Jessica Schum & Guest Host Tenley Houghton: Hot Tubs & Pet-Friendly What’s Making STRs Stand Out in Bend

Navigating Real Estate Episode 19

In this episode of the Navigating Real Estate, join Jessica Schum, owner of Bend’s Vacation Rental Collective, and special guest host Tenley Houghton as they discuss the dynamic landscape of short-term rentals in Bend. Examining the growth and saturation in this bustling market, Jessica shares valuable insights into the evolving trends and competitive aspects that shape the vacation rental scene in Bend. From hot tubs to pet-friendly amenities, the hosts delve into what makes Bend’s vacation rentals unique while addressing the challenges and opportunities presented by the area’s expanding popularity. Whether you’re a host navigating the changing real estate landscape or an investor looking to buy into a short term rental, this episode offers essential perspectives on the growth and saturation dynamics in Bend’s vibrant vacation rental market.

In this episode Tenley Houghton and Jessica Schum discuss:

• The top searched amenities for consumers looking for STRs in Bend, Oregon.
• When an STR has the top amenities as searched by for travelers, it earns more nights booked and more revenue.
• Why it’s valuable for an owner to hire a management company such as Vacation Rental Collective and complete a revenue assessment for each property they are looking at purchasing.

Key takeaways:

• There are over 3500 vacation rentals in Central Oregon, when looking at Sunriver to Eagle Crest geographically.
• Seasonality is a huge swing in this region, and anything you can do to get bookings in the shoulder season will increase your chances of long term success.

About Jessica Schum

Jessica has worked in the vacation rental and real estate industry for over 13 years.  She managed many lodging aspects of a top destination resort while providing leadership and supervision to the entire staff. Her focus is on excellent customer service from start to finish which includes maintaining rental inventory quality and assisting owners in maximizing their income potential as well as ensuring guest satisfaction before, during and after their stay. This exemplary customer service and market knowledge has resulted in a reputation as a highly respected and successful real estate broker specializing in helping buyers and sellers realize their homeownership goals. Jess, her husband Tim and their dog Professor Murray relocated to Central Oregon from Colorado after they fell in love with all the opportunities for outdoor adventure.  In her free time, you will find her paddle boarding on the Deschutes river or in the high mountain lakes, mountain biking at Phil’s trail, skiing at Mt. Bachelor, backpacking in the Three Sisters Wilderness or playing roller derby for the Lava City Roller Dolls.