Why Vacation Homeowners Are Leaving Airbnb for Private Rentals
The Journey to The Asset Sphere: Solving a Problem We Couldn’t Ignore
The Asset Sphere didn’t begin as a business idea—it began as real conversations with family.
We have family members who owned beautiful second homes. But, they weren’t just properties; they were places filled with memories—summer getaways, holiday retreats, and weekend escapes. But over time, something started happening. They weren’t using these homes as much.
At first, they held onto them, but vacation home maintenance costs kept adding up. They weren’t interested in turning them into short-term vacation rentals with Airbnb or VRBO. They didn’t want strangers in their homes. What they needed was a way to keep the property occupied just enough to justify keeping it—just enough to cover some costs, maybe even just to have someone turn the lights on and flush the toilets occasionally.
Without a solution, they did what so many others were doing—they put their beloved vacation homes up for sale.
That’s when we started researching. Was this an isolated issue, or was it a broader trend? What we found was staggering: thousands of homeowners faced the exact same challenge.
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- 60% of second-home owners don’t rent out their properties.
- Those that do aren’t looking to make a fortune—they just want trusted guests who will treat their home with care.
- If given the option, they’d rather share their home within their own personal network than list it on public marketplaces.
This was a problem we knew we could solve.
The Problem with Short-Term Rental Platforms
For many vacation homeowners, platforms like Airbnb, VRBO, and Booking.com promised a simple way to generate income from their second homes. But for many, especially luxury homeowners and discerning property investors, these platforms have become more trouble than they’re worth.
The biggest issue? Trust.
Imagine spending years building cherished family memories in your vacation home—summer barbecues, ski trips, and long conversations by the fire—only to hand over the keys to strangers from the internet. Many property owners feel uneasy about the lack of guest screening, unpredictable renters, and potential property damage.
The Growing Exodus from Airbnb & VRBO
The short-term rental (STR) market is booming, expected to grow from $72 billion in 2025 to $94.9 billion by 2029. Yet, many vacation homeowners are exiting these platforms due to increasing local regulations, excessive guest turnover, and hidden costs.
Why Homeowners Are Leaving Airbnb:
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- Tighter Local Regulations – Cities like New York, Miami, and Aspen have enacted strict short-term rental laws, making compliance difficult.
- Lack of Control Over Renters – Platforms prioritize booking volume over quality, leaving homeowners vulnerable to property damage.
- A Race to the Bottom on Pricing – Algorithm-driven price wars force owners to compete with budget listings, reducing profitability.
- Hidden Fees – Airbnb service fees can be as high as 20% for guests and 3% for hosts, eating into rental income.
The result? Many high-net-worth homeowners are leaving the STR market and looking for Airbnb alternatives that offer more control, privacy, and peace of mind.
The Rise of Private Vacation Rentals
A growing number of homeowners are shifting toward private, high-trust sharing models, where they only rent to friends, family, and select business connections. This invite-only approach allows them to keep their vacation homes exclusive while still offsetting costs.
Why Private Rental Networks Work:
- Set Your Own Rules – Control who stays in your home and on what terms.
- Fewer but Higher-Quality Rentals– Instead of high turnover, enjoy longer stays with trusted guests.
- Keep It Exclusive – No bargain-hunting tourists. Only people you know and trust.
Want to learn more about this growing trend? Read our recent article: Beyond Airbnb: How Elite Homeowners Are Redefining the Short-Term Rental Market.
Introducing The Asset Sphere: A Private Rental Platform for Trusted Guests
At The Asset Sphere, we recognized this problem and built a secure, invite-only asset sharing platform that gives vacation homeowners complete control over their second home rentals.
Our platform lets you:
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- Share your vacation home with trusted family, friends, and business connections.
- Automate scheduling, availability tracking, and rental policies—all in one place.
- Allow close family members to stay for free while charging distant friends a reasonable rate.
- Avoid public listings and the headaches of short-term rental platforms.
No more endless email chains, double bookings, or worrying about who’s staying in your home. With The Asset Sphere, you stay in control.
Ready to Take Control of Your Vacation Home?
The Asset Sphere makes it easy to share your vacation home—without the risks of Airbnb.
- Keep full control over who stays in your home
- Set your own rental terms, pricing, and policies
- Automate scheduling and guest management with one click
Be the first to try The Asset Sphere! The fully-enabled product is free to try.