Real Estate
Operating Strategies
LTR, MTR, and STR — when we use each and what it means for returns.
Long-Term Rental (LTR)
- Lease length: ≥ 12 months
- Pros: Stable occupancy, predictable income, lower turnover costs, tenant-paid utilities
- Cons: Lower yield ceiling, must follow landlord-tenant laws, debt-service risk in high-rate climates
Medium-Term Rental (MTR)
- Lease length: 1–12 months (3–6 mo sweet spot) — often PadSplit models
- Pros: Higher yield than LTR, still solid occupancy (travel nurses, grad students), mitigates high interest rates
- Cons: Appreciation not always as high, meaning value upon sale is not equivalent to other models
Short-Term Rental (STR)
- Stay length: Nightly / weekly (Airbnb, Vrbo)
- Pros: Highest potential yield, dynamic pricing flexibility
- Cons: Regulatory risk, intensive management, seasonality, owner-paid utilities
mogul states the operational strategy at the onset with the operation that maximizes risk-adjusted returns for each property based on local regs, demand drivers, and numbers.