Pete Appezzato The Airbnb Realtor
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Aerial view of a beachfront neighborhood in Destin, Florida, with the Gulf of Mexico beyond

Emerald Coast STR investing Destin · Miramar Beach · 30A · Panama City Beach

Hi, I'm Pete. I specialize in short-term rentals.

I help self-managing investors buy short-term rental properties remotely while offsetting a ton of money in taxes.

100+
Investors served
$80M+
STR transactions
4
Local markets
2010
Airbnb host since

How it works

4 steps to your first offer

The same path I've run with clients buying from across the country.

Book a Call

Twenty minutes on your goals, budget and timeline — no pitch.

Create Your Search

We narrow to the markets, buildings and price points that actually pencil.

Get Pre-Approved

I connect you with lenders who understand short-term rental income.

Make Offers

I walk each property on video, then we write and negotiate — you review remotely.

See how I work with investors

STR Investing

A realtor who's actually done this

Representation

Investor buyer representation

Honest opinions on every property we look at, plus the occasional off-market deal. I'm an STR investor myself — and a realtor, not a property manager, so I have no stake in which one you buy.

The numbers

Does it pencil?

Before you write an offer, we walk through expected revenue, all-in expenses and what makes a rental work in that specific building or community.

Remote

Built for out-of-state buyers

Most of my clients buy from another state. Video walkthroughs, trusted local inspectors and lenders, and a closing you can do from home.

More on STR investing

Reviews

What clients say

We bought our property entirely remotely without even looking at the house and we wouldn't have been able to do it without Pete being our eyes and boots on the ground.

Marina & Scott

As we are located in New Jersey, he handled all of the viewings, sent in-depth videos of the properties, and overall took fantastic care of us. I highly recommend!

Lisa & Marty K.

We worked with Pete Appezzato on our first out of state STR property in Panama City Beach (sight unseen!). Pete was awesome to work with. He had recommendations for everything we needed throughout the process and the purchase went off without a hitch!

Kendra Dorosh

Pete Appezzato was one of the best realtors we've ever had. We've worked with many in the past and no one has been more effective and helpful in our first time in this Emerald Coast market. Pete is our first call on all investments going forward, my wife and I love him.

Rachael & Patrick Julian

Read more reviews

Markets

Where I work

4 markets, 60 miles, 1 agent.

Aerial view of a beachfront neighborhood in Destin, Florida, with the Gulf of Mexico beyond

Destin & Miramar Beach

The high-traffic core of the Emerald Coast market.

 Aerial view of Okaloosa Island: beachfront condos and white sand along the Gulf, with the Santa Rosa Sound behind

Fort Walton Beach & Okaloosa Island

Beachfront condos just west of Destin.

 Aerial view of the white-sand beach, turquoise Gulf water, and beachfront homes along Scenic Highway 30A, Florida

30A

A string of distinct communities, each with its own rules.

 Panama City Beach at dusk: condo towers along the Gulf, the beachfront road, and a golf course in the foreground

Panama City Beach

More inventory, a different buyer profile than 30A.

Not sure which market fits your goals or budget?

That's the most common reason people call. Tell me your number and what you want out of the property, and I'll tell you where it goes furthest.

Book a Call

STR Buyer Hub

The experts and info you need

Lenders, inspectors, insurance, tax help, licensing, and more.
The same network I hand to every client.

Lenders

Local and specialized lenders who understand STR income.

Open

Insurance

Wind, flood and short-term-rental coverage.

Open

Tax Related

1031 intermediaries, cost segregation, CPAs.

Open

License / Permits / Tax

County and city STR registration.

Open

Inspections

Home inspectors clients have used across the Emerald Coast.

Open

All resources

Inspections, marketing, decor, Airbnb setup and everything else.

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Pete Appezzato, The Airbnb Realtor

About

Pete Appezzato

Airbnb host since 2010, self hosted and managed 10 units in NYC and Philly. Started on Wall St to become managing principal of a NYC stock-trading firm, to owning and selling a Manhattan restaurant, to real estate sales in new construction in New Jersey. Then moved to Destin in 2021 to join The Short Term Shop.

About Pete

Pro Tips

STR rules of thumb

Short pieces on the stuff that actually moves the needle.

Listing photos are like online dating

If your photos suck, you're not getting many dates — or bookings. Always remember, your photos are your marketing. If they're boring or bad, guests will move on to the next listing, so make sure to use an experienced professional Airbnb photographer that knows what they're doing. Do not cheap out on this!

Pro tip: Get new photos maybe yearly, and reorder your photographs on a regular basis.

The 10% filter

This is just a guideline, but if a property can't easily generate at least 10% of its purchase price, keep looking! A $600,000 condo should be able to show roughly $60,000 a year in gross bookings.

Clear that bar, then add it to the list to investigate — comps, expenses, HOA, insurance.

Cleaners are your partner

Your cleaner is the only person who sees the property between every single guest. They're your quality control, your maintenance early-warning system, and the reason a 3pm check-in is actually ready at 3pm. Treat that relationship like a transaction and it will cost you — in reviews, in five-star ratings, in the bookings you never see because your rating slipped.

  • Pay well and pay on time — you want to be their favorite client, not their cheapest
  • Give them a way to flag problems (a broken lamp, a leak, a low-supply cabinet) and act on what they flag
  • Build in enough turnaround time between bookings so the work can actually be done right
  • Have a backup so one sick day isn't a crisis

Great management matters

A beautiful property that is managed poorly will eventually perform poorly. This couldn't be more true. Of course, a guest wants to stay in a beautiful property. However, if it's not managed well, guests can read between those lines, and they'll often opt for a property that is more of a sure bet.

The same logic goes for hotels. People will pay more money for a better hotel brand because they are known for their service.

All pro tips

Common questions

Start here

The questions most investors ask on our first call.

What is "The Airbnb Realtor"?

I'm a licensed Florida real estate agent who works only with short-term rental investors on the Emerald Coast. I've been an Airbnb host since 2010 and I own and self-manage short-term rentals myself, so I know the product from both sides — not just the transaction.

What markets do you cover?

Roughly 60 miles of coast: Destin & Miramar Beach, Fort Walton Beach & Okaloosa Island, 30A and Panama City Beach. Each has its own page with the local picture.

Can I buy without visiting Florida?

Most of my clients do. I'm your eyes and boots on the ground — video walkthroughs of every property, third-party inspections, trusted local lenders, and a remote closing. Several clients have closed without seeing the property in person.

Do you manage properties too?

No — I help you buy. The Short Term Shop teaches clients how to self-manage through free weekly training, and I can introduce you to the local professionals you'll want. My only job is representing you on the purchase.

Ready to talk through your first — or next — short-term rental?

Twenty minutes, no pitch. Tell me your budget and what you want out of the property, and I'll tell you where it makes sense.

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