The Milky Way over Cosmic Ridge Retreat, a Howler Homes property in the PA Dark Skies region

Full-Service Vacation Rental Management · Quality Over Volume

Most managers maintain your property. We maximize it.

Cleanings and repairs are table stakes. Howler Homes exists to grow what your property grosses — like taking Cosmic Ridge Retreat from $60K a year to $190K. If you want a caretaker, we're not your team. If you want the top of the market, let's talk.

See What Your Property Should Earn See the transformations

4.97★Overall rating

1,400+Airbnb reviews

SuperhostEvery season

Top 2%Every property, its market

3.2×Cosmic Ridge Retreat gross revenue — ~$60K a year before Howler, $190K in 2026

#3 in PAGreat Bear Cabin — #3 gross revenue in Pennsylvania among rentals with 3 bedrooms or less

2.1×Runway Retreat — $55K in 2024 to $115K in 2026 after we took over

+$45KLion's Lookout beat its independent year-one forecast of $145K — $190K+ and still booking

Portfolio performance · Straight from the booking ledger

Every month of 2026 beat the same month of 2025.

Not one good month — all of them. Every completed month of 2026 out-grossed the same month of 2025 by at least 137%. And it isn’t just added doors: same home, same month, revenue is up 46% like-for-like — and 97% of all comparable property-months beat the same month the year before.

+142%Portfolio revenue growth, 2026 vs 2025

+46%Same-property growth — like-for-like

10 for 10Every completed month of 2026 beat 2025

15Properties under management

Portfolio gross revenue by month

20252026

+322%

+499%

+411%

+243%

+195%

+187%

+137%

+150%

+137%

+158%

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOct

Through October 2026 - November and December are still booking. Figures are gross booking revenue across all properties under Howler management, including properties onboarded during this period. That's the point: the portfolio grows because it performs. Like-for-like comparison: homes with revenue in both years, matched month to month through September — the median home is up 55% on its own prior-year months.

Why owners partner with us

Memorable, not just marketable.

Anyone can keep a property clean and the lawn mowed. That isn't the job. The job is revenue.

Maximizing it takes a different kind of operator. We design interiors specifically for vacation rentals, built around experiential stays guests remember and review. We shoot real vacation-rental photography, not real-estate photography. And we answer guests like a 5-star hotel would, around the clock, with on-call maintenance behind it.

The result: every property we manage sits in the top 2% of its market — most in the top 1%, several at the very top for their bedroom count.

We partner long-term with owners who want their property performing at the ceiling of its market — not just occupied. Today that's three key markets — the PA Dark Skies region, Happy Valley around Penn State, and Florida's Space Coast beaches — and we evaluate exceptional properties beyond them.

Five-star stays. Bottom line.

Start the conversation

Case studies · Real properties, real numbers

The before, the after, and the revenue in between.

Every transformation below is our own work — our design, our remodel coordination, our photography, our management. Drag the sliders. Check the numbers.

Dark Skies Region, PA · 6 Bedrooms · ~5,000 sq ft · Full Turnkey Remodel Package

Starry Skies Sanctuary

Our crown jewel — and our largest build yet. The owners trusted our expertise and backed the full vision: make this the premier stargazing destination in the Northeast. Six months of work turned a 4-bedroom, 3,742 sq ft colonial into a nearly 5,000 sq ft, 6-bedroom, 3-full-bath multi-family destination with two living rooms and every room designed with intent — billiards room, poker room, arcade, hot tub deck — crowned by a 4-season stargazing and vista dome with a wood-burning stove beside the fire pit. Launched September 2026: 26 bookings in the first three weeks, reaching into fall 2027 — anticipating $200K+ gross in 2027.

26 bookings in the first 3 weeks Anticipating $200K+ gross in 2027 4-season stargazing dome · 6-month full build

$200K+

anticipated 2027

Gross revenue, year one full season

first 3 weeks · booked into fall 2027

Bookings at launch

4 → 6 BR

~~3,742~~ → ~5,000 sq ft

Bedrooms & finished space

6 months

our largest undertaking

Full turnkey build

Starry Skies Sanctuary — before & after

Drag to compare

Starry Skies Sanctuary after: 4-season stargazing dome on the vista lawn beside the fire pit

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BeforeAfterEmpty Lawn → Stargazing Dome

Starry Skies Sanctuary after: refreshed exterior at golden hour

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BeforeAfterThe Relaunch

Vista living room after with leather sectional and mountain mural

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BeforeAfterLiving Room

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BeforeAfterBilliards Room

Poker room after with fireplace and card table

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BeforeAfterPoker Room

Basement game room after: shuffleboard and air hockey

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BeforeAfterGame Room

Arcade after with Pac-Man wall and cabinets

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BeforeAfterThe Arcade

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BeforeAfterBigfoot Bunk Room

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BeforeAfterSunset King Suite

Camp room after: double queens under a tree mural

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BeforeAfterThe Camp Room

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BeforeAfterThe Moon Room

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BeforeAfterHot Tub Deck

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BeforeAfterDouble-Vanity Bath

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BeforeAfterGuest Bath

Gathering table after: bar seating for the whole family

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BeforeAfterThe Gathering Table

Dark Skies Region, PA · Full Turnkey Remodel Package

Trailhead Chalet

The owners were weighing demolition. What they had was a 1970s hunting camp — shag carpet, wood paneling, a bare-block cellar. What we saw was bones worth saving. Full turnkey remodel, top to bottom: gutted interiors, a basement reborn as an entertainment lounge, game lounge, and arcade, re-themed Forest and Autumn suites, a rebuilt deck, playground, and fire pit. Launched Memorial Day weekend 2026 — then three straight months above 90% occupancy and $70K+ gross in its first seven months, on pace for $120K+ in 2027. Now one of the highest-demand vacation rentals in Dark Skies, PA.

3 straight months of 90%+ occupancy On pace for $120K+ in 2027 Saved from demolition — full turnkey rebirth

$70K+

first 7 months

2026 gross since Memorial Day launch

90%+

Jun · Jul · Aug 2026

Three straight months occupancy

93%

July & August

Peak monthly occupancy

$120K+

2027

On pace, year one full season

Coudersport, PA · 3 Bedrooms · Full Remodel Package

Great Bear Cabin

A once-strong performer that had slid to roughly $75K a year under self-management. In one off-season window — Thanksgiving to Christmas — we gutted a grimy storage basement into an entertainment lounge, refreshed every room, re-shot the property, and relaunched. With Howler: $135K a year — the #3 gross-revenue vacation rental in Pennsylvania among properties with 3 bedrooms or less.

#3 gross revenue in PA — 3 BR or less +80% gross revenue with Howler Full turnkey remodel in 4 weeks

$135K

~~~$75K self-managed~~

Gross revenue with Howler

$393

~~$342 before~~

Average daily rate

~90%

~~80% before~~

Occupancy

PA rentals, 3 BR or less

Gross revenue rank

Potter County, PA — Dark Skies Region · 6 Bedrooms · Light Remodel Package

Cosmic Ridge Retreat

A beloved legacy lodge doing roughly $60K a year, reimagined in 3 months under a stargazing brand: full interior refresh, a rebuilt deck with a 5-person Jacuzzi, themed bedrooms, a 10-person fire pit, and one of the largest amenity packages in the region. $73K in its first half-season after the June 2025 relaunch. Then $190K in 2026.

#1 gross revenue — Dark Skies PA market Top 1% north of I-80 (≤6 BR) Airbnb Golden Laurel — Guest Favorite

$190K

~~~$60K before Howler~~

2026 gross revenue

3.2×

vs pre-Howler revenue

Growth

Dark Skies PA market

Gross revenue rank

Top 1%

north of I-80, ≤6 BR

Northern Pennsylvania

Happy Valley — State College, PA · 12 Min from Penn State · Light Remodel Package

Lion's Lookout

Great bones, great location, zero identity. We branded it into the ultimate Penn State retreat — a Nittany Lion mural primary, tribute guest rooms, a Paterno-library-inspired work nook, and a back deck rebuilt around a gas fire pit, 6-person hot tub, and outdoor TV. An independent third-party forecast called for $145K in year one. We’re past $190K — and 2026 is still booking.

$190K+ year one — $45K over the independent forecast Top 1% of the State College market $600+ weekends in the off-season

$190K+

~~$145K forecast~~

Year-one gross revenue

+31%

over the 3rd-party forecast

Forecast beat

Top 1%

State College market

Market rank

Jan '26

launch to top 1% in one year

Launched

Surfside Beach, TX · Gulf Coast · Steps to the Sand · Design & Launch Package

Surfside Surprise

Proof the playbook works on a beach. Three straight years plateaued between $85K and $95K — a solid house that had stopped growing. We pulled it off the calendar for exactly one month, April 2026, for a full Howler refresh: re-themed bedrooms, an arcade loft, a fire pit circle, a finished under-deck lounge, all-new photography, relaunch. Past $100K already with November and December still filling — on pace for $125K+, now a top 2% gross-revenue property in Surfside Beach. This is the beach-market playbook we bring to Florida’s Space Coast.

Top 2% gross revenue — Surfside Beach, TX On pace for $125K+ in 2026 Refresh only — no remodel, one month out of service

$125K+

~~$86K in 2025~~

2026 pace — $100K+ booked

$433

~~$376 before~~

Average daily rate

Top 2%

Surfside Beach, TX

Gross revenue rank

1 month

April 2026

Out of service for the refresh

Potter County, PA · 75+ Acres · Private Runway · Design & Launch Package

Runway Retreat

Clean, functional, rentable — and completely forgettable. We leaned into what the property actually is: a decommissioned runway, hangars, and Allegheny River access. Aviation-themed primary, stargazing kids' loft, hot tub, firepit, string lights. $55K in 2024. $115K in 2026.

2.1× gross revenue after our takeover 100% occupancy — December 2025 Occupancy more than doubled at relaunch

$115K

~~$55K in 2024~~

2026 gross revenue

2.1×

in year one with Howler

Revenue growth

100%

December 2025

Occupancy

2×

after the relaunch

Occupancy growth

Packages · Scoped case by case

We can run a full remodel. We don't always have to.

Every property arrives in a different state, so there's no one-size package. We work with you on a revenue-maximization plan — and scope exactly the work your property needs to reach the top of its market. Nothing more.

No Construction

Design & Launch

No construction needed. We re-theme, re-furnish, re-shoot, and relaunch the property you already have — identity does the heavy lifting.

No remodel required
Interior design & thematic branding
Furnishing & setup
Professional photography
Listing creation & launch

Executed at Runway Retreat → $115K · 2.1× revenue Surfside Surprise → $125K pace · Top 2% Surfside Beach TX

Targeted Construction

Light Remodel

Targeted construction only where it moves revenue — a deck rebuild, bathrooms, fixtures — plus the full design-to-launch treatment.

Light remodel — targeted, high-ROI upgrades
Interior design
Furnishing & setup
Professional photography
Listing creation & launch

Executed at Cosmic Ridge Retreat → $190K · #1 Dark Skies Lion's Lookout → $190K+ · Top 1% State College

Demo to Done

Full Remodel

For properties that need real construction to hit their ceiling. We run it demo to done — then design, furnish, shoot, and launch.

Full remodel — construction managed end to end
Interior design
Furnishing & setup
Professional photography
Listing creation & launch

Executed at Great Bear Cabin → $135K · #3 in PA (3 BR or less) Starry Skies Sanctuary → $200K+ pace · 26 bookings in 3 weeks Trailhead Chalet → $120K+ pace · 90%+ occupancy ×3 months

What full-service actually means

Six disciplines. One operator.

Most managers do one or two of these. The top of the market demands all six, under one roof.

Interior Design for Vacation Rentals

We partner with the country's top vacation-rental interior designers to build experiential, themed stays. Memorable, not just marketable — it's the single biggest driver of ADR.

Best-in-Class Photography

True vacation-rental photography — drone, twilight, lifestyle, astro — not real-estate photography. We cover the ~$3K cost ourselves. It's the first thing guests buy.

5-Star Guest Communications

24/7 response, hotel-grade hospitality. Our 4.97★ rating across 1,400+ reviews is the moat around every property we run.

On-Call Maintenance, 24/7

A locally sourced, dedicated maintenance team — plus basic handyman work included, from light bulbs to touch-up paint to loading wood racks.

Profit Optimization

Data-driven pricing, marketing, and occupancy management across Airbnb, VRBO, Google Vacations, and your own direct-booking site.

Transparent Reporting

Detailed monthly reports, direct deposits, and an owner's portal with your calendar, bookings, and performance — anytime.

Pricing

One fee. No games.

A percentage of gross rent — so we only make more when you make more. Industry average is 25%. Property setup & guest-readiness is scoped case by case in your Design & Setup Estimate.

20%

of gross rent · industry average: 25%

Included in the 20%

Professional photography (~$3K value, covered by Howler)
Access to the #1 vacation-rental interior design firm in the country
All guest communication, 24/7
Listing creation & management — Airbnb, VRBO, Google Vacations
Direct-booking website, built and managed
Paid marketing for your property
Service-provider coordination — cleaners, lawn, pool, hot tub, garbage
Basic handyman services
Detailed monthly reports + owner's portal

Billed at cost, not marked up

Cleaning between guests
Utilities — kept in your name; owners set these up themselves (we’ll handle setup for you if needed)
Maintenance — lawn, pool, hot tub, large repairs
Consumables — linens, towels, supplies
Taxes & short-term rental permit fees

Executed for a coordination fee

Recommended artwork, furnishings & amenities
Property setup / guest readiness — scoped in your Design & Setup Estimate

Onboarding

From first call to go-live.

Nine steps, in order. You'll know exactly where your property stands at every one of them.

Discovery Call & Virtual Property Review

We learn your goals and evaluate your property to confirm we're the right fit — for both of us.

Property Walkthrough

On-site visit to assess the setup and identify the improvements that move revenue.

Design & Setup Estimate

A detailed plan and cost estimate for the upgrades that maximize performance.

Management Agreement

Simple, transparent, no hidden fees.

3D Home Scan

A digital model of your property to streamline design and setup decisions.

Final Plan Review & Proposal

Once every number is finalized, we align on design, timeline, and launch strategy — before a dollar is spent.

Procurement & Setup

We handle all furnishings, décor, and guest essentials — end to end.

Professional Photography

Stunning, lifestyle-focused images that showcase the property the way guests want to see it.

Listings & Go-Live

Launch on Airbnb, VRBO, Google, and direct booking — after a review of your own owner-use calendar.

About · The operators

Two owners. Zero middlemen.

When you partner with Howler Homes, you work directly with the two people who evaluate, build, and run your property — not an account manager reading from a script.

Josh Corey

Co-Founder · Property Manager

Runs: property evaluations · revenue management & marketing · guest communications · monthly reporting & taxes

Fifteen years of project engineering before vacation rentals — finishing his engineering career at SpaceX on the Starship Launch Pads program — and it shows: every Howler property runs on systems, software, and data, not guesswork. Years on the road as an engineer taught him exactly what separates an average stay from one guests review, rebook, and tell their friends about.

Six-plus years operating his own short-term rental portfolio built the rest: pricing, platforms, and the discipline to deliver five-star stays at scale. Josh runs every property like he owns it — because he's an owner too.

Jason Gibson

Co-Founder · Property Manager

Runs: remodel estimating & coordination · renovations & staging · boots-on-the-ground teams — handymen, cleaners, upkeep vendors

Over a decade in real estate construction and six years running his own remodeling business. Jason leads every renovation from estimate to final staging — the craftsmanship behind every before-and-after on this page.

He stays on after launch, too: coordinating trusted vendors and crews so issues get fixed fast and fixed right. It's why Howler interiors don't just photograph well — they hold up to back-to-back guest stays, season after season.

Free property evaluation

Let's find out what your property should be making.

Underperforming rental? Scouting an acquisition? We'll evaluate it, forecast it, and tell you plainly whether we're the right fit. Our key markets today: the Dark Skies, PA region (north central PA), State College, PA, and Florida's Space Coast — and we're always open to an exceptional property anywhere.

Real market compsWe pull live performance data on the STRs around you — actual average daily rates and occupancy, for virtually every short-term rental in the country. Not guesses.

Benchmarked against our portfolioYour property measured against our extensive database of top-of-market performers, so you see the gap between what it does and what it should do.

A full NOI pictureRevenue, expenses, and the number you actually keep — built with the same operating formula we run our own properties on.

Thank you — we'll be in touch.

Your request is in. We'll review the property and reach out shortly. Need us sooner? Call or text 814-806-3192.

Call or text814-806-3192

Emailjosh.corey@howlerhomes.com

Most managers maintain your property. We maximize it.

Every month of 2026 beat the same month of 2025.

Memorable, not just marketable.

The before, the after, and the revenue in between.

The deepest transformations we do.

Starry Skies Sanctuary

Starry Skies Sanctuary — before & after

Trailhead Chalet

Trailhead Chalet — before & after

Great Bear Cabin

Great Bear Cabin — before & after

Construction only where it moves revenue.

Cosmic Ridge Retreat

Cosmic Ridge Retreat — before & after

Lion's Lookout

Lion's Lookout — before & after

No contractors. One month or less. Top of market.

Surfside Surprise

Surfside Surprise — before & after

Runway Retreat

Runway Retreat — before & after

We can run a full remodel. We don't always have to.

Design & Launch

Light Remodel

Full Remodel

Six disciplines. One operator.

One fee. No games.

Included in the 20%

Billed at cost, not marked up

Executed for a coordination fee

From first call to go-live.

Two owners. Zero middlemen.

Josh Corey

Jason Gibson

Let's find out what your property should be making.

Request your free evaluation