Luke Carl sits down with Reagen to break down the February 2026 market update in the Smoky Mountains. They discuss a noticeable shift in activity, including the highest monthly closings since December 2021, declining inventory levels, and what that means for buyers navigating a market that’s moving from a strong buyer’s market toward balance. Reagen also shares insights on turnkey new construction pool cabins, high-end luxury builds already booking deep into 2026, fixer-upper challenges, and why long-term cash flow and smart buying matter more than obsessing over first-year cash-on-cash returns.

Connect with an agent: agents@theshorttermshop.com

Connect with us:

The Short Term Shop - https://theshorttermshop.com/
https://stsplus.com/
Follow Avery Carl on Instagram
Follow Avery Carl on TikTok
Join the Short Term Shop Facebook group
Check out the Short Term Shop on YouTube

For more information on how to get into short term rentals, read Avery’s books:

Smarter Short Term Rentals - Buy it on Amazon
Short-Term Rental, Long-Term Wealth: Your Guide to Analyzing, Buying, and Managing Vacation Properties – Buy it on Amazon

• (00:00:00) - Smoky Mountains Real Estate: December was the biggest month since December
• (00:04:09) - Do Small Houses Deserve a Small Home?
• (00:05:28) - The Smokies: Bougie Town
• (00:07:42) - 499 Acre Cabin, Gatlinburg
• (00:11:50) - Two Bed, Three Bath Cabin Near Gatlinburg
• (00:15:30) - Tongue and Groove Cabin, Private Beach
• (00:17:56) - Are There Any Fixer Uppers Available In Gatlinburg?
• (00:21:34) - Cabin Community: A High-End Luxury Property
• (00:24:47) - The Secret to Famous Footwear
• (00:25:20) - How to Sell Your Real Estate

On this episode of the series, Luke sits down with Smoky Mountain agent and long-time investor Matt Castle to break down what's happening right now in the Smokies market, including a surge in pending contracts and how shifting Fed policy and mortgage rates may impact short-term rental buyers. They talk through timing purchases and listings around tax strategy and seasonal slowdowns, why winter months can be prime time for both buyers and sellers, and how fundamentals like strong photos, themed design, cleanliness, and strategic deep cleans separate top-performing cabins from the rest. Matt also contrasts turnkey vs. value-add STR opportunities, shares how serious multifamily/commercial investors are adapting to the unique metrics of short-term rentals, and emphasizes not overthinking it—focusing on “heads in beds” and guest experience.

How to connect with Matt Castle
Best way to reach him: matt@theshorttermshop.com

Connect with us:

The Short Term Shop - https://theshorttermshop.com/
https://stsplus.com/
Follow Avery Carl on Instagram
Follow Avery Carl on TikTok
Join the Short Term Shop Facebook group
Check out the Short Term Shop on YouTube

For more information on how to get into short term rentals, read Avery’s books:

Smarter Short Term Rentals - Buy it on Amazon
Short-Term Rental, Long-Term Wealth: Your Guide to Analyzing, Buying, and Managing Vacation Properties – Buy it on Amazon

• (00:00:02) - Smoky Mountain Real Estate Podcast
• (00:00:22) - Matt Castle Discusses the Smokies Real Estate Market
• (00:01:23) - Real Estate Listings in the Great Smoky Mountains
• (00:02:23) - Pending vs Sold Home Loans
• (00:08:48) - President Trump's policy on monetary policy
• (00:09:40) - Economist: Expect another rate drop in December
• (00:10:48) - Are Commercial Real Estate Sales Up?
• (00:17:22) - January and February: Are they a good time to buy a house
• (00:23:23) - Smoky Mountains Real Estate Update
• (00:23:52) - When to Sell Your Cabin?
• (00:26:06) - How to Buy a Cabin in the Smokies

In this episode of the series, Luke Carl sits down with Reagan from The Short Term Shop to break down what’s happening in the Smokies market this fall. They cover how recent rate cuts and shifting inventory are shaping buyer leverage, strategies for writing strong offers in today’s environment, and what to watch for with new construction quality. Reagan also shares how she uses AirDNA to evaluate realistic revenue ranges for two-bedroom cabins and why grounding your numbers in data matters when deciding on a purchase.

Connect with us:

The Short Term Shop - https://theshorttermshop.com/
www.strquestions.com
Follow Avery Carl on Instagram
Follow Avery Carl on TikTok
Join the Short Term Shop Facebook group
Check out the Short Term Shop on YouTube

For more information on how to get into short term rentals, read Avery’s books:

Smarter Short Term Rentals - Buy it on Amazon
Short-Term Rental, Long-Term Wealth: Your Guide to Analyzing, Buying, and Managing Vacation Properties – Buy it on Amazon

• (00:00:01) - Exploring the Smoky Mountains of East Tennessee
• (00:01:16) - Real Estate Interview
• (00:06:42) - Should You Offer a Million-Dollar Home?
• (00:08:43) - Smokies New Construction Market
• (00:14:27) - How To Build a Sheetrock House
• (00:14:50) - How To Analyze Vacation Deals in the Smokies
• (00:17:04) - Air DNA: The Smokies Real Estate
• (00:18:52) - How to Compare Your Property with Others on Airbnb and VRBO
• (00:24:55) - Property Assessment: 88,000 vs Buying a House
• (00:27:41) - The Smoky Mountains: Guest Experience