Are Remote Work Trends Changing the Game for Vacation Rentals?

Developer · Miami, FL · Member since 2014 · 3k+ posts · 1k+ votes

With so many people now working remotely, I’ve been noticing a shift in the type of renters looking for vacation properties. More folks are opting for longer stays, and it’s got me thinking

how are you all adapting to this trend? Are you catering more to digital nomads or still focusing on short-term vacationers? Let’s talk about how this shift is affecting profitability and how you're making it work!

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Michael BaumPro Member

Olympia, WA · Member since 2016 · 8k+ posts · 7k+ votes

I am with @John Underwood. We don't get people who are looking for a place to work. Just fun fun fun!

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John UnderwoodPro Member
Investor · Greer, SC · Member since 2014 · 13k+ posts · 17k+ votes
1y
Quote from @Robert Ellis:

With so many people now working remotely, I’ve been noticing a shift in the type of renters looking for vacation properties. More folks are opting for longer stays, and it’s got me thinking
how are you all adapting to this trend? Are you catering more to digital nomads or still focusing on short-term vacationers? Let’s talk about how this shift is affecting profitability and how you're making it work!

I don't see this. I see people coming to relax and have fun with friends and family.
Not since COVID has anyone asked about anything work related.
Thats just my experience.
3 Reply
- Jay HinrichsBusiness Member
  Real Estate Consultant · Summerlin, NV · Member since 2014 · 45k+ posts · 66k+ votes
  1y
  Quote from @John Underwood:
  
  Quote from @Robert Ellis:
  
  With so many people now working remotely, I’ve been noticing a shift in the type of renters looking for vacation properties. More folks are opting for longer stays, and it’s got me thinking
  how are you all adapting to this trend? Are you catering more to digital nomads or still focusing on short-term vacationers? Let’s talk about how this shift is affecting profitability and how you're making it work!
  
  I don't see this. I see people coming to relax and have fun with friends and family.
  Not since COVID has anyone asked about anything work related.
  Thats just my experience.
  
  so John as I enter my golden year here.. I do want to stay say 1 month or 2 months at a nice lake house in the PNW so I can fish and hike etc.. But I dont know how to go about asking those that post the nightly rentals how I can do that there is no contact info to call the folks.. I guess I can just look them up on county records and chase them down like wholesalers chase me down.. but thinking there has to be a way to communicate with folks on air bnb etc without having to make a reservation ??? Either that or I guess I just have to buy a place but I am more leaning toward spending a month in different spots for 3 to 4 months of the prime fishing times.. its a major problem for me.. prime fishing times out our way for what I like to do still water fly fishing starts in March april in N CA and as things warm up it moves north lakes are still frozen in MT. but by the time MT. is good N. CA Oregon its too hot and fishing dies down so you need to move with the seasons finally ending up in BC in the early fall which can be fantastic fishing. So I need like 3 or 4 cabins/ houses or rent.. I am thinking rent.
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- John UnderwoodPro Member
  Investor · Greer, SC · Member since 2014 · 13k+ posts · 17k+ votes
  1y
  Quote from @Jay Hinrichs:
  
  Quote from @John Underwood:
  
  Quote from @Robert Ellis:
  
  With so many people now working remotely, I’ve been noticing a shift in the type of renters looking for vacation properties. More folks are opting for longer stays, and it’s got me thinking
  how are you all adapting to this trend? Are you catering more to digital nomads or still focusing on short-term vacationers? Let’s talk about how this shift is affecting profitability and how you're making it work!
  
  I don't see this. I see people coming to relax and have fun with friends and family.
  Not since COVID has anyone asked about anything work related.
  Thats just my experience.
  
  so John as I enter my golden year here.. I do want to stay say 1 month or 2 months at a nice lake house in the PNW so I can fish and hike etc.. But I dont know how to go about asking those that post the nightly rentals how I can do that there is no contact info to call the folks.. I guess I can just look them up on county records and chase them down like wholesalers chase me down.. but thinking there has to be a way to communicate with folks on air bnb etc without having to make a reservation ??? Either that or I guess I just have to buy a place but I am more leaning toward spending a month in different spots for 3 to 4 months of the prime fishing times.. its a major problem for me.. prime fishing times out our way for what I like to do still water fly fishing starts in March april in N CA and as things warm up it moves north lakes are still frozen in MT. but by the time MT. is good N. CA Oregon its too hot and fishing dies down so you need to move with the seasons finally ending up in BC in the early fall which can be fantastic fishing. So I need like 3 or 4 cabins/ houses or rent.. I am thinking rent.
  Lots of people put their house or cabin name in the description so that you can Google and find their contact info or direct booking site. One of my pictures has a phone number in it also.
  1 Reply
- Trent Reeve
  Atlanta · Member since 2022 · 706 posts · 634 votes
  1y
  Quote from @John Underwood:
  
  Quote from @Robert Ellis:
  
  With so many people now working remotely, I’ve been noticing a shift in the type of renters looking for vacation properties. More folks are opting for longer stays, and it’s got me thinking
  how are you all adapting to this trend? Are you catering more to digital nomads or still focusing on short-term vacationers? Let’s talk about how this shift is affecting profitability and how you're making it work!
  
  I don't see this. I see people coming to relax and have fun with friends and family.
  Not since COVID has anyone asked about anything work related.
  Thats just my experience.
  
  I agree. Unless its a single person, I see many times 1 person may be remote work but their spouse isnt. So unless their spouse isnt working, they cant go for 2-4 weeks or longer. or if they have kids, unless its summer.
  1 Reply
- Roger Flot
  Investor · Mississippi Gulf Coast · Member since 2019 · 55 posts · 53 votes
  1y
  Quote from @Jay Hinrichs:
  
  Quote from @John Underwood:
  
  Quote from @Robert Ellis:
  
  With so many people now working remotely, I’ve been noticing a shift in the type of renters looking for vacation properties. More folks are opting for longer stays, and it’s got me thinking
  how are you all adapting to this trend? Are you catering more to digital nomads or still focusing on short-term vacationers? Let’s talk about how this shift is affecting profitability and how you're making it work!
  
  I don't see this. I see people coming to relax and have fun with friends and family.
  Not since COVID has anyone asked about anything work related.
  Thats just my experience.
  
  so John as I enter my golden year here.. I do want to stay say 1 month or 2 months at a nice lake house in the PNW so I can fish and hike etc.. But I dont know how to go about asking those that post the nightly rentals how I can do that there is no contact info to call the folks.. I guess I can just look them up on county records and chase them down like wholesalers chase me down.. but thinking there has to be a way to communicate with folks on air bnb etc without having to make a reservation ??? Either that or I guess I just have to buy a place but I am more leaning toward spending a month in different spots for 3 to 4 months of the prime fishing times.. its a major problem for me.. prime fishing times out our way for what I like to do still water fly fishing starts in March april in N CA and as things warm up it moves north lakes are still frozen in MT. but by the time MT. is good N. CA Oregon its too hot and fishing dies down so you need to move with the seasons finally ending up in BC in the early fall which can be fantastic fishing. So I need like 3 or 4 cabins/ houses or rent.. I am thinking rent.
  
  Check the website 'Furnished Finder'. Its designed as a lead portal so you can discuss the accommodation with the landlord/host prior to booking.
  1 Reply
Patrick OsterlingBusiness Member
California/Nevada · Member since 2021 · 52 posts · 41 votes
1y
Hey Robert, the data shows remote work is here to stay. Before 2020, only about 8% of remote-capable employees worked exclusively from home. Recent figures show that 26% now work exclusively remotely, and 55% have adopted a hybrid model, combining remote and on-site work. Either way you slice it, people have way more flexibility. We even We always offer and highlight work desks/chairs, sometimes a monitor and fast internet. I think it's a staple for STR's. We just had someone check out an hour later at our lake house property because she had a work zoom meeting she needed to be on.
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Michael BaumPro Member
Olympia, WA · Member since 2016 · 8k+ posts · 7k+ votes
1y
I am with @John Underwood. We don't get people who are looking for a place to work. Just fun fun fun!
3 Reply
Matthew Paul
Severna Park, MD · Member since 2013 · 7k+ posts · 7k+ votes
1y
Remote work trends for the feds are going back to the office vs remote work
1 Reply
Andrew SteffensBusiness Member
Tampa, FL · Member since 2022 · 3k+ posts · 3k+ votes
1y
I think this will depend on market as well as price point of the listing. I manage everything from 1br apartment to 7br beach house. The smaller and more economical tend to ask about wifi and workstation, the more luxury are pretty much just vacation. I think in 2025 just have fast internet and a workstation somewhere and you are good to go.
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Bill B.
Investor · Las Vegas, NV · Member since 2013 · 8k+ posts · 10k+ votes
1y
I would guess you’re dealing with people who have to work while they are on vacation. Using your stats, most work at home employees have a spouse that works in an office. Then factor in how many more have school aged kids that go to a brick and mortar school.
If you had 1bd/1ba small cheap units you could attract the traveling IT guy. Problem is most of them I know have their expenses paid by corporate. So they check in to the most convenient hotel that gives them points.
Maybe traveling nurses? Though that practice has been scaled back below pre-pandemic levels in cost cutting efforts in my area at least.
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James CarlsonBusiness Member
Real Estate Agent · Colorado | stan.store/JamesCarlson · Member since 2014 · 2k+ posts · 2k+ votes
1y
Totally depends on the market, right?
My client's cute A-frame STR in the Colorado mountains isn't going to attract remote workers who want to be near essential services. But our 1br condo in a downtown-adjacent neighborhood in Denver is prime real estate for an MTR.
I do think, though, that even the medium-term rental market has felt the effects of saturation. The Airbnb downturn from a few years ago pushed a lot of short-term rentals into the MTR game, which drove up supply and has driven down returns.
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Mike GrudzienPro Member
Lender · Eugene, OR · Member since 2019 · 2k+ posts · 1k+ votes
1y
It depends:
--on your location
--your price point
--your Internet speed
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Mark Driskell
Property Manager · Fort Collins, CO · Member since 2024 · 28 posts · 13 votes
1y
This year, we introduced weekly and monthly rates to encourage extended stays. While guests aren't actively requesting work-from-home amenities, we've found that the right pricing often leads to longer bookings. We've seen a noticeable increase in our average length of stay.
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Jon Martin
Member since 2022 · 1k+ posts · 1k+ votes
1y
Remote work is here to stay on some level but "changing the game"? No. Most big companies are calling back remote workers or have already, and seems that the federal government might be as well. It is much harder to find a remote job now than it was in the Covid years.
That said if you can check the remote work space box, great, doesn't hurt.
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JooYung Choi
Realtor · NJ · Member since 2023 · 215 posts · 99 votes
1y
MTRs would be a great pivot to cater to the digital nomads! I don't think it affects vacation rentals because you will always have a large pool of vacationers travelling to your market. But if you have a property in a major city, the MTR game is extremely powerful.
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Josh SedivyBusiness Member
St. Louis, MO · Member since 2024 · 134 posts · 55 votes
1y
We're still focused on short stays. That’s what works best in our market. Short stays keep our pricing strong, especially around weekends and events.
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