Monthly Stays and Steady Pay: 6 Steps to Mid-Term Rental Success

How to Succeed in MTRs

Of course, you can’t just throw a couch in the living room of your long-term rental and call it a “furnished” mid-term rental. Here are six steps to succeeding in this lucrative niche:

1. Location

A furnished home far from hospitals, universities, or major employers won’t attract three-month tenants. Find where demand already exists: medical hubs full of travel nurses, universities hosting visiting professors, companies relocating employees, or construction sites bringing in crews for big projects.

2. Pricing

Think of MTR pricing as a blend. Start with your long-term rent baseline, then add a premium for furnishings, utilities, and flexibility. In hot medical hubs or business centers, this can double your monthly rent compared to a traditional tenant.

3. Finding tenants

Travel nurse agencies, relocation specialists, and corporate housing programs are prime sources. You can also list for free through TurboTenant’s rental advertising platform to cast a wide net and filter for quality tenants.

4. Furnishings and experience

Unlike long-term tenants, MTR guests expect turnkey convenience. Reliable Wi-Fi, a stocked kitchen, and comfortable beds are nonnegotiable. Add thoughtful touches (like blackout curtains for night-shift nurses) and you’ll outshine the competition.

5. Legal and lease agreements

No matter the term, you need a lease. A TurboTenant rental lease agreement with MTR addendums keeps you protected. Don’t treat these as casual arrangements; treat them like the business they are.

6. Management Made Simple

Here’s the secret sauce: Software turns MTRs into a scalable business model.

Why Investors Should Care

For buy-and-hold landlords frustrated by slowing rent growth, MTRs provide higher monthly income without the volatility of short-term rentals. For flippers squeezed by shrinking margins, holding a project as a mid-term rental instead of rushing to sell can generate cash flow while waiting for a better market. And for multifamily operators, dedicating a portion of units to MTRs can diversify income streams and attract corporate contracts.

In short, mid-term rentals aren’t a fad; they’re the natural evolution of a market where investors need flexibility. Occupancy is steadier than short-term rentals, returns are more substantial than long-term holds, and management is easier than ever with modern tools.

Final Thoughts

Mid-term rentals are quietly filling the gap that the average real estate investor was struggling with. They deliver stable income, quality tenants, and fewer headaches. And with platforms like TurboTenant handling leases, screening, rent collection, and bookkeeping, you can treat them like the serious business they are, without getting bogged down in admin work.

So if you’re staring at flat cash flow or chasing thinner and thinner deals, maybe it’s time to ask: Is mid-term the new sweet spot?