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I think it’s still undecided if Airbnb is a force for good or a force for evil in the world. A lot, I mean a lot of people with middle incomes have bought desi

I think it’s still undecided if Airbnb is a force for good or a force for evil in the world. A lot, I mean a lot of people with middle incomes have bought desirable homes in nice locations and rent them out. There are many aspiring families, young couples priced out of the market because of this. Sure, this option was always a thing but the people who rent these properties out do not improve the community or unit they purchased and they rent out to anyone. This weekend a Airbnb guest kicked my door front door open. I pulled a gun on him and he apologized and said he was messing around but I wouldn’t have to deal with this if I didn’t live near short term rentals. Hotels needed a check to their power but I’m not sure if 15 years from now Airbnb will have been good for the median person. It sure helps the wealthy however.

Flop7331 2y ago
> kicked my door front door open What the hell kind of messing around is that? Did he think he was at the unit he rented that came with door-kicking privileges?
- ineedaj0b 2y ago
  I used to hop on walls and doors when I was 13 running around. But this guy was in his 20s or 30s and did not expect to see me draw on him. They leave trash in the hallways or smoke in the corridors. When you’re on vacation people act a little more free spirited.
cabbageicefruit 2y ago
I’d love to see the numbers on this. I suspect that the middle class families buying a rental to Airbnb are largely inconsequential to the housing crisis compared to the corporations buying thousands of homes to cash in on rent for the rest of eternity.
- ineedaj0b 2y ago
  Anecdotally, I can say in Florida it’s people renting them out and not living in them. The locals are priced out. I can afford it, but non tech/banking (the normal people) have moved inland to much worse spots. I only have 2 live-in neighbors on my floor of 8 units; the rest is Airbnb/Some guy who bought the unit to ‘invest’. I talk with the owners because they occasionally need my physical presence to do something. But all these units would have been families - like they were in the early 2010s.
- specialist 2y ago
  Housing market is inelastic. Small changes in supply have outsized impact on price.
- nox101 2y ago
  It might depend on the city but this was recommended recently https://www.cbc.ca/player/play/video/9.6428660 https://www.cbc.ca/player/play/video/9.6428660 their claim. Developers built to the market, the market being people wanting an investment rental property. The prices got so high that no one can afford to rent them so investors are losing money. It used to be, mortgage payment = $x. rent = $x+($500-$1000) but now it's rent = $x-($500-$1000). Further, they aren't sellable because they were never designed to be a good place to live long term. at least that's my summary. They didn't explain if all this is true why the prices haven't dropped 30-80% to the price that people might be willing to buy things they don't really want. As in "hey, this place is way smaller than I want but the price is really low and the location is great". As it is now it's more like "this place as way smaller than I want and even if I could afford it it's not worth the price" I'm curious if the same thing happened in other cities.
- heavyset_go 2y ago
  At the height of it, entire buildings were emptied out or built for short term rentals in the largest US cities.
fsndz 2y ago
I frankly don't know why people keep using Airbnb now. It's costly, and the service is worse than a hotel. My worst vacations have happened in Airbnbs. Even for group vacations with friends, we now choose hotels. The good Airbnbs seem to be only the luxury or high-end types, suitable for very high-income or rich people.
- SOLAR_FIELDS 2y ago
  If you want to go to a group location with several friends and have 1. Privacy 2. Your own kitchen Hotels still don’t cut it. Usually a stay needs to exceed some length of time needs (due to the cleaning fee typically being flat in Airbnb’s) before it becomes worthwhile. But if you’re in that camp (4+ people, 4+ days) it becomes pretty worthwhile. The cost savings on food alone makes it back up pretty quick, plus there are other savings usually related to parking being included etc.
  - csa 2y ago
    > But if you’re in that camp (4+ people, 4+ days) Have you tried Residence Inn 2-bedroom suites? There aren’t many of them in any given location, but they are absolutely amazing for 4 people when you can get one. My experience has been positive, and my friends and family who have tried it were also impressed.
    - SOLAR_FIELDS 2y ago
      I haven’t stayed out of a kitchenette suite but yeah that does sound like a good option if you have the right amount of people who are cool with the sleeping arrangements as described. Gets rid of most of the drawbacks I mentioned above around kitchens. Still not ideal for a lot of scenarios but at least a good option in certain circumstances.
- xandrius 2y ago
  It really depends on the country and what you're looking for. In your description, you might be doing it only for a short holiday but when you travel long term, living only in hotels is truly awful. Airbnb is the only way to consistently be able to rent a full place without having to go through traditional renting agencies which require oh so much paperwork, even for just a month. The alternative is finding privates on Facebook but with that you just can never be sure.
bongodongobob 2y ago
I don't think it's undecided at all. Pre Airbnb, rent might be $50/day ($1500/mo) for your place. Airbnb comes along and now you can rent it for $200/day. What do you think that does to home prices in the area?

Flop7331 2y ago

> kicked my door front door open What the hell kind of messing around is that? Did he think he was at the unit he rented that came with door-kicking privileges?

ineedaj0b 2y ago
I used to hop on walls and doors when I was 13 running around. But this guy was in his 20s or 30s and did not expect to see me draw on him. They leave trash in the hallways or smoke in the corridors. When you’re on vacation people act a little more free spirited.

cabbageicefruit 2y ago

I’d love to see the numbers on this. I suspect that the middle class families buying a rental to Airbnb are largely inconsequential to the housing crisis compared to the corporations buying thousands of homes to cash in on rent for the rest of eternity.

ineedaj0b 2y ago
Anecdotally, I can say in Florida it’s people renting them out and not living in them. The locals are priced out. I can afford it, but non tech/banking (the normal people) have moved inland to much worse spots. I only have 2 live-in neighbors on my floor of 8 units; the rest is Airbnb/Some guy who bought the unit to ‘invest’. I talk with the owners because they occasionally need my physical presence to do something. But all these units would have been families - like they were in the early 2010s.
specialist 2y ago
Housing market is inelastic. Small changes in supply have outsized impact on price.
nox101 2y ago
It might depend on the city but this was recommended recently https://www.cbc.ca/player/play/video/9.6428660 https://www.cbc.ca/player/play/video/9.6428660 their claim. Developers built to the market, the market being people wanting an investment rental property. The prices got so high that no one can afford to rent them so investors are losing money. It used to be, mortgage payment = $x. rent = $x+($500-$1000) but now it's rent = $x-($500-$1000). Further, they aren't sellable because they were never designed to be a good place to live long term. at least that's my summary. They didn't explain if all this is true why the prices haven't dropped 30-80% to the price that people might be willing to buy things they don't really want. As in "hey, this place is way smaller than I want but the price is really low and the location is great". As it is now it's more like "this place as way smaller than I want and even if I could afford it it's not worth the price" I'm curious if the same thing happened in other cities.
heavyset_go 2y ago
At the height of it, entire buildings were emptied out or built for short term rentals in the largest US cities.

fsndz 2y ago

I frankly don't know why people keep using Airbnb now. It's costly, and the service is worse than a hotel. My worst vacations have happened in Airbnbs. Even for group vacations with friends, we now choose hotels. The good Airbnbs seem to be only the luxury or high-end types, suitable for very high-income or rich people.

SOLAR_FIELDS 2y ago
If you want to go to a group location with several friends and have 1. Privacy 2. Your own kitchen Hotels still don’t cut it. Usually a stay needs to exceed some length of time needs (due to the cleaning fee typically being flat in Airbnb’s) before it becomes worthwhile. But if you’re in that camp (4+ people, 4+ days) it becomes pretty worthwhile. The cost savings on food alone makes it back up pretty quick, plus there are other savings usually related to parking being included etc.
- csa 2y ago
  > But if you’re in that camp (4+ people, 4+ days) Have you tried Residence Inn 2-bedroom suites? There aren’t many of them in any given location, but they are absolutely amazing for 4 people when you can get one. My experience has been positive, and my friends and family who have tried it were also impressed.
  - SOLAR_FIELDS 2y ago
    I haven’t stayed out of a kitchenette suite but yeah that does sound like a good option if you have the right amount of people who are cool with the sleeping arrangements as described. Gets rid of most of the drawbacks I mentioned above around kitchens. Still not ideal for a lot of scenarios but at least a good option in certain circumstances.
xandrius 2y ago
It really depends on the country and what you're looking for. In your description, you might be doing it only for a short holiday but when you travel long term, living only in hotels is truly awful. Airbnb is the only way to consistently be able to rent a full place without having to go through traditional renting agencies which require oh so much paperwork, even for just a month. The alternative is finding privates on Facebook but with that you just can never be sure.

bongodongobob 2y ago

I don't think it's undecided at all. Pre Airbnb, rent might be $50/day ($1500/mo) for your place. Airbnb comes along and now you can rent it for $200/day. What do you think that does to home prices in the area?