From Accidental Host to Industry Leader: The Story of Megan Blount and Hosted Havens

For many entrepreneurs, the path to success is rarely a straight line. For Megan, the founder of Hosted Havens, her journey into the world of short-term rental management began not with a business plan, but with a dream of moving abroad. Today, she and her team of 11 manage a thriving portfolio of over 30 properties, but her transition from a corporate trainer to a premier co-host in San Antonio is a testament to the power of passion and a deep-seated love for residential real estate.

A Pivot Born of Practicality

The seeds of Hosted Havens were planted in late 2021 when Megan was considering a move to Panama. Seeking a reliable home base in the United States, she purchased a house with the intention of renting it out while she was away. When her plans to move abroad were put on hold in early 2022, Megan found herself traveling frequently for her career as a trainer. During those three- to four-month stretches away from home, she began renting out her primary residence.

What started as a practical solution for a vacant home quickly evolved into a fascination with the rental industry. Megan realized she enjoyed the logistics and the hospitality aspect of property management. Driven by a desire to learn every facet of the business, she secured a second property through a rental arbitrage deal, launching her first official short-term rental.

The Rapid Rise of Hosted Havens

Megan’s knack for the industry did not go unnoticed. As she mastered the nuances of the market, friends and acquaintances began seeking her advice on how to set up and manage their own rentals. In 2023, she made her services official, and by early 2024, she became one of the first participants in the Airbnb co-host network when it launched in San Antonio.

This connection proved to be a catalyst for Hosted Havens. Megan’s portfolio grew rapidly, expanding from just a handful of homes to more than 30 properties in just over a year. The growth was so significant that by December 2024, Megan took the "scary but exciting" leap to leave her corporate training job and commit to Hosted Havens full-time.

The Philosophy of "Living, Not Just Staying"

What sets Hosted Havens apart is Megan’s meticulous attention to detail and her specialized philosophy regarding mid-term rentals (MTRs)—stays of 30 days or longer. She emphasizes a critical mindset shift: for mid-term guests, they are "living" in the home, not just "staying" there.

Megan advocates for high-quality furnishings, steering clear of flimsy alternatives in favor of comfortable couches and premium linens. She is a firm believer in avoiding the cheap, uncomfortable furniture common in some rentals because a mid-term guest will be using that sofa and bed every day for months. When taking on new clients, she provides comprehensive assessments, offering lists of minimum essentials alongside recommendations to ensure the property is positioned for maximum success.

Strategic Advice for the Mid-Term Market

For those looking to enter the MTR space, Megan highlights that this model is often the best fit for properties facing specific challenges, such as HOA restrictions requiring 30-day minimum stays or locations in suburban areas further from downtown tourist attractions. She offers several key pieces of advice for managing these properties effectively:

• Prioritize Functionality: For larger homes attracting work groups, pay attention to the ratio of bathrooms to bedrooms. Six adults sharing a single bathroom for three months is a recipe for a poor guest experience.

• Master the Platforms: While she utilizes both Furnished Finder and Airbnb, she warns hosts to be diligent with Airbnb’s settings, which define 28 days as a full month. In San Antonio, however, a 'month' is defined as 30 days, meaning properties without a short-term rental permit will not appear in flexible month searches on Airbnb.

• Proactive Lead Generation: Megan suggests looking beyond standard listing sites. She recommends searching for Travel Managers on other social media platforms, such as LinkedIn, particularly for large companies currently expanding in the local area, such as Amazon. Connecting with these professionals can provide a direct pipeline to groups needing reliable, long-term corporate housing.

A Passion for Real Estate and Service

At the heart of Hosted Havens is Megan’s lifelong love for residential real estate. She fondly recalls her 20s, when she would spend her free time visiting vacant homes just to imagine how she would live in and style the spaces. This passion, combined with a robust background in customer service—spanning call centers, hospitals, and tech support—created the perfect foundation for a management company. That same passion has led Megan to actively support the local hosting community through education, collaboration, and leadership.

Hosted Havens is more than just a business to Megan; it is the culmination of her skills and her interests. Despite the challenges of rapid growth and the complexities of the market, she remains fueled by the excitement of helping the local hosting community thrive. Through Hosted Havens, Megan has turned a hobby into a hallmark of hospitality in the rental industry.

Reach Megan by email at megan@hostedhavens.co.

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STRASA’s work is strengthened by the local businesses who support responsible short-term rental hosting in San Antonio. Our Friends of STRASA business members like Megan Blount at Hosted Havens help make education, advocacy, host events, and professional connections possible throughout the year.

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