What happens when a corporate professional takes a chance on short-term rentals in the middle of a global pandemic? In this inspiring episode, Heather sits down with Stacey St. John - real estate investor, property manager, and community builder - to unpack her incredible journey from cautious investor to powerhouse property manager with a portfolio of beachfront properties in Myrtle Beach.

Stacey didn’t just enter the industry - she transformed her life through it. Tune in to hear how she went from buying two “ugly” condos during COVID to building a thriving business, managing properties with purpose, and cultivating one of the largest online communities for women in STR.

If you’ve ever wondered how to spot an opportunity in a down market, manage with integrity, or build a brand that resonates, this conversation is for you.

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Key Takeaways

• Pandemic Pivot: Why Stacey shifted from long-term to short-term rentals during the COVID-19 eviction moratoriums.
  
  
• Starting Small: How she bought her first two oceanfront condos in Myrtle Beach with a modest budget and big ambition.
  
  
• DIY vs. PM: The hard lessons she learned from hiring a property manager - and what led her to go solo.
  
  
• What Makes a Property Work: Stacey shares her strict aesthetic and quality criteria for accepting properties into her portfolio.
  
  
• Investor Insight: The one big mistake new investors keep making - and how relying too much on real estate agents can be costly.
  
  
• Community Power: The story behind her 66,000+ member Facebook group for women in STR and why it’s grown so fast.
  
  
• Portfolio Consistency: Why aesthetic cohesion across listings is a secret weapon for attracting and retaining guests.
  
  
• Revenue Management Done Right: Stacey’s strategic (not reactive) approach to pricing, and why it changed everything.
  
  

Resources & Mentions

• Stacey St. John’s Facebook Group – Female Short-Term Rental Investors
  
  
• STR Sisterhood
  
  
• Design Your BNB Course – by Stacey’s co-host Valerie Malone
  
  

Connect with Stacey

• Website: www.strsisterhood.com
  
  
• LinkedIn
  
  

Connect with Heather

• Facebook: Vacation Rental Formula
  
  
• YouTube: Vacation Rental Formula Channel
  
  
• Website: www.vacationrentalformula.com
  
  

Subscribe & Review

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📣 Midroll Sponsor: STRAIT Chat & the AI Ambassador Program

This episode is brought to you in part by the STRAIT Chat Community - an exclusive space for short-term rental pros who want deeper conversations, smarter systems, and more collaborative learning.

And if you're curious about using AI in your business - whether it's for guest communication, operations, or even marketing - check out our AI Ambassador Program. It's designed to help you learn, lead, and get hands-on with the tools shaping the future of hospitality.

🌐 Learn more and join us at VacationRentalFormula.com/AI

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