Is buying a vacation home here smarter than continuing to rent Airbnbs?

Is buying a vacation home here smarter than continuing to rent Airbnbs?

Usually yes if your usage is consistent and you’ll hold long enough—because you’re converting rent checks into equity and locking in a scarce asset. But if you’re only coming a couple weekends a year, renting can be the smarter, lower-friction move.

The decision math (simple, decisive)

Buying tends to win when:

• You’ll use it 20+ nights/year and

• You’ll hold 7+ years and

• You’re comfortable with maintenance + taxes + insurance variability

Renting tends to win when:

• Your schedule is unpredictable

• You don’t want “second-home operations” (repairs, winterization, storm events)

• Local STR rules are too restrictive for your plan