Is Airbnb Still Worth It in 2025? Atlanta Builders, Owners & Hosts — What’s Your Stra

[Renee Adams]

Hey — curious to hear from everyone running Airbnbs or STRs right now, especially here in Atlanta (but anywhere too!).

I work with owners, investors, and new construction builders looking to flip or hold — and short-term rentals come up every week.

 Some say “STR is dead — regulations and taxes are too high, just do MTR.”
 Others say “It’s better than ever — but you need top-tier pricing, design, and management to stay booked and profitable.”

I see both sides — a lot of my clients are pivoting to:

• 30+ day stays
• Tiny homes / unique builds on land
• Co-hosting vs. self-managing
• Partnering with local pros to stay compliant and hands-off

But I’d love to hear from you — what’s actually working?

• Are you seeing solid occupancy?
• How are you handling the new regs and licensing headaches?
• Is your cash flow better than LTR?
• Would you still build new just for Airbnb in 2025?

I’ll share what I’m seeing here in ATL once some folks jump in — let’s get the real pulse on this market together.

[Myka Artis]

I think STRs/MTRs are in a great place if you know what you're doing. I think the key takeaway from your post is "Airbnb," and I believe it's generally a bad idea to make Airbnb your primary investment focus unless you're targeting the vacation rental market. If you're in a metro market like Atlanta, your goal should be to combine short-term and mid-term strategies, attracting clients who come directly to you. Depending on Airbnb for reservations is what puts people out of business. Airbnb's new payment terms don't help hosts either and put them at greater risk. The job of any new STR/MTR host should be to get off the OTAs, build a brand, and have clientele coming directly to you for maximum efficiency in the space. I just bought a new build in AR, and it has long-term cash flow, so the STR/MTR is just the cherry on top. If you can find a metro market where the property's long-term cash flow, and you use STR/MTR as a bonus, you're in a really good position.