Response time isn't just a hospitality metric — it's a direct Airbnb ranking input with a specific threshold that separates listings that maximize the factor from those that receive partial credit. Here's how the algorithm measures it, why the one-hour mark is categorically different from "a few hours," and how to build an automated system that hits the threshold without sacrificing guest experience.

Murphy's STR market isn't broken — it's become more competitive. As inventory has expanded faster than demand, the floor has lowered for passive listings while the ceiling for quality operators remains intact. Here's what saturation actually means for Murphy hosts and investors in 2026, and what it takes to perform in the top quartile of a maturing mountain STR market.