62. First Airbnb, Should you Invest Local or Long Distance?

Link: Airbnb Roadmap Accelerator Course

Link to the Airbnb Roadmap Website

Episode Summary

In this episode, I’m diving into one of the biggest questions new short term rental investors ask me all the time. Should you buy your first Airbnb close to home or invest long distance in a stronger market?

After a week of Airbnb chaos and dishwasher drama, I also share why I took a short break from the podcast and what that experience reminded me about time, systems, and running your rental like a business.

I walk through the real pros and cons of both strategies, including why long distance investing can actually force you to build better systems, how a strong team becomes the backbone of your Airbnb business, and why investing close to home can sometimes create more work than you expect.

If you’re trying to decide where to buy your first Airbnb property, this episode will help you think through the decision from a practical, real world perspective.

Key Takeaways

Close by properties feel convenient, but they can pull you into doing everything yourself.

Long distance properties force you to build systems and rely on your small but mighty team.

Your cleaner, handyman, lawn care provider, and even neighbors can become critical partners in running your Airbnb.

Property management software can automate guest communication and reduce your daily workload.