
ECBYO
Gulf Coast vacation rental marketplace for direct owner booking. No service fees, 10,000+ properties across 5 states.
About ECBYO
Emerald Coast By Owner (ECBYO) is a vacation rental marketplace connecting travelers directly with property owners across the US Gulf Coast including Florida, Alabama, Mississippi, Louisiana, and Texas. Founded in 2016 by Joe Godar in Destin, Florida, the platform lists over 10,000 properties with a zero guest service fee model. ECBYO operates on a subscription pricing model at $499/year per property with no booking commissions, allowing owners to retain full payment control. The platform integrates with major PMS providers including BookingPad, Escapia, Kigo, NextPax, and OwnerRez.
What sets this company apart
Zero guest service fees with owner-retained payment control. Gulf Coast regional specialist with 10,000+ properties across 5 states. Subscription model ($499/yr) with no commissions. 116K+ Facebook followers.
Markets & Coverage
Operating across 1 countries
Markets & Coverage
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FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
- Emerald Coast By Owner (ECBYO) is a vacation rental marketplace connecting travelers directly with property owners across the US Gulf Coast including Florida, Alabama, Mississippi, Louisiana, and Texas. Founded in 2016 by Joe Godar in Destin, Florida, the platform lists over 10,000 properties with a zero guest service fee model. ECBYO operates on a subscription pricing model at $499/year per property with no booking commissions, allowing owners to retain full payment control. The platform integrates with major PMS providers including BookingPad, Escapia, Kigo, NextPax, and OwnerRez.
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