Short-Term Rental Real Estate Agent St. Louis

How I Help Investors

Hi! I am Melissa Young, and my goal is to be the best short-term real estate agent in St. Louis, and to help you decide if this is the right market for your investing goals. I created this page to help new investors come into our intro call informed and ready. My goal is to use our time together to focus on your buy box, goals, strategy, and questions, not spend 30 to 40 minutes rehashing the basics.

This page will walk you through the most important things to know before buying a short-term rental in St. Louis, or the surrounding rural communities.

As a short-term rental Realtor with eXp Realty, powered by Savvy STR Investors, Airbnb Co-Host, and STR investment specialist for the St. Louis market, I help investors buy the right property the first time. That means looking beyond a pretty house and focusing on what actually matters: location, demand drivers, regulations, taxes, insurance, guest appeal, layout, and revenue potential.

What Every St. Louis STR Investor Should Understand First

1. Not Every House Works as an STR
A property might look great online and still be a bad short-term rental. In St. Louis, we evaluate neighborhood demand, layout, parking, guest appeal, occupancy potential, and revenue strategy, not just list price.

2. Location Matters in St. Louis
Short-term rental performance can vary significantly by neighborhood. Areas like Soulard, Benton Park, Central West End, Shaw, Dogtown, and The Hill attract different types of travelers, from weekend visitors and sports fans to medical guests and families.

3. Regulations and Costs Matter
Property taxes, insurance, and local ordinances all impact your numbers. I want clients underwriting deals with realistic assumptions from day one, including STR insurance and potential commercial tax assessments.

4. Representation Comes First
Missouri law requires a signed Buyer’s Agency Agreement before I can provide professional opinions, advice, showings, or property-specific guidance. Once that is in place, I can go much deeper on strategy and analysis.

2025 Tourism Metrics

Weekends attract mostly leisure travelers, while weekdays see higher demand from business travelers, hospital visitors, and university-related stays.

24.1M

Annual Visitor Count
64%

Average Occupancy Rate
$248

Average Daily Rate
97

AIRDNA Market Score

St. Louis Short-Term Rental Investment Overview

Year-Round Demand Drivers

For investors looking for a more consistent, year-round market, St. Louis can be a strong place to buy when purchased strategically. Demand here comes from hospitals, universities, sports, conventions, events, business travel, and tourism across multiple neighborhoods. As a St. Louis short-term rental Realtor, I help investors focus on neighborhoods and property types that make sense for guest demand, not just what looks good on paper.

Lower Barrier to Entry for Investors

What makes St. Louis attractive for STR investors? First, it offers a lower barrier to entry than many larger markets, which can creeate better cash flow potential compared to more saturated Airbnb destinations.

Diversified Traveler Demand
Demand in St. Louis is diversified, with travelers visiting for medical care, college visits, sporting events, festivals, conventions, and weekend trips throughout the year. This variety of demand sources helps stabilize occupancy across different seasons.

Neighborhood Selection Is Critical
Neighborhood selection matters. Areas like Soulard, Benton Park, Central West End, Shaw, The Hill, Dogtown, and the Gate District each serve different guest profiles and can perform very differently depending on location, property type, and proximity to attractions.

Key Costs and Regulations to Understand
Investors also need to account for details that impact returns, including the possibility of commercial property tax treatment, taxes on contents, short-term rental specific insurance, and the St. Louis city STR ordinance currently on pause.

Top St. Louis Neighborhoods to Watch

Download my St. Louis STR Neighborhood Guide to see which areas investors should focus on, how different neighborhoods perform for short-term rentals, and where guests actually want to stay.

Key St. Louis Investing Considerations

STR Ordinance
The City passed Ordinance 71729, but it is currently on pause. Even so, I recommend planning your acquisition as if the ordinance is in effect, especially when it comes to occupancy and guest count, so you are protected either way. I've already been through the permitting process & can guide you every step of the way.

Property Taxes
Currently, there is a possibility that STR properties in St. Louis could be assessed as commercial, which can significantly increase the property tax rate. I recommend underwriting conservatively and assuming the higher tax scenario in your pro forma until there is more certainty. There is also a tax on contents, which needs to be factored into your numbers.

Insurance
If this will be your first short-term rental, it is important to know that STR insurance is typically more expensive than a standard homeowner’s policy. This needs to be built into your underwriting upfront.

Guest Fit Matters
The best St. Louis STRs are not just houses in decent neighborhoods. They are homes that align with how guests actually travel here, whether that means groups, families, medical visitors, sports travelers, or couples looking for a neighborhood experience.

Ready To Talk Strategy?

If you’re considering investing in the St. Louis short-term rental market, the next step is building a clear, data-driven strategy. St. Louis offers strong year-round demand and a lower barrier to entry than many major STR markets, but success comes down to buying the right property in the right neighborhood.

As a Missouri-based real estate agent who works exclusively with short-term rental investors, I don’t work with traditional homebuyers or sellers, this is my entire focus. I’m also an active STR owner and co-host, so I understand exactly what goes into finding, setting up, and managing a property that actually performs.

If you want help identifying the best opportunities, avoiding common mistakes, and building a profitable STR portfolio in St. Louis, let’s talk through your goals and next steps.