{"version":"1.0","type":"rich","provider_name":"Acast","provider_url":"https://acast.com","height":250,"width":700,"html":"<iframe src=\"https://embed.acast.com/$/5afc793a028014b853c89db4/6a9e11a6d024784c994d4b2b?\" frameBorder=\"0\" width=\"700\" height=\"250\"></iframe>","title":"August 2026 STR Market Update: 16% Growth While the Market Declined 2.5%","description":"<p>The August 2026 STR Market Update is here. Every month, Jasper shares exactly what we are seeing across 70+ client portfolios: which markets are up, which are down, what has changed on the platforms, and what we are doing about it. Real numbers, real portfolios, no fluff. Think of it as the monthly briefing you did not know you needed.</p><p><br></p><p>Want to outperform the market? Freewyld Foundry's Revenue and Pricing Management service is driving an average 19% performance lift for $1M+ STR operators, even in down markets. If you are managing 15+ listings and want a free pricing audit, apply here: <a href=\"https://freewyldfoundry.com/get-started/\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\">https://freewyldfoundry.com/get-started/</a></p><p><br></p><p>August was the highest-impact month to date for Freewyld Foundry. Comparable client listings, meaning properties that were active in both August 2025 and August 2026, were up 16.3% year over year while the broader market averaged a 2.5% decline. Combined, that produced a 19.3% impact and just over $2.1 million in additional revenue for clients. One number worth noting: Labor Day weekend fell in August last year and in September this year. If your own August numbers are down 5-10%, that shift is likely the primary explanation. The flip side is that September is already pacing well ahead.</p><p><br></p><p><strong>You will learn:</strong></p><ul><li>Why Freewyld Foundry clients grew 16.3% in August while the broader market declined 2.5%, and how comparable-unit tracking gives you a clear picture of true performance</li><li>The OTA discount stacking problem that is quietly eroding effective rates across Airbnb and VRBO, and how to calculate the right channel markup to protect your floor</li><li>How to position your low season pricing right now to capture midterm rental demand before snowbird bookings dry up</li><li>Why Airbnb's new AI pricing model should be treated with skepticism, and what the 15.5% host-only fee rollout means if you are not on a PMS</li><li>What VRBO's new sponsored listings feature is, how the bidding works, and why early movers may get the cheapest visibility</li></ul><p><br></p><p><strong>We also talk about:</strong></p><ul><li>The markets that declined the most in August: Branson MO (-25%), Chattanooga TN (-25%), Myrtle Beach SC (-20%), Fredericksburg TX (-20%), Kansas City MO (-16%)</li><li>Markets that grew: San Antonio TX (+13%), Columbus OH (+12%), Milwaukee WI (+11%), Canada and select European markets (+15%)</li><li>Airbnb's record Q2 earnings (revenue up 17%, hotel bookings growing 3x faster than homes) and what it signals about where the platform is heading</li><li>How VRBO discounts stack differently than Airbnb discounts, and why Booking.com is in a category of its own for complexity</li><li>The full fall conference calendar: GuestyVal Madrid, Skift Global Forum NYC, VRMA Nashville, Host Expo Bogota, Vacation Rental World Summit Lyon, Direct Booking Success Summit (online), Skillfest Barcelona</li></ul><p><br></p><p><strong>Mentioned in the Episode:</strong></p><ul><li>Freewyld Foundry Free Revenue Report: <a href=\"https://freewyldfoundry.com/get-started/\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\">https://freewyldfoundry.com/get-started/</a></li><li>Midterm rental episode with Frank at Hostfully: search Get Paid for Your Pad</li><li>Email Jasper: <a href=\"mailto:jasper@freewyldfoundry.com\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\">jasper@freewyldfoundry.com</a></li><li>Freewyld Foundry at VRMA Nashville: October 4-6, stop by the booth</li></ul><p><br></p><p>Subscribe for new episodes every Monday on YouTube, Spotify, and Apple Podcasts.</p>","author_name":"Freewyld Foundry"}