Most Airbnb failures don't come from bad luck.
They come from bad assumptions made before the deal ever closes.

In this episode, John Bianchi, founder of STR Search, breaks down how he evaluates short-term rental deals using data most investors either misunderstand or completely ignore. John has helped guide more than $100M+ into short-term rental properties and has reviewed 350+ deals nationwide, all using a strict data-first process designed to avoid downside risk.

This conversation focuses on how to pressure-test Airbnb deals so they still work when demand softens, regulations tighten, or competition increases.

• Why many Airbnbs fail within 1–2 years

• The biggest mistakes investors make when reading Airbnb data

• How to identify bad data vs. reliable data in AirDNA

• Why listings must show 270+ days of activity and consistent reviews

• How regulations can quietly kill otherwise "great" deals

• Why cash flow matters more for STRs than long-term rentals

• John's 20% price-to-revenue rule and how it compares to the 1% rule

• Why Class-A vacation markets often underperform

• How oversupply, foreign capital, and design arms races crush returns

• What data reveals about competition, saturation, and revenue durability

• Why management matters less than buying the right property

• How John reverse-engineers top-performing listings to find winners

• Where investors go wrong trying to "make" bad deals work

John also explains why he never publicly shares specific markets, how he thinks about regulatory risk at the state and local level, and why not buying a bad deal is often the real win.

• STR Search: www.strsearch.com

• Free 7-Day Airbnb Data Course available on the site

This episode is essential listening for anyone considering short-term rentals, especially investors who want clear downside protection, not hype.

Today's episode is brought to you by Green Property Management, managing everything from single family homes to apartment complexes in the West Michigan area.

https://www.livegreenlocal.com

And RCB & Associates, helping Michigan-based real estate investors and small business owners navigate the complex world of health insurance and medicare benefits.

https://www.rcbassociatesllc.com

Anthony Chara joins the Midwest Real Estate Investor Conference Speaker Spotlight to talk about why multifamily investing deserves serious attention in 2026. In this conversation, he breaks down what he sees happening in the apartment market, where opportunities may emerge, and why investors need to be ready to analyze deals with discipline.

With more than 30 years in real estate, Anthony has owned, partnered in, or syndicated more than 2,000 multifamily units across the United States and internationally. He is known for a practical, numbers-driven approach to underwriting, cash flow, and portfolio growth.

Anthony Chara will be speaking at the 2026 Midwest Real Estate Investor Conference at DeVos Place in Grand Rapids, Michigan on Monday, April 27 at 4:30 PM.

In this episode, you'll hear:

• Why Anthony believes 2026 could be a key turning point for apartment investors
• How maturing low-interest loans may create pressure and opportunity in the multifamily market
• What investors should watch for when evaluating apartment deals this year
• Why multifamily offers more control over value than many single-family investments
• How Anthony is beginning to explore AI tools to analyze deals more effectively

Learn more about MREIC 2026.
View ticket options.

At some point, every real estate investor has to ask a hard question:
Is this property still working for me, or am I just holding it out of habit?

In this episode, Dan Ihara, a national real estate planner with more than 400 completed 1031 exchanges and over $110M in deferred capital gains, joins Brian Hamrick to talk about how investors should evaluate aging properties, declining returns, and next-stage portfolio decisions.

Dan specializes in helping investors recognize when an asset has quietly stopped performing and how tools like Delaware Statutory Trusts (DSTs) can be used to transition into truly passive, tax-efficient ownership—without emotional or rushed decisions.

• How to tell when a property has become dead capital

• Why many long-held assets produce 0–2% cap rates without owners realizing it

• How rising taxes, insurance, and expenses quietly erode returns

• Why most investors don't actually know their current cap rate

• The difference between appreciation and real performance

• How DSTs work in practice as a 1031 replacement property

• Who DSTs are designed for—and who they are not

• Passive income vs active ownership late in an investor's career

• How step-up in basis can eliminate capital gains for heirs

• The role of 721 UPREIT conversions and long-term planning

• Why real estate causes family conflict after death

• How pre-inheritance planning can prevent disputes

• Why real estate planning is about clarity, not control

This episode is especially relevant for investors who are:

• Over 50 and thinking about simplification

• Tired of active management but hesitant to sell

• Concerned about capital gains taxes

• Focused on wealth preservation and family harmony, not just growth

• Book: Property Decisions: Avoiding Family Disputes and Painful Taxes to Create a Legacy That Lasts by Dan Ihara

• Available on Amazon (ebook and paperback)

Today's episode is brought to you by Green Property Management, managing everything from single family homes to apartment complexes in the West Michigan area.

https://www.livegreenlocal.com

And RCB & Associates, helping Michigan-based real estate investors and small business owners navigate the complex world of health insurance and medicare benefits.

https://www.rcbassociatesllc.com