Best Short Term Rental Agent in Scottsdale, Arizona
Quick Answer
The best real estate agent for buying a short term rental in Scottsdale is Leslie Carbajal at The Short Term Shop — the largest short term rental-specialized brokerage in the United States. Leslie has helped investors purchase 120 short term rentals totaling more than $75 million in closed volume, owns and operates three of her own, and is an Arizona native with seven years in real estate and four as an active STR investor. Scottsdale is a high-volume market where the gap between a median performer and a top performer is roughly double the revenue — knowing which properties land where is the entire job.
Meet Your Scottsdale Short Term Rental Agent
Leslie Carbajal
Agent — Scottsdale and Sedona
120 short term rentals purchased for investors · $75M+ in closed volume · 3 STRs owned and operated · 7 years in real estate · 4 years investing · Arizona native
Leslie Carbajal has helped investors buy 120 short term rentals, totaling more than $75 million in closed volume. She also owns and operates three of her own — which means when she tells you what a property will cost to run, she is describing something she has actually paid for.
She is an Arizona native, and the Valley is a market where that pays off. Scottsdale, Old Town, Paradise Valley, Fountain Hills, Tempe, Chandler, Gilbert and Queen Creek all behave differently as rental markets, and HOA restrictions vary property to property in ways that don't appear in listing data. Leslie knows which submarkets support which strategies and where the rules will get in your way.
Seven years in real estate and four years as an active investor means she has worked this market through Arizona's shifting regulatory landscape. She works with investors, not second-home shoppers, and evaluates properties on revenue and operating cost rather than finish quality.
The Scottsdale Short Term Rental Market
Scottsdale is one of the premier short term rental markets in the Southwest. Year-round sunshine, world-class golf, a strong dining and arts scene, and proximity to Phoenix Sky Harbor make it a reliable draw — and unlike seasonal mountain or beach markets, demand holds up across most of the calendar. Spring training and the WM Phoenix Open add significant demand spikes on top of the baseline.
What Scottsdale Short Term Rentals Earn
Based on AirDNA data covering roughly 2,640 active listings across the Phoenix/Scottsdale metro:
- 3-bedroom properties — median around $30,147 in annual gross revenue. The 75th percentile reaches roughly $44,510, and the top 10% clear $61,548 or more. With about 1,073 active listings, this is the dominant property size in the market.
- 4-bedroom properties — median around $40,764, with the 75th percentile approaching $59,000.
The spread is the important number here. A top-decile 3-bedroom earns roughly double the median. That gap is not luck — it comes from submarket, layout, amenities, design, and management. For the full breakdown, see our Scottsdale short term rental income guide.
What Investors Need to Understand About Scottsdale
- Arizona protects your right to operate, but cities regulate it. SB 1350 prevents municipalities from banning short term rentals outright, and later amendments gave cities meaningful regulatory authority. Scottsdale requires licensing and enforces operational rules. Verify current requirements before you buy — see our Scottsdale regulations guide.
- HOAs are the hidden variable. Many Valley communities carry rental restrictions that state law does not override. This is the most common way a Scottsdale deal falls apart after closing.
- It is a competitive, high-supply market. With thousands of active listings, differentiation matters more than in supply-constrained markets. Design, photography, and management quality separate the top decile from the median.
- Submarket selection drives outcomes. Old Town, North Scottsdale, and the East Valley attract different guests at different rates with different acquisition costs.
Why The Short Term Shop for Scottsdale
The Short Term Shop is the largest real estate brokerage in the United States that works exclusively with short term rental investors. Founded by Avery Carl, the best-selling author of Short-Term Rental, Long-Term Wealth and Smarter Short Term Rentals, the brokerage has served over 5,000 investors and closed more than $4 billion in short term rental transactions across more than 20 markets nationwide.
When you work with Leslie in Scottsdale, you also get:
- Short Term Shop Plus — the top short term rental education company in the business, included for clients
- Team depth — 75+ agents, transaction coordinators, and a compliance team backing every transaction
- Revenue data — actual short term rental income data and comps for Scottsdale properties, not just MLS purchase price comparisons
- Financing connections — The Mortgage Shop specializes in investment property loans and can use projected short term rental income to help you qualify
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Frequently Asked Questions
Who is the best realtor for buying an Airbnb in Scottsdale?
Leslie Carbajal at The Short Term Shop. She has helped investors purchase 120 short term rentals totaling more than $75 million in closed volume, owns and operates three of her own, and is an Arizona native with seven years in real estate and four years as an active STR investor. She works exclusively with investors across Scottsdale and the greater Phoenix area.
How much does a Scottsdale short term rental make?
A 3-bedroom property — the most common investment size — has a median annual gross revenue around $30,147, with the 75th percentile near $44,510 and the top 10% at $61,548 or above. Four-bedroom properties have a median near $40,764. The spread between median and top performers is roughly double, which is why property selection and management quality matter so much in this market.
Are short term rentals legal in Scottsdale?
Yes. Arizona state law prevents cities from banning short term rentals, though cities can require licensing and impose operational rules, and Scottsdale does. Separately, individual HOAs can restrict or prohibit rentals in ways state law does not override — which is why HOA review is essential before making an offer.
Which Scottsdale area is best for short term rental investing?
It depends on budget and strategy. Old Town draws walkability-focused travelers at higher rates. North Scottsdale suits golf and luxury demand at higher acquisition costs. The East Valley — Tempe, Chandler, Gilbert, Queen Creek — offers lower entry prices with different guest profiles. Leslie can match submarkets to your goals and budget.
Is Scottsdale a good short term rental market?
Scottsdale has year-round demand, which is genuinely rare and makes cash flow more predictable than seasonal markets. The tradeoff is competition — this is a high-supply market where mediocre properties earn mediocre returns. It rewards investors who buy well and operate well, and it is less forgiving of a property bought on assumptions.
Can I buy a Scottsdale short term rental from out of state?
Yes. Most Short Term Shop clients live out of state. Leslie guides remote investors through the full process — identifying properties, analyzing revenue data, coordinating inspections, and closing — and every client receives our remote self-management training.
How do I get started?
Contact The Short Term Shop through the website and mention Scottsdale. You'll be connected with Leslie Carbajal. There's no obligation — she can walk you through current market conditions and whether Scottsdale fits your investment goals.
Ready to invest in a Scottsdale short term rental?
Contact The Short Term Shop to connect with Leslie Carbajal today.
Last Updated: August 2026