How do STR platform fees affect returns?

Platform fees reduce gross booking revenue before operating expenses. This calculator applies your fee percentage to gross nightly revenue after occupancy.

What occupancy makes short-term rental worth it vs long-term?

It depends on nightly rate, fees, and expenses. Raise occupancy or nightly rate until STR cash flow and NOI beat your long-term rent scenario on the same financing.

CalculatorVirginia

STR vs LTR calculator — Virginia

Virginia spans expensive Northern Virginia corridors and smaller cash-flow markets. Default rent inputs are drawn from HUD FMR data—use location-specific rent and tax inputs rather than one-size assumptions. Same math as the national STR vs LTR calculator; numbers are educational—not lender instructions.

Calculator

STR vs LTR

Compare operating scenarios on the same financing. Adjust occupancy, fees, and rent to see cash flow and coverage.

Δ cash flow $1,982 · Purchase $300,000

STR cash flow

$1,152

LTR cash flow

-$830

STR DSCR

1.72

LTR DSCR

0.48

STR assumptions

Nightly ($)

Occupancy %

Platform fee %

LTR assumptions

Monthly rent

Vacancy %

STR-only $/mo

LTR-only $/mo

Shared $/mo

Mortgage $/mo

Purchase

Down %

Ownership %

Results

Δ Cash flow

$1,982

Δ NOI/yr

$23,781

STR CF

$1,152

LTR CF

-$830

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STR vs LTR calculator

Compare short-term (nightly) and long-term rent on the same property. STR uses annual occupancy and platform fees; LTR uses contract rent and vacancy. Shared mortgage and purchase price apply to both—numbers are illustrative.

Short-term (STR)

Nightly rate ($)

Annual occupancy %

Platform fee % (of gross)

STR-only monthly expenses

Long-term (LTR)

Monthly rent ($)

Vacancy %

LTR-only monthly expenses

Shared

Shared monthly expenses

Total mortgage payment / mo

Purchase price

Down payment %

Ownership %

Comparison

Δ Monthly cash flow (STR − LTR)

$1,982

Δ NOI (annual, STR − LTR)

$23,781

Short-term (STR)

Effective monthly income

$3,549

Monthly cash flow

$1,152

NOI (annual)

$32,991

Cap rate

11.00%

DSCR

1.72

Above 1.0 covers debt

Cash-on-cash

23.05%

Long-term (LTR)

Effective monthly rent

$1,568

Monthly cash flow

-$830

NOI (annual)

$9,210

Cap rate

3.07%

DSCR

0.48

Below 1.0 is tight

Cash-on-cash

-16.59%

STR gross bookings = nights booked × nightly rate (nights = 365 × occupancy %). Net of platform fees = gross × (1 − fee %). LTR uses contract rent with vacancy. Loan balance = purchase × (1 − down %).

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Frequently asked questions

How do STR platform fees affect returns?: Platform fees reduce gross booking revenue before operating expenses. This calculator applies your fee percentage to gross nightly revenue after occupancy.
What occupancy makes short-term rental worth it vs long-term?: It depends on nightly rate, fees, and expenses. Raise occupancy or nightly rate until STR cash flow and NOI beat your long-term rent scenario on the same financing.

Real estate investing in Virginia

Military presence and federal employment can stabilize rents in some pockets. Model what you can verify with leases and comps, not generic national averages.

Typical 2BR rent: ~$1,650/mo
Effective property tax: ~0.93% of home value
State income tax: Up to 5.75%

Rent: HUD FMR 2025 · Property tax: Tax Foundation 2022 · Adjust all calculator inputs to match your specific deal.

Other calculators for Virginia: BRRRR Calculator · Fix and Flip Calculator. All calculators · Investment property calculator