What started as a favor for one struggling homeowner turned into a multi-property, multi-market STR business, and a system built on honesty, hard lessons, and smart investing.

In this episode, you’ll learn:

• Why most first-time hosts shouldn’t expect a profit (and what to aim for instead)

• The $65K reno gamble that paid off, plus how to pitch owners to invest

• 5 non-negotiables every STR investor needs to check before buying

• How to match properties to real investor goals (not hype)

• What to say when a listing has bad photos, ugly furniture, and zero bookings

• How to turn stale listings into discounted wins using seller credits

• The mindset shift that helped turn their lowest income year into their highest ever

Whether you’re starting from scratch or trying to turn things around, this episode is packed with honest advice and real numbers to help you grow the right way.

Don’t go it alone, learn from people who’ve already done it.

00:01:14 - Revenue Boost: Previous Owner’s $30K Shows Untapped Potential

00:05:05 - Hustle Story: From Mowing Lawns to Building Wealth

00:09:37 - Mindset Shift: Realizing It Was Never Just a Job

00:13:00 - Profit Jump: Small Changes, Big Revenue Growth to $70K

00:16:54 - Unique Selling Point: Win Without a Pool

00:19:31 - Client Filter: Say ‘No’ More Often to Grow Stronger

00:20:42 - Investor Clarity: Aligning with Each Investor’s True Goal

00:22:45 - Negotiation Win: Securing $130K in Seller Credits

00:26:29 - Host Reality: Why Airbnb Won’t Help When It Matters

Guest Bio:

Joe Rohne bought my first two short-term rentals in 2022, one with his wife and one with a business partner. Within three months, he shifted into cohosting and picked up 2 cabins in Branson. Joe went to the STR Wealth Conference and met a bunch of people. From there, he started his own cohost mastermind to have weekly calls and help each other grow. He grew to 12 mostly luxury cohost properties. Joe sold his first two STRs in 2024 and upgraded to a larger luxury property, and is looking to buy another this year. All this turned into him having a co-host podcast and helping others get into this space. He has been a realtor for 5+ years in St. Louis, and got his license in Florida to sell in Panama City Beach, which is where the majority of his STR business is. In August 2024, Joe got linked with Tyler and the Savvy team, and he is now building a team that services the entire panhandle. He currently has ten co-hosts and one owned property.

Guest Link:

facebook.com/joe.rohne

Get FREE Access to our Community and Weekly Trainings:

https://group.strsecrets.com

Ep 249 - How They Went from Helping One Homeowner to Building a Thriving STR Portfolio with Joe Rohne

Short Term Rental Secrets Podcast