What Is a Midterm Rental (MTR) and Why It Might Be the Best Way to Travel

By Joe B., Co-Founder of The Joes

If you’ve found your way here, chances are you’ve heard the term “midterm rental (MTR)” or maybe you’ve loosely heard about slow travel. It sounds dreamy: spending a month in Tuscany or a season in Tahoe. But for many people, it still feels like a fantasy rather than something practical or accessible. So what exactly is a midterm rental (MTR)?

Let’s clear it up. A midterm rental (MTR) is a fully furnished home rented for 30 days or more. It’s not a short-term vacation rental (STR), where you’re unpacking for a weekend. It’s not a long-term lease either, where you’re committing to a year or more and experiencing the joy of scheduling internet installation and switching over the power bill. It sits comfortably in the middle, just long enough to settle in, slow down, and actually experience the place you’re in. At The Joes, we believe this is more than just a practical in-between. It’s a lifestyle shift. And for many of us, it’s the future of how we travel, work, and live.

That vision actually started long before The Joes was born. When my co-founder, Joe R, left Washington, D.C., he and his partner set out on a mission to find the best place to live. They crisscrossed the country, trying out different cities and small towns, dreaming of a place that felt like home. Ultimately, they landed in Healdsburg, but along the way they ran headfirst into the same frustration so many of us face: there was no easy way to find a beautiful, trustworthy midterm rental. It was either short-term chaos or long-term commitment, nothing in the middle. Joe began dreaming about a curated marketplace where people like him could access vetted, soulful homes for stays that lasted long enough to really belong. That dream is now The Joes.

Meet The Joes

Midterm stays appeal to a growing number of people: remote workers who can live and work anywhere but want stability and a sense of home; couples and families chasing seasons instead of weekends; people in transition - relocating, renovating, resetting; multigenerational families seeking more meaningful time together; and travelers who are simply tired of the churn of check-in/check-out and crave something deeper.

For years, travelers had two options: hotels or short-term rentals (STRs). The former offered predictability but lacked personality. The latter promised character, kitchens, laundry, and a chance to "live like a local," but often came with noise complaints, convoluted house rules, and the uneasy feeling that you weren’t exactly welcome. While short-term rentals (STRs) helped solve many of the limitations of hotels, most were designed for turnover, not true comfort. And increasingly, they feel like soulless hotel rooms masquerading as homes. Studies suggest that a significant number of people now harbor concerns about the quality, consistency, and reliability of stays across the short-term rental (STR) industry (including companies like Airbnb, VRBO, and others) leading to a growing erosion of trust in the entire category. Travelers aren't just frustrated; they’re skeptical. And when trust is missing, it’s hard to relax, let alone feel at home.

The reality is, many of these listings aren’t homes at all. They’re investment properties that sit empty between bookings. In many regions, the majority of short-term rentals (STRs) are used exclusively as income generators, not as places anyone actually lives. These spaces aren’t full of life. They’re full of beige Wayfair furniture and guest instructions. No stories. No soul.

And if the homes feel sterile, the welcome often feels worse. Guests in short-term rentals (STRs) are frequently stepping into neighborhoods that don’t want them there. Locals are tired of the constant stream of strangers, the party potential, the lack of accountability. From the cold stares and passive-aggressive signage to hosts nervously reminding guests to be extra quiet, there’s a growing disconnect between these rentals and the communities they’re in.

That’s where The Joes is different. We’re not just offering another place to stay, we’re rebuilding trust in the experience of renting a home. Every home on our platform is someone’s beloved second home. These are spaces filled with personality, quirks, and character, homes that have been thoughtfully lived in and lovingly shared. We vet every home and every guest, ensuring a match that respects both the property and the community. We’re not in the business of cookie-cutter stays or high-churn turnover. We’re about real homes, real neighborhoods, and real connection so that both guests and homeowners can feel confident, cared for, and completely at ease.

There’s something powerful that happens when you stay in one place for longer than a week or two. You stop being a visitor. You start being a part of the place. You find your favorite coffee house. You know what farmer has the best tomatoes at the farmer’s market. You wave at neighbors on your morning walk. Our guests don’t just drop in for a weekend. They stay a while. They get to know the community. They become part of it. And because our minimum stay is 30 days, and every guest is pre-vetted, they’re welcomed, not resented. Homeowners feel good about sharing their space. Neighbors feel good about who’s moving in. It’s a win-win.

Fifteen years ago, most of us didn’t even know what a short-term rental (STR) was. Today, we can’t imagine traveling without them. We believe midterm rentals (MTRs) are the next evolution. And soon, we won’t be able to imagine life without them, either.

Our pricing philosophy is simple: around 7 to 10 nights at the nightly rate on a typical short-term platform is roughly equivalent to our full 30-day price. And because these stays are 30+ days, they’re also exempt from hotel taxes in almost all destinations. That’s a win for the guest and the homeowner. We’re starting in Northern California wine country because it’s our home. It’s a place we know and love. And it represents everything we think a great midterm destination should be: soulful, rooted, inspiring, and welcoming.

At The Joes, we’re not just building a platform for bookings. We’re building a brand people can trust, one that brings peace of mind back to travel. We believe that when you feel confident about where you’re staying and who you’re renting from, you settle in faster, live more fully, and leave with deeper memories. This is a new category of travel, one that values connection, rhythm, and presence over the rushed and transactional.

Both Joe and I have spent years living this lifestyle in our own ways, and we each have strong opinions about why staying longer changes everything. But I’ll save that for future blogs. Stick around. You’ll want to hear what comes next.

And in case you're still wondering: a midterm rental (MTR) is a fully furnished home, rented for 30 days or more, designed to help you settle in, not just stay over.

Joe R’s search for a place to belong became our shared mission: to make midterm rentals not just possible, but joyful, for anyone ready to slow down, live deeply, and stay awhile.