On this week's episode, Avery is joined by Ross Alcorn, founder of Itinerary Boss, to break down how real estate investors can use credit card strategy to turn everyday spend into serious travel rewards or bottom-line value. Ross shares how his background in sales, real estate investing, and trip planning led him to uncover powerful points strategies—from welcome bonuses to transferable currencies—that most investors completely overlook. They dive into common mistakes like underutilizing Amex points, paying vendors via ACH without earning rewards, and leaving massive value on the table when furnishing or renovating properties. This episode is a practical crash course on leveraging credit cards smarter to fund travel freedom without increasing spending.

How to connect with Ross:

https://www.instagram.com/itineraryboss
https://www.linkedin.com/in/rossalcornru/
https://open.spotify.com/show/1mmMJ6z3JdEOUJKUjLh8bD?si=a0e79b04f3084e68

How to connect with Avery:

The Short Term Shop - https://theshorttermshop.com/
Short Term Shop Plus - stsplus.com
Follow Avery Carl on Instagram
Follow Avery Carl on TikTok
Join the Short Term Shop Facebook group
Check out the Short Term Shop on YouTube

For more information on how to get into short term rentals, read Avery’s books:

Smarter Short Term Rentals - Buy it on Amazon
Short-Term Rental, Long-Term Wealth: Your Guide to Analyzing, Buying, and Managing Vacation Properties – Buy it on Amazon

Production done by Outlier Audio

On this week’s episode, Avery is joined by Stacey St. John to dig into what’s really happening in today’s short-term rental market, with a particular focus on Myrtle Beach. They discuss how travel behavior has shifted toward more last-minute bookings, why pricing and revenue management matter more than ever, and how investors should think about buying opportunities in slower, more negotiable vacation markets. Stacey also shares her approach to scaling a property management portfolio, the importance of early bookings, and why tools like PriceLabs still require hands-on strategy. The conversation wraps with insights on growth goals, market seasonality, and opportunities for women looking to deepen their short-term rental education.

How to connect with Stacey:

https://staceystjohn.com/
https://www.instagram.com/stacey_st.john/
https://www.linkedin.com/in/staceystjohn/

How to connect with Avery:

The Short Term Shop - https://theshorttermshop.com/
Short Term Shop Plus - stsplus.com
Follow Avery Carl on Instagram
Follow Avery Carl on TikTok
Join the Short Term Shop Facebook group
Check out the Short Term Shop on YouTube

For more information on how to get into short term rentals, read Avery’s books:

Smarter Short Term Rentals - Buy it on Amazon
Short-Term Rental, Long-Term Wealth: Your Guide to Analyzing, Buying, and Managing Vacation Properties – Buy it on Amazon

Production done by Outlier Audio

On this week's episode, Avery is joined by Kira D’Annunzio to share how she built a highly successful Poconos short-term rental by leaning into branding, storytelling, and knowing her exact guest avatar. Kira walks through her journey from repeated career layoffs to financial independence through real estate, explaining how she used equity, off-market deals, and flexible rental strategies to scale her portfolio. They dive deep into why experience-driven properties outperform generic “luxury” listings, how her Bigfoot-themed cabin consistently earns five-star reviews without expensive amenities, and why targeting families and kids has been a massive competitive advantage.

How to connect with Kira: airbnb.com/h/bigfootsnook

How to connect with Avery:

The Short Term Shop - https://theshorttermshop.com/
Short Term Shop Plus - stsplus.com
Follow Avery Carl on Instagram
Follow Avery Carl on TikTok
Join the Short Term Shop Facebook group
Check out the Short Term Shop on YouTube

For more information on how to get into short term rentals, read Avery’s books:

Smarter Short Term Rentals - Buy it on Amazon
Short-Term Rental, Long-Term Wealth: Your Guide to Analyzing, Buying, and Managing Vacation Properties – Buy it on Amazon

Production done by Outlier Audio

On this week's episode, Avery is joined by her husband Luke for a candid end-of-year wrap-up on what actually happened in short-term rentals and real estate in 2025—and what fundamentals will matter most going into 2026. They dig into why the market finally feels “boring” again (and why that’s a good thing), how low transaction volume means we’ve effectively been in a housing downturn for years, and why vacation markets feel cycles more intensely than primary-home markets. Avery and Luke also break down declining travel demand, the over-obsession with expensive amenities, and why long-term thinking, pricing discipline, and solid systems—not gimmicks—will win in the next phase of the cycle.

How to connect with Avery and Luke:

The Short Term Shop - https://theshorttermshop.com/
Short Term Shop Plus - stsplus.com
Follow Avery Carl on Instagram
Follow Avery Carl on TikTok
Join the Short Term Shop Facebook group
Check out the Short Term Shop on YouTube

For more information on how to get into short term rentals, read Avery’s books:

Smarter Short Term Rentals - Buy it on Amazon
Short-Term Rental, Long-Term Wealth: Your Guide to Analyzing, Buying, and Managing Vacation Properties – Buy it on Amazon

Production done by Outlier Audio

On this week's episode, Avery is joined by Chuck Kramer to break down what it could mean if the Fed is truly winding down quantitative tightening and moving toward quantitative easing. They explain (in plain English) how increasing bank reserves and buying Treasuries/mortgage-backed securities can loosen credit conditions and potentially help bring borrowing costs down—without assuming we’ll ever see 3% mortgages again. Avery and Chuck also talk about why a “price crash” may already be reflected in low transaction volume since 2022, why vacation markets can feel the pain more than primary-home markets, and how a weaker dollar/stimulus chatter could impact discretionary travel demand going into 2026.

How to connect with Avery:

The Short Term Shop - https://theshorttermshop.com/
Short Term Shop Plus - stsplus.com
Follow Avery Carl on Instagram
Follow Avery Carl on TikTok
Join the Short Term Shop Facebook group
Check out the Short Term Shop on YouTube

For more information on how to get into short term rentals, read Avery’s books:

Smarter Short Term Rentals - Buy it on Amazon
Short-Term Rental, Long-Term Wealth: Your Guide to Analyzing, Buying, and Managing Vacation Properties – Buy it on Amazon

Production done by Outlier Audio

On this week's episode, Avery is joined by Joe Young, an Austin-based luxury short-term rental operator and co-founder of SPRKhost. Joe shares how he and his wife began with a Lake Travis vacation home in 2017 and ultimately turned their primary residence into a single property grossing nearly $500,000 a year. He breaks down how they expanded to managing 20+ high-end listings, the power of combining neighboring properties into mega-listings, and why Austin’s STR “crash” is really a market correction shaped by permitting, density rules, and growing competition. Joe also reveals his new venture, ExperiHaus, a TV-based guest-experience and revenue platform designed to help hosts elevate their brand and earn additional income.

How to connect with Joe:

https://sprkhost.com/
https://experihaus.com/

How to connect with Avery:

The Short Term Shop - https://theshorttermshop.com/
Short Term Shop Plus - stsplus.com
Follow Avery Carl on Instagram
Follow Avery Carl on TikTok
Join the Short Term Shop Facebook group
Check out the Short Term Shop on YouTube

For more information on how to get into short term rentals, read Avery’s books:

Smarter Short Term Rentals - Buy it on Amazon
Short-Term Rental, Long-Term Wealth: Your Guide to Analyzing, Buying, and Managing Vacation Properties – Buy it on Amazon

Production done by Outlier Audio

On this week's episode, Avery is joined by Naomi Brown, a commercial real estate agent and owner of the iconic Hanes Shoe House in York, Pennsylvania. She shares the wild backstory of the three-bedroom, shoe-shaped home that was originally built in 1950 as a marketing stunt for a local shoe store and how she transformed it from an ice cream shop into a short term rental grossing around $100,000 a year. Naomi and Avery dig into how to price truly one-of-a-kind properties, manage heavy maintenance on quirky builds, and use history, nostalgia, and souvenirs to create memorable guest experiences that drive five-star reviews.

How to connect with Naomi:

https://www.hainesshoehouse.com/

How to connect with Avery:

The Short Term Shop - https://theshorttermshop.com/
Short Term Shop Plus - stsplus.com
Follow Avery Carl on Instagram
Follow Avery Carl on TikTok
Join the Short Term Shop Facebook group
Check out the Short Term Shop on YouTube

For more information on how to get into short term rentals, read Avery’s books:

Smarter Short Term Rentals - Buy it on Amazon
Short-Term Rental, Long-Term Wealth: Your Guide to Analyzing, Buying, and Managing Vacation Properties – Buy it on Amazon

Production done by Outlier Audio

On this week’s episode, Avery is joined by Jake Cohen, hospitality veteran and founder of Step by Step BNB. Jake grew up running a family bed and breakfast in Lake Tahoe, learned the art of pricing while managing boutique hotels, and eventually built a portfolio of short term rentals before launching his own revenue management company. He and Avery dig into why most investors overprice, how to shift your mindset from nightly rates to total revenue, and the biggest mistakes new hosts make with restrictions and minimum stays. Jake also walks through real data-driven pricing strategies using PriceLabs dashboards and shares his top lessons from nearly a decade in the industry.

How to connect with Jake:

https://www.stepbystepbnb.com/
https://www.facebook.com/groups/priceyourstr

How to connect with Avery:

The Short Term Shop - https://theshorttermshop.com/
Short Term Shop Plus - stsplus.com
Follow Avery Carl on Instagram
Follow Avery Carl on TikTok
Join the Short Term Shop Facebook group
Check out the Short Term Shop on YouTube

For more information on how to get into short term rentals, read Avery’s books:

Smarter Short Term Rentals - Buy it on Amazon
Short-Term Rental, Long-Term Wealth: Your Guide to Analyzing, Buying, and Managing Vacation Properties – Buy it on Amazon

Production done by Outlier Audio