Atlas VMS, a valuation management company providing modern appraisal and technology solutions, has launched Atlas STR Insight, a short-term rental (STR) appraisal form designed to help non-QM lenders accurately evaluate short-term rental properties using STR-specific data and analytics.
Traditional appraisal forms, like Form 1007, were built for long-term rentals, not nightly stays, the company says in a release. When applied to STRs, they often overlook seasonal demand, event-driven spikes, day-of-week pricing, and STR-specific expenses – leading to valuations that misstate both income potential and risk.
Atlas STR Insight was designed specifically to assess short-term rentals so appraisers can leverage specialized STR data sources, including AirDNA, which captures booking data from Airbnb. Atlas VMS will provide appraisers access to AirDNA data reports as needed.
With these datasets, Atlas STR Insight captures the following:
- Seasonal Average Daily Rate (ADR) and occupancy curves;
- Revenue performance around major events and local attractions;
- Weekday vs. weekend rate differentials; and
- Key STR benchmarks such as RevPAR and length-of-stay patterns.
This seasonality engine feeds directly into the appraisal, giving lenders a realistic, market-aligned view of how a subject property is likely to perform across the full year – not just in a single “average” month.
“Short-term rentals don’t behave like traditional rentals, and they shouldn’t be appraised like them,” says Erik Morin, CEO of Atlas VMS, in the release. “By pairing STR-specific valuation methodology with robust market data sources like AIRDNA, Atlas STR Insight gives non-QM lenders clear, defensible look into real STR economics so they can lend with confidence.”
For non-QM lenders, Atlas STR Insight delivers more accurate risk assessment, a standardized STR-focused appraisal package, and a competitive edge in serving investors in this fast-growing asset class, the firm says.
The form integrates into existing order workflows on the Atlas VMS platform, and participating appraisers can receive training on STR-specific valuation methodology.