The Short Term Show Elevating Guest Experience Through Tech and Design ft. Joe Young
Dec 17, 2025
Joe Young is an Austin-based luxury short-term rental operator and co-founder of SPRKhost, known for his impressive portfolio and the new ExperiHaus platform. He shares his journey from a Lake Travis vacation home to managing over 20 high-end listings, revealing strategies like combining neighboring properties for mega-listings. Joe also discusses the recent market changes in Austin, emphasizing it as a correction, and introduces ExperiHaus, a TV-based solution to enhance guest experiences and generate extra revenue for hosts.
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From Family Lake House To High-Grossing Urban Rental
- Joe Young and his wife bought a Lake Travis house in 2017 and later converted their downtown Austin home into a rental grossing nearly $500,000 a year.
- They used refinancing and creative financing to convert their primary residence into a high-performing short-term rental.
Sell The Experience, Not Just Space
- Focus on selling an experience, not just a house, by offering concierge services like private chefs and in-room massage.
- Make the trip planner look like a hero by simplifying bookings and guest logistics.
Scaling By Managing Neighboring Homes
- Joe began managing a neighbor's home and grew SparkHost to 20+ high-end listings focused on four-plus bedrooms and pools.
- They often market two adjacent homes separately and together as a mega-listing to serve larger groups.