Will Short-Term Rentals Be Worth It In 2026?
Summary
This BiggerPockets article discusses the evolving landscape of short-term rentals, highlighting the shift toward treating STRs as businesses. Hosts should focus on building strong operational systems, diversifying booking channels, and investing in direct booking to thrive in 2026 and beyond.
Key Insights
- •Cleaners and cleaning coordination are a major operational bottleneck. Almost half of hosts say finding reliable cleaners is one of their biggest challenges.
- •Direct-booking websites are the No. 1 category hosts plan to invest more in over the coming year, with 30% saying they intend to strengthen or build their direct-booking strategy.
- •98% of surveyed hosts use Airbnb, and its satisfaction score (4.1 out of 5) is significantly higher than Vrbo or Booking.com, though hosts express frustrations with the platform.
Action Items
- ✓Use direct booking as a long-term play, not a quick fix.Effort: mediumImpact: high
- ✓Diversify beyond a single OTA.Effort: mediumImpact: medium
- ✓Build strong cleaning and maintenance systems.Effort: mediumImpact: high
Tools & Resources
- →Lodgify: Hosts rely on tools like PriceLabs, Lodgify, and PMS platforms
- →PriceLabs Global Host Report: PriceLabs Global Host Report
- →PriceLabs: Hosts rely on tools like PriceLabs, Lodgify, and PMS platforms
Common Mistakes
- ⚠Being 'Airbnb-only' puts hosts in a vulnerable position.
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