EP183: The Airbnb Dream Dead
APPLE PODCASTS | SPOTIFY
You’ve seen the headlines – Airbnb listing revenues tanking, yet listings are blowing up. It begs the question: Is a comeback on the horizon, or is the Airbnb hustle a lost cause?
Tuliptopia
Before we begin to answer any of these questions, let’s take a little journey over to the Netherlands, a place of floral wonder – especially when it comes to tulips 🌷. We think you will find this helpful as we discuss alternative investment approaches that can help you maximize your ROI.
➡️ Okay, so what happened was that way back in the 17th century Netherlands, there was a lot going on in the world of floral.
Tulip bulbs had become incredibly valued, captivating the hearts and wallets of people from all walks of life.
From wealthy merchants to everyday people like you and us, everyone was placing their bets on these vibrant blossoms, hoping for a rise in their worth. Fast forward to 1637, right at the height of this craze, and you’d find a single tulip bulb worth more than ten times what a skilled craftsman would earn in an entire year.
However, as the tulip fields stretched as far as the eye could see, the market became saturated with an overwhelming surplus of bulbs.
Like any basic lesson in economics could tell you, this oversaturation triggered a swift and dramatic plunge in prices. Unfortunately, the consequences were nothing short of catastrophic for the Dutch economy.
Yeah, and numerous individuals, who had placed their entire life’s savings into tulip speculation, found themselves destitute.
This financial crisis was at the core of a deep-seated skepticism toward speculative investments, prompting a more cautious and prudent approach to investing in the Netherlands for generations to follow.
Look, not to be all gloom and doom, but the truth of the matter is that the tale of tulips serves as a stark reminder of how an oversupply in the market, fueled by speculative enthusiasm, can artificially inflate a market bubble, ultimately culminating in a devastating crash with extensive and lasting economic consequences.
The Future of Airbnb is Up in the Air
The whole tulip situation from back in the day is essentially what’s happening right now with the Airbnb or short-term rental market.
Look, we aren’t going to pretend to be experts on the market conditions or forecast for Airbnb as a brand, but according to market analysts, Airbnb hosting is becoming less profitable and may not be worth it anymore for some investors, especially for new investors coming into the market.
The decline in rental rates and an increasing supply of Airbnb listings are putting pressure on the rental market, making it unprofitable for some Airbnb owners and landlords.
At first glance, this might seem strange given the recent buzz surrounding Airbnb’s marketing shift from performance marketing over to a more general brand strategy.
But we think it actually makes a lot of sense when you stop to think about several factors.
✔️ First, a decrease in rental rates, paired with a surge in the number of Airbnb listings, has created significant pressure within the rental market. The increasing supply of listings has intensified competition, which of course leads to a decrease in prices (there’s your good old basic economics again).
On top of that, you’ve got to look at the broader economic context that plays a role, with inflation and the rising cost of living causing some families to reconsider their spending habits, impacting the demand for Airbnb rentals. 🤓🤓
All of these challenges together shape the current landscape for Airbnb hosts and investors, making it a less profitable venture for some.
And look, investors need to stay cautious and avoid falling into the trap of overly optimistic profit projections, which can lead to inaccurate property valuations, especially within the context of today’s high-interest-rate environment.
Short-term rental property owners are often willing to pay a premium for their properties, banking on the expectation of significantly greater earnings compared to long-term landlords.
But this optimism can prove problematic when demand trends down, as it places them in a vulnerable position with rising mortgage payments, dwindling revenues, and an overall decrease in demand all converging.
It’s not a great combination, and this combination adds up to a seriously unfavorable scenario for investors.
The era when Airbnb listings were a surefire way to make some money seems to have drawn to a close, leaving many wondering whether it’s time to call it quits. But look, like anything in life, the answer to this question might just be, well, maybe. Deciding whether to continue with Airbnb hosting is a totally personal choice, and there are a ton of other factors that we don’t have time to get into today, like your location, seasons of tourism, etc.
Can Airbnb Pull It Together?
So, like a bad relationship, is it just over for Airbnb?
Like our girl 🎵 Taylor Swift said, “we are never, ever, ever getting back together”...
Okay, that’s dramatic, But hey listen, it still might be a great option for you if you fit into a couple of different scenarios. Let’s explore that a little more together.
To start, if you’ve owned your property for an extended period, and as a result, have a low initial investment, a few missed bookings or a decline in rental rates may not significantly affect your financial stability. Your cash flow will likely remain strong. This is great news!
Not only that but if you have the financial capacity to purchase the property outright without relying on loans or financing, you won’t be vulnerable to the impacts of increasing interest rates.
Either way, it’s worth considering whether this is the most strategic approach to maximize your investment returns.
But, of course, individual preferences and circumstances vary case by case and person by person, so do what’s best for you. 😘😘
And hey listen, consider another scenario: owning a truly extraordinary property. Take, for instance, our recent experience at Private’s Cove in Boulder City, Nevada, just a stone’s throw from Las Vegas. It’s no secret that not all Airbnb’s are created the same, and this was certainly no exception.
Yeah, instead of your standard run-of-the-mill amenities, this guy was an expansive estate decked out with ☠️ pirate-themed decorations, which totally made us feel like we were on set at Pirates of the Caribbean. 🏴☠️🗺️💰🦜💀
It’s the kind of place Captain Jack Sparrow would have proudly called home, complete with multiple pools, a three-story slide, and every luxury you could imagine.
This unique approach can continue to thrive even when other listings sit empty.
But at the same time, you have to remember that all that comes with substantial overhead costs, demanding maintenance, and constant upkeep. Just as one example, they had a 24/7 soft-serve ice cream machine repairman on standby – we will let you guess how we discovered that!
If you’re just starting out in your Airbnb ventures, you could be feeling overwhelmed. Y
ou might also quickly realize that you lack a collection of properties primed for a short-term rental transformation, your bank account isn’t exactly brimming with funds to purchase a single-family home outright, and the prospect of overseeing a pirate-themed wonderland may seem like a lot for a landlubber.
But hey, look, as the roster of ‘must-haves’ for a thriving Airbnb enterprise continues to expand, it can definitely feel intimidating. But thankfully you are here today and we are thrilled to share that there is in fact a more achievable path to generating passive income from real estate that sidesteps these obstacles.
Allow us to introduce you to the world of 🏢 multifamily apartment investing, with our preferred method being apartment syndication.
Investing in multifamily apartment syndications presents a notably resilient and secure alternative when contrasted with Airbnb, for a few reasons.
👉 First, multifamily apartments address a fundamental human necessity: shelter.
This ensures a dependable demand that persists even amidst economic downturns.
In contrast, Airbnb listings, often thought of as luxurious, can experience sharp declines in demand during periods of economic uncertainty or global crises, such as a pandemic.
As a result, multifamily properties tend to maintain lower vacancy rates in comparison to Airbnb listings, which may sit unoccupied during off-peak times or due to travel restrictions.
Multifamily apartments yield a dependable and uninterrupted monthly cash flow, with tenants consistently fulfilling their rent obligations.
On top of that, overseeing a multifamily apartment is way simpler in comparison to managing an Airbnb property, which demands continual oversight for reservation management, cleaning, and maintenance following each guest’s stay. 🙌
It’s no secret too that the Airbnb market is oversaturated with listings, intensifying competition and pushing rental rates downward.
In contrast, multifamily apartments encounter fewer rivals and maintain consistent demand for affordable housing.
Even better, multifamily apartment investments frequently offer tax advantages, including depreciation, that can help counterbalance the property’s generated income.
This often results in a better tax position when compared to income derived from Airbnb properties.
👉 Last but definitely not least, multifamily apartment syndications offer the opportunity to invest in multiple units at the same time, giving you the opportunity to rapidly scale your investment portfolio compared to the process of acquiring individual Airbnb properties one by one.
This approach allows for diversification across several units within a single investment, spreading risk and potentially enhancing your overall investment performance.
Well, that brings us to the close of today’s episode, thanks so much for tuning in and traveling with us to Airbnb’s as well as multifamily apartments.
We truly couldn’t do it without you, so make sure to send us your thoughts and questions, follow us on social, check out our website, and stay tuned for all things apartment investing.
GET ME ON THE KITTI FREEDOM CLUB
………..
Rate, Review & Follow!
“I love Cashflow Multipliers.” ◀️ If that sounds like you, please consider >> rating and reviewing our show! This helps us support more people — just like you — move toward the financial futures that they desire. Click here to let us know what you loved most about the episode!
Also, if you haven’t done so already, follow the podcast. We’re sharing the best tips, tricks, and secrets in owning your own time so achieving financial freedom early and permanently becomes easier. Follow now!
Comments +