Published May 26, 2026

Why 2416 S 18th Street in Soulard Might Be St. Louis's Most Unique Airbnb Investment

Written by Lauren Johnson

Clawfoot soaking tub under exposed dark wood beam cathedral ceiling with mosaic mirror in primary bathroom at 2416 S 18th Street Soulard St Louis

Somewhere in Soulard, a local artist spent what had to be hundreds of hours pressing hand-cut mosaic tile into every square inch of a bathroom wall. That bathroom is inside a 4 bedroom, 4 bathroom 1890 home listed at $425,000 with a 96/100 AirDNA submarket score.

At 2,581 square feet, 2416 S 18th Street has been updated without being sanitized. It feels old in the right ways and current in all the ways that matter.

The property itself is the marketing

Most Airbnb guests aren't just booking a place to sleep, they're booking something worth talking about. At 2416 S 18th, every room gives them that. The main floor half bath is covered floor to ceiling in a hand-laid kaleidoscopic mosaic by a local St. Louis artist. The attic bathroom has cathedral ceilings with dark exposed beams, a clawfoot soaking tub on black iron feet, and a mosaic-framed mirror. The basement bath has raw exposed stone walls with slate tile set against copper pipe details. Guests photograph these rooms, post them, and mention them in reviews.

The rest of the house holds its own. Original pine wood floors throughout, pocket doors between the main living spaces, five fireplaces, original mantels, and built-in bookcases. The kitchen has new white lower cabinets, butcher block countertops, stainless appliances, and the original upper cabinetry with stained glass doors kept as a design feature. Also includes crown molding, high ceilings, a smart thermostat, and a side porch.

The Soulard STR market is one of St. Louis's strongest

Soulard has a walk score of 69 and a transit score of 77. It sits next to Anheuser-Busch, a dense restaurant and bar corridor, and some of the city's most consistent visitor traffic. AirDNA gives the submarket a 96 out of 100. Comparable 3 bedroom listings nearby are generating between $47,000 and $66,000 annually, with average daily rates from $173 to $368.

The financial case is straightforward

At $425,000 with a DSCR loan at 6.99% and 25% down, the monthly payment is around $2,721 with $118,630 cash to close. Property taxes run $5,529 annually. Operating expenses on a comparable STR come in around $19,800 per year, which puts net operating income in a strong range against those revenue comps. The property is FHA eligible and sellers are open to concessions. No HOA, finished basement with walkout access, and four bedrooms for groups of six or more. This one is ready to go.