How to Find Airbnbs for Sale: An Investor’s Guide

Ever stayed at an amazing Airbnb and thought, "I could own a place like this"? Welcome to the world of short-term rental investing, where your vacation rental ownership dreams can become profitable realities. 

But there’s a catch…

How do you find these golden opportunities without feeling like you're searching for a needle in a haystack? 

In this guide, we'll show you how to find Airbnbs for sale using AirDNA as well as other unique methods you might not have thought of. 

Keep in mind: This comprehensive guide is designed for those who have already decided to invest in a short-term rental property and have identified their target market. 

Before You Buy, Pinpoint the Right Type of Vacation Rental Property

Before signing on the dotted line to purchase an Airbnb, you need to identify the right type of vacation rental property. What property type will perform best in your chosen vacation rental market?

Watch this video to learn how to identify profitable property types and locations in a certain Airbnb market using AirDNA:

Assess the Airbnb Property’s Revenue by Bedroom Count

First, look for any major differences in revenue between properties with different bedroom counts. AirDNA makes it easy to see how much revenue Airbnb listings in a certain market earned by bedroom. By analyzing this data, you can estimate profitability based on the number of bedrooms a given property has. 

For example, if 5-bedroom properties bring in substantially more revenue than 4-bedroom properties, it could be worth investing a bit more to purchase an Airbnb with 5 bedrooms. 

That said, a good real-life example to the contrary is Port Angeles in Washington. In Port Angeles, there's a significant difference in revenue between 1- and 2-, 2- and 3-, 3- and 4-bedroom properties. But the difference in revenue between 4-bedroom and 5-bedroom properties is negligible ($90K vs. $96K annually). However, the price of a 4-bedroom property compared to a 5-bedroom property isn’t negligible—5-bedroom properties in Port Angeles typically cost substantially more than 4-bedrooms. In that case, it might not make sense to purchase the 5-bedroom property. 

With this in mind, take the time to thoughtfully assess revenue potential by bedroom compared to asking price.

Don’t Forget to Filter by Vacation Rental Availability

When assessing Airbnb vacation rental revenue in a given housing market, you don’t want to be comparing apples to oranges—so make sure you’re not comparing properties that are available only half the year with properties available year-round.

If you’re using AirDNA, make sure you filter the properties you’re assessing by ‘Days Available.’ This allows you to only assess properties that are available for the timeframe you intend to make your short-term rental available.

Dive Deeper into Property Style and Amenities

Once you understand the ideal location and number of bedrooms for your potential investment property, dive deeper into the best-performing properties by assessing their style and the amenities they offer.

You want to get a feel for why those properties are outperforming competitors. Are the Airbnbs with the highest revenue condos in high-rises, or cozy single-family homes? Do the highest-revenue listings all have backyards or swimming pools? Use this data to inform your decision regarding which Airbnb rental property to buy.

How to Find Airbnbs for Sale Using AirDNA 

So how do you actually find Airbnbs for sale?

AirDNA makes it easy to launch or expand your vacation rental business with tools to help you find potential Airbnb properties for sale. Here’s a step-by-step guide to using AirDNA to locate a short-term rental property that matches your goals:

Step 1: Do Your Homework First

To make sure you’re investing wisely, we recommend doing your research to pinpoint how many bedrooms the ideal property should have (outlined above).

Using the Blue Ridge submarket as an example, data reveals only a negligible difference in revenue between 1- and 2-bedroom Airbnb listings. If you were a budget-conscious investor looking to invest in the Blue Ridge submarket, you should only look at 1-2 bedroom properties for sale.

Step 2: Filter Listings by Bedroom Count

Once you know how many bedrooms will maximize profitability at your budget, search for your submarket and jump to the Submarket Performance tab. Once there, filter listings by number of bedrooms.

Important note: Listing filters do not affect the for-sale properties displayed in the map view. AirDNA shows all for-sale properties until you apply a ‘For Sale’ filter. 

Step 3: Filter For-Sale Properties by Bedroom Count

To filter for-sale properties, toggle to the For Sale Properties tab.

Click the For Sale filter drop-down and adjust the bedroom range as you wish to filter the results. This will show you only for-sale properties with bedrooms in your selected range.

To continue our example of a budget investor in the Blue Ridge submarket, you’ll want to filter to only see 1- and 2-bedroom properties for sale.

You can also choose to hide properties that aren’t zoned for short-term rentals. 

Congrats—you’ve got a solid list of short-term rentals for sale that have your desired bedroom count!

Step 4: Organize the Results 

Now, you can organize the results by whichever metric matters to you most: price, square footage, or length of time on the market.

Step 5: Explore For-Sale Properties

Now it’s time to start Airbnb shopping!

Click on a for-sale property to get helpful data, including:

• Projected revenue
• Daily rate
• Occupancy rates

These projections are made by assessing the performance of similar properties currently being used as short-term rentals over the last 12 months.

Find Short-Term Rentals for Sale by Other Means

Beyond using AirDNA to find an Airbnb for sale, there are other methods to track down great prospective Airbnbs to purchase. 

Here are several other ways to find Airbnbs for sale:

Reddit

Join subreddits like:

• r/realestateinvesting
• r/Airbnb
• r/airbnb_hosts
• r/AirBnBHosts
• Location-specific real estate subreddits

Participate in discussions and look for posts from users looking to sell their short-term rental properties.

Create your own post explaining what property type you're looking for and in which area.

Zillow

Use Zillow's advanced search filters to identify properties suitable for short-term rentals. Look for keywords like "vacation rental," "income property," or "Airbnb potential" in listing descriptions. Set up saved searches and alerts for properties matching your criteria.

Facebook Groups

Join local real estate investment groups in your target area. Look for groups specifically focused on short-term rentals or Airbnb investing. Engage with the community and ask about Airbnbs for sale.

Real Estate Agents

Find real estate agents who specialize in investment properties or vacation rentals in your target area. Provide them with your specific criteria and ask them to alert you to suitable listings. Some agents may have access to off-market properties or pre-listing information.

Property Finder Tools

Explore platforms like Roofstock or MyHouseDeals that cater to real estate investors. These tools often provide additional data on potential rental income and return on investment.

Direct Mail Campaigns

Identify neighborhoods or areas where you'd like to invest, then send personalized letters to property owners expressing your interest in purchasing. This method can be particularly effective for finding off-market properties.

Networking Events

Attend local real estate investor meetups, conferences, or workshops where you can build relationships with other investors who might be looking to sell their short-term rental properties.

Auction Websites

Check websites like Auction.com or Hubzu for potential short-term rental properties. Be prepared to move quickly and do your due diligence when dealing with auction properties.

Local Vacation Rental Management Companies

Reach out to companies that manage short-term rentals in your target area. They may know of owners looking to sell or have insights into properties that perform well.

FSBO (For Sale By Owner) Websites

Check FSBO websites like FSBO.com or ForSaleByOwner.com. Look for properties that mention potential as vacation rentals or existing short-term rental businesses.

Local Tourism Boards

Contact local tourism boards or chambers of commerce in your target vacation area. They may have insights into the local short-term rental market or know of properties coming up for sale.

Title Companies

Build relationships with local title companies. They may be able to provide information on properties that are in the pre-foreclosure stage or about to be listed.

Key Factors to Consider Before Buying an Airbnb Property

Before purchasing an Airbnb investment property, thoroughly analyze the factors that can impact your prospective property's success and profitability. 

Here's what to consider before purchasing a property and becoming an Airbnb host:

Location

• Proximity to attractions: Analyze the distance to popular tourist spots, business centers, or event venues.
• Transportation access: Evaluate public transit options and distance from airports or major highways.
• Neighborhood safety: Research crime rates and general safety perceptions of the area.
• Future development plans: Look into any upcoming infrastructure or development projects that could affect property value or attractiveness to guests. Check out the best vacation rental markets in the next 5 years for more information on this. 

Local Regulations and Zoning

• Short-term rental laws: Thoroughly research local ordinances regarding short-term rentals.
• Zoning restrictions: Ensure the property is zoned for short-term rental use.
• Licensing requirements: Understand any necessary permits or licenses needed to operate an Airbnb. Did you know AI can help with this? 
• Tax implications: Research local and state tax requirements for short-term rental income.

Seasonality and Market Demand

• Peak seasons: Identify high-demand periods and potential pricing strategies.
• Off-season strategies: Plan for maintaining profitability during slower periods.
• Local events calendar: Research annual events that might drive rental demand.
• Long-term market trends: Analyze historical data to understand the vacation rental market's growth trajectory.

Learn how to master seasonality!

Financing Options

• Mortgage types: Compare conventional, FHA, and specialized investment property loans to finance your investment.
• Down payment requirements: Be prepared for potentially higher down payments on investment properties (often 20-25%).
• Interest rates: Shop around for the best rates, understanding they may be higher for investment properties.
• Cash reserves: Lenders often require several months of cash reserves for investment properties.

Insurance Considerations

• Short-term rental insurance: Obtain coverage specifically designed for Airbnb properties.
• Liability protection: Ensure adequate coverage for guest injuries or property damage.
• Natural disaster coverage: Consider additional policies for flood, earthquake, or hurricane coverage if relevant.

Find the right Airbnb for you

Finding Airbnbs for sale is a critical step in building a successful short-term rental business. By leveraging tools like AirDNA and exploring other unique search methods, you can identify properties that will maximize your Airbnb income and provide a strong return on investment.