All Forum Posts by: Ian Tyndall

https://knowyourmeme.com/memes/enshittification

It will happen with any platform. VRBO will get there too if they get enough market share

Enshittification is when an online platform becomes more monetized and less user-oriented the longer it lasts. The term was theorized by Canadian writer and thinker Cory Doctorow to describe the trajectory of platforms like TikTok, Amazon and Twitter. He argued that platforms start out serving users by offering features that lure them in, then they serve advertisers and third parties by offering ad targeting and deals, and lastly they serve themselves and their shareholders by cheating and exploiting both advertisers and users. Doctorow calls this process "enshittification."

Do you want different host accounts or just different payment accounts?

You can have one host account that covers multiple listings. You can then specify the payment for those listings to the bank accounts for those business entities. Airbnb will send tax information based on where they send the payments, not based on the host account. I hope this helps answer your question. 

Nothing unusual about the situation. I just don’t know who the big box suppliers are. I have used personal investment loans on my other properties. 

Looking for funding options on a $1.42 million SFH in Glendale, AZ, that will be used as a STR.

My advice is to get control of your calendar right away. The management company should cancel the bookings. Guests are booking on a shorter window of time now, so don’t worry too much about getting rebooked. It sounds like you are dealing with some difficult property managers and I would separate from them all ASAP. 

The relationship with the clients is with the host - not the property owner. Airbnb will respond to the host, not the property owner. 

Quote from @James Mc Ree:

It does come from minerals in your water and could indicate your anode rod in your water heater has been consumed. Replacing your water heater's anode rod could be a cheap solution.

I started replacing the anode rods in my water heaters with Corro-Protec powered anode rods last year. They are about $160-$180 for a 40g tank. Replacing the rod with an ordinary anode rod is much cheaper at around $25. The powered ones are advertised to protect water heaters, like anode rods, and eliminate sulfur smells. I've never had a sulfur smell, so I can't say how well they work for that. I was attracted to them for extending the water heater's life. The units come with a 20-year warranty on the anode rod.

It's best to do the replacement when you still have anode rod left, such as in a water heater that is 3-5 years old. After that, the minerals have started attacking the water heater's lining. It is difficult to open the ports to install new anode rods, and the difficulty increases as the water heater ages due to corrosion.

Corro-Protec has 2 models, one for dedicated anode ports (AO Smith) and one for inline in the hot water line (Bradford White):

https://www.amazon.com/s?k=powered+anode+rod&crid=4OB7OC...

I agree, I this with my primary house. Most likely the hot water heater. 

if you do get a water softener, which may not be the solution, you can get a salt free solution which reduces the maintenance on it. 

I agree. I have been using ‘management fees’ to minimize the bit of the cleaning fee at checkout. It hurts on the front page, but I think it results in less abandoned reservations. I agree with your perspective that this is a pro-guest benefit.  I think it  should be host neutral. 

Hello! If you know all the investors then you could consider making a LLC partnership. The challenge will be liquidity. What do you do in 2 years if someone wants their money out?

I would shop the market and buy the property. You want to be in an area where the conditions are favorable, and then it all comes down to finding the right property to fit your buy box. 

You're on the right track, but keep in mind that STRs have the biggest impact on reducing Ordinary Income (W-2) taxes, not necessarily capital gains. Since long-term capital gains are already taxed at a lower rate (depending on your bracket), alternative strategies might be more effective for minimizing that burden.

1. STRs – Best for Reducing W-2 Income

If you prove material participation (500+ hours), STR losses from bonus depreciation & cost segregation can offset W-2 and other active income—a powerful tax strategy. Focus on high cash flow, stable regulation markets like:

Smoky Mountains, TN – High occupancy, low taxes

Florida Panhandle – No state income tax, strong demand

Arizona (Sedona/Scottsdale) – High ADRs, appreciation potential

Texas Hill Country – No state income tax, strong regional tourism

Use AirDNA or RABBU to validate your numbers, then move quickly—execution matters more than perfect market selection.

2. Alternatives for Capital Gains Reduction

Since capital gains are taxed lower than W-2 income, these strategies may offer better tax relief:

Opportunity Zones – Defer and reduce gains by reinvesting in Qualified Opportunity Funds.

Gifting Appreciated Stocks – Transfer to lower-income family members for potential 0% capital gains tax.

MLPs (Master Limited Partnerships) – Tax-advantaged investments that generate passive income with deferred tax liability.

Tax-Loss Harvesting – Sell underperforming assets to offset gains.

If reducing W-2 taxes is your priority, STRs are a great move. But if capital gains are the main concern, consider these other options. Pick a strategy and take action soon! Let me know if I can help.