Short-Term Rental Brokerage: Buy & Sell Airbnb Investment Properties
Most real estate agents have never operated an Airbnb. We do — every day, across 12 markets. Surge Brokerage combines deep operational experience with proprietary market data to help you buy properties that actually perform — and sell properties at their true income value. From deal sourcing to your first guest check-in, we handle the entire pipeline.
12 markets across TX, TN, FL & AZ · Data-backed underwriting · End-to-end: acquisition → design → management
Why It Matters
Why You Need a Broker Who Operates STRs
The difference between a good and bad STR investment often comes down to details that traditional agents don't know to look for.
Traditional Agents Don't Understand STR Revenue
A residential agent sees a 3-bed house in Houston. We see a property that can generate $65K/year on Airbnb with 72% occupancy. This difference in perspective affects every aspect of the transaction — from which properties we recommend to how we price and negotiate.
Regulations Can Kill a Deal
We've seen investors close on properties and then discover the HOA bans short-term rentals, or the city requires a permit that's no longer available. Our due diligence process catches these issues before you're under contract — not after.
Pro Formas Need Real Data
Anyone can plug numbers into a spreadsheet. We use Surge Intelligence — proprietary performance data, historical booking records, and market-specific expense models built from operating across 12 markets. Our underwriting has helped investors avoid properties that looked great on paper but would have lost money in practice.
Post-Close Is Where the Value Is
Buying the property is step one. Getting it furnished, listed, priced, and operational is where most investors struggle. No other brokerage in our markets offers a seamless pipeline from acquisition to revenue generation.
For Buyers
Buying an Airbnb Investment Property
From identifying the right deal to generating your first booking, we handle every step of the acquisition and launch process.
Market & Deal Sourcing
We identify off-market and on-market properties that meet your investment criteria. Every deal is evaluated through Surge Intelligence — our proprietary market data engine that combines real booking revenue, neighborhood-level performance metrics, and regulatory risk signals to separate strong investments from money pits.
- Access to off-market deals through our network of investors and agents
- Revenue analysis powered by Surge Intelligence for every target property
- Neighborhood-level occupancy, ADR, and RevPAR comparison
- STR regulation risk assessment for each property
- HOA and deed restriction analysis before you make an offer
Financial Underwriting & Surge Score™
We build detailed pro formas for every property using Surge Intelligence — not platform averages. Our underwriting model accounts for seasonality, cleaning costs, platform fees, property taxes, insurance, HOT, maintenance reserves, and vacancy rates specific to the property's exact submarket. Every property receives a Surge Score™ — our proprietary investment rating that combines revenue potential, regulatory risk, and operational viability into a single metric so you can compare deals at a glance.
- Surge Score™ investment grade for every target property
- Conservative and aggressive revenue scenarios
- Monthly cash flow projections accounting for seasonality
- Cap rate, cash-on-cash return, and gross yield calculations
- All-in expense modeling (management, cleaning, maintenance, utilities, insurance, taxes)
- Break-even analysis and worst-case stress testing
Acquisition Support
From offer to close, we manage the transaction with STR-specific expertise. This means structuring offers that account for furnished value, negotiating repair credits based on STR readiness (not just habitability), coordinating inspections that evaluate the property's vacation rental potential, and navigating STR-specific due diligence that traditional agents overlook entirely.
- Offer strategy accounting for STR revenue potential
- Inspection coordination with STR-specific checklist
- STR due diligence: permits, HOA, zoning, tax obligations
- Negotiation of repairs and concessions
- Closing coordination with title company and lender
Post-Acquisition Setup
This is where Surge is fundamentally different from every other brokerage. After you close, we don't hand you keys and walk away. We transition directly into property setup — furnishing, listing creation, pricing configuration, and operations launch. If you choose Surge management, your property can be live on Airbnb within 2–3 weeks of closing. No other brokerage in the country offers this end-to-end pipeline.
- Interior design and furnishing (via Surge Design)
- Professional photography and listing creation
- Dynamic pricing setup calibrated to your market
- Permit applications and tax registration
- Operational launch through Surge Management or Co-Hosting
The Process
From Discovery Call to First Booking
Average timeline: 2.5–4 months from first call to your first guest checking in.
Discovery Call
We learn your investment goals, budget, target markets, risk tolerance, and timeline. You learn how we work and what to expect. This call typically runs 30–45 minutes.
Market Analysis
Based on your criteria, we deliver a detailed market analysis powered by Surge Intelligence — showing the best cities, neighborhoods, and property types for your strategy. Includes proprietary revenue data, regulation summaries, and investment projections.
Deal Flow
We send you vetted properties that match your criteria — on-market and off-market — with full underwriting for each. You tell us which ones to pursue. Most investors see 5–10 qualified deals per month.
Offer & Negotiate
We structure and submit offers, negotiate terms, and manage counter-offers. Our STR expertise gives us leverage in negotiations — we can articulate the property's income potential in ways that traditional agents can't.
Due Diligence & Close
We coordinate inspections, manage STR-specific due diligence (permits, HOA, zoning), and guide you through closing. Average time from accepted offer to close: 30–45 days.
Design, Furnish & Launch
Post-close, we transition directly into property setup. Surge Design handles furnishing, we create listings on all platforms, configure pricing, and launch operations. Your property is generating revenue within 2–3 weeks of close.
Research Markets Before You Invest
Every investment decision starts with data. Our Market Data Portal gives you free access to the same Surge Intelligence we use internally — revenue projections, occupancy trends, neighborhood comparisons, and regulatory snapshots across all 12 markets.
Every listing is scored with a Surge Score™ — a proprietary 0–100 investment rating built on 500+ mapped demand drivers and calibrated against real rental revenue. Stop guessing. Start comparing.
Surge Score™
Proprietary Investment Rating
Demand Gravity
How strongly nearby demand drivers pull guests to this address
Earning Capacity
What the property itself can produce based on size and amenities
Guest Fit
How well the property matches the guests its location attracts
Demand Resilience
Diversity of demand sources protecting year-round revenue
Reality Check
Regulatory risk, HOA restrictions, and flood exposure
For Sellers
Selling Your Short-Term Rental Property
Your Airbnb isn't just a house — it's a business generating income. We market and price it accordingly, targeting STR investors who understand and will pay for revenue-generating potential. Most traditional agents undervalue STR properties because they don't know how to quantify the income stream.
Whether you're selling a single property or liquidating a portfolio, Surge Brokerage positions your listing for maximum value with the right buyer audience.
STR Valuation & Pricing Strategy
Traditional CMAs don't account for STR revenue. We price your property based on both its residential market value AND its income-generating potential. A furnished Airbnb with $80K/year gross revenue is worth more than the same house empty — and we know how to demonstrate that value to STR-savvy buyers. Our valuations include trailing revenue data, occupancy trends, and market comp analysis.
Investor-Targeted Marketing
We market to the buyers who pay the most for STR properties: other short-term rental investors. This means listing on MLS and Zillow, but also marketing directly to our network of active STR investors, STR-focused Facebook groups, BiggerPockets forums, and investor meetup communities. The goal is to find a buyer who sees the income potential, not just the square footage.
Turn-Key Sale Packaging
If your property is being sold as a turn-key STR (furnished, with existing bookings and reviews), we package it with complete financial documentation: trailing 12-month revenue, guest review history, occupancy data, vendor contacts, and forward booking calendar. This documentation justifies a premium price and accelerates buyer due diligence.
Transaction Management
We handle every aspect of the sale from listing to close — staging (or leveraging the existing STR staging), professional photography, open houses, offer negotiation, inspection responses, and closing coordination. For sellers with active bookings, we manage the transition timeline so you don't lose revenue unnecessarily.
The Surge Difference
One Company, Every Step
Most investors piece together 4–5 different service providers to get from purchase to revenue. Surge handles everything under one roof.
Find & Buy
Surge Brokerage
Market analysis, deal sourcing, underwriting, acquisition
Design & Furnish
Surge Design
Interior design, furniture procurement, staging, photography
Launch & Manage
Surge Management
Listing, pricing, guests, cleaning, maintenance, compliance
Each service is standalone — use one, two, or all three. No obligation to bundle.
Client Reviews
What Property Owners Say
"I've been very happy with Surge property management. They do a great job with our property. We can be completely hands off and they handle anything and everything."
"Great experience. My property was under performing with my previous management company and Surge immediately made an impact on daily rates and overall communication with guests."
"Highly recommend Humberto for all of your investing and property management needs! Whether its buying or managing a short term rental his knowledge and experience makes him by far the best option around."
Our Markets
STR Investment Markets We Serve
FAQ
STR Brokerage Questions
STR Investment Resources
How to Calculate ROI on a Short-Term Rental Property
Cap rate, cash-on-cash return, gross yield — which metrics matter most? We walk through a real deal analysis step by step with actual market data.
Best Cities to Buy Airbnb Investment Properties in Florida
Florida is the #1 state for STR investing — but not every market delivers the same ROI. We break down the numbers for PCB, Kissimmee, Naples, and Fort Lauderdale.
Best Neighborhoods in Austin for Airbnb Investing
Not all Austin ZIP codes are created equal for STR returns. We analyzed occupancy, ADR, and regulation risk across 8 neighborhoods.
Ready to Invest in Short-Term Rentals?
Schedule a free discovery call to discuss your investment goals, target markets, and budget. We'll show you exactly what's available and what the numbers look like.