In this episode of the STR Data Lab, Jamie Lane, the chief economist at AirDNA, welcomes Shawn Moore, CEO and founder of Vodyssey, for a long-overdue conversation. Shawn shares his journey in real estate, which began after a short stint in employment post-college. His career in real estate spans over 24 years, starting with fix-and-flip properties and long-term rentals before transitioning to short-term rentals. This shift occurred accidentally when he bought a second home in 2006 and started renting it out to cover mortgage payments. Noticing the potential of short-term rentals, Shawn went all-in by 2015, fully transitioning his investments from development deals to short-term rentals. He discusses how the industry's growth, particularly post-COVID, has influenced his strategy and the need for accurate data for successful investment. Shawn recounts the pivotal moment in 2015 when a conversation with his young son and an advertisement campaign on the limited summers with children motivated him to focus on something more fulfilling. This led to the foundation of Vodyssey in 2019, aimed at helping others navigate the short-term rental market. Initially starting small, Vodyssey now boasts over 3000 members in a high-end mastermind group. Shawn emphasizes the importance of choosing markets that align with personal preferences and are short-term rental-friendly. He advises investors to focus on markets they are familiar with and enjoy, rather than getting overwhelmed by numerous options. Shawn and Jamie discuss the significance of having reliable data sources like AirDNA to make informed decisions and the evolution of short-term rental regulations. They also highlight the necessity of understanding market-specific dynamics, such as occupancy rates and seasonality, to identify profitable investment opportunities. Sean's approach underscores the balance between personal enjoyment and investment viability, encouraging investors to leverage their knowledge and preferences for successful property management and marketing. You don’t want to miss this episode! ~~~~ Connect With Shawn instagram.com/vodysseyshawnmoore facebook.com/vodysseyofficial vodyssey.com ~~~~ Signup for AirDNA for FREE👇 https://app.airdna.co/data  ~~~~ Connect with Jamie on LinkedIn and Twitter:  LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jamiehlane/  Twitter: https://twitter.com/Jamie_Lane  ~~~~ Connect with Scott on LinkedIn:  LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sagescott ~~~~ Connect with AirDNA on LinkedIn, Twitter, TikTok, and Instagram: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/airdna/   Twitter: https://twitter.com/airdna  TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@airdna.co  Instagram: https://instagram.com/airdna.co  ~~~~ Find AirDNA at these upcoming events!  https://www.airdna.co/events-airdna  Episode 85