You can’t just pick a random property in a tourist town, slap it on Airbnb, and expect to make money anymore. With more regulations, tighter margins, and tons of competition, smart investors need tools that actually give them an edge. That’s where Chalet is stepping up.
They’ve built some of the most useful tools I’ve seen in the STR space. And the cool part? They’ve baked in real-time data and automation (yes, smart algorithms – not the generic kind) to help you find high-performing markets, avoid risky ones, and analyze deals like a pro.
Let’s break it down.
Why STR Investors Need Smarter Tools Today?
Look, Airbnb investing has exploded over the past five years. According to AirDNA, the number of active short-term listings in the U.S. hit nearly 1.4 million in 2024. But with all that growth came challenges:
- City-by-city rule changes
- Overpriced properties in “hot” markets
- Lower occupancy due to saturation
- Higher guest expectations
It’s easy to make mistakes if you’re not looking at solid, location-specific numbers. The tools Chalet is building help you cut through the noise and get straight to the facts that actually matter when buying or managing STRs.
Top 100 Airbnb Rental Markets
Instantly compare top 100 short-term (Airbnb) rental markets in the US
What Makes Chalet’s Tools So Useful?
1. Clear, Zip-Code-Level Market Data
Most sites give you broad city-level data. But let’s be honest knowing the average nightly rate in all of San Diego isn’t going to help much if you’re buying a place 20 minutes inland.
Chalet goes deeper. Their tools show you:
- How specific zip codes are performing?
- What kind of return to expect in that area?
- How risky is that location in terms of new regulations?
You can literally compare a tourist zone vs. a residential suburb right next door and see which one makes more sense.
2. The STR Calculator That’s Actually Worth Using
Ever use a rental calculator that gives you vague, outdated numbers? Chalet’s STR Calculator pulls real booking data and uses local trends to give you:
- Estimated monthly income
- Expected occupancy
- Seasonality impact
- Cash-on-cash return
And it’s fast. Just drop in an address, and you’ll have a decent read on whether a property has potential or not, no spreadsheets, no guesswork.
3. Property Scores Based on Rental Potential
This one’s a game-changer. When you’re scrolling through properties for sale, Chalet ranks them based on how good they’ll perform as STRs.
So instead of sorting by price or number of bedrooms, you can actually sort by potential income or return on investment. That’s a big deal, especially if you’re buying out-of-state and don’t know the local market well.
4. Regulation Tracking
This one’s underrated. If you’ve ever bought a rental and then found out the city’s banning Airbnbs a few months later you know how painful that can be.
Chalet monitors regulation changes across hundreds of markets and flags high-risk areas. It’s not just a nice-to-have feature it can literally save you from making a six-figure mistake.
Who’s Using These Tools?
It’s not just newbies. A bunch of experienced investors, brokers, and even small STR funds are now using Chalet to make better buying decisions.
Here’s what they like:
- Fast filtering of good vs. bad markets
- Tools to share numbers with lenders or partners
- Updates when a new STR-friendly listing pops up
I’ve even seen agents use it to convince clients why a specific property is worth considering.
Real Results from Real Users
Some interesting numbers from Chalet’s internal reports:
- 6 out of 10 users who used their calculator ended up submitting an offer on a property within 60–90 days.
- Over 2,000 people a month are using their tools to analyze deals — and that number is growing fast.
- On average, properties found through their system outperform similar listings in the same city by 15–20% in revenue.
That’s not fluff. That’s from looking at real outcomes over the last year.
What’s Coming Next?
Chalet isn’t stopping here. In the coming months, they’re planning to roll out:
- Weekly hot market email alerts based on rising trends
- Real-time filters for listings based on STR laws and ROI
- Personalized dashboards that learn from your searches
It’s pretty clear they want to become the go-to toolkit for STR investors in the U.S.
Why This Isn’t Just Another Real Estate AI Tool?
There are plenty of tools claiming to offer AI for real estate. Most of them? Either too broad or built for long-term rental investors.
Chalet’s difference is simple:
- It’s 100% focused on short-term rentals
- Built by people who actually invest in STRs
- Doesn’t feel like tech for tech’s sake, it’s genuinely useful
This isn’t something that tries to replace your decision-making; it helps you make smarter decisions without wasting time or money.
Final Thoughts
If you’re in the short-term rental game in 2025, the landscape’s only getting more competitive.
You can go the old route, spend hours digging through Zillow, trying to guess where to buy based on reviews or AirDNA graphs or you can use tools that cut straight to the numbers that matter.
Chalet isn’t just another shiny dashboard. It’s becoming a must-have for anyone serious about building wealth through STRs.
If you haven’t already, check out the STR Calculator and test it with your local market. It might surprise you what’s performing and what’s not.
