Unlock the secrets to maximizing your rental income year-round with expert real estate investor Leslie Hooper! In this episode of The Landlord Diaries, Leslie shares her unique strategy of balancing short-term rentals (STR) during peak football season and mid-term rentals (MTR) for the rest of the year. With over a decade of experience and a thriving portfolio in Athens, Georgia, Leslie’s insights are a goldmine for both seasoned and aspiring investors.

In this episode:

0:00 Intro- Welcome to The Landlord Diaries

2:05 Why Leslie loves The Landlord Diaries podcast

3:25 Leslie’s accidental journey to mid-term rentals

4:50 STR during football season, MTR the rest of the year

5:45 Adding 4 seller financing condos to her MTR portfolio

6:20 The Furnished Finder tenant types surprised Leslie 

7:40 The real estate appreciation highway

9:15 Leslie’s mid-term rentals are beautiful!

10:05 Furnishing your MTRs at different levels to attract a variety of tenants

14:15 Leslie’s example of a film crew renting her MTR

14:50 The STR/MTR balance

16:10 Planning your furnished rental calendar around local events

17:15 Mid-term rentals can be a form of community service

18:15 MTR is all about the balance, MTR is medium for everything

19:15 How Leslie uses the Furnished Finder tenant tracking tool

23:00 The proper way to keep your Furnished Finder calendar up to date

24:45 Leslie’s last 5 purchases were seller financing deals from tired landlords

26:55 A good reputation as a landlord leads to more deals or partnerships

27:45 Tenants of 5 star hosts often bring your next tenant

28:40 Leslie’s first mid-term rental was filled within 48 hours

29:15 The Furnished Finder unit feature & why you should market each unit

30:55 With a surplus of mid-term supply, many MTR landlords work together

31:55 Words of wisdom from Leslie’s real estate journey

33:50 Know your midterm rental exit strategies

34:20 Leslie learned a lot of her risk tolerance from Shark Tank’s Barbara Corcoran

36:55 Connect with Leslie through her Furnished Finder listing in the show notes

37:20 Homework: Check your calculated MTR risk on FurnishedFinder.com/stats

🚀 What You’ll Learn:

• The surprising journey from house hacking on Craigslist to dominating the mid-term rental market.
• How Leslie’s MTRs consistently attract high-quality tenants, from traveling professionals to film crews, through Furnished Finder.
• The importance of strategically planning your rental calendar around local events and how this can boost your revenue.
• Proven tips on furnishing your rentals to cater to a variety of tenant types and budgets.
• How to leverage seller financing deals from tired landlords to expand your portfolio.

🔗 Resources:

• Learn more about Furnished Finder: Website
• Explore Leslie’s Furnished Finder listings: Leslie’s Listings
• Leslie’s IG: @lareinadefire

The Landlord Diaries is brought to you by Furnished Finder, where you can list your property for one low price and pay zero booking fees.