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Issue No. 57 · The Deal Drop

4

Properties this drop

$300K

Top Revenue

20%

Top ROI

📋 What’s Inside This Drop

Four different angles, four different markets — here’s the quick read on what’s worth a deeper look this drop.

  1. Property 1 — Cocoa Beach, FL: $1.15M waterfront STR opportunity generating projected ~$200K/year (~17% ROI) with a private dock, pool, and walkable access to both the beach and downtown Cocoa Beach.

  2. Property 2 — St. Augustine, FL: $1.48M oceanfront duplex opportunity generating projected ~$300K/year (~20% ROI) with direct beach access, dual rental flexibility, and a deep oceanfront lot primed for future enhancements.

  3. Property 3 — Sevierville, TN: $769K luxury cabin opportunity generating projected ~$132K/year (~17% ROI) with a private indoor pool, proven rental performance, and a prime location between Pigeon Forge and Gatlinburg.

  4. Property 4 — Candler, NC: $485K mountain-view STR opportunity generating projected ~$85K/year (~18% ROI) with long-range views, over an acre of land, and a guest experience centered around outdoor living.

🏠 The Properties

We pressure-tested hundreds of listings this week. Here’s the shortlist — ranked by projected ROI after expenses.

📋 4 Beds • 3 Baths • 2,323 sqft

🏷️ Price: $1,150,000

💵 Projected Annual: $200K

📈 Est. Gross ROI: 17%

Why it made the cut:

  • Protected canal frontage with a private dock and quick access to the Banana River

  • Private pool supports premium nightly rates and strong guest demand

  • Prime location near restaurants, coffee shops, shopping, and local attractions

  • Four-bedroom layout accommodates families and group travel

  • Florida room adds valuable indoor-outdoor living space

  • Sunset views enhance the guest experience and marketing appeal

  • Recent updates reduce near-term capital expenditure requirements

  • Appeals to both waterfront enthusiasts and traditional beach vacation travelers

  • Rare combination of dock, pool, beach access, and revenue potential in the Cocoa Beach market

📋 4 Beds • 3 Baths • 2,388 sqft

🏷️ Price: $1,475,000

💵 Projected Annual: $300K

📈 Est. Gross ROI: 20%

Why it made the cut:

  • Legally zoned duplex creates flexibility to rent one unit, both units, or operate as a single large vacation rental

  • Direct ocean frontage with a private boardwalk to the beach

  • Nearly every primary living space enjoys Atlantic Ocean views

  • Deep 275-foot lot provides ample room for a pool, outdoor entertainment areas, and future guest amenities

  • Value-add improvements have the potential to significantly increase booking appeal and revenue

  • Upper and lower living quarters support multiple guest profiles and booking strategies

  • Expansive oceanfront deck serves as a natural gathering space and standout marketing feature

  • Located near Vilano Beach while remaining minutes from Historic St. Augustine

  • Strong appeal for family vacations, reunions, and larger group travel

📋 1 Beds • 2 Baths • 1,968 sqft

🏷️ Price: $769,000

💵 Projected Annual: $132K

📈 Est. Gross ROI: 17%

Why it made the cut:

  • Private indoor pool creates a year-round booking advantage and one of the Smokies' most sought-after amenities

  • Proven income-producing cabin already operating on a successful rental program

  • Prime location between Pigeon Forge and Gatlinburg captures demand from both tourism corridors

  • Nearly 2,000 square feet offers significantly more space than a typical one-bedroom cabin

  • Unique large-format one-bedroom layout appeals to couples seeking a premium getaway experience

  • Easy access with no steep mountain roads removes a common guest concern

  • Indoor pool differentiates the property from the majority of competing cabins

  • Strong appeal for anniversary trips, romantic escapes, and special-occasion travel

📋 3 Beds • 2 Baths • 2,058 sqft

🏷️ Price: $485,000

💵 Projected Annual: $85K

📈 Est. Gross ROI: 18%

Why it made the cut:

  • Long-range mountain views create a premium backdrop that guests actively seek in Western North Carolina

  • Over one acre provides privacy, breathing room, and a true mountain-retreat feel

  • Outdoor living is the star of the property, with a fire pit, covered porches, patio, and mountain-view gathering spaces

  • Main-level primary suite appeals to a broad range of guests and age groups

  • Flexible loft and bonus spaces create opportunities for remote work, gaming, or additional guest amenities

  • Large guest bedrooms with walk-in closets support extended stays and family travel

  • Convenient access to Asheville and I-40 balances seclusion with accessibility

  • Ample parking accommodates multiple vehicles, trailers, boats, or recreational equipment

  • Storage shed and workshop space offer potential for future value-add enhancements

Want the full deal packet on any of these? Reply “DEAL #” to this email and we’ll send the full numbers, photos, and market comps.

Prefer to skip the reply and get matched to deals like these on autopilot?

📍 Market of the Week: Cocoa Beach, Florida

Why Cocoa Beach remains on investors’ radar: strong occupancy, premium beachfront pricing, and a unique tourism profile anchored by both coastal travel and Space Coast attractions..

The three levers driving performance right now:

  • High occupancy supports revenue performance — Despite recent softness, occupancy remains around 63%, a strong utilization rate for a coastal STR market and a key contributor to annual revenues near $56K per listing.

  • Pricing power remains intact — ADR has increased to approximately $276 per night (+2.4% YoY), suggesting guests are still willing to pay a premium for beach access, ocean views, and proximity to local attractions.

  • Inventory is contracting — Active listings have declined (-4.3%), reducing overall supply and potentially creating a healthier competitive environment for well-positioned properties over time.

Panama City Beach is a large-scale, occupancy-driven STR market where consistent beach demand supports stable revenue, but long-term outperformance depends on differentiation in a saturated supply environment.

🎯 Your Shortcut: The Market Match Call

Skip the guesswork. Tell us your budget, risk tolerance, and the kind of returns you’re chasing — we’ll match you with markets and deals that actually fit, before they hit the wider market.

💡Vendor Spotlight

Easy Street Capital Supports Real Estate Investors

Easy Street Capital is a private real estate lender headquartered in Austin, Texas, serving real estate investors around the country. Defined by an experienced team and innovative loan programs, Easy Street Capital is the ideal financing partner for real estate investors of all experience levels and specialties. Whether an investor is fixing and flipping, financing a cash-flowing rental, or building ground-up, we have a solution to fit those needs.

That’s the pulse for today. Hit reply and tell us which headline surprised you most — real humans read every response.

— The Deal Drop Team 💧

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