Quote Originally Posted by SteveinMN View Post
I think the travel market is fungible. There is a market for Airbnb, just as there's a market for Spirit Airlines. But it's not a strong market and I don't know anyone who is listed on Airbnb (or VRBO or others) who is making enough money at that to make it their vocation. I also don't know anyone who actually made money flipping houses. Buying a house to run as an Airbnb strikes me much the same way -- the early people in will make some money, the others will me-too themselves till they regret it.
My friend and I stayed in a cute old 2 bedroom house in a nice area of Kansas City. From my extensive market research (haha) this house sells for about $200,000. The owner rents it out via Air bnb for $150 a night. He bought it recently, did some renovation, hires a cleaning lady. It was rented the night before we stayed there and was rented out the night of the day we left, so it looks as though it is

Based on this snapshot of facts it looks like this house owner would make money. But that $150 a night seems high to me, that is what full out Bed and Breakfast Inns charge. My friend rented this house because it accepted dogs and it has a fenced in yard (which the dogs managed to overcome, gate blew open, drama ensused, but dogs were caught and contained.)

My friend likes to send lots of communications, so I will bet she sent around 8 emails asking for information. That right there puts me off Air bnb. I like my financial instruments, they do not ask me annoying questions.