Should I FINALLY become an Airbnb host?

[Mattea6]

Hi hosts! Being an Airbnb host has always intrigued me. I like the flexibility and creativity that the business can provide. With that, I would appreciate hearing other hosts' experiences.

P.S. I have no real estate experience whatsoever, so tips are appreciated!

[Joseph2571]

Hey @Mattea6, exciting times.  I’d say the first step is getting curious—and it looks like you’re already there.

To get the most helpful tips and tricks from the crowd here (and there’s plenty of wisdom to go around), I’d suggest getting a bit of clarity on a few key things:
• What kind of space are you thinking of hosting? (A good place to start is thinking about the types of places you love to stay.)
• What’s your general price point—are you leaning more toward budget-friendly or boutique/luxury?
• And who do you picture hosting—solo travellers, weekend adventurers, families with kids or pets, remote workers?

Once you’ve got a rough idea of those pieces, you can start researching what that kind of guest values most—but more importantly, whether your area already has a ton of similar options or could use something fresh.

For what it’s worth, I’m a fairly new host myself, with no real estate background either, and it hasn’t been a barrier. Just a love for the outdoors, a passion for eco-tourism (the niche I jumped into), and a willingness to learn, adapt, and keep improving.

If that sounds like your kind of journey, then yeah… maybe it is finally time to become a host.

Wishing you all the best if you decide to take the leap!

[Helen3]

Have you firstly checked that your property meets the criteria for short term rentals in LA? Look on your local government website for STR regulations. @Mattea6 

[Alex]

Hello @Mattea6! 

Thank you for sharing this question. I know that hosting can be challenging but from the experiences that hosts share in the Community, it can be a really heartwarming process and joyful.🤗

There's a beautiful thread that @Lorina14 created where some hosts share what brought them into hosting. I think it would be interesting for you to check this conversation: What got you into hosting?

Also, I found these articles from the Help Center that might give your more information on how to start hosting:

• How to become a Host on Airbnb
• The basics of hosting. 

Hope this helps and give you more information. Let us know what's your final decision! 

Best, 

Alex

[Lorina14]

@Mattea6 

The other hosts have great suggestions. Maybe you can check out websites like AirDNA or Pricelabs to see what homes are going for in your area. AirDNA has algorithms that help one to decide if investing in an area is worth it. There are a lot of YouTube videos of people discussing the STRmarket. I joined some newsletters for companies like Awning(dot) com and Biggerpockets(dot)com as they had some good insight about real estate investing/selecting a city that is prime for Airbnb. We can guess you may want to do LA but you may want to invest in a vacation home that you Airbnb when you are not there and have a property management company or a local cohost support your bookings. Some hosts built a tiny home in their backyard and Airbnb it and others have a larger property in the country and a few airbnbs on it. Do you want to provide an experience, theme or what is your target market (visitors, business professionals, medical appointments, parents visiting their kids at the university, family gatherings, romantic getaways, unplug and relax, reasonable accommodations close to transit or attractions, etc). Some people lease an airstream in their front yard, others have and attached dwelling unit (ADU) or a detached dwelling unit (DADU). Many rent out rooms, while others rent out a separate entrance master with bathroom, some share bathrooms and living areas while others don’t. Many rent out their bottom floor and live on the top (but because mindful of insulting walls, doors, and ceilings well for noise). There are so many possibilities. 

Most importantly you want to check out local laws regarding short term rentals as many larger cities are having rules limiting how many days one can do a STR in the city and different cities have rules about registering as a STR, etc. 

The communtiy center is a helpful place to gain insight, feedback or opinions about various issues. Welcome to the boards and let us know how we can help!