In this episode of the STR Investing Podcast, Taylor sits down with Pedro Rivera, Head of Acquisitions at Summer OS, to explore how his unique background in hotel acquisitions and build-to-rent communities shaped one of the most powerful tools in the short-term rental space.

Pedro shares:

• The key differences (and surprising similarities) between hotel and STR investing
• What institutional real estate gets right—and wrong—about short-term rentals
• How Summer OS was born out of frustration with unreliable data and plug-and-play tools
• Why accurate competitive sets, lot size, and submarket awareness are critical for STR success
• What most investors miss when projecting revenue and tracking performance
• Why operators must keep their hands on the wheel—set-and-forget doesn't work
• What’s next for Summer OS, including real-time variance analysis and revenue trend forecasting

If you’re scaling your STR portfolio, building underwriting systems, or struggling to trust the data, this episode is a goldmine.

Explore Summer OS: https://www.summeros.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, Mark Lumpkin sits down with Jay Ullrich, STR operator, tech founder, and CEO of HostBuddy.ai - to unpack his journey from cold-calling landlords and scrubbing his own units to managing 45+ short-term rentals and launching one of the most advanced AI guest communication tools in the industry.

Jay shares:

• How he built a thriving STR property management company without outbound sales
• What he learned scaling from 1 arbitrage unit to 45+ managed homes in San Diego
• Why HostBuddy.ai was born out of late-night guest message fatigue, and how it works
• How today’s AI tools can help you reduce stress, automate communication, and increase profits
• Why HostBuddy stands out from every other AI chatbot in the space
• The challenges of scaling and how to maintain trust as you grow
• How to test HostBuddy live on their site (no signup required!)

Whether you’re just starting in cohosting or you’re managing dozens of units, this episode is packed with firsthand experience and future-focused insights that can save you time, money, and headaches.

Try HostBuddy's AI for yourself → https://hostbuddy.ai

Connect with Jay: jay@hostbuddy.ai | @hostbuddy_ai on Instagram

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Enjoyed the show? Subscribe, share, and leave a review for the STR Investing, The Podcast so more hosts can scale smarter.

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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

What if you could give your guests a memorable, screen-free experience and stand out in a crowded short-term rental market—without adding a $10K hot tub or building a pickleball court?

In this episode, Mark sits down with Rachel from QR Clue, a former property manager turned entrepreneur who’s on a mission to turn everyday rentals into unforgettable guest experiences. QR Clue is a ready-to-go, interactive mystery game—part escape room, part storytelling adventure—that guests play using subtle, QR-coded items placed throughout your property.

You’ll learn:

• The “aha moment” that sparked QR Clue’s creation
• Why this amenity can be installed in any STR (with just a kitchen + bedroom)
• How hosts are using QR Clue to drive more bookings, 5-star reviews, and guest data collection
• Why it’s designed only for vacation rentals (sorry, hotels 👋)
• What setup, reset, and guest playtime actually looks like
• How families, friends, and even company retreats are using it to connect and create memories

If you’re looking for an easy, low-lift way to upgrade your guest experience (and boost your bottom line), this one’s for you.

Learn more at QRClue.com or email them at hi@qrclue.com

Like what you hear? Subscribe, share, and join us again next Friday!

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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