Category: Pricing & Revenue
By: Omar Hassan
Reply by Michael Thompson:
**2BR/1BA apartment — Nashville, TN (Music Row area)** - Purchased for STR arbitrage (I rent, not own) - Monthly rent: $1,750 - Average monthly gross revenue: $4,100 - Cleaning (8 turnovers × $110): $880 - Supplies/toiletries: $45 - Utilities (my portion above rent): $120 - PriceLabs + Hospitable: $45 - Insurance (Safely per-booking): $65 - Misc maintenance: $75 - **Net monthly profit: ~$1,120** - ROI on startup investment ($6,500 furnishing): paid back in 6 months $1,120/month is good but not life-changing. The key is stacking 3-4 units. I have 3 total, netting ~$3,400/month combined. Seasonality note: December-March is slower (net drops to ~$700/mo). April-November is strong (net up to $1,500/mo). The annual average is what matters, not any single month.
Reply by James Wu:
**3BR/2BA cabin — Gatlinburg, TN (mountain view)** - Owned, purchased $340K, 25% down ($85K + $15K closing + $22K furnishing = $122K total invested) - Mortgage (P&I): $1,580/month - Average monthly gross revenue: $5,800 - Cleaning (6 turnovers × $140): $840 - Utilities (electric, water, internet, trash): $380 - Insurance (Proper): $150 - Property taxes: $120 - HOA: $0 (no HOA) - PriceLabs: $20 - Hospitable: $25 - Maintenance reserve: $290 (5%) - CapEx reserve: $290 (5%) - Supplies: $60 - **Monthly cash flow after ALL expenses: ~$1,045** - **Annual cash-on-cash return: $12,540 / $122,000 = 10.3%** Not as sexy as YouTube gurus claim but it's passive, consistent, and the property appreciates ~4-5% per year (which adds another ~$15K/year in equity). Total return is closer to 22-25% when you include appreciation + principal paydown + tax benefits. Peak months (June-July, October, December): $7,500-8,500 gross Slow months (January-February): $3,500-4,000 gross
Reply by Anika Sharma:
**1BR/1BA condo — Scottsdale, AZ (Old Town area)** - Owned, purchased $260K, 20% down - Total invested: $72K (down + closing + furnishing) - Mortgage: $1,260/month - Average monthly gross: $3,600 - Cleaning (10 turnovers × $85): $850 - Utilities: $220 - Insurance: $90 - HOA: $350 (includes water, trash, pool maintenance) - Software: $45 - Supplies: $35 - Maintenance: $100 - **Monthly cash flow: ~$650** - **Cash-on-cash: 10.8%** The HOA is brutal ($350/mo!) but the condo has a pool, gym, and great location. The HOA amenities are what SELL the listing to guests. Scottsdale seasonality is REVERSED from most markets: - Peak: January-April (Scottsdale is THE winter escape destination) - Low: June-August (scorching hot, nobody wants to visit) I charge $180/night in peak season, $90/night in summer. Total swing is dramatic. For modeling your own property numbers, the cleaning fee calculator at https://strspecialist.com/tools/cleaning-fee-calculator is helpful for the expense side.