We’re going to level with you: short-term rental (STR) investments have seen better days. Many investors are actually seeing their lowest returns in recent memory. 

Why? Home values are skyrocketing, but the real reason is more nuanced. Investors don’t always know how to find Airbnb properties, leading them to invest in the wrong properties in the wrong markets. 

Take Big Bear, California, for example. A staggering amount of people bought properties in Big Bear both during and after the COVID-19 pandemic. While those investments seemed promising, supply quickly outpaced demand. And that’s largely because many of those people jumped into investing in Airbnb without consulting the data.


The savviest STR investors know that in our new investment reality, knowing what to look for in a short-term rental property really means knowing how to research your competitors. In this guide, we’ll show you how to find Airbnb properties (with the best features) in the best markets using the new comps tool in our Property Performance Dashboard (PPD). 

Not every property in your target market is actually your competitor. There is a whole subset of properties that are poorly run, have poor reviews, or simply don’t have the features you’re budgeting for. 

Wondering how to find Airbnb properties that underperform? Use our comp tool to exclude rentals with owner-occupants, low occupancy rates, poor reviews, no reviews, and even rentals that aren’t listed full-time.

With those out of the way, look for properties that are performing well. Those are the ones you’ll need to beat to succeed.  

Not all property types are created equal. Filter your data by property type, and you’ll see just how different the performance can be. Do apartments earn more than cabins? What about bed and breakfasts? You can use a comp tool like the one in our PPD to bounce back and forth between different property types to see which type earns the returns you’re targeting. 

You might be surprised by the results. While unique stays aren’t for every fund, unique stays were more in-demand than their more conventional counterparts—including apartments, lofts, condos, homes, and villas—in both 2020 and 2021. And these properties are even easier to find if you use our chart heat map. 

Look for properties that are unique yet well-positioned in your target market. If tiny homes are in high demand but low supply, that could be a great investment in the making. 

#3 - Drill Down Into Specific Neighborhoods

Next, filter for properties in specific locations. To research an area on Airbnb, create a radius around the region you’re interested in using the draw-your-own map feature in the PPD. Want to only analyze properties within 10 blocks of the beach? Done. What about properties that aren’t by the beach but earn just as much revenue at a fraction of the overhead? Also possible.

Look for Airbnb properties that are geographically close to the highest-earning properties in your market. If you can get close, you may be able to earn similar returns with your own STR. 

Double-checking regulations is important, too. Regulations vary from market to market and even neighborhood to neighborhood. Strict regulations could make it illegal for you to operate an Airbnb. More lax regulations, on the other hand, could still make it challenging to manage your Airbnb in a way that will generate the returns you’re targeting. 

Amenities matter. A fireplace in the mountains or a pool beside the beach can sway guests toward your property over another. Use our PPD to filter your comp set based on different amenities. Do properties with pools earn more than those that don’t? What about STRs that are pet friendly? Is a hot tub a must-have? 

Don’t forget to bounce between different property types as you toggle. Guests may expect different amenities in a house than they do in a condo, so be sure you’re investigating all the property types you’re eyeing. 

Look for properties where the amenities make the biggest difference. In other words, if properties with a pool are making way more than properties without, you might want to invest in an Airbnb with a pool if your fund can afford it. 

How large your property is and how many guests it accommodates has everything to do with how successful your property will be. Hotel-equivalent units are a homerun in some markets, but in other markets, your STR has to be big to succeed. 

Filter based on the property size, then analyze its success relative to its size. Look for properties that have an upward-trending demand. For example, if there’s a surplus of two-bedroom rentals in your target market and they’re all seeing decreasing demand, a two-bedroom in that market might not perform as you’re probably hoping. 

Your goal should always be to invest in properties that are the best in their class. To find a profitable property on Airbnb, filter by price tier in our PPD to see which price tier is dominating your target market. Then, dive even deeper to find out which property is dominating that price tier. 

Look for comps that have cornered the market you want to be in. If, for example, you’re targeting mid-tier properties, find the highest-earning mid-tier comps. Think of them as a blueprint for what your investment needs to be to capture all the demand for travelers with that particular budget. 

Take the Guesswork Out of Finding Airbnb Investments

Locating the right properties is something of a make-or-break moment for your STR portfolio. The wrong property in the right place can still struggle to succeed. As you’re learning how to find properties for Airbnb, remember that analyzing the right comps (with the right data) matters. 

With AirDNA’s data intelligence at your back, you can continue to invest with confidence no matter how uncertain the market may be. Use data to reassure your fund—and continue to create the growth your investors expect. 

In this guide, we’ll show you how to find Airbnb properties (with the best features) in the best markets using the new comps tool in our Property Performance Dashboard (PPD).

How to Find Airbnb Properties | AirDNA

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