Buying a second property and listing it on Airbnb has become an increasingly popular way to create an additional income stream. On paper, the strategy seems straightforward: purchase a home in an appealing destination, furnish it attractively and wait for reservations to arrive.
However, a real estate professional says the most profitable Airbnb investments are often not the properties that immediately stand out as the most impressive.
Jeff Lichtenstein, CEO and broker at Echo Fine Properties in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida, says top-performing short-term rentals are not necessarily the largest or most luxurious homes. Instead, investors should pay close attention to rental yield—the full cost of purchasing, furnishing, maintaining and running the property—as well as its location and the amenities guests actually value.
Smaller homes may produce stronger returns because they typically require less money upfront while still allowing owners to charge competitive nightly rates. Properties close to beaches, country clubs, sporting venues and national parks can also benefit from consistent visitor demand.
Distinctive homes in remote or scenic settings can perform exceptionally well, too—but only when owners understand the difference between peaceful privacy and a location that is simply difficult for guests to reach.
The same careful approach applies to amenities. Before spending heavily on features such as swimming pools, hot tubs or outdoor pizza ovens, investors should first determine whether those extras match what travelers in the area are looking for.
Data from short-term rental analytics company AirDNA shows that the median monthly revenue for US Airbnb hosts was approximately $2,400 in 2025. The highest-earning operators, however, generated at least $7,900 per month.
Lichtenstein’s recommendations could help Airbnb investors move closer to the more profitable end of that range.
Real estate expert Jeff Lichtenstein says the most profitable Airbnb properties are not always the largest, most luxurious or most expensive homes
Jeff Lichtenstein, CEO and broker at Echo Fine Properties in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida
1. Think smaller rather than bigger
Lichtenstein’s first recommendation may challenge the common belief that a large, multi-bedroom house is automatically the smartest Airbnb purchase.
“Less is more,” he told Our News Outlet, explaining that compact properties can sometimes generate a higher rental yield. Their lower purchase prices can leave investors with more favorable returns, even when the nightly rate remains relatively modest.
Rather than focusing only on the amount of rent a property might bring in, investors should assess how effectively the money tied up in the home is working for them, he said.
Airbnb also cautions that host income can change substantially depending on factors such as pricing, availability and local demand. Its earning projections are based on booking information from comparable listings.
As a result, a $1 million home is not automatically a stronger investment than a $500,000 property simply because it can charge more per night.
Prospective hosts should instead compare projected revenue with the property’s overall rental yield, using local market conditions and rates charged by similar short-term rentals as a guide.
2. Country clubs can unlock a premium
In warm-weather destinations, Lichtenstein says homes near country clubs or golf communities can be especially attractive to Airbnb guests, particularly during the busiest travel periods.
Even so, buyers should confirm the club’s policies before assuming a property can legally be used as a short-term rental.
Homeowners’ associations, condominium boards, local governments and individual communities may impose their own restrictions on Airbnb rentals. Golf clubs and country clubs can also have separate requirements covering guest access and visitor privileges.
The key takeaway for would-be Airbnb investors is clear: investigate short-term rental laws, community rules and club policies before purchasing—not after the deal is complete.
3. Sports fans pay up for the right location
Major sporting events can create sudden bursts of demand for nearby accommodation.
Lichtenstein points to South Florida’s spring training season, when baseball fans and players descend on areas including Jupiter and West Palm Beach.
Major sporting events can create sudden bursts of demand for nearby accommodation. Pictured: Neyland Stadium in Knoxville, Tennessee
He said his firm has helped people involved with teams such as Houston Astros, Miami Marlins, St. Louis Cardinals and Washington Nationals, to find places to stay.
Some players and their families, he said, have been willing to pay a premium to rent a home they particularly like – and may return to the same property year after year.
The phenomenon is not limited to baseball.
Across the US, major events including the Super Bowl, NCAA Final Four, NASCAR races and PGA Tour tournaments can draw large numbers of fans looking for somewhere to stay close to the action.
Airbnb has similarly reported that demand can surge around major events, with the company describing this as ‘fandom travel’ – people traveling specifically to experience the sports and entertainment they love.
For an investor, that means buying a property within easy reach of a stadium, racetrack, golf tournament or major sporting venue can sometimes be more important than purchasing a large house.
AirDNA found that short-term rental demand around US national parks had increased by 104 percent between 2018 and 2024, although performance varied significantly among individual markets
4. National parks can be a gold mine
Lichtenstein says he has visited 30 national parks and has noticed growing interest in accommodation options in and around them.
He found that small, unusual properties, such as cabins, tiny homes and bubble-style lodgings, can give visitors a memorable experience.
Short-term rental data confirms Lichtenstein’s observation.
AirDNA found that short-term rental demand around US national parks had increased by 104 percent between 2018 and 2024, although performance varied significantly among individual markets.
AirDNA chief economist Jamie Lane has warned that being near a famous national park is not enough to guarantee a strong return on its own.
Gateway towns, the communities just outside parks where visitors stay, can benefit from demand, but home prices, accessibility and seasonality all need to be considered.
The National Park Service recorded 323 million recreation visits in 2025, showing the enormous potential pool of visitors even though annual visitation dipped from the record set in 2024.
Airbnb says 86 percent of travelers surveyed are interested in visiting remote or rural destinations.
That could make a quirky cabin with spectacular views a more compelling investment than a conventional house in an otherwise unremarkable neighborhood.
5. Don’t go too remote
Technology is making remote properties more viable, too. Lichtenstein points to the ability to work remotely and access high-speed internet in places that previously would have been considered too isolated for many travelers.
That opens the door to properties marketed around solitude, stargazing, hiking and getting away from city life.
But there is an important distinction between being ‘remote’ and being ‘inconvenient.’
Investors should consider road access, cell service, internet reliability, water, sewage, heating and emergency services before getting carried away by a spectacular view.
A property that looks magical in photographs can quickly become a nightmare if guests cannot reach it or basic infrastructure repeatedly fails.
A swimming pool is another feature that can turn an ordinary vacation rental into a more desirable stay
6. Pools can make money – but don’t build one blindly
A swimming pool is another feature that can turn an ordinary vacation rental into a more desirable stay.
Lichtenstein says people will even pay to rent a pool on its own in some circumstances, underlining how much value travelers can place on outdoor amenities.
Vrbo travel expert Melanie Fish highlights pools, beachfront locations and game rooms when discussing vacation-home demand.
But a 2026 study examining 14,630 Airbnb listings in regional Western Australia found that amenities do not necessarily work in isolation, with some features performing differently depending on what they were combined with. An example of this might be a standalone sauna, which renters might not value in a hot climate without a pool.
That is an important warning for investors: An expensive amenity makes sense only if guests in that particular market actually value it.
7. Storage space can be worth more than you think
Lichtenstein also advises investors not to overlook storage.
In areas where visitors travel with recreational equipment, a dedicated storage room inside a property or additional space outside for an RV or boat can be particularly valuable.
This is especially relevant in beach, boating, skiing and outdoor-adventure markets.
Airbnb says listings near beaches and other coastal destinations have seen some of the strongest booking growth this summer
8. Beach access remains a powerful draw
It may sound obvious, but Lichtenstein says being just steps from a beach can command a premium because it taps into one of the simplest vacation fantasies: waking up and walking straight onto the sand.
Airbnb says listings near beaches and other coastal destinations had seen some of the strongest booking growth this summer, with family searches for stays in US beach towns up nearly 20 percent year over year.
The same principle applies to other attractions. The closer a property is to the reason people are visiting, the less time guests have to spend driving.
That could mean beach access, a ski lift, a national park entrance, a theme park, a stadium or a famous hiking trail.
9. Walkability can be worth paying for
Lichtenstein also points to downtown areas with restaurants, bars and entertainment as being desirable.
He specifically cites Delray Beach in South Florida, where visitors can walk to hundreds of eateries and other attractions.
For guests, that can remove the need for a rental car, reduce transportation costs and make a trip feel more convenient.
Airbnb data show that guests often spend heavily in the neighborhoods where they stay, while its recent travel research has highlighted demand for destinations that combine attractions with convenient access.
In other words, a property does not necessarily need a huge backyard or luxury interior if guests can walk outside and immediately have something to do.
10. Don’t underestimate the cost of making it look good
There is one final warning from Lichtenstein that could save investors from an expensive mistake: Do not assume a cheap fixer-upper is automatically a bargain.
A property with an old roof, outdated systems or extensive remodeling requirements may look inexpensive compared with a finished home.
But renovation costs can quickly eat into any potential rental return.
And a clean, attractive, well-maintained home is likely to make a stronger impression than one where the owner has cut corners.
That does not necessarily require installing marble bathrooms and designer furniture.
It means making sure the basics – cleanliness, beds, bathrooms, kitchen, internet, heating and cooling – work properly before spending money on flashy extras.
The golden rule: Check the numbers before buying
Ultimately, the most important feature of an Airbnb may not be a pool, beach or national park. It is the affordability.
Airbnb says its earning estimates are based on comparable listings and stresses that actual income depends on pricing, availability, demand and local laws.
Hosts must also account for cleaning, utilities, insurance, maintenance, property taxes, management fees, furnishing costs and periods when the property sits empty.
And local restrictions can determine whether short-term renting is even permitted.
The strongest property on paper can therefore turn into a poor investment if the purchase price is too high, the rental season is too short or operating costs swallow the income.
