There has been a significant win in Commonwealth Court in a case called Ruffled Grouse Ridge Owners Association versus Charles Hura. Ruffled Grouse Ridge is a small community in the northern part of the Poconos, in Lakeville, Paupack Township, Wayne County. Homes here have a restrictive covenant tied to their deeds which includes giving an owner’s association regulatory powers. The association...

Lately I've been hearing that the STR business in the Poconos is down and that the market is oversaturated. Some of my clients are doing quite well, some not as well as they hoped. It's a good time for a deeper discussion about the potential to operate a profitable STR in the Poconos. According to the Poconos Visitor Bureau, tourism continues to grow in the region with visits up (two percent by the...

There is both an art and a science to running a STR. The Art involves design of the property and the marketing that sets expectations. The Science looks at the data generated by the AirBnB, VRBO and other directory sites as well as what is reported by other analytics tools. I believe that half of a property's earnings comes from the property itself, and half comes from operations, so data can be skewed...

On March 7, 2024, the picturesque Camelback Resort in Tannersville, PA played host to the first-ever Poconos STR Conference, marking a significant milestone for the Poconos Association of Vacation Rental Owners (Poconos VRO), the local industry trade association. Co-sponsored by the Pocono Mountain Visitors Bureau (PMVB) and the Pocono Mountain Association of Realtors (PMAR), this event aimed to unite the...

As a realtor who specializes in helping people find vacation rental properties, I see a lot of interesting interpretations of the rules which is one of the primary reasons we have so many rules. You should assume that to operate a vacation rental or short-term rental in the Poconos, you will need a municipal license. It is very rare that a municipality in this tourist area doesn’t identify where STR is...

Here some insight on the vacation home rental market and investment outlook for short-term rental properties in the Poconos for 2024. Overall Poconos home sales are down, home sale prices seem stable, total rental income is down slightly, and rental stays (nights booked) are holding steady. When it comes to homes for sale, we are seeing a bifurcated market with some homes selling in 5 days, and others...

Some communities are more friendly to VRBO and Airbnb, others oppose the practice.  Here is an summary drawn from various HOAs (Home Owner Associations) and township regulations. Last Updated: July, 2024 Short Term Rental Friendly Communities in the Poconos! ARROWHEAD LAKE (Coolbaugh Township and Tobyhanna Township, PA) As one of the area's most recognized vacation home communities, Arrowhead Lake has a...

Short-term Vacation Rentals Matter in the Poconos For as long as there have been vacation homes in the Poconos, there have been vacation rentals and the vacation rental business is a big part of the ongoing prosperity of the region. With the rise of AirBNB, VRBO and other Online Travel Agencies, the visibility of the Poconos has grown beyond visitors and tourists, it has drawn the attention of people...

I am a realtor who specializes on helping people find vacation homes that they can use as a short-term rental. My clients range from young first-time real-estate buyers all the way to sophisticated investors who have large portfolios of income properties and support staff to guide their decisions. Often, I am asked to provide my opinions as to the state of the market and where I see things headed. With...

I get a lot of inquiries from people who have heard about the Poconos, but who have never been here. They understand that Poconos has a reputation as a vacation area, but are unsure of the draws, so here’s my spin. The Pocono Mountain region is famous as a vacation getaway with its natural scenic beauty, lakes rivers and activities.  It can be peaceful, romantic or exhilarating.   The...