54% of Airbnb Listings Underperform + Spain’s 86K Shutdowns, LA’s Olympic Crisis & a Smokies Trailer Hack

They say love is in the air.

But is there love for short-term rentals?

According to this week’s headlines…it’s complicated.

Let’s jump in.

Read Time: 4 mins

By The Numbers
Data...and what you should do about it.

54% of listings are set up to underperform.

The PriceLabs team analyzed 10,000 listings across 9 global cities and found something surprising:

More than half had incomplete or unclear descriptions.

Even worse, many underperforming listings had conflicting information between their photos, amenities, and written copy.

Guests are actively searching for specific details before they book.

When they can’t find clarity, they leave.

And when your photos don’t match your copy or your Airbnb, that’s a fast track to bad reviews.

Need help?

Use our Airbnb Listing Guide to create a listing that works with the algorithm (and actually gets booked).

Host Headlines
The latest stories and takes in the world of short-term rentals

Spain Shuts Down 86,000 STR Listings

This week, Spain ordered booking platforms to remove 86,000 short-term rentalsthat failed to meet new national registry requirements.

And hosts aren’t the only ones on the chopping block.

Just two months ago, the country fined Airbnb €64 million for taking too long to pull down illegal listings.

Combined with last year’s enforcement, over 200,000 listings have now been taken down.

Spain says it’s addressing illegal operators, housing pressure, and growing backlash around overtourism.

But is not another ban. It’s a compliance crackdown.

And it’s a clear message to hosts worldwide that are doing the bare minimum when it comes to following the rules. Read the full story here.

LA’s Olympic Problem: 320,000 Guests, No Rooms

The 2028 LA Olympics are expected to draw 15 million visitors.

But according to a new report from Deloitte, lodging demand could exceed capacity on 13 of 19 competition days.

That leaves up to 320,000 guests without rooms on peak nights.

Hotels alone can’t absorb that demand.

Short-term rentals are the obvious answer.

There’s just one issue: LA has some of the strictest STR regulations in the country.

Primary residence rules, ADU bans, and 120-night caps.

But the economic upside is massive.

A 40% increase in STR supply could generate $257M in activity and thousands of jobs.

Will that be enough to push for a policy change? Some leaders think so.

👉 Read the full article to learn

✔️ Why STRs are the answer (and not hotels)

✔️ What leaders are saying about easing restrictions

✔️ The full economic potential STRs could unlock during LA28

Tax Season Is Closer Than You Think

If you own a short-term rental and you’re not thinking about material participation, cost segregation, or STR-specific tax strategies, you could be leaving serious money on the table.

If you want to get serious about your taxes (and keep more of your hard-earned money), we’ve got the tools inside our Free STR Community:

✔️ The STR Tax Loophole Supercourse

✔️ A CPA-reviewed Material Participation Worksheet

✔️ A Cost Segregation Calculator

These could save you hundreds of thousands. And they're free.

If you’re an Airbnb host and you still think taxes suck, it might be time to upgrade your strategy.

👉 Join the Free Community + get the tools

Deal of the Week
Stanton, KY | Off-Grid Treehouse Near Red River Gorge

100 Laurel Ln, Stanton, KY is a rare, custom-built treehouse perfectly located in Red River Gorge—one of the most in-demand outdoor destinations in the US.

Built in 2017 by The Canopy Crew, this 1 bed / 1 bath, 235 sq ft elevated cabin is fully off-grid and already operating as a cash-flowing short-term rental.

The Property

▪️ List Price: $350,000

▪️ 1BD / 1BA | 235 sq ft | Built 2017

▪️ Custom treehouse construction

▪️ Elevated decks with panoramic mountain views

▪️ Off-grid systems (cistern water, composting toilet, propane heat)

▪️ Sold furnished & actively operating

▪️ No HOAs or STR restrictions

▪️ Traditional financing can be a challenge

The Numbers (Cash Purchase Scenario)

Total Cash Needed (Estimated): ~$363,000

▪️ Purchase: $350,000

▪️ Closing & reserves: ~$8,000

▪️ Setup/contingency: ~$5,000

Revenue Projections

Peak Airbnb pricing shows $519–$642/night.

Using ADRs of ~$400/night and 45–55% occupancy:

▪️ Estimated Gross Revenue: ~$71,400/year

▪️ Estimated NOI: ~$45,528/year

▪️ Estimated Cash-on-Cash: ~12.5%

NB: Confirm booking history transferability during due diligence

Why Our Coaches Like This Deal

✔️ True niche stay in a high-demand outdoor market

✔️ Instagrammable design with premium pricing power

✔️ Turnkey and already income-producing

✔️ Strong upside through branding, packaging experiences, and direct bookings

This is a high-ADR, experience-first asset in a market that thrives on uniqueness.

View the full listing on Zillow →

Peek the Playbook
Real host strategies you can steal (tested in the wild)

How a Single-Wide Trailer Outsmarted the Smoky Mountains

Everyone says if you’re investing in the Smokies, you need a luxury cabin to compete.

Kelly bought an old single-wide trailer on 1.75 acres to list in one of the most competitive STR markets in the country.

She knew that in a sea of 10,000 cabins, a bold, design-forward single-wide with colors that popped and resort-level outdoor amenities would stand out.

She was right.

When she went live, she landed 14 bookings on day one.

The Results

▪️ ~$355K total investment (land, renovation, and design)

▪️ ~$70K annual revenue

▪️ ~$21K profit

▪️ $230 ADR, up to $700 on peak nights

▪️ ~12% cash-on-cash return

For a single-wide…in the Smokies!?

And she’s got zoning approval to add another unit and double her income.

What She Did Differently

✔️ Invested in bold, intentional design to elevate her modest trailer

✔️ Turned the land and outdoor experience into the main attraction with resort-level amenities

✔️ Bought with expansion potential in mind for multiple income streams.

Resourceful + strategic + brave enough to do something completely different. Kelly killed it on her very first Airbnb.

👉 Read Kelly’s full playbook here

Airbnbs we ♥️
Our favorite listings that stop the scroll + raise the bar!

The Banana Beach House - Seminole, Florida

Wild colors. Fun and playful design. The Banana Beach House doesn't take itself too seriously, and that's what we love about it.

Game room, candy-themed kids’ area, heated pool, mini pickleball court, fire pit, mini golf…The list goes on.

This STR feels less like a rental and more like a private family resort.

Check it out here →

Got a Few More Minutes? Dive Deeper.

Why I Refuse to Run My Rentals Without These Tools

Kai shares the tools he uses in every rental (and his own home) to save time and keep businesses running at a top level.

▶️ WATCH THE VIDEO

Why Everyone Is Quitting Airbnb

Rob joins Boostly’s Mark Simpson to break down Airbnb’s push toward sponsored listings—and why relying 100% on Airbnb is a risky long-term strategy.

▶️ WATCH THE VIDEO

That’s a wrap for this week, {{contact.first_name}}.

Have a great weekend,

The Host Camp Team