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We've been tossing around the idea of launching an affiliate program specifically designed for realtors with our vacation rentals sites.  Basically, the idea would be to allow realtors to install a few links or even show a few properties that are listed on CoastRentals.com and/or LakeRentals.com and whenever a visitor came through from the realtor's website and submitted an inquiry on the rental propertiy the realtor would be paid $2.  Is that something that realtors would be interested in doing?

I know there are a lot of realtors posting and reading in this space so I'm interested to see if I can get any feedback.  If you've already got a website up and running, as a realtor you already are catering to a specific area.  Web visitors checking out real… Read Full Post

It's unquestionable that a high level of exposure for a vacation rental listing online is worth quite a bit to the property owner.  The same goes for a realtor.  Marketing was forever changed with the coming of the internet, and the housing industry saw one of the largest revolutions.  Marketing a vacation property used to involve listing with local property managers, magazines, and local newspapers.   Now, the whole game is online.

But what is it truly worth to property owners?  As the owner of a vacation rental network of sites, the common belief is that if you drive traffic, inquiries, and hopefully some bookings then you are providing the value you need to warrant your yearly fee.  Most vacation rental websites charge between $130 and $300 per year… Read Full Post

I attended a seminar this weekend for vacation rental owners and was amazed to hear all the
complaints about dealing with property managers.  While not all situations are identical, the most common complaint was that "they charged me 40% of my rental income and didn't generate any business". 

First off, it's important to note the way that the internet has changed the way that people make travel plans.  For vacation rentals specifically, this has meant a wealth of opportunity being created for property owners to generate bookings from across the globe.  Highly visible websites such as VRBO, VacationRentals.com, and CoastRentals.com list thousands of properties for rent and boast millions of site visitors each year.  A simple $200 property listing on… Read Full Post

Just a quick shout out to let everyone know that we launched a Photo Contest over at LakeRentals.com.  It's free to enter and the grand prize is $300.  For details, visit the Lake Photo Contest page.  Read Full Post

Although some may cynically believe that most professionals in real estate always say it's a "buyer's market", Myrtle Beach has shown strong signs of being a safe and smart place to invest these days.  Market trends point to the Myrtle Beach area to be booming with respect to real estate, and whether you are someone looking to relocate to the area or simply looking to purchase a vacation home or condo, the time couldn't be better.

As the year's have passed, the South Carolina coast has become the darling of many vacationers who look to get away from the fast-paced action that is associated with more and more of the Florida beaches (especially around Spring Break vacation).  Superb weather, unaparalleled golf courses, and a family fun atmosphere make… Read Full Post

While the title may seem a bit like a global warming piece, it's not the weather in South Miami Beach that is getting hotter, it's the atmosphere.  Recent hosts of the gargantuan event known as the Super Bowl (and the media influx that follows it), Miami was once again in the spotlight.  Now that the game has passed through town, it's worthwhile to take a closer look at all that South Beach has to offer.

A recent article in the New York Times asks, "Is South Beach Growing Up?", a question that surrounds the continued rise of the fine dining options in the area.  Truffles, Maine lobster, elegant options from top chefs from around the world - it's all now available in South Beach.  Long since a mecca for hot women in bikini's and the club scene, South… Read Full Post

The state of Oregon is probably the best kept secret in the United States. Unparalleled natural beauty, which includes a great coastline of wide, sandy beaches and rocky surroundings, makes one wonder as to why Oregon isn't a traveler favorite. For those people who have been smart enough to take a trip up to the Pacific Northwest's coastal towns, it's no secret. Here's a few suggestions for your next beach vacation to Oregon:

1. Pick a spot - Pretty self-explanatory here, if you've made the decision to get off your rear and head out to the Oregon coast, you're going to need to find the right spot to hit. Here at CoastRentals, we are privy to a large variety of information and lodging options for the interested traveler. And when it comes to Oregon, there…