Michigan Short Term Rentals

188: On the Ground - Real Conversations Around New Projects

05 May 2026

Contributed by Lukas

We touched down in Georgia and honestly the first thing we did was drive around and take it all in. In this episode it's just us in the car talkin...

187: The Make or Break Skill in Hospitality

28 Apr 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Most operators in this business are building themselves a job and calling it a company. Tony and Jordan have spent five years learning the difference ...

186: 7 Tips for Raising Capital for Your Next Project

21 Apr 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Most people building their first pitch deck are trying to make everything look perfect. Tony and Jordan have learned that the best investors aren'...

185: The AI Tools Running in the Background of Our Business

14 Apr 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Tony and Jordan pull back the curtain on the five AI tools quietly running inside their business right now, and they don't start with "Chat.&...

184: Lawsuits, One Stars, and the Best Quarter We Almost Ignored

07 Apr 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Most people only talk about the wins. Tony and Jordan pull back the curtain on the full Q1 picture, the frustrating lows, the unexpected highs, and th...

183: One Horse Pulls 8,000 Pounds. Two Horses Pull 24,000.

31 Mar 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Most operators are doing the math wrong. Tony and Jordan break down five principles that turn ordinary investments into something that compounds in wa...

182: Kenny Bedwell on the Widening Wealth Divide in Short Term Rentals

24 Mar 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Kenny Bedwell is back. This time he breaks down what the data is actually showing in the STR market right now, why the top 10% of hosts keep pulling f...

181: What Happens When You Actually Use the Right Tools w/ IV Beaton

17 Mar 2026

Contributed by Lukas

IV Beaton spent years helping grow Life House, one of the fastest-growing hotel management companies in North America, before carving out its software...

180: Creating an Unfair Advantage with this Simple Principle

10 Mar 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Most investors are competing for the same deals on the same platforms. Tony and Jordan share the simple principle that's been opening doors nobody...

179: The Wealth-Building Flywheel and Why Your Equity Might Be Sitting Lazy

03 Mar 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Tony and Jordan break down their first cash-out refinance on a 5-unit property they took from $60K in gross income to $220K+. That property just appra...

178: Zero Down Seller Financing Could Kill Your Tax Strategy

24 Feb 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Tony and Jordan unpack how cost segregation can dramatically reduce taxes for short term rental owners.A cost seg study breaks out components like dri...

177: How To Choose a Hospitality Name That Feels Premium and Ranks Online

17 Feb 2026

Contributed by Lukas

This episode is a naming playbook for boutique hospitality. Tony and Jordan walk through five naming considerations that directly impact bookings and ...

176: Mindset Is The Real Scale Lever w/ Emanuele Pani

10 Feb 2026

Contributed by Lukas

This episode breaks down why most people stall even when they know what to do. Emanuele explains mindset as the beliefs shaping how you see yourself a...

175: An $11 Million Dollar STR Legal Mistake w/ Katie Johnson PLC

03 Feb 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Katie Johnson is back with a real update from the front lines of Michigan STR law. We talk Park Township’s ongoing battle, why “we’ve always all...

174: Year One w/ Our First Motel: Real Numbers, Real Lessons

27 Jan 2026

Contributed by Lukas

This episode is a behind the curtain look at what it actually takes to make a small motel feel like a high performing group retreat. They talk big gro...

173: One Hire Away From Breaking Through

20 Jan 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Hiring is the bottleneck most STR operators refuse to admit. In this episode, Tony and Jordan break down why growth stalls when the owner is still doi...

172: The Financing Options Most STR Investors Don’t Know Exist

13 Jan 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Most investors focus on price and projections. Experienced operators focus on financing structure. In this episode, Tony and Jordan unpack two lending...

171: Michigan STR Conference 2026: How One Event Can Reset Your Trajectory

06 Jan 2026

Contributed by Lukas

The 2026 Michigan STR Conference is officially live, and this episode explains why this year is different.Tony and Jordan unpack what happens when y...

170: The Mechanical Mind Trap and How to Break It

30 Dec 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Tony and Jordan unpack a mindset shift that changes everything: you are not the same person you were when you failed last time. They use an Indiana fo...

169: How To Be the Most Interesting Person in the Room

23 Dec 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Tony and Jordan break down a counterintuitive idea: the most interesting person in the room usually is not the loudest or the funniest. It’s the one...

168: Real Growth Happens Outside the Numbers

16 Dec 2025

Contributed by Lukas

This is a candid year-in-review episode focused less on wins and more on evolution. Tony and Jordan unpack the moments that forced them to grow: large...

167: The 3 Biggest Lessons We Pulled From Our Annual Retreat

09 Dec 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Inside this episode, Tony and Jordan unpack their annual strategy retreat and reveal the three levers that are shaping their next five years of growth...

166: How We Attracted Our First Investors and Got Deals Funded

02 Dec 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Tony and Jordan break down how their investor journey evolved from doing a first flip with a close friend to bringing new investors into every deals. ...

165: Our Newest Motel Deal and How to Start Your Own Boutique Journey

25 Nov 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Tony and Jordan walk through their newest deal under contract a twenty four unit motel in Southwest Michigan that they have been tracking for years. T...

164: Removing Negative Airbnb Reviews w/ the New AI System

18 Nov 2025

Contributed by Lukas

This episode breaks down the real-world shift Airbnb made to an AI-driven review removal system and how hosts can get negative review removed within t...

163: Momentum Beats Perfection

11 Nov 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Tony and Jordan make a strong case for a bias toward action. They show how tiny first steps lead to deals, skills, and momentum. From analyzing number...

162: The Conference Tip That Saved Us ~$150K

04 Nov 2025

Contributed by Lukas

This episode is a tactics deck for closing when “the numbers don’t pencil.” Fresh from a conference insight that effectively saved ~$150K on a...

161: Cracking the Code to Michigan’s Top 1% Airbnbs

28 Oct 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Tony and Jordan break down what separates Michigan’s top 1% of short-term rentals from the rest. From hot tubs and privacy to 50-photo listings, per...

160: Is 4th Quarter a Good Time to Buy a Short Term Rental in Michigan?

21 Oct 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Is Q4 secretly the best time to buy a short-term rental? Tony and Jordan break down fall deals, stale listings, cost-seg deadlines, and why onboarding...

159: Turn Browsers into Bookings with Roberto Sidoti from Rentamira

14 Oct 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Vacation rental SEO veteran Roberto Sidoti breaks down how to win direct bookings today. From local SEO and Google Business Profile to LLM-ready conte...

158: Branding First, Building Second Is the Secret to Iconic Stays w/ Steph Weber

07 Oct 2025

Contributed by Lukas

This episode is a mini-masterclass on hospitality marketing. Steph Weber explains how she financed and launched a 12-cabin riverfront development, mar...

157: 3 Lessons From Boutique Hotel Con You Can’t Afford to Miss

30 Sep 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Three lessons. That’s what Tony and Jordan pulled from their trip to Boutique Hotel Con in Tennessee, and they’ll change the way you think about b...

156: 5 Important Lessons from the 2025 Peak Season

23 Sep 2025

Contributed by Lukas

In this episode, Tony and Jordan break down the five biggest lessons they learned from Michigan’s 2025 peak season. From vetting properties more car...

155: Reinvention Season: Why Comfort Could Be Your Biggest Risk

16 Sep 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Tony and Jordan open up about reinventing themselves again. From barber to broker, factory floor to founder, they break down the mental barriers (fea...

154: 5 Proven Ways to Boost Your STR Revenue Next Year

09 Sep 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Is your STR underperforming? Tony and Jordan reveal the five revenue multipliers that separate winning properties from average ones. You’ll hear ho...

153: No Comps, No Limits and Dreaming Bigger Than the Market

02 Sep 2025

Contributed by Lukas

This episode gets real about development math. They discuss site work, vertical builds, and amenities, so they’re planning multiple paths: operate a...

152: How We Bought a 5-Unit for $0 Down

26 Aug 2025

Contributed by Lukas

What happens when you take a tired five-unit building and flip it into a powerhouse STR property? Tony and Jordan share the full story of their South...

151: The Surprises (and Warnings) From Airbnb’s Q2 Earnings Call

19 Aug 2025

Contributed by Lukas

In this episode, Tony and Jordan break down Airbnb’s Q2 earnings call and unpack the key insights for short-term rental owners and investors. From r...

150: Saying “No” is the Ultimate STR Growth Strategy

12 Aug 2025

Contributed by Lukas

In this episode, Tony Stancato and Jordan Painter share how they’ve narrowed their motel acquisition focus to one powerful corridor: St. Joseph to N...

149: Consistently Good > Occasionally Great: The Real STR Advantage

05 Aug 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Tony and Jordan unpack one of the biggest mindset shifts for STR operators: chasing consistency instead of perfection. Whether it's installing a new A...

148: How to Get Direct Bookings by Going All In on Great Content w/ Dustin Baker

29 Jul 2025

Contributed by Lukas

In this episode, we sit down with Dustin Baker from Hidden Gem Media to talk about what most STR owners get wrong about their photos and videos. Bette...

147: Not Every Client Is a Great Fit and That's Ok

22 Jul 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Not every client has to be the right fit, just like not every employee has to be the right fit. This episode is about protecting your time, your team,...

146: One-Night Stays, Price Wars, and the Truth About Launching New Listings w/ Federico Zimerman

15 Jul 2025

Contributed by Lukas

From Mount Rushmore to New York, Federico Zimerman has scaled a nationwide STR business—and learned a lot about what works (and what doesn’t). In ...

145: Hidden Deal-Killers in Michigan’s Vacation Rental Market

08 Jul 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Buying a short-term rental in Michigan? In this episode, Tony Stancato and Jordan Painter break down five common but easily overlooked pitfalls that c...

144: 7 Mindset Shifts That Will Unlock a Bigger, Better Future

01 Jul 2025

Contributed by Lukas

In this episode, Tony Stancato and Jordan Painter explore seven foundational mindset shifts from Tony Robbins’ Unlimited Power that are critical fo...

143: How to Avoid Headaches by Setting STR Owner Expectations Early

24 Jun 2025

Contributed by Lukas

How do you prevent scope creep, unrealistic demands, or frustrating conversations with STR owners? Tony and Jordan share their hard earned insights on...

142: 5 Takeaways from the Boston Boardroom Event

17 Jun 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Tony Stancato and Jordan Painter break down the powerful takeaways from Tony’s recent trip to the Boardroom mastermind in Boston. From shifting your...

141: Time Freedom, Vision, and 90+ Doors with Michael Sjogren

10 Jun 2025

Contributed by Lukas

What drives someone to leave a secure corporate life and bet everything on short-term rentals—and later boutique hotels? In this episode, Michael Sj...

140: From Airbnb to a 130 Unit Motel: Blake Dailey’s Playbook to Scaling

03 Jun 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Tony and Jordan sit down with Blake Dailey to unpack his journey from short-term rental host to boutique hotel operator. From his early days of house ...

139: From Fear to Freedom: Breaking Through Mindset Barriers

27 May 2025

Contributed by Lukas

In this episode, Tony and Jordan dive deep into the mindset challenges that hold so many entrepreneurs back from scaling their businesses. From overco...

138: Scaling Tech, Real Estate & Vacation Rentals with Garry VonMyhr

20 May 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Most people think of Tony and Jordan when they hear the Michigan STR Podcast—but there’s a third partner behind the scenes. Meet Garry VonMyhr: se...

137: The 2025 Michigan STR Conference Recap

13 May 2025

Contributed by Lukas

In this episode, Tony and Jordan reflect on what worked, what surprised them, and what they’re changing next year after hosting the Michigan STR Con...

136: Don’t Get Tired: When STRs Start to Slip

06 May 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Don’t let your property get tired. In this episode, Tony and Jordan break down a recent stay at a highly rated Airbnb that totally missed the mark—...

135: Should You Be Nervous About Guests with No Reviews?

29 Apr 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Should you be nervous when a guest has no reviews? Today, Tony and Jordan unpack why some of your best guests might actually have a blank profile, why...

134: Petite Acres: A Ground Up Hospitality Development in SW Michigan w/ Justin and Jeana Cohen

22 Apr 2025

Contributed by Lukas

n this episode, we dive deep into the realities of ground-up development with Gina and Justin Cohen. They talk permits, city council approvals, and fi...

133: Maximizing Credit Card Rewards on Your STR Investment with Colin Stroud

15 Apr 2025

Contributed by Lukas

In this episode, Tony sits down with credit card reward expert Colin Stroud, founder of Go Somewhere, to break down how vacation rental owners can t...

132: How to Save 40–60% on Taxes as a Real Estate Investor w/ Joshua Sherrard

08 Apr 2025

Contributed by Lukas

In this episode, Tony and Jordan sit down with tax strategist Josh Sherrard, CEO of Strategic Navigators, to break down how real estate investors an...

131: 5 Surprising Differences Between Managing Motels and STRs

01 Apr 2025

Contributed by Lukas

In this episode, Tony and Jordan break down the 5 biggest differences they’ve experienced managing boutique motels versus traditional short-term r...

130: The 4 Wealth Accelerators: Rethinking Cashflow in Your Investment Strategy w/ Kassidy Warren

25 Mar 2025

Contributed by Lukas

From an overworked corporate engineer to boutique motel owner, Kassidy Warren’s story is all about transformation, strategy, and purpose. In this ep...

129: Optimizing Your PriceLabs Settings with Kyle Driskell

18 Mar 2025

Contributed by Lukas

In this episode, Tony talks with Kyle Driskell from PriceLabs about optimizing dynamic pricing for short-term rentals. They cover the latest updates t...

128: Why Your Luxury STR Isn’t Booking (And How to Fix It)

11 Mar 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Think your high-end Michigan vacation property sells itself? Think again.In this episode, Tony and Jordan challenge the dangerous assumption many luxu...

127: The Power of Meetups: How Networking Can Transform Your STR Business

04 Mar 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Networking isn’t just about shaking hands—it’s the fuel that drives real estate and short-term rental success. In this episode, Tony and Jordan ...

126: Airbnb Earnings Call Reveals the Future of STRs: Are You Ready?

25 Feb 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Airbnb just had a massive earnings call, and Tony and Jordan are breaking down the biggest takeaways that could impact your vacation rental business. ...

125: Crafting Irresistible Airbnb Listings: Insights from the Top 1%

18 Feb 2025

Contributed by Lukas

What do the top 1% of Airbnb listings have in common? In this episode, Tony and Jordan break down a data-driven approach to optimizing short-term rent...

124: Lessons from the Trenches: Highs & Lows from Our STR Business

11 Feb 2025

Contributed by Lukas

In this episode, Tony and Jordan reflect on their biggest highs and toughest lows from 2024, breaking down what worked, what didn’t, and how they’...

123: How Jonathan Wicks Scaled the Hardest Part of the STR Industry

04 Feb 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Today, we sit down with Jonathan Wicks, whose company has completed over 200,000 turnovers, to break down what top operators do differently. We dive ...

122: Countdown to Launch! The 10 Steps to Prepare Your First STR

28 Jan 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Landing your first short-term rental is exciting, but it’s what you do next that truly sets you up for success. In this episode, we dive into the fo...

121: The Winning Formula: Do the Basics Better Than Everyone Else

21 Jan 2025

Contributed by Lukas

In this episode of the Michigan Short-Term Rentals Podcast, Tony and Jordan dive into the basics that often separate five-star properties from the res...

120: How to Replace a $100K Income in 18 Months w/ Airbnb (Low Money Down)

14 Jan 2025

Contributed by Lukas

What does it take to transition into full-time vacation rentals and replace a $100K income in just 18 months? Tony and Jordan lay out a clear roadmap ...

119: Write It Down, Make It Real in 2025 ~ Hospitality Goal Setting

07 Jan 2025

Contributed by Lukas

As the new year approaches, it's time to get serious about your goals. Tony and Jordan dive into the importance of clear, written objectives and how t...

118: From Rentless to Rented: How We Secured 21 Bookings in 45 Days

31 Dec 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Is your short-term rental sitting empty while others are fully booked? In this episode, Tony and Jordan share how they took two struggling downtown St...

117: Pet-Friendly Rentals: The Untapped Revenue Opportunity

24 Dec 2024

Contributed by Lukas

In this episode, we explore the growing demand for pet-friendly vacation rentals and what it means for property owners. We’ll discuss the benefits ...

116: Top 5 Takeaways: Lessons Learned at Coach Michael Burts From A to B Event

17 Dec 2024

Contributed by Lukas

In this episode, Tony recaps his takeaways from Coach Michael Burt's From A to B event in Nashville. Learn how clarity, action, and leveraging your ...

115: Small Touches, Big Impact: 9 Ways to Improve Your STR

10 Dec 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Want to make your short-term rental stand out? Tony and Jordan share nine easy ways to create a memorable guest experience by focusing on the small de...

114: Inside the Courtroom: Park Township What Happened and What’s Next w/ Katie Johnson

03 Dec 2024

Contributed by Lukas

In this episode, Tony and Jordan sit down with attorney and short-term rental owner Katie Johnson to discuss the controversial Park Township case in M...

113: Special Episode + AirPod Giveaway

28 Nov 2024

Contributed by Lukas

In this special Thanksgiving edition, Tony and Jordan share exciting updates about their latest project. From rebranding to redesigning and relaunchi...

112: Why Expense Audits Matter for Your STR Business

26 Nov 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Running a successful short-term rental business isn’t just about bookings—it’s about keeping your operation lean and efficient. In this episode,...

111: 2024’s Top Tech for Short-Term Rental Management

19 Nov 2024

Contributed by Lukas

In this episode of the Michigan Short-Term Rentals Podcast, Tony and Jordan break down their updated tech stack for 2024. From property management sof...

110: Your Essential Midterm Rental Document Checklist

12 Nov 2024

Contributed by Lukas

In this episode of the Michigan Short Term Rentals Podcast, Tony Stancato and Jordan Painter dive into a timely topic for Michigan rental property ow...

109: Ready to Buy Your First STR? What You Need to Know Before Taking the Leap!

05 Nov 2024

Contributed by Lukas

In this episode of the Michigan Short Term Rentals Podcast, hosts Tony Stancato and Jordan Painter dive into the essentials of purchasing your first ...

108: Our Approach to Handling Guest Claims & Preserving 5-Star Hospitality

29 Oct 2024

Contributed by Lukas

In this episode of the Michigan Short Term Rentals Podcast, Tony Stancato and Jordan Painter dive into a key topic for vacation rental operators: man...

107: Michigan STR Conference 2025: What’s New and Why You Don't Want to Miss It

22 Oct 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Hosts Tony Stancato and Jordan Painter dive deep into what you can expect from the highly anticipated 2025 Michigan STR Conference. Building on the s...

106: Can You Trust AirDNA? Real Numbers, Real Insights for STR Investors

15 Oct 2024

Contributed by Lukas

In this episode, Tony and Jordan break down the accuracy of AirDNA and its role in predicting vacation rental success. They share their personal exper...

105: Maximizing Returns with Outdoor Investments

08 Oct 2024

Contributed by Lukas

In this episode of the Michigan Short Term Rentals Podcast, Tony Stancato and Jordan Painter dive into the power of investing in the exterior of your ...

104: The 5 Essentials Every Real Estate Agent (And Buyer) Must Know for STR Success

01 Oct 2024

Contributed by Lukas

In this episode of the Michigan Short Term Rentals Podcast, Tony Stancato and Jordan Painter break down five critical factors that every real estate a...

103: 7 Game-Changing Takeaways from a Boutique Hotel Conference

24 Sep 2024

Contributed by Lukas

In this episode, Tony Stancato and Jordan Painter dive into Tony's recent experience at a boutique hotel conference, where they explore key lesson...

102: 7 Lessons from 7 Guests: Insights on Scaling, Safety, and Strategic Growth

17 Sep 2024

Contributed by Lukas

In this special recap episode, Tony Stancato and Jordan Painter dive into the key takeaways from seven incredible guests who have shared their experti...

101: Using AI to Increase Revenue and Streamline Operations with Besty.ai co-founder Sam Dundas

10 Sep 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Imagine a software that can: - Automatically respond to guests - Make money for you by upselling guests - Make recommendations for improving your p...

100: Defending a STR Loophole Audit and How to Prepare for One w/ Ryan Bakke, CPA

03 Sep 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Today Ryan Bakke, CPA and Tony dive deep into the STR loophole. Ryan recently defended an STR loophole audit for a client and won! Ryan provides ins...

99: Three Benefits of Partnerships and What to Look Out For

27 Aug 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Today Tony and Jordan discuss the benefits of partnerships in business and real estate. Are you looking to expand your real estate business? Partners...

98: Mid Summer Safety Update w/ Safety Expert Justin Ford

20 Aug 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Back by popular demand, Justin Ford, international short term rental safety expert. Today we discuss some of the recent safety incidents that have be...

97: Proximity Matters but Not in the Way You Might Think

13 Aug 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Today Tony and Jordan discuss the importance of proximity but it's not in the way you might think. EOS The E Myth Clockwork Connect with Mic...

96: Waterfront Does Not Guarantee Success, Is it Even Worth It?

06 Aug 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Today Jordan and Tony discuss buying waterfront vacation rentals. Does the income a waterfront home bring in justify the purchase price? Before you bu...

95: Going Big in Northern Michigan Hospitality w/ Isaac Oswalt

30 Jul 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Today, Tony and Jordan interview Isaac Oswalt, owner Spillway Lodges. Spillway is a 36 unit property in Bellaire, Michigan. Isaac gives us the rundo...

94: 5 Ways to Do Your Own Short Term Rental Due Diligence

23 Jul 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Today Tony and Jordan discuss the critical components of doing your own due diligence for your vacation rental. Follow these 5 items to prevent headac...

93: Mastering Michigan Hotels with Auston Cook

16 Jul 2024

Contributed by Lukas

We interview Auston Cook about his journey in real estate. Auston shares a wealth of knowledge from land development to acquiring hotels. His portfo...

92: 5 Amenities Under $100 That Drive High Reviews

09 Jul 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Think amenities have to be expensive? Guess again. Here we discuss 5 amenities that have gotten us a lot of positive feedback and reviews over the yea...

91: The Top 5 Markets in Michigan and Is the Best Airbnb Market in Michigan? w/ Kenny Bedwell

02 Jul 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Today we have STR Insights founder Kenny Bedwell. Kenny goes over the top 5 Michigan markets and hints on one of the best markets in the United State...

90: 5 Services You Must Be Using As an Airbnb Host

25 Jun 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Today we are talking about businesses that you must be using as an Airbnb host. These services will help you be more efficient and effective as a hos...

89: Return on Energy: The Secret to Scaling a Property Management Company w/ Patryk Swietek

18 Jun 2024

Contributed by Lukas

This episode is a true masterclass on scaling a property management company. A lot of it comes down to return on energy. Patryk gives actionable step...