The Great Smoky Mountains is one of the most visited and most competitive STR markets in the country. Over 12 million tourists a year, but also one of the toughest places to stand out when every cabin on Airbnb starts to look exactly the same. Brendan Davis figured out how to win anyway.

Matt and Austin sit down with Brendan Davis, founder and CEO of Magnolia Vacation Rentals and co-founder of Southern Hospitality by Magnolia in Nashville. Before ever buying a short-term rental, Brendan spent over a decade in law enforcement including training new officers at a large agency. In 2022 he sold a long-term rental, used the proceeds to go all in on STR in the Smokies, and never looked back. He now manages over 109 properties in the Sevierville and Gatlinburg area and is actively expanding into Nashville and beyond, all while stepping out of day- ...