we are looking at a 3 ber at mountain lodge and the seller claims he is getting $55,000 gross rent. im having a hard time seeing these numbers come to fruition. 

The lodging room is defined as purposes for defining how many rooms can be rented in a vacation home facility.  

My name is Ryan with Marquee Lodging Advisors.

So the earnings are quite a bit lower than a long-term rental and that's before considering the additional expenses (utilities, lodging taxes, landscaping, etc.). 

You can lodge a complaint about those who don't and they may face some hefty fines

Apply to any person or entity managing a transient lodging facility.

And so even if your locality doesn't have an Airbnb ordinance, they likely have an ordinance concerning hotels or lodging houses.

Definition and Classification: The bill defines a "short-term rental unit" as a property used as a residency but also leased for overnight lodging for less than 30 consecutive days (short-term stays) and not being a primary residence.

During the holiday season, demand for lodging peaks.

What a strange and troubled man to go through so much and ruin his name just to score $20-30k worth of free lodging in a busted up place.