Buying an Airbnb in The Smoky Mountains of Tennessee

February Market Update with Reagen

Avery Carl — Thu, 12 Feb 2026 09:00:00 +0000

Luke Carl sits down with Reagen to break down the February 2026 market update in the Smoky Mountains. They discuss a noticeable shift in activity, including the highest monthly closings since December 2021, declining inventory levels, and what that means for buyers navigating a market that’s moving from a strong buyer’s market toward balance. Reagen also shares insights on turnkey new construction pool cabins, high-end luxury builds already booking deep into 2026, fixer-upper challenges, and why long-term cash flow and smart buying matter more than obsessing over first-year cash-on-cash returns.

Connect with an agent: agents@theshorttermshop.com

Connect with us:

The Short Term Shop - https://theshorttermshop.com/
https://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

Chapters

(00:00:00) - Smoky Mountains Real Estate: December was the biggest month since December
(00:04:09) - Do Small Houses Deserve a Small Home?
(00:05:28) - The Smokies: Bougie Town
(00:07:42) - 499 Acre Cabin, Gatlinburg
(00:11:50) - Two Bed, Three Bath Cabin Near Gatlinburg
(00:15:30) - Tongue and Groove Cabin, Private Beach
(00:17:56) - Are There Any Fixer Uppers Available In Gatlinburg?
(00:21:34) - Cabin Community: A High-End Luxury Property
(00:24:47) - The Secret to Famous Footwear
(00:25:20) - How to Sell Your Real Estate

Market Target Update with Matt

Avery Carl — Fri, 14 Nov 2025 09:00:00 +0000

On this episode of the series, Luke sits down with Smoky Mountain agent and long-time investor Matt Castle to break down what's happening right now in the Smokies market, including a surge in pending contracts and how shifting Fed policy and mortgage rates may impact short-term rental buyers. They talk through timing purchases and listings around tax strategy and seasonal slowdowns, why winter months can be prime time for both buyers and sellers, and how fundamentals like strong photos, themed design, cleanliness, and strategic deep cleans separate top-performing cabins from the rest. Matt also contrasts turnkey vs. value-add STR opportunities, shares how serious multifamily/commercial investors are adapting to the unique metrics of short-term rentals, and emphasizes not overthinking it—focusing on “heads in beds” and guest experience.

How to connect with Matt Castle
Best way to reach him: matt@theshorttermshop.com

Connect with us:

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

Chapters

(00:00:02) - Smoky Mountain Real Estate Podcast
(00:00:22) - Matt Castle Discusses the Smokies Real Estate Market
(00:01:23) - Real Estate Listings in the Great Smoky Mountains
(00:02:23) - Pending vs Sold Home Loans
(00:08:48) - President Trump's policy on monetary policy
(00:09:40) - Economist: Expect another rate drop in December
(00:10:48) - Are Commercial Real Estate Sales Up?
(00:17:22) - January and February: Are they a good time to buy a house
(00:23:23) - Smoky Mountains Real Estate Update
(00:23:52) - When to Sell Your Cabin?
(00:26:06) - How to Buy a Cabin in the Smokies

Market Target Update with Reagan

Avery Carl — Mon, 29 Sep 2025 08:00:00 +0000

In this episode of the series, Luke Carl sits down with Reagan from The Short Term Shop to break down what’s happening in the Smokies market this fall. They cover how recent rate cuts and shifting inventory are shaping buyer leverage, strategies for writing strong offers in today’s environment, and what to watch for with new construction quality. Reagan also shares how she uses AirDNA to evaluate realistic revenue ranges for two-bedroom cabins and why grounding your numbers in data matters when deciding on a purchase.

Connect with us:

The Short Term Shop - https://theshorttermshop.com/
www.strquestions.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

Chapters

(00:00:01) - Exploring the Smoky Mountains of East Tennessee
(00:01:16) - Real Estate Interview
(00:06:42) - Should You Offer a Million-Dollar Home?
(00:08:43) - Smokies New Construction Market
(00:14:27) - How To Build a Sheetrock House
(00:14:50) - How To Analyze Vacation Deals in the Smokies
(00:17:04) - Air DNA: The Smokies Real Estate
(00:18:52) - How to Compare Your Property with Others on Airbnb and VRBO
(00:24:55) - Property Assessment: 88,000 vs Buying a House
(00:27:41) - The Smoky Mountains: Guest Experience

Market Target Update with Natalie

Avery Carl — Mon, 29 Sep 2025 08:00:00 +0000

In this episode of the series, Luke Carl chats with Natalie from The Short Term Shop about the Smokies market. They discuss why “saturation” is misunderstood, how 15–20 million annual visitors support demand, and where to buy. They cover shifting momentum in the market, pricing realities for sellers, what amenities actually matter and two live examples of current listings.

Connect with us:

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

Chapters

(00:00:01) - Market Targets: The Smokies
(00:01:05) - Real Estate in the Smokies: Back to Business
(00:03:43) - Taylor Swift on the Haters
(00:04:25) - Does Smokey Mountains Tourism Have Reached Saturation?
(00:10:08) - Tourism in North Georgia
(00:13:07) - How to Find a Hot Rental in Gatlinburg
(00:16:13) - Exploring Townsend: The Smokies Resort
(00:18:34) - The state of new construction in the Smokies
(00:21:39) - Have buyers shifted gears?
(00:27:17) - The Seattle home market's pick up
(00:31:56) - Want a Smokey's Cabin?
(00:36:41) - Cabin in the Smokies for $650
(00:39:03) - Short Term Sales Advice

Special Episode: A deep dive to PriceLabs with Wayde Hall

Avery Carl — Fri, 15 Aug 2025 07:00:00 +0000

On this week's episode, Avery is joined by Wayde Hall from the Short Term Shop for a hands-on walkthrough of how he uses Price Labs Market Dashboards to analyze properties in detail. Wayde demonstrates step-by-step how to filter for specific property types, review counts, and amenities, then sort by revenue to identify top performers and pinpoint areas for improvement. He shows how to spot seasonality trends, set realistic pricing expectations, and understand which amenities or policies impact booking rates. The episode is packed with actionable tips for both beginner and seasoned investors who want to get beyond surface-level data and make smarter STR decisions.

How to connect with Avery:

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

Hot Tubs

Avery Carl — Tue, 17 Jun 2025 07:00:00 +0000

On this week's episode of Short Term Rental Management, Luke interviews Ryan Ferguson, an electrician-turned-hot tub repair expert serving East Tennessee's Smoky Mountains. They dive into common hot tub issues in vacation rentals—like economy mode, airlocks, and water damage from improper draining—while sharing maintenance tips, regulatory insights, and hilarious stories involving bears, raccoons, and overloaded tubs. Ryan also emphasizes the importance of simplicity, proper electrical installation, and regular inspection to keep STR hot tubs guest-ready and code-compliant.

How to connect with Ryan:

Website

Phone #: (865) 635-9383

Email: FergusonPM865@gmail.com

How to connect with Luke:

The Short Term Shop - https://theshorttermshop.com/

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

STR Photographs with Mike Sutton

Avery Carl — Tue, 03 Jun 2025 07:00:00 +0000

On this week's episode of Short Term Rental Management, Luke Carl talks with photographer Mike Sutton about what makes great short-term rental photos, especially in the competitive Smoky Mountains market. They discuss the evolution of the vacation rental photography space, how to vet and select a photographer, what types of shots matter most (like twilight, drone, and 3D floor plans), and why authenticity in staging is more important than over-styling. Mike also shares personal insights into raising eight kids, his journey from IT to photography, and how hosts can prepare for seasonal and update sessions the right way.

Check out Mike's portfolio:

https://mikesuttonjr.com/

How to connect with Luke:

The Short Term Shop - https://theshorttermshop.com/

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

Airbnb Pricing and Calendar Management in the Smoky Mountains (TN)

Avery Carl — Mon, 17 Jul 2023 07:00:00 +0000

In this episode of the series we'll be talking about all things calendars! We'll go over the seasonality of the Smoky Mountains, how to set up custom calendars, how far in advance to open your calendar, some pricing mistakes to avoid and more!

Connect with Avery and the Short Term Shop:

www.theshorttermshop.com

www.strquestions.com

Short-Term Rental, Long-Term Wealth Book - https://amzn.to/3Adg6PA

Short Term Show and Short Term Rental Management Show - https://linktr.ee/strmshow

The Short Term Show - https://linktr.ee/theshorttermshow

https://www.facebook.com/groups/shorttermshop

https://theshorttermshop.com/cash-flow-calculator/

https://theshorttermshop.com/estimated-returns/

https://theshorttermshop.com/lp/smokymountains/

Common Airbnb Management Occurrences in the Smoky Mountains (TN)

Avery Carl — Fri, 14 Jul 2023 07:00:00 +0000

In this episode of the series we'll be going over everything you should expect to happen (and prepare for) owning a home in the Smoky Mountains of Tennessee. We'll go over how to deal with a variety of unfortunate situations; snow, ice, dead bugs, bears, and more!

Connect with Avery and the Short Term Shop:

www.theshorttermshop.com

www.strquestions.com

Short-Term Rental, Long-Term Wealth Book - https://amzn.to/3Adg6PA

Short Term Show and Short Term Rental Management Show - https://linktr.ee/strmshow

The Short Term Show - https://linktr.ee/theshorttermshow

https://www.facebook.com/groups/shorttermshop

https://theshorttermshop.com/cash-flow-calculator/

https://theshorttermshop.com/estimated-returns/

https://theshorttermshop.com/lp/smokymountains/

Setting Up Your Airbnb in the Smoky Mountains (TN)

Avery Carl — Wed, 12 Jul 2023 07:00:00 +0000

In this episode of the serie's we'll be going over the setup process once you've purchased your short term rental in the Smoky Mountains! We'll discuss what to buy and what to replace if your home comes furnished, must have amenities, as well as some tips and tricks for optimizing your setup as you buy more properties!

Connect with Avery and the Short Term Shop:

www.theshorttermshop.com

www.strquestions.com

Short-Term Rental, Long-Term Wealth Book - https://amzn.to/3Adg6PA

Short Term Show and Short Term Rental Management Show - https://linktr.ee/strmshow

The Short Term Show - https://linktr.ee/theshorttermshow

https://www.facebook.com/groups/shorttermshop

https://theshorttermshop.com/cash-flow-calculator/

https://theshorttermshop.com/estimated-returns/

https://theshorttermshop.com/lp/smokymountains/

The Real Estate Contract Process When Investing in Short Term Rentals in the Smoky Mountains (TN)

Avery Carl — Mon, 10 Jul 2023 07:00:00 +0000

In this episode of the series we'll be going over the contract process for short term rentals in the Smoky Mountains! We'll discuss inspections/inspection periods, financing contingencies, finding deals behind horrible photos and more!

Connect with Avery and the Short Term Shop:

www.theshorttermshop.com

www.strquestions.com

Short-Term Rental, Long-Term Wealth Book - https://amzn.to/3Adg6PA

Short Term Show and Short Term Rental Management Show - https://linktr.ee/strmshow

The Short Term Show - https://linktr.ee/theshorttermshow

https://www.facebook.com/groups/shorttermshop

https://theshorttermshop.com/cash-flow-calculator/

https://theshorttermshop.com/estimated-returns/

https://theshorttermshop.com/lp/smokymountains/

Financing Airbnbs in the Smoky Mountains (TN)

Avery Carl — Fri, 07 Jul 2023 07:00:00 +0000

In this episode of the series we'll be doing a deep dive on financing your property in the Smoky Mountains! We'll go over the various loan options (conventional, jumbo, 2nd home, etc), true log cabins and how they effect lending, banks that won't lend on cabins and more.

Connect with Avery and the Short Term Shop:

www.theshorttermshop.com

www.strquestions.com

Short-Term Rental, Long-Term Wealth Book - https://amzn.to/3Adg6PA

Short Term Show and Short Term Rental Management Show - https://linktr.ee/strmshow

The Short Term Show - https://linktr.ee/theshorttermshow

https://www.facebook.com/groups/shorttermshop

https://theshorttermshop.com/cash-flow-calculator/

https://theshorttermshop.com/estimated-returns/

https://theshorttermshop.com/lp/smokymountains/

Building Your Short Term Rental Buying Team In The Smoky Mountains (TN)

Avery Carl — Wed, 05 Jul 2023 07:00:00 +0000

In this episode of the series we'll be discussing how to build your buying team in the Smoky Mountains! We'll go over who to hire first, how to find the right agents, the importance of building relationships and more!

Connect with Avery and the Short Term Shop:

www.theshorttermshop.com

www.strquestions.com

Short-Term Rental, Long-Term Wealth Book - https://amzn.to/3Adg6PA

Short Term Show and Short Term Rental Management Show - https://linktr.ee/strmshow

The Short Term Show - https://linktr.ee/theshorttermshow

https://www.facebook.com/groups/shorttermshop

https://theshorttermshop.com/cash-flow-calculator/

https://theshorttermshop.com/estimated-returns/

https://theshorttermshop.com/lp/smokymountains/

Short Term Rental Expenses In The Smoky Mountains (TN)

Avery Carl — Mon, 03 Jul 2023 07:00:00 +0000

In this episode of the series we'll be discussing what expenses you should be expecting to pay in the Smoky Mountains market. We'll go through utilities, ammenities, internet and cable, as well as water vs. sewer, propane vs. gas and more.

Connect with Avery and the Short Term Shop:

www.theshorttermshop.com

www.strquestions.com

Short-Term Rental, Long-Term Wealth Book - https://amzn.to/3Adg6PA

Short Term Show and Short Term Rental Management Show - https://linktr.ee/strmshow

The Short Term Show - https://linktr.ee/theshorttermshow

https://www.facebook.com/groups/shorttermshop

https://theshorttermshop.com/cash-flow-calculator/

https://theshorttermshop.com/estimated-returns/

https://theshorttermshop.com/lp/smokymountains/

Analyzing Airbnb Income In The Smoky Mountains (TN)

Avery Carl — Fri, 30 Jun 2023 07:02:00 +0000

In this episode of the series we'll be discussing all things numbers! We'll discuss cash on cash returns, cap rates, using the data to make the right decisions for your investment and more.

Connect with Avery and the Short Term Shop:

www.theshorttermshop.com

www.strquestions.com

Short-Term Rental, Long-Term Wealth Book - https://amzn.to/3Adg6PA

Short Term Show and Short Term Rental Management Show - https://linktr.ee/strmshow

The Short Term Show - https://linktr.ee/theshorttermshow

www.strinsights.com

https://www.facebook.com/groups/shorttermshop

https://theshorttermshop.com/cash-flow-calculator/

https://theshorttermshop.com/estimated-returns/

https://theshorttermshop.com/lp/smokymountains/

What Type of Property to Buy for Airbnb In The Smoky Mountains (TN)

Avery Carl — Fri, 30 Jun 2023 07:01:00 +0000

In this episode of the series we'll be covering what types of properties you should be buying the Smoky Mountains. We'll discuss condos vs. cabins, the sweet spot for square footage, choosing an area based on who your target guest is and much more.

Connect with Avery and the Short Term Shop:

www.theshorttermshop.com

www.strquestions.com

Short-Term Rental, Long-Term Wealth Book - https://amzn.to/3Adg6PA

Short Term Show and Short Term Rental Management Show - https://linktr.ee/strmshow

The Short Term Show - https://linktr.ee/theshorttermshow

https://www.facebook.com/groups/shorttermshop

https://theshorttermshop.com/cash-flow-calculator/

https://theshorttermshop.com/estimated-returns/

https://theshorttermshop.com/lp/smokymountains/

Why To Buy an Airbnb In The Smoky Mountains (TN)

Avery Carl — Fri, 30 Jun 2023 07:00:00 +0000

In the first episode of this series we'll be covering all the reasons why you should consider buying a short term rental in the Smoky Mountains! From kid friendly attractions and Dollywood to the national parks, Tennessee has something to offer everyone.

Connect with Avery and the Short Term Shop:

www.theshorttermshop.com

www.strquestions.com

Short-Term Rental, Long-Term Wealth Book - https://amzn.to/3Adg6PA

Short Term Show and Short Term Rental Management Show - https://linktr.ee/strmshow

The Short Term Show - https://linktr.ee/theshorttermshow

https://www.facebook.com/groups/shorttermshop

https://theshorttermshop.com/cash-flow-calculator/

https://theshorttermshop.com/estimated-returns/

https://theshorttermshop.com/lp/smokymountains/

Buying an Airbnb in the Smoky Mountains of Tennessee

Avery Carl — Tue, 27 Jun 2023 21:35:34 +0000