026 · 303 posts · 47 votes
    4d

    @Stephen Mcgowan, I have comments. A company that won't give references for a $20,000-plus fee is telling you something. I'd also be careful pairing a mortgage with a $150K renovation loan when the goal is passive income, since short-term rentals are rarely passive. I've been in real estate my whole life, so I'd be open to a conversation before you sign anything. Have you run the numbers without their projections? What other strategies have you looked at for passive income?

    0Reply
    • Stephen Mcgowan
      OP
      Member since 2026 · 2 posts · 2 votes
      2d

      They give testimonies, but I understand how they don't want to give references for their customers privacies, etc. I have looked at other methods of passive income and I understand its never truly passive, I just want to build equity, and be cash flow positive. What areas of real estate do you have experience in? I do not want to become an expert because I am too busy but interested in them because they can guide me through the whole process from start to finish. any advice on your end is appreciated

      1Reply
    • Bill B.
      Investor · Las Vegas, NV · Member since 2013 · 8k+ posts · 10k+ votes
      2d

      You're looking for passive real estate investing and you are thinking STR is your answer? The least passive real estate investing other than MAYBE a hotel?

      Most passive worst return, NNN. Pretty darn passive and a better return is LTR with a PM. (I spend less than an hour a month with a dozen properties. ) Better return but less passive MTR. And least passive STR. It can offer the best return. And that return can go to zero when your local area decides to ban STrR, or require it be your primary home, or that you live in the property while it's being rented out.

      If your w-2 income is significant you might find private money lending to be your most passive with highest return but it didn’t offer as many tax benefits.

      1Reply
    • Marc MoraPro Member
      Investor · Fort Lauderdale, FL · Member since 2026 · 303 posts · 47 votes
      2d

      Sure thing. Tons of strategies out there. Bottom line, don't listen to the internet. Listen to yourself and what you want. Not which strategies have worked for other people. Sending you a message! @Stephen Mcgowan

      0Reply
  • Amber Stout
    Lender · Tampa/Saint Petersburg, FL · Member since 2014 · 383 posts · 153 votes
    2d

    Hi Stephen, I'd be cautious as many others have said. I'm a real estate investor and mortgage broker who works with STR investors and one thing I always encourage is underwriting the deal conservatively. I would find a great "team" meaning a STR manager with a solid track record. Also, having a great realtor that knows the area and STRs and lender should cover your bases.

    With a mortgage, potentially $150K in renovations, and a $20–25K upfront fee, I'd want to understand the total cash investment, carrying costs during renovations, realistic occupancy, operating expenses, and what the property actually nets after management. I've seen clients over improve/over spend and it really hurt them. I'd also want to know what happens if the renovations go over budget or the property underperforms. Does the deal still make sense?


    One thing I'd suggest is having someone outside of the company such as a PM review the numbers. You don't necessarily need to become an STR expert, but you absolutely want to understand what you're investing in. Curious, what market are you looking to purchase in?

    1Reply
  • Basit SiddiqiBusiness Member
    Accountant · New York, NY · Member since 2015 · 8k+ posts · 4k+ votes
    2d

    What is the $20,000 to $25,000 suppose to include?
    Do they help you find the property? Do they help you furnish the place? Do they help you with the listing? If they are helping you co-host, do they have a property management arm with reviews?

    It also seems like you are going to pay this upfront where normally management fees are paid out of the revenue.

    If you are hesitent going in, you should go with your gut feelings.

    [email protected]917-280-8544
    Basit Siddiqi CPA4.880 Reviews
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