In this episode, we break down how Jamie Lane, Chief Economist at AirDNA, used data from 15 million Airbnb and short-term rental listings to uncover what actually drives revenue, occupancy, and returns. From the markets outperforming today to the amenities that boost nightly rates, Jamie shares what the data says about where smart short-term rental investors should be paying attention.

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In this episode, we break down

• What analyzing 15 million Airbnb listings reveals about what actually works
• Why large, unique short-term rentals are outperforming traditional vacation rentals
• How to use occupancy, ADR, and AirDNA data to evaluate markets and deals
• The amenities driving the highest nightly rates, including pools, hot tubs, and views
• Why some beach, mountain, and tertiary markets still look undersupplied
• How Jamie used data to buy his own high-performing short-term rental
• What investors misunderstand about supply, regulation, and the Airbnb “bubble”
• How midterm rentals are creating new opportunities for cash flow and flexibility
• What AirDNA’s investor survey says about where experienced operators are investing
• How to think about short-term rentals as a serious long-term wealth strategy

Time stamps

00:00 Jamie’s background and becoming Chief Economist at AirDNA
11:36 How AirDNA analyzes short-term rental data
15:44 Has the Airbnb boom cooled off?
21:01 Where Jamie would invest $1 million in STRs today
23:19 Why large unique homes are outperforming
32:07 How investors should use AirDNA data
36:15 Amenities that drive the most revenue
41:02 What the 2026 investor survey reveals
45:36 The rise of midterm rentals
49:46 Final advice for short-term rental investors

Guest Bio
Jamie Lane is the Chief Economist at AirDNA and one of the leading voices in short-term rental data and hospitality trends. With a background in hotel and commercial real estate research at CBRE, Jamie now analyzes millions of Airbnb and Vrbo listings to help investors make smarter decisions about market selection, underwriting, and portfolio growth.

Connect with Jamie Lane
Website: https://www.airdna.co/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/str_economist/

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