Building a profitable vacation rental business takes discipline and planning. I hate hotels—so much so that for a while, we started using Airbnb when traveling for the additional privacy they offered.

"Hearst Magazines and Yahoo may earn commission or revenue on some items through these links." See dollar signs every time you look at your empty guest bedroom or finished (but underused) basement? Or ...

Purchasing our four short-term rentals and becoming an Airbnb host is one of the best decisions I have ever made. It has been life-changing for my family and given me a remote, flexible job. But it’s ...