Avery Carl
Short-term Rentals and Real Estate Expert
Avery Carl is a short-term rentals expert, real estate broker and CEO of The Short Term Shop based in Florida. Not only has Avery written two best selling books on the subject, Short-Term Rental, Long-Term Wealth and Smarter Short-Term Rentals, but she also hosts The Short Term Show Podcast with over 1 million downloads to date. Avery has been investing in short term rental as well as long term rental real estate since 2013, with a portfolio of 250 doors that spans and three asset classes. Her company, The Short Term Shop, is the top short-term rental and Airbnb real estate agency in the country, has helped over 5,000 investors purchase vacation rentals since 2018, and operates in over 20 top vacation markets. The Short Term Shop has been featured in top publications including The Wall Street Journal, The New York Times, and Forbes.
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Forum Comments (5)
What are some fast ways to make easy money?
It can take a bit more time to get established, but I have to put in a plug here for real estate. I got into real estate because I was searching for a side hustle and my corporate job offered no flexibility. If you can make it work, I think it really is the perfect first business for somebody because it's relatively affordable compared to other types of businesses, like buying a franchise or starting something from scratch. It's relatively easy to do, and you learn skills for both business and real estate investing. Long-term rentals are a good, lower-maintenance side hustle. You can hire a property manager for 8-10% of the rent, and they'll handle most of the day-to-day work. It’s not completely passive—you’ll still make decisions about repairs or tenant changes—but it can be pretty hands-off. Short-term rentals are also a great option. While more work than long-term rentals, they can generate higher returns. Even though managing one takes less than an hour a week, you’re still running a hospitality business. You’ll deal with guest inquiries and occasional issues. But if you're looking for a side hustle that can scale over time, both long-term and short-term rentals are excellent options.
How do you build generational wealth?
Here's the key: Be consistent and reinvest.
When my husband and I started, we had regular jobs and saved diligently for our first down payment. Many people make the mistake of stopping those saving habits once they buy their first property. You need to continue saving while reinvesting everything your property earns into more real estate.
We’ve never spent a single dollar of our real estate income on personal expenses—it all goes back into building our portfolio. This disciplined approach allowed us to grow a substantial real estate portfolio in under a decade. Real estate is a marathon, not a sprint. Focus on long-term gains and reinvest consistently.
When my husband and I started, we had regular jobs and saved diligently for our first down payment. Many people make the mistake of stopping those saving habits once they buy their first property. You need to continue saving while reinvesting everything your property earns into more real estate.
We’ve never spent a single dollar of our real estate income on personal expenses—it all goes back into building our portfolio. This disciplined approach allowed us to grow a substantial real estate portfolio in under a decade. Real estate is a marathon, not a sprint. Focus on long-term gains and reinvest consistently.
Why use Airbnb vs Vrbo as a host?
You should always list on both platforms. Vrbo has been around longer but has a smaller market share. Depending on your location, one platform may perform better than the other.
Airbnb is often criticized, but the platform has revolutionized the vacation rental industry. It allowed individual investors to enter a space previously dominated by local property management companies that charged up to 40% in fees. Using both Airbnb and Vrbo increases your visibility and booking potential.
Airbnb and Vrbo democratized the industry and made it something that normal people like myself—who was making $37,000 a year when I bought my first property—could actually monetize. You need to be on both.
Airbnb is often criticized, but the platform has revolutionized the vacation rental industry. It allowed individual investors to enter a space previously dominated by local property management companies that charged up to 40% in fees. Using both Airbnb and Vrbo increases your visibility and booking potential.
Airbnb and Vrbo democratized the industry and made it something that normal people like myself—who was making $37,000 a year when I bought my first property—could actually monetize. You need to be on both.
Tips for getting cheap AirBnBs or discounts?
Most hosts don't offer discounts unless you're a first responder or part of a special group. But you can filter listings by price per night to find properties within your budget. Another trick is to look for smaller properties with more sleeping areas—for instance, a two-bedroom house with five beds rather than a five-bedroom house. It’s a simple way to save while accommodating a group.
Best way to make some extra money?
I got into real estate because I was searching for a side hustle and my corporate job offered no flexibility. Long-term rentals are a good, lower-maintenance side hustle. You can hire a property manager for 8-10% of the rent, and they'll handle most of the day-to-day work. It’s not completely passive—you’ll still make decisions about repairs or tenant changes—but it can be pretty hands-off. Short-term rentals are also a great option. While more work than long-term rentals, they can generate higher returns. Even though managing one takes less than an hour a week, you’re still running a hospitality business. You’ll deal with guest inquiries and occasional issues. But if you're looking for a side hustle that can scale over time, both long-term and short-term rentals are excellent options. If you can make it work, I think it really is the perfect first business for somebody because it's relatively affordable compared to other types of businesses, like buying a franchise or starting something from scratch. It's relatively easy to do, and you learn skills for both business and real estate investing.
