Issue No. 80 · The Deal Drop
4
Properties
$262K
Top Revenue
25%
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.
Property 1 — Houston, TX: $530K STR opportunity generating projected ~$116K/year (~22% ROI) with a STR-ready backyard, modern construction, and a prime Central Houston location.
Property 2 — Palm Coast, FL: $1.05M waterfront STR opportunity generating projected ~$262K/year (~25% ROI) with 180 feet of water frontage, a saltwater pool, two docks, and a resort-style guest experience.
Property 3 — Mesa, AZ: $1.05M STR opportunity generating projected ~$186K/year (~18% ROI) with 1.19 acres, mountain views, a private pool, and major capacity upside.
Property 4 — Whittier, NC: $575K STR opportunity generating projected ~$112K/year (~19% ROI) with long-range mountain views, new construction, and a clear path to 4 bedrooms.
🏠 The Properties
We pressure-tested hundreds of listings this week. Here’s the shortlist — ranked by projected ROI after expenses.
📋 3 Beds • 3 Baths • 2,368 sqft
🏷️ Price: 529,900
💵 Projected Annual: $116K
📈 Est. Gross ROI: 22%
Why it made the cut:
STR-ready backyard with private pool, covered space, pergola, turf, and pavers already in place
Easy value-add opportunity with a hot tub, mini golf area, and potential 4th bedroom
Modern 3BR/3BA with 2,368 sqft, quartz countertops, and spacious open-concept living
Minutes from The Heights, Downtown, the Medical Center, sports venues, and major attractions
5,700+ sqft lot provides room for additional outdoor amenities
Strong potential to create a highly marketable, experience-driven Houston STR without a major renovation
📋 3 Beds • 3 Baths • 2,484 sqft
🏷️ Price: $1,050,000
💵 Projected Annual: $262K
📈 Est. Gross ROI: 25%
Why it made the cut:
180 feet of waterfront on a canal tip lot with two docks and a boat lift
Saltwater pool and spa with expansive paver patio and waterfront entertaining areas
No HOA and less than 5 miles from the beach
Updated 3BR/2.5BA with a gourmet kitchen and multiple living spaces
Turnkey outdoor experience built around boating, pool days, and waterfront gatherings
Strong potential to position this as a premium, top-performing Palm Coast STR
📋 4 Beds • 4 Baths • 3,178 sqft
🏷️ Price: $1,050,000
💵 Projected Annual: $186K
📈 Est. Gross ROI: 18%
Why it made the cut:
1.19-acre lot with no HOA offers rare space and flexibility
Mountain views and private pool create a strong foundation for a premium guest experience
Two additional flex spaces could potentially increase capacity to up to 6 bedrooms
Expansive patios and misting system support year-round outdoor entertaining
Updated 4BR/4BA with 3,178 sqft and multiple living spaces
Plenty of room for additional outdoor amenities to target larger groups and higher nightly rates
📋 3 Beds • 2 Baths • 1,728 sqft
🏷️ Price: $575,000
💵 Projected Annual: $112K
📈 Est. Gross ROI: 19%
Why it made the cut:
New construction with a modern Scandinavian-inspired design
Stunning long-range mountain and valley views from the home and expansive deck
Bonus room could become a 4th bedroom, increasing guest capacity
18-foot cathedral ceilings and oversized sliding doors create a memorable guest experience
Full-length deck with covered outdoor space offers room for future amenities
Close to Downtown Bryson City and Cherokee Casino while offering a private end-of-road setting
Want the full deal packet? Reply “DEAL + Property #” and we’ll send the numbers, photos & comps.
Prefer to skip the reply and get matched to deals like these on autopilot?
📍 Market of the Week: Whittier, NC
Why Whittier continues to attract STR investors: a 92 Submarket Score, strong rental demand, and high investability make it an appealing mountain market for investors looking beyond the more established Smoky Mountain destinations.
The three levers driving performance right now:
Strong investment fundamentals — An 83 Investability Score and 87 Rental Demand Score point to a market with solid underlying demand and attractive STR investment potential.
Smoky Mountain demand without the main-tourist-center feel — Whittier offers easy access to Cherokee, outdoor recreation, hiking, and mountain attractions while providing the quieter, more secluded cabin experience many guests seek.
A differentiated cabin product — Mountain views, privacy, and proximity to outdoor activities give well-positioned properties clear opportunities to stand out, particularly for families and groups looking for larger mountain accommodations.
Whittier is a high-demand mountain STR submarket where outdoor tourism, strong investability, and differentiated cabin inventory create an attractive opportunity for well-positioned properties.
🎯 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.
💡Today’s Spotlight
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 💧