Easy Street’s Head of Originations and Partner, Collin Duffy, recently joined host Natalie Palmer on Episode 144 of No Vacancy: The Podcast to explain how our approach differs from traditional lenders. In this episode, Collin offers fresh perspectives on growing your vacation rental business profitably, no matter your starting point.
Here’s a recap of the highlights Collin shared and why Easy Street Capital is the real estate investment key to scaling smarter.
Why Easy Street Capital Stands Out for Real Estate Investors
Unlike conventional mortgage lenders, Easy Street Capital isn’t here to box you into rigid guidelines. Collin emphasized our core philosophy, “We fund good deals for investors, by investors.” With all six of Easy Street’s partners—including Collin—bringing real-world experience as fix and flippers, rental operators, and even Airbnb hosts (yes, we operate two STRs right above our Austin office!), we understand the challenges and opportunities investors face.
Traditional lenders focus heavily on your personal income, W-2s, and debt-to-income (DTI) ratios. Easy Street prioritizes the cash flow potential of your property and your experience as an operator. This means we’re not just approving and funding loans—we’re partnering with you to ensure your investment strategy succeeds.
Key Takeaways from Collin on No Vacancy
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- Tailored Lending for Short-Term Rentals
Collin explained how Easy Street evaluates STR deals based on “after-repair value (ARV) and projected rental income,” not just your personal finances. Using tools like AirDNA, we assess what your property can earn by giving full credit to experienced operators and a conservative haircut for first-timers. This approach opens doors for investors who’ve maxed out traditional options or want to scale beyond the typical 10-loan cap.
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- The “Professional Operator” Advantage
Have you operated an STR before? With Easy Street, that experience earns you brownie points. Collin introduced our unique ‘Professional STR Investor’ definition, “one STR in the same market or three nationwide. For pros, we don’t haircut AirDNA projections, meaning you get maximum loan potential, and often better rates, because we trust your track record.”
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- Beyond Single-Family Homes
From single-family residences to duplexes, condotels, and even small multifamily properties (5-10 units), Easy Street finances a wide range of investment types. Collin shared how we adapt to unique strategies—like STR arbitrage or amenity-driven projects—fitting the mortgage to your vision, not the other way around.
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- Scaling Without Limits
Tired of hearing “your DTI is too high” when you try to add more properties? Collin highlighted how Easy Street’s no-income-verification loans remove those barriers and help investors go from one property to ten (or more) without the red tape of traditional lenders. Plus, with rates averaging just under 7.77% (compared to 6.96% for conventional loans as of March 2025), the cost difference is minimal for the flexibility you gain.
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- Real World Expertise You Can Trust
With over 2,600 residential deals under our belts and operators, Easy Street’s team walks the walk. Collin’s anecdote about our Austin office’s upstairs Airbnbs—financed and managed by us—shows we’re not just lenders; we’re in the game with you.
Why This Matters for STR Investors
Natalie Palmer, an Airbnb Superhost with over 1,000 reservations, asked Collin the tough questions: “How do you value quirky amenities like a human-sized chessboard? What if there’s no AirDNA data for a new market?” Collin’s answers revealed Easy Street’s true flexibility. For standout investors—like those blazing trails in untapped markets—Easy Street will even approve deals with a debt service coverage ratio (DSCR) below 1 on paper, trusting their expertise to outperform projections.
This isn’t about reckless lending, it’s about belief in the operator and the deal. Unlike the pre-2008 era, where loose standards led to chaos, Easy Street’s private capital model means we’ve got skin in the game. If a deal goes south, we feel it too. That’s why we dig into the data, lean on local insights, and prioritize profitability.
Ready to Scale Your STR Portfolio?
Collin’s conversation with Natalie is a must-listen for any real estate investor looking to level up. Whether you’re refinancing to pull cash for your next deal, financing a condotel in a vacation hotspot, or breaking into a new market, Easy Street Capital has the tools to make it happen.
Listen to the full No Vacancy Podcast episode to hear Collin break it all down. Then, reach out to our team to explore how we can match a loan to your strategy!
About the Author
- McKinney, TX - April 14, 2025
- Single-Family Residence - April 14, 2025
- Rowlett, TX - April 11, 2025
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