Fellow investors - noticeably fewer active buyers in performing notes lately.

One of my favorite deductions to see for short-term rental owners is land improvements.Land improvements can make an STR significantly more marketable.

Performing notes still pencil at scale, but sourcing channels have thinned out.

If they hold, there’s room for modest improvement.

The Milken Institute just released its Best-Performing Cities 2026 report, which focuses on economic resilience during a cooling economy, not just raw growth.One market that continues to stand out: Huntsville.What makes this ranking different is the emphasis on durability.

.– Accept higher stress and thinner margin for error.Now zoom out to your stated goal: best position in 2 to 3 years.In a 2 to 3 year window, liquidity and optionality matter more than raw door count.If you eliminate the LOC:• Your DTI improves.• Your stress drops.• Your risk profile improves for lenders.• You protect yourself if STR performance underwhelms.STR income is not guaranteed.

I’m still active, but the profile of what works has changed.I don’t think performing notes are dying, but they’re no longer a casual, low-touch yield play for small investors the way they were 3–5 years ago.What I’m seeing in 2025–2026:• Servicing and compliance costs matter now.

Does anyone have any insight on how STR perform in these areas or know where I can gather some performance information from?

Does holding out actually improve my annual return?

Hey Aidan,The best ways to “add value” to a property are upgrades that improve function, efficiency, and desirability while also supporting higher rents:1.