I’m an Airbnb Millionaire: Follow These 3 Steps To Earn $250K in Rental Income
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Gabrielle Olya
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Molly Sullivan
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Want to earn $250,000 in five years from Airbnb rentals? Bill Faeth, founder of the short-term rental brand Build STR Wealth and author of the upcoming book “Super Properties,” has done just that — and built a $26 million real estate portfolio along the way. He shared his top strategies for turning short-term rentals into long-term wealth with GOBankingRates.
“The fastest path to $250,000 in five years isn’t about buying dozens of Airbnbs,” Faeth said. “It’s about building a handful of ‘super properties’ that maximize your return on investment.”
Here are the three steps to start earning serious money from Airbnbs.
Step 1: Pick the Right Market
Most new investors fail before they start because they buy in the wrong market. The key is looking beyond the “hot” markets everyone is targeting.
Smart investors identify secondary and tertiary markets with strong demand drivers, less competition and room for growth. When you buy in the right market, you protect your downside and set yourself up for outsized returns from day one.
Step 2: Create a Super Property
Average properties deliver average results. A “super property” is strategically designed to stand out through thoughtful amenities, design and experiences that command premium rates and drive repeat bookings.
It’s not about size — it’s about creating something memorable that consistently outperforms the market.
Step 3: Manage It Like a Business
Most hosts treat short-term rentals like a hobby instead of a business. Successful hosts optimize revenue with data-driven tools, actively nurture guest relationships and maintain consistent standards that rival top hotels.
Operating at this level is what transforms a good property into a “super property” that generates $50,000-plus in annual income.
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