To (Air B N) B or not to (Air B N) B? That is the question.

[David West]

Does anyone have experience with short term rentals on sites like Air B N B? I want to know the good, the bad, and the ugly! I'm in the San Diego market so there is a high demand for short term rentals and it seems like a no brainer. When I pencil out the returns it seems too good to be true. What am I missing here? Who's actively investing in these types of deals, and what do you wish you would have done from the beginning? What expenses did you miss or were bigger than you anticipated? What are the pros and cons of this type of investment? 

[Michael Wagner]

It seems to me that this is a viable option but I would be cautious about buying someplace based on the numbers given the regulatory storm that is brewing around the whole short term rental concept.  IF you have a place that could cheaply serve as a short term rental, then why not give it a try.  But I wouldn't invest too heavily in something that the government and hotel lobbies may take away. Just my two cents.