Portland Maine Airbnb Market.

[Derek D.]

Hi Everyone,

We currently have vacation rentals that we utilize fully in the summer on vacation sites such as Home Away, FlipKey and Airbnb.  My question is if anyone in the Portland Maine or Southern Maine area has any experience with year-round Airbnb rentals in that market?

We can use airdna.co to find out info but it would be really nice to chat with anyone who has had real experience with year-round Airbnb rentals in Portland so we can gauge what to expect if we move forward.

Thanks.

[Katie Magoun]

We don't do short term rentals, but those I know who do say that the year round market in Portland (and other pockets of coastal Maine) is accelerating rapidly. I have friends with STRs in Portland and South Portland who are regularly booked from November through May, a recent phenomenon for sure. Portland is getting a ton of positive press for the food and beer scene and it's really becoming a destination best enjoyed when the summer tourist crowd clears out. 

But like others have said, it's becoming an issue for property owners and neighbors. The city of Portland is starting to actively crack down on those who aren't in compliance with regulations (many!). South Portland keeps putting off this issue, but property owners are getting increasingly annoyed, so my gut is that it won't be put off forever. The rumor I heard is that SoPo wants to require that the property be a primary residence to register it for short term rental use with the city. 

It's all too speculative for my taste, personally. And I'm not sure how people do it long distance, but I know that plenty do.