All Forum Posts by: Jon Martin

The best amenities are the ones that can't be added to any listing- views, walkability, proximity to attractions etc. Those who optimize for location will always do well, provided they buy and manage right. 

Beyond that, adding popular amenities that your competition doesn't have is a low hanging fruit. 

You aren't wrong but I think that's the appeal . . . Being in nature while also having cute shopping, restaurant, rainy day activities etc. Not everyone wants to be out in nature all the time, and even if they do, they want to eat at a nice restaurant and enjoy a few cocktails at the end of the day. 

I agree with metal over wood bed frames from a durability standpoint. A $100-200 metal frame is pretty much indestructable and have weight capacities that are 10-20X+ that of the average person. 

That said, metal frames are ugly and cold. If I were furnishing a higher end listing I would stick with wood and buy something solid. I've found some hybrid frames where the bulk of it is metal but with wood legs and a headboard, that way it looks like wood once it's made up. 

I don't think Contract Grade is a requirement, although you should certainly purchase with quality in mind. I find that the less hardware and moving parts the better. Looking for items that are already assembled usually solves for this. 

If I were starting out and had the option to house hack I would look for a SFR with a walk out basement or a detached garage. Turn that into its own unit for 2 people max. You will have demand for that type of unit almost anywhere, and that could pay a big chunk of your PITI.

as @John Underwood said the Carolinas are a great choice. Probably a dozen metros between the 2 states that are booming, most of which have affordable neighborhoods. 

I always find it tacky when I see a mid+ tier listing with nice countertops and backsplash with a bag of Flaming Hot Cheetos on it. That said I am sure some guests appreciate it. If you are really trying to give a high end vibe then I would lean towards locally produced items like some of the suggestions above as opposed to Costco bulk stuff, although you also have to weigh in the ROI of that, so it would likely only make sense at the high end.

Aside from coffee the only food I provide is a few packs of microwave popcorn. 

Agreed. And In fairness, any podcast that focuses on a specific topic will get repetitive after a while because the advice that works for most endeavors tends to boil down to a small handful of fundamental rules that when followed consistently drive 80-95% of the results. 

The only way to overcome that repetition is when you have hosts and guests who bounce ideas off of each other, which is what Brandon, David and Rob were amazing at, especially because they all had their own niche that they excelled at. 

Now there is so much overlap between the 3 REI podcasts that it is no longer clear what the focus is for each.

Internet forums in general are in a downturn. One I've been lurking/posting in for decades that was tied to the print publication for that sector just closed shop. Had a steady following and probably generated some ad revenue, but not enough to justify the server rent. Heard the same thing from those regulars from other forums they frequent. 

"Dead Internet Theory" is the idea that we are transitioning to less and less human interaction online and mostly bots and AI generated content. Some of the comments above hint to that. That said I only frequent the STR subforum so I don't have a grasp on the entire forum as a whole.

On a side note, and it pains me to say this because I think the hosts and producers are good people who provide valuable content, the podcast has gone downhill since David and Rob were pushed out. The OG BP sounds more like On the Market and lacks the stories and back and forth that having 2 experienced hosts with different strategies provided. 

Has the area seen a downturn in visitors with all of the federal layoffs? That would be the only thing giving me pause. Otherwise the towns in the area have some pretty reasonably priced homes that seem to perform well relative to price. 

 If you are imagining it then a guest could probably do it! 

While I like the strategy, and the area looks stunning, the ADRs seem dismal relative to entry price in the Bryson City area.