7 ms·

Airbnb is a zero sum game - what tourists win, locals lose. Two of my coworkers are currently being forced to look for a new place to live in a tight housing m

Airbnb is a zero sum game - what tourists win, locals lose. Two of my coworkers are currently being forced to look for a new place to live in a tight housing market because their current landlord can make more money renting on Airbnb. I've stayed in Airbnbs in the past (and appreciated the convenience), but I no longer will.

grandmczeb 8y ago
It's not zero sum unless the housing supply is fixed - the additional income from Airbnb can be invested in new housing.
- ck425 8y ago
  But that additional housing can also destroy the character of existing areas. That doesn't mean we don't build, just that it has to be considered, which is harder to do when demand is increasing too quickly.
  - grandmczeb 8y ago
    Sounds like preserving character is the real zero sum problem then.
  - pc86 8y ago
    Complaining about both the rapidly increasing housing prices as well as the loss of character in developed areas doesn't have any cognitive dissonance at all, though.
    - ck425 8y ago
      It's a balance, one that AirBnB is making far more difficult to maintain.
jseliger 8y ago
Airbnb is a zero sum game - what tourists win, locals lose. I think you mean that "zoning is a zero-sum game." Since the 1970s, when zoning became more severe and restrictive, housing costs have increased substantially: https://jakeseliger.com/2015/12/27/why-did-cities-freeze-in-the-1970s https://jakeseliger.com/2015/12/27/why-did-cities-freeze-in-.... We know how to create a positive-sum game: https://www.bloomberg.com/view/articles/2018-03-14/california-affordable-housing-is-no-mystery-just-build-more https://www.bloomberg.com/view/articles/2018-03-14/californi..., but we've made doing so illegal.
- parthdesai 8y ago
  You do know that Airbnb exists outside of California as well right? I live here in downtown TO, and while we have a shortage of condo's, our condo has quiet a lot of Airbnb units. 1) This reduces number of units available for rent in the market, thus driving the price of available units up. 2) Creates a fucking terrible living conditions for people who actually live in the building. There was a long weekend where Airbnb guests literally broke elevator button because they couldn't get to their floor without their fobs. They throw garbage in the lobby, are loud af till 3-4am.
fpoling 8y ago
In Norway despite rising Airbnb hotel revenues increased. On a recent conference I talked with PhD students and they told me that without AirBnb they would not attend as travel expenses would be outside their travel budget.
- matwood 8y ago
  Just having a meal in Norway blew up my travel budget ;)
CaptainZapp 8y ago
Same here, The reason being that two youngsters, who illegally subletted their temporary lease, deemed it a great idea to run an illegal hotel. It's a massive impact for the quality of life for the neighbours.
MrEfficiency 8y ago
>Two of my coworkers are currently being forced to look for a new place to live in a tight housing market because their current landlord can make more money renting on Airbnb Isnt this economics? Travelers are moving money to your location. Your coworkers wont pay the increased rate, but travelers will. Why are travelers looked down upon? New ideas, patronage in the city, and creating relations around the world.
malvosenior 8y ago
Local homeowners win. Property values rise and you have the option of monetizing your house.

grandmczeb 8y ago

It's not zero sum unless the housing supply is fixed - the additional income from Airbnb can be invested in new housing.

ck425 8y ago
But that additional housing can also destroy the character of existing areas. That doesn't mean we don't build, just that it has to be considered, which is harder to do when demand is increasing too quickly.
- grandmczeb 8y ago
  Sounds like preserving character is the real zero sum problem then.
- pc86 8y ago
  Complaining about both the rapidly increasing housing prices as well as the loss of character in developed areas doesn't have any cognitive dissonance at all, though.
  - ck425 8y ago
    It's a balance, one that AirBnB is making far more difficult to maintain.

jseliger 8y ago

Airbnb is a zero sum game - what tourists win, locals lose. I think you mean that "zoning is a zero-sum game." Since the 1970s, when zoning became more severe and restrictive, housing costs have increased substantially: https://jakeseliger.com/2015/12/27/why-did-cities-freeze-in-the-1970s https://jakeseliger.com/2015/12/27/why-did-cities-freeze-in-.... We know how to create a positive-sum game: https://www.bloomberg.com/view/articles/2018-03-14/california-affordable-housing-is-no-mystery-just-build-more https://www.bloomberg.com/view/articles/2018-03-14/californi..., but we've made doing so illegal.

parthdesai 8y ago
You do know that Airbnb exists outside of California as well right? I live here in downtown TO, and while we have a shortage of condo's, our condo has quiet a lot of Airbnb units. 1) This reduces number of units available for rent in the market, thus driving the price of available units up. 2) Creates a fucking terrible living conditions for people who actually live in the building. There was a long weekend where Airbnb guests literally broke elevator button because they couldn't get to their floor without their fobs. They throw garbage in the lobby, are loud af till 3-4am.

fpoling 8y ago

In Norway despite rising Airbnb hotel revenues increased. On a recent conference I talked with PhD students and they told me that without AirBnb they would not attend as travel expenses would be outside their travel budget.

matwood 8y ago
Just having a meal in Norway blew up my travel budget ;)

CaptainZapp 8y ago

Same here, The reason being that two youngsters, who illegally subletted their temporary lease, deemed it a great idea to run an illegal hotel. It's a massive impact for the quality of life for the neighbours.

MrEfficiency 8y ago

>Two of my coworkers are currently being forced to look for a new place to live in a tight housing market because their current landlord can make more money renting on Airbnb Isnt this economics? Travelers are moving money to your location. Your coworkers wont pay the increased rate, but travelers will. Why are travelers looked down upon? New ideas, patronage in the city, and creating relations around the world.

malvosenior 8y ago

Local homeowners win. Property values rise and you have the option of monetizing your house.