Questions about AirDNA to Find Properties

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Questions about AirDNA to Find Properties

Tiffany A.
New to Real Estate · Long Island, NY · Member since 2025 · 13 posts · 4 votes

Hi, I paid for a paid subscription to AirDNA and while there is a lot of data I'm struggling to gain confidence in using it to find properties and/or analyze potential properties.  A few questions:

1. Why is there such a description for the same property when I find a listing and click it versus type in the same listing in the rentalizer?  The revenue estimates can be off by 20-30%.

2. I've seen examples where the taxes are way off what I see on Zillow?  

3. Are there other 'gotchas' I need to watch out for where AirDNA may be particularly misleading?

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Lauren Kormylo
Rental Property Investor · Phoenix, AZ and Rehoboth Beach DE · Member since 2019 · 1k+ posts · 1k+ votes
9mo

Another thing to know is that AirDNA estimates the gross revenue, which includes cleaning fees and any other fees like Airbnb or Vrbo fees. 

AirDNA also uses how many days are blocked on the calendars to do their computations, but they don't know if those are days are booked at full price by guests, used as personal days by the owner, used for maintenance problems, or booked by a monthly guest at a lower rate.  In my beach area, many hosts block off the entire winter.  In that case, when I used AirDNA a few years ago, they did only consider the active summer as available days.  But a host could have the entire winter booked by one guest at a low rate, and AirDNA may not think it's booked at all. So it's hard to be completely accurate. 

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  • Lauren Kormylo
    Rental Property Investor · Phoenix, AZ and Rehoboth Beach DE · Member since 2019 · 1k+ posts · 1k+ votes
    9mo

    Another thing to know is that AirDNA estimates the gross revenue, which includes cleaning fees and any other fees like Airbnb or Vrbo fees. 

    AirDNA also uses how many days are blocked on the calendars to do their computations, but they don't know if those are days are booked at full price by guests, used as personal days by the owner, used for maintenance problems, or booked by a monthly guest at a lower rate.  In my beach area, many hosts block off the entire winter.  In that case, when I used AirDNA a few years ago, they did only consider the active summer as available days.  But a host could have the entire winter booked by one guest at a low rate, and AirDNA may not think it's booked at all. So it's hard to be completely accurate. 

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  • Kenneth GarrettPro Member
    Investor · Florida Panhandle/Illinois · Member since 2016 · 4k+ posts · 3k+ votes
    9mo

    Airdna, Zillow, Redfin, Airbnb, VRBO, etc., they all use generalized information to come up with statistics. You can use it, but you always need to verify it with other sources.

    I always go on to other sites like furnished Finder, Airbnb to actually see what others are doing. Some refer to the enemy method. Seasons can make a huge difference. In the beach markets summer is the high point. You need to look at multiple different times of the year to get actual numbers.

    There is no one definitive method. You are trying to get a feel for a market. Use actual other properties similar to yours in the same market. It will get you close enough. It always falls back to the operator on how they market their property and execute.

    Past numbers are not always indicative of how your property will operate.

    2Reply
  • Tiffany A.
    OP
    New to Real Estate · Long Island, NY · Member since 2025 · 13 posts · 4 votes
    9mo

    Part of my question is why one site, airdna, would have such different numbers on its own site (listings vs. rentalizer).

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    • Bruce WoodruffPro Member
      Contractor/Investor/Consultant · San Diego / Phoenix · Member since 2021 · 12k+ posts · 15k+ votes
      9mo
      Quote from @Tiffany A.:

      Part of my question is why one site, airdna, would have such different numbers on its own site (listings vs. rentalizer).

      Part of my question is why one site, airdna, would have such different numbers on its own site (listings vs. rentalizer).

      Because they are just an algorithm and can only use their data somewhat inaccurately. Better to actually check the competition yourself to get REAL data.
      1Reply
  • Mike GrudzienPro Member
    Lender · Eugene, OR · Member since 2019 · 2k+ posts · 1k+ votes
    9mo

    As an Airbnb "SuperHost Ambassador" (an independent contractor position advising new Hosts, paid by Airbnb), I send this pricing tip.  Hope it helps:

    "Pricing is key and worth doing some homework. Airbnb price suggestions tend to run on the low side. Some of the national data sites have pricing suggestions that run both high and low. I have a solution that I do myself once a year.
    Here's one of my best tips: go on Airbnb as a TRAVELER, in Traveler mode. Search for properties in your area as if you wanted to find a place like yours. Bingo: you will get to see all your competitors, their pictures, their amenities, their descriptions and their PRICING. You will quickly see how you compare in all those categories. And you can determine the sweet spot for pricing your place based on comparable properties that are your competition."
    Mike

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  • Andrew SteffensBusiness Member
    Tampa, FL · Member since 2022 · 3k+ posts · 3k+ votes
    9mo

    AirDNA is a great tool to use generally as a starting point.  Since you have the premium subscription you can ignore the auto-generated number and focus on the comps.  Find the comps that best match up to your subject property.  Also look out for days available and remember that cleaning fees are included in the gross revenue.

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