In this episode of the STR Investing Podcast, co-host Mark Lumpkin sits down with Jack Roberts from STR Cribs to talk sales, design, and what it really takes to build high-performing short-term rentals today.

Jack breaks down why “being real” wins in sales, how to build trust fast, and why the best salespeople don’t hide behind scripts or corporate talk. From there, we get into STR design strategy, how guest expectations keep evolving, and why you can’t out-design a bad property.

We cover:

• Why Jack says “I am the sales pitch”
• How to break down walls and get clients to open up
• The difference between designing for homeowners vs. designing for guests
• What refreshes actually move revenue (and what’s just wasted spend)
• Why STRs can pivot faster than hotels
• Jack’s favorite travel inspiration spots, plus rapid-fire favorites

Connect with Jack:

• Linkedin: @jackroberts00
• Book a call: STRCribs.com

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Episode Sponsored By:
STR Search

STR Search is the industry leading property finder service. They've helped investors acquire over 215 profitable STRs across the US. If you'd like the data professionals to help you find your next STR, reach out to STRsearch.com

In this episode of the STR Investing Podcast, co-host Mark Lumpkin sits down with Lance Morgan, founder of College Funding Secrets, to break down a different way to think about short-term rentals—using them to help pay for college and reduce taxes.

Lance explains how high-income families can reposition college savings, lower “financial aid income” on paper, and use STR tax benefits (bonus depreciation) as what he calls “tax scholarships.” The goal: stop writing big checks for tuition and instead buy an asset that can help cover college costs while continuing to generate long-term wealth.

We also talk about:

• Why the “secret cost of college” can be over $1M when you factor in opportunity cost
• How STR cash flow can cover student loan payments after graduation
• Why income matters more than assets when qualifying for aid
• Creative alternatives like “box houses” and other tax strategy rabbit holes
• Lance’s STR portfolio growth and what he’s building next: Scholarship Houses + Scholarship Vacations

Connect with Lance:

• CollegeFundingSecrets.com
• ScholarshipHouse.com (and ScholarshipVacations.com coming soon)

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Episode Sponsored By:
STR Search

STR Search is the industry leading property finder service. They've helped investors acquire over 215 profitable STRs across the US. If you'd like the data professionals to help you find your next STR, reach out to STRsearch.com

In this week’s Monday Market Data Report, we continue our amenity-focused series — breaking down which upgrades actually drive revenue — and this time we’re diving into Flagstaff.

Flagstaff isn’t overly saturated like some major Arizona markets, which makes strategic amenities even more powerful.

In this episode, Mark breaks down:

• How much fire pits increase annual revenue
• Why hot tubs are one of the highest ROI upgrades in this market
• The surprising revenue boost from game rooms
• Whether saunas and home gyms are worth it
• Why pickleball courts are producing massive revenue gains with almost no competition

The data reveals that several top-performing amenities exist in less than 5% of listings, yet generate tens of thousands of dollars in additional annual revenue.

If you’re investing in Flagstaff, upgrading an existing STR, or underwriting a new deal, this episode gives you a tactical advantage.

Have a market you want us to analyze next? DM Mark and we’ll bring the data.