Who Is Mike Reilly?

Mike Reilly is the Co-founder of NC Stays and Head of Coaching at Short Term Rental Secrets — one of the most recognized education and coaching platforms in the short-term rental industry. With years of hands-on experience building, operating, and optimizing a portfolio of premium vacation rental properties across North Carolina, Mike brings a rare combination of operator expertise and investor discipline to every property he manages.His work is grounded in a simple conviction: that NC vacation rental property owners deserve a manager who thinks like an investor — someone who asks not just "is the property booked?" but "is this property performing at its full potential?" That question drives every decision at NC Stays, from pricing strategy to amenity investment to guest experience design.

 

Industry Credentials & Recognition

As Head of Coaching at STR Secrets, Mike has worked directly with over 50 investors — guiding them through the process of identifying, acquiring, and operating profitable short-term rental properties. His clients range from first-time STR investors to experienced real estate operators scaling into 6 and 7-figure vacation rental portfolios.Mike has spoken on stage at STR WealthCon, the largest Short Term Rental conference in the industry — sharing the frameworks, systems, and market intelligence that separate top-performing operators from the rest. That stage presence reflects not just personal achievement, but a commitment to raising the standard of what is possible in short-term rental management.

 

The NC Stays Difference

NC Stays was built specifically for the North Carolina vacation rental market. Unlike large national property management companies that treat owners as numbers in a spreadsheet, NC Stays operates a focused, intentional portfolio — giving every property and every owner the attention they deserve.NC Stays manages premium properties across the NC coast and mountains, including Atlantic Beach, Morehead City, Beaufort, Emerald Isle, Topsail Island, Wrightsville Beach, Carolina Beach, Kure Beach, Bald Head Island, Oak Island, Holden Beach, Ocean Isle Beach, Pinehurst, Brevard, Blowing Rock, and Nebo. Every property in the portfolio is selected for its potential to perform at the top of its market.The NC Stays approach combines professional-grade revenue management, AI-powered pricing, proactive maintenance, and a guest experience standard that consistently drives 5-star reviews — and the repeat bookings and premium rates that come with them.

 

Who Mike Works With

Mike works with a specific type of property owner: high-income earners and serious real estate investors who own — or are acquiring — premium NC vacation rental properties with the potential to generate $100,000 or more in annual revenue. These are busy professionals and business owners who want the highest possible return on their property without the time commitment of self-management.The ideal NC Stays property is a 3-bedroom or larger home in an A+ location — oceanfront or close to the beach, near restaurants, bars, and public dock access — with existing or potential amenities such as a pool, hot tub, sauna, or game room. If that describes your property, or a property you are considering, Mike would like to talk.

 

What You Will Find in the Learning Section

The articles in the NC Stays Learning section are drawn directly from Mike's work with the STR Secrets coaching community — live sessions, market analyses, and deep dives into the strategies that drive real results. Every piece of content is adapted specifically for NC vacation rental property owners, with context for the specific markets, property types, and guest profiles that define the NC STR landscape.Content is organized into five categories: Market Intelligence, Maximizing Your Property, Understanding the Industry, The Investment Case, and Case Studies. Whether you are evaluating a management change, benchmarking your property's performance, or simply staying current on the NC market, you will find substantive, actionable intelligence here — not generic advice.