Up front, I know this is a topic that causes a lot of debate and disagreement, and I am not trying to start either of those. I am more trying to make sense of what I am seeing and could use local help or information.

I am looking on Airbnb for a place the weekend of December 8, and I am struck by the low number of available places and how (relatively) expensive they are. I have consistently stayed in an Airbnb every December, and at other times through the years, and I remember there being more availability and reasonability in the past.

Has something changed with the STR policies or something similar that is contributing to or causing the situation to be as it is? I googled it and couldn't find any news in the past six to twelve months, so I am curious to know if there is something I am missing.

http://bcsmarathon.com/

Yeah, the marathon is why I'm there. Maybe I booked earlier in past years, but I don't remember it being that much earlier than this. Cognitive bias may be keeping me from realizing the situation is on me.

So perspective as a longtime local (class of '99 who never left) who recently purchased an investment property (3/2 in Midtown Reserve) specifically to try out the Airbnb/STR (and mid term) market...

No regulation changes - you've got to get a license, but that's a couple hundred bucks and a pretty simple "your house isn't a fire trap" inspection.

I think the number of STRs is actually increasing, but there's more tools to enable dynamic pricing - mine updates nightly based on availability, special events, time until event, etc. So I could be wrong (and would love for someone to articulate a different perspective), but I think the core issue is that the STR marketplace is becoming more efficient (via technology/data analytics) for high value weekends and for those "event" weekends, demand still outpaces increasing supply.

This house has availability that weekend.

https://www.airbnb.com/rooms/697180876576353868?check_in=2024-10-13&check_out=2024-10-18&guests=1&adults=1&s=67&unique_share_id=5b4a7714-f61f-4c96-9e1d-a714f04ad742

As an aside, this was my house for 19 years until I sold it a couple of years ago.

After looking at availability, I'm seeing 480 places that would house 6 and at a third to a quarter the price of a game weekend. A near unbooked weekend usually shows 600-800 available.

That said, there are only a little over 100 if you're only pricing one night. A lot of folks, myself included do two night minimums around here on the big weekends.

Mine is available....

https://www.airbnb.com/rooms/1211511588370295437?adults=13&children=0&enable_m3_private_room=true&infants=0&location=College%20Station%2C%20Texas%2C%20United%20States&pets=0&search_mode=regular_search&check_in=2024-10-05&check_out=2024-10-10&source_impression_id=p3_1728153847_P3s0xNJbqzu-dwZD&previous_page_section_name=1001

AirBNB Supply is up in this market so maybe you are searching with some filters that are skewing the reality here. Sure, it's marathon weekend, but there's mucho availability I'm sure.

Just saw this item but our STR tenant has moved their dates so ours is available for that weekend. We have a 2/2 with a 2 night minimum. Our video is

FYI, your photo for full bath 3 is a bedroom.

Thank you. For some reason it keeps moving my photos around.

pattybrhg said:

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After looking at availability, I'm seeing 480 places that would house 6 and at a third to a quarter the price of a game weekend. A near unbooked weekend usually shows 600-800 available.

That said, there are only a little over 100 if you're only pricing one night. A lot of folks, myself included do two night minimums around here on the big weekends.

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A lot of tourist areas requrie three to four night stays during the busy season.