Traffic on Furnished Finder has tanked

Investor · Youngstown, OH · Member since 2017 · 2k+ posts · 2k+ votes

Anyone else seeing a huge decrease in traffic from Furnished Finder? Our current tenant’s lease ends in 5 days, and we have no one lined up to replace them. This has never happened before in our 2 years of operating an MTR. We haven't increased rent in over a year. I'm also on AirBnb, VRBO, and Zillow, but most of our tenants come from FF.

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Marcus R.

Real Estate Agent · Denver CO · Member since 2019 · 209 posts · 332 votes

Check out FB marketplace if you aren't on there. The market has softened and you'll likely need to join local groups and get active with promoting the property in those groups and even play matchmaker with 2-3 people looking for a room with overlapping search criteria.

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Colleen F.Pro Member
Investor · Narragansett, RI · Member since 2013 · 8k+ posts · 4k+ votes
1y
Yes, it seems so could be the FF update but could just be the climate for jobs. Funny it is not possible for me to tag you.
0 Reply
Allen DuanPro Member
Property Manager · Los Angeles, CA · Member since 2022 · 590 posts · 463 votes
1y
I've heard this from others too, that they're getting way less inquiries as well as unmatched leads. We haven't noticed any significant decline this past month. Fall is always a bit slower for us than summer so that's not unexpected. It likely varies by market.
1 Reply
Jeanne Zozobrado
Member since 2024 · 8 posts · 8 votes
1y
yes, I am seeing a lot less traffic and very few replies to the messages I send out.
0 Reply
Robin Smith
New to Real Estate · Baton Rouge · Member since 2024 · 44 posts · 28 votes
1y
I agree. The number of views on my dashboard doesn’t change when I check my listing. Sometimes it takes a day to update, and at first, I thought maybe it wasn’t counting me since I was logged in. To test it, I asked a friend to view my listing to see if the number increased. It did not. I tried again a week later, and the number of views still hadn’t updated.

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V.G JasonPro Member
Investor · Member since 2022 · 3k+ posts · 3k+ votes
1y
2 years?
You bought into the rally, and mean reversion is hitting you. How did you prepare for this investment?
1 Reply
- Nicole Heasley Beitenman
  OP
  Investor · Youngstown, OH · Member since 2017 · 2k+ posts · 2k+ votes
  1y
  Quote from @V.G Jason:
  
  2 years?
  You bought into the rally, and mean reversion is hitting you. How did you prepare for this investment?
  
  I prepared by having multiple exit strategies at the ready.
  2 Reply
- V.G JasonPro Member
  Investor · Member since 2022 · 3k+ posts · 3k+ votes
  1y
  Quote from @Nicole Heasley Beitenman:
  
  Quote from @V.G Jason:
  
  2 years?
  You bought into the rally, and mean reversion is hitting you. How did you prepare for this investment?
  
  I prepared by having multiple exit strategies at the ready.
  That's not the only thing to take into consideration, and really not a proper way to prepare.
  
  If the market downturns, liquidity dries up and exit optionality does too. It's all going the same direction.
  
  All your bets were on consistent and linear returns it seems right? Real estate is a 7-10 year timeline. How are you preparing for the cyclicality?
  0 Reply
- Nicole Heasley Beitenman
  OP
  Investor · Youngstown, OH · Member since 2017 · 2k+ posts · 2k+ votes
  1y
  Quote from @V.G Jason:
  
  All your bets were on consistent and linear returns it seems right?
  
  Absolutely not. We factor in vacancy when we run numbers. We have several months of reserves. We purchase where we can pivot to either STR or LTR. We don't over-leverage.
  1 Reply
- V.G JasonPro Member
  Investor · Member since 2022 · 3k+ posts · 3k+ votes
  1y
  Quote from @Nicole Heasley Beitenman:
  
  Quote from @V.G Jason:
  
  All your bets were on consistent and linear returns it seems right?
  
  Absolutely not. We factor in vacancy when we run numbers. We have several months of reserves. We purchase where we can pivot to either STR or LTR. We don't over-leverage.
  
  Good. Not a function of over leverage, as much as it is underwriting.
  Either way you should be fine, there shouldn't be really any case for concern. It may be dog days.
  0 Reply
Joey BanasihanPro Member
Investor · Boise, ID · Member since 2019 · 233 posts · 188 votes
1y
Hey Nicole, yeah I have heard and seen less traffic as well - some a speculating that the current administrations cuts within a recent big bill is forcing places of employment, specifically hospitals to restrain from paying premuiums on travel jobs and focusing on staffing positions. Of course there are a lot of other industries using furnished rentals but that is what I have seen and felt in my local market where hospitals are a big economic/industry driver in our area.
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Marcus R.
Real Estate Agent · Denver CO · Member since 2019 · 209 posts · 332 votes
1y
Check out FB marketplace if you aren't on there. The market has softened and you'll likely need to join local groups and get active with promoting the property in those groups and even play matchmaker with 2-3 people looking for a room with overlapping search criteria.
3 Reply
- Juan Cristales
  Investor · Willis, TX · Member since 2014 · 245 posts · 124 votes
  1y
  Quote from @Marcus R.:
  
  Check out FB marketplace if you aren't on there. The market has softened and you'll likely need to join local groups and get active with promoting the property in those groups and even play matchmaker with 2-3 people looking for a room with overlapping search criteria.
  
  I had never thought of that... good option.
  1 Reply
Brock FreemanBusiness Member
Lender · Coeur d'Alene, ID · Member since 2018 · 78 posts · 25 votes
1y
It sounds like you're facing a challenging situation with your current tenant turnover. I can relate to your concerns about the decrease in traffic from Furnished Finder. I spoke with a friend a couple of weeks ago who is a nurse in Seattle, and she shared some insights that might shed some light on the current market.

During COVID, we saw a significant surge in the demand for traveling nurses due to a combination of factors: many nurses left the profession out of fear, hospitals faced an influx of patients, and the financial incentives for hospitals to hire traveling nurses were quite high. However, it seems that this wave has subsided. Hospitals are now leaning more towards hiring local nurses again, as it’s generally more cost-effective for them.
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Colleen F.Pro Member
Investor · Narragansett, RI · Member since 2013 · 8k+ posts · 4k+ votes
1y
@Brock Freeman Hospitals always leaned toward hiring nurses locally for their consistent demand. Travel nursing was used to fill holes. Covid was a big hole and alot of nurses got into it, it was lucrative. Now it is not as lucrative and some of those who started are leaving. The good thing is that some have settled in areas they traveled to work bringing in new nurses to those areas. Much better for health care as a whole. Along with this alot of landlords got into midterm rentals and you also saw some people switch to MTR as STR laws came down on them. So there seem to be some areas where there is less MTR traffic and more competition for renters. I would say though that FF has made some changes in searches that I think are also impacting inquiries. Moving the map in and out is important for searchers if they use that feature.
2 Reply
Nicole Heasley Beitenman
OP
Investor · Youngstown, OH · Member since 2017 · 2k+ posts · 2k+ votes
1y
Just wanted to give everyone an update--within a day or so of my post, Traveler's Haven reached out to me after finding me on Furnished Finder. That same day, I got two inquiries from AirBnb, too. This MTR ride is a wild one.
4 Reply
- R. Elle Berry
  Real Estate Broker · Cleveland, OH · Member since 2016 · 146 posts · 110 votes
  11mo
  Quote from @Nicole Heasley Beitenman:
  
  Just wanted to give everyone an update--within a day or so of my post, Traveler's Haven reached out to me after finding me on Furnished Finder. That same day, I got two inquiries from AirBnb, too. This MTR ride is a wild one.
  Hi Nicole, I am on Airbnb, Vrbo, and Furnished Finder and most of my business comes from Airbnb but STR. Are you utilizing Airbnb platform for MTR? And I totally agree with you FF is very slow. I receive leads but not serious inquiries. I really want to get into MTR. Would love to chat more.
  0 Reply
- Jay HinrichsBusiness Member
  Real Estate Consultant · Summerlin, NV · Member since 2014 · 45k+ posts · 66k+ votes
  11mo
  Quote from @R. Elle Berry:
  
  Quote from @Nicole Heasley Beitenman:
  
  Just wanted to give everyone an update--within a day or so of my post, Traveler's Haven reached out to me after finding me on Furnished Finder. That same day, I got two inquiries from AirBnb, too. This MTR ride is a wild one.
  Hi Nicole, I am on Airbnb, Vrbo, and Furnished Finder and most of my business comes from Airbnb but STR. Are you utilizing Airbnb platform for MTR? And I totally agree with you FF is very slow. I receive leads but not serious inquiries. I really want to get into MTR. Would love to chat more.
  
  out furnished rentals we always just listed on MLS and paid agents a fee to vet and place a tenant.
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  2 Reply
- Nicole Heasley Beitenman
  OP
  Investor · Youngstown, OH · Member since 2017 · 2k+ posts · 2k+ votes
  11mo
  Quote from @R. Elle Berry:
  
  Quote from @Nicole Heasley Beitenman:
  
  Just wanted to give everyone an update--within a day or so of my post, Traveler's Haven reached out to me after finding me on Furnished Finder. That same day, I got two inquiries from AirBnb, too. This MTR ride is a wild one.
  Hi Nicole, I am on Airbnb, Vrbo, and Furnished Finder and most of my business comes from Airbnb but STR. Are you utilizing Airbnb platform for MTR? And I totally agree with you FF is very slow. I receive leads but not serious inquiries. I really want to get into MTR. Would love to chat more.
  
  Yes, we do list on AirBnb, but it's never generated tenants for us like Furnished Finder has. Feel free to reach out anytime. I'm happy to connect.
  0 Reply
Michael HaasBusiness Member
Real Estate Agent · Redmond, 🌧️ Seattle Investor-Agent | 🤑 Helped 400+ Clients Invest in Real Estate | 🏘️ Owns 23 WA Rentals & Airbnbs | 🏗️ Built 5 DADU's | 📈 You Can Do It Too · Member since 2016 · 724 posts · 3k+ votes
11mo
We've had success posting on Nextdoor.com & Local Facebook groups as well!
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1 Reply
- Nicole Heasley Beitenman
  OP
  Investor · Youngstown, OH · Member since 2017 · 2k+ posts · 2k+ votes
  11mo
  Quote from @Michael Haas:
  
  We've had success posting on Nextdoor.com & Local Facebook groups as well!
  
  Really? Is it locals looking for places for people they know?
  0 Reply
Michael HaasBusiness Member
Real Estate Agent · Redmond, 🌧️ Seattle Investor-Agent | 🤑 Helped 400+ Clients Invest in Real Estate | 🏘️ Owns 23 WA Rentals & Airbnbs | 🏗️ Built 5 DADU's | 📈 You Can Do It Too · Member since 2016 · 724 posts · 3k+ votes
11mo
Sounds like some people are transitioning between rentals, remodeling their house, etc. But yes mostly locals. I was surprised too, but someone on our team just got 2 solid applications through NextDoor, so we're adding that to our list of sites to post to now!
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3 Reply
Amy Houghton
Montrose, CO · Member since 2025 · 9 posts · 6 votes
11mo
There is a lot more competition this year on Furnished Finder than the last two years. That is what I have noticed.
1 Reply
Ann Marshall
Pickerington, OH · Member since 2015 · 1 post · 0 votes
11mo
Yes! The past three weeks have been little to no leads!
0 Reply
Spencer Aaronson
Member since 2023 · 2 posts · 1 vote
6mo
I have 100% been experiencing the same thing. I am a seasoned investor who has had multiple properties both midterm and short term for over 15 years and I can tell you that (a) business has been much slower in the midterm space for the last year and (b) Furnished Finder has completely dropped the ball in terms of providing a functional, user-friendly platform. They did some updates to their app which worsened the experience considerably and, despite multiple attempts to make them aware of these problems, they don’t seem to be motivated to remediate them. Apparently, these companies just cannot handle any kind of growth. At the end of the day, they just want to collect their money and not lift a finger to assist their customers. It sounds harsh, but I’m just getting kind of fed up A lot of us went through this with AirBnB seven years ago. I really didn’t think I’d experience it at a smaller company like Furnished Finder. Of course, everyone thinks they know better in terms of how to manage a company, but, well… I’m not sure you could do much worse.
1 Reply
Colleen F.Pro Member
Investor · Narragansett, RI · Member since 2013 · 8k+ posts · 4k+ votes
6mo
@Spencer Aaronson Furnished Finders has to do something on the tenant side to make sure people making requests aren't scammers. Make them provide ID and do profiles. They should do a response rate for landlords and tenants to ensure that responsive listing are rewarded. What is it with the reviews, no one seems to do reviews on FF. It is just not done. It's not a space I am likely to stay in but I also don't want airbnb to dominate that space too because well competition is good.
0 Reply
- Spencer Aaronson
  Member since 2023 · 2 posts · 1 vote
  6mo
  Quote from @Colleen F.:
  
  @Spencer Aaronson Furnished Finders has to do something on the tenant side to make sure people making requests aren't scammers. Make them provide ID and do profiles. They should do a response rate for landlords and tenants to ensure that responsive listing are rewarded. What is it with the reviews, no one seems to do reviews on FF. It is just not done. It's not a space I am likely to stay in but I also don't want airbnb to dominate that space too because well competition is good.
  
  I always request tenants on Furnished Finder to review my listings and, in the past, they generally have. But I think it’s incumbent upon these platforms themselves really iron out the kinks and I just don’t see Furnished Finder seizing on the increased exposure they’ve been fortunate enough to have received and doing that. I see that as a failure of management. So many of these companies had no real sustainable plan in place to scale when they experienced growth. It’s like they were deers in the headlights. AirBnB went public and just completely screwed the pooch And Furnished Finder is not taking advantage of this increased exposure and revenue they are receiving to improve the infrastructure of the platform. It’s a huge missed opportunity.This is what always happens when there is a gold rush. You need cool, sane heads at the helm to steer the ship - people who are genuinely invested in the health of a business and aren’t just trying to service a market that they feel might fill their pockets.
  0 Reply
Colleen F.Pro Member
Investor · Narragansett, RI · Member since 2013 · 8k+ posts · 4k+ votes
6mo
@Spencer Aaronson And for furnished finder for their membership fee all they have to do is have a stellar functioning website that people like. It is one website! Not 5 or 10 or 60. ONE website, think about it. Yes there is a screening link and a paying link but all you are buying is the website and the advertising so get it right.
Now airbnb its bigger bucks and they take a portion of revenue and there are other aspect to the customer service side they are weak in. Honestly strengthening themselves in the community to decrease anti-STR sentiment is something they should be looking at. Not sure how you lock out destructive/ partying guests. It isn't by locking down listings.
0 Reply
Kenneth GarrettPro Member
Investor · Florida Panhandle/Illinois · Member since 2016 · 4k+ posts · 3k+ votes
5mo
I have noticed the traffic comes in bunches now. A week can go by with no leads, but then 3-5 leads the next week. Usually unmatched housing requests, but if they are close to my criteria I will reach out. Lots of healthcare workers, but generally the rent is much lower than my minimum.
My niche is military travelers (TDY) who are on training exercises for 3-6 months. It’s been great, but can be a bit sporadic.
1 Reply
Dana Kimball
Rental Property Investor · Asheville, NC · Member since 2026 · 17 posts · 13 votes
5mo
I've noticed the same thing with the lead waves. I wrote about this in another thread but FF inquiries for my two MTRs near Asheville definitely come in clusters. I'll go a week with nothing and then get three or four inquiries in a few days. The healthcare worker rents being lower than your minimums tracks too, I see that a lot with nursing students and CNAs looking for furnished places but wanting to pay long-term rental prices for what's basically a fully furnished turnover-ready unit.

What's kept my FF listings productive is reaching out to unmatched leads proactively like you mentioned. If someone's looking in my area but their dates or budget are slightly off from my listing criteria I'll still message them. Half my MTR bookings in the last year started with me contacting the lead first rather than waiting for an inbound inquiry.
2 Reply
- Jaron WallingPro Member
  Rental Property Investor · Indianapolis, IN · Member since 2018 · 4k+ posts · 4k+ votes
  5mo
  Quote from @Dana Kimball:
  
  I've noticed the same thing with the lead waves. I wrote about this in another thread but FF inquiries for my two MTRs near Asheville definitely come in clusters. I'll go a week with nothing and then get three or four inquiries in a few days. The healthcare worker rents being lower than your minimums tracks too, I see that a lot with nursing students and CNAs looking for furnished places but wanting to pay long-term rental prices for what's basically a fully furnished turnover-ready unit.
  
  What's kept my FF listings productive is reaching out to unmatched leads proactively like you mentioned. If someone's looking in my area but their dates or budget are slightly off from my listing criteria I'll still message them. Half my MTR bookings in the last year started with me contacting the lead first rather than waiting for an inbound inquiry.
  
  Dana, were big Asheville/ western NC fans and travel there for vacations. Is STR and MTR the only way to find CF in the market? Seems like a lot work "hunting" for guests. I know prices are sky high in Asheville and they banned STR unless you live in the property. We stayed in some nice Airbnb's over the years where the owner converted a portion of the house for STR. Curious on the mindset of local investors. It's a totally different market where we invest.
  2 Reply
Mark Cruse
Investor · Fort Washington, MD · Member since 2014 · 1k+ posts · 1k+ votes
5mo
I dumped them awhile back, but they had me on some auto renewl.
I hadnt get a legitimate hit from them in over 2 years.
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Kevin VanLowePro Member
Member since 2018 · 12 posts · 4 votes
5mo
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Colleen F.Pro Member
Investor · Narragansett, RI · Member since 2013 · 8k+ posts · 4k+ votes
5mo
@Mark Cruse too late now for you but there is a real easy selection where you can turn off autorenewal on the Accounts page well in advance for one or all of your properties.
1 Reply
Dana Kimball
Rental Property Investor · Asheville, NC · Member since 2026 · 17 posts · 13 votes
4mo
The regulation thing is more nuanced than it looks from the outside. What you're probably thinking of is the city of Asheville which requires owner occupancy for STR permits, so yeah that rules out non-owner-occupied STRs within city limits. But most of the cabin inventory that does well on Airbnb and VRBO is in Buncombe County outside the city, and the county has its own permit system that doesn't require owner occupancy. My three cabins are all in the county and they're fully permitted.
Cash flow wise, long-term rentals in this market are tough because prices are high and rents haven't kept up. You'd have a hard time making a traditional rental pencil out unless you bought five or six years ago at a much lower basis. STR and MTR work here because the revenue per unit is way higher than what you'd collect on a 12-month lease, even factoring in the higher operating costs and seasonality. My worst performing cabin still nets more than what a comparable LTR would gross.
It is more work though, no question. I run my cabins the way I used to run hotel operations so it's pretty hands-on. But most of the local operators I know who are doing well treat it like a business, not a passive rental. The ones who wanted passive income already sold or are on their way out.
1 Reply
Hoshang Hafizi
San Antonio, TX · Member since 2022 · 26 posts · 15 votes
4mo
Over the last few months I've pulled roughly 10 inquiries from Furnished Finder and about 3 from Airbnb, averaging 2-4 inquiries per month total. The FF leads convert better though. Airbnb inquiries tend to ghost after the first message or balk at 30+ day rates.

I haven't noticed a major traffic drop year-over-year, but Q3 definitely had a swing here. My sense is it's more seasonal than platform-specific, but I'm only working one market so hard to say if that's local or national.
I agree with the rest on FF just just useful for lead generation. I was very surprised 2 years ago when I got my first tenant and literally EVERYTHING was on me to figure out lol

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