One of the biggest challenges with rental arbitrage isn’t running Airbnb — it’s finding property owners who will allow short-term rentals.

Most landlords are traditional investors. They prioritize predictable rent and low risk. When they hear “Airbnb,” they often think parties, damage, complaints, or regulatory issues — so the default answer is usually no.

Rental arbitrage also asks owners to do something outside their normal leasing process. They already get steady rent from long-term tenants and don’t share in the upside of your Airbnb business, while still carrying the asset risk.

Because of that, this strategy becomes a numbers and sales game. You may need to speak with 20–30 owners to find one deal that fits. That’s normal.

Bottom line: rental arbitrage works, but success depends far more on landlord conversations and risk-mitigation than on Airbnb operations.

What objections do you hear most often from owners?