OpenCourser brand icon
Sign in
We may earn an affiliate commission when you visit our partners.
Course image
Udemy logo

Build and Automate Your Airbnb VRBO Rental Arbitrage Empire

4.4 Filled star Filled star Filled star Filled star Empty star
Based on 75 ratings
see reviews
Andrey Kozlov

Airbnb continues to beat all expectations and earnings calls, while short-term-travel demand continues to surpass all records. This data, combined with the unique model of rental arbitrage without owning a single property, presents a lucrative and scalable opprtunity available to hosts wordldwide.

Read more

Airbnb continues to beat all expectations and earnings calls, while short-term-travel demand continues to surpass all records. This data, combined with the unique model of rental arbitrage without owning a single property, presents a lucrative and scalable opprtunity available to hosts wordldwide.

In this course, I would like to share with you all my learnings throughout my rental arbitrage journey so that you will be well on your way to join the movement of successful rental arbitrage entreprenuers. In this course, my ultimate goal for you is to start building your own short-term-rental passive income empire in no time by understanding local STR (short-term-rental) regulations in your area, leveraging market reserach data, and effective marketing strategy to maximize your profits, ensure prosperity with scalabality, and more.

And a little bit about myself - my name is Andrey. I quit my full-time job at an advertising agency in October 2020 as a Paid Search Lead, as I was able to originally crack the eCommerce dropshipping code as a result of dropshiping on Facebook Marketplace, Etsy, eBay, and other retail venues. I then reinvested my eCommerce dropshipping profits into building my first rental arbitrage units on Airbnb, VRBO, Booking that are now seeing an average of 85-100% occupancy rates, and profitability year round.

With this said, not only will you learn about Airbnb VRBO rental arbitrage from A-Z, but I will also show you how to scale this business model to a passive-income level using a variety of automation tools. This will then allow you to do this model anywhere in the world, or rather let AI machines and teams do all the work for you.

Below are just a few topics that you can expect to find in this course:

  • Understanding Rental Arbitrage

  • Understand STR Laws, Regulations, and the Permitting Process

  • Understanding Platforms' User Interface (UI)

  • Finding Profitable Markets and Property Types Using Data

  • How to Setup and Market Your Properties for Instant Bookings

  • Superhost Criteria

  • Automating Efforts

  • Building Teams

  • Scaling Tactics

  • And More.

With all of this said, if you are looking to build a scalable source of passive income, dipping your toes into real estate, and short-term-rentals, great news you came to the right place. I included a preview video if you are interested in learning more, and I will always be available within 24 hours to answer your questions on Udemy, Instagram, and/or other venues.

Ready to make this happen? Enroll now and let's get this Wi-Fi bread together.

Enroll now

What's inside

Learning objectives

  • Understanding rental arbitrage
  • Understanding str (short-term-rental) laws & regulations
  • Mastering user interface (ui)
  • Finding profitable markets and properties
  • Understanding how to pitch landlords
  • Understanding how to properly setup a new listing and market it
  • Handling customer service
  • Becoming a superhost
  • Automating efforts
  • Understanding how to obtain a str (short-term-rental) permit
  • Understanding how to scale

Syllabus

Getting a quick glance into course overview, outline, and the instructor's background.

Welcome to the course! Get a quick glance at the instructor's STR (short-term-rental) performance in July and the potential for pending & actual payouts.

Read more

Learn who the instructor is and how his background is relevant to the course.

Get a quick glance on what the course will be all about!

Learn what rental arbitrage is and how it works.

Understand what STR regulations are and how they work.

Learn how Airbnb UI works and how to navigate it.

Learn how VRBO UI works and how to navigate it.

Understand the most essential Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) when finding profitable markets & properties with Airdna.

Watch a live example of the approach in the previous lecture.

Understand how to use Zillow to find STR properties owned by landlords.

Watch a live example of the lecture above.

Learn how to use Airdna Rentalizer to forecast your desired unit’s performance from Zillow (before you actually rent it).

Behind-the-scenes overview of my 1 bdr. 1 ba. property.

Understand how to scan your local area with the Airbnb app to confirm whether your researched area is profitable or not.

Learn how to use the “Hypothetical Listing” feature on Wheelhouse to see whether the Dynamic Pricing tool will establish profitable prices for your property.

Learn my pitching techniques.

Watch a roleplay scenario of a typical phone pitch to a landlord.

Tips to ensure a smooth rental arbitrage business model with your landlord from a legal and operational standpoint.

Tips to maximize the chances of success when setting up and furnishing your first property.

Understanding how to set up your new property in the most profitable way on platforms.

Additional tips to maximize your listing's success on platforms.

Understand how to maintain high rankings in SERP (search engine results page) on platforms.

Learn additional tips for higher rankings in SERP.

Understand how to handle customer/guest service to ensure the Superhost status.

Understand how to become a Superhost on Airbnb (similar for VRBO).

Understand how to automate your STR business to convert it into a passive stream of income or be very close to it.

See the typical process of obtaining a STR permit.

Some additional notes are applicable for STR permit.

Understand how to scale your STR business.

Get some realistic expectations in terms of typical STR performance. This is not a guarantee and is subject to change based on the area where you are in.

Understand how to legally register and incorporate your STR business.

Understand some important things that you can do to prevent costly mistakes down the line.

Learn how to handle and get reimbursed for any damage done to your property during your guest's stay.

Learn how iGMS UI works and when you should have a PMS (property management system) system in place.

See how TurnOverBnb works.

Additional PRO tips to ensure a smooth cleaning operation with TurnOverBnb.

Explore an opportunity of partnering up with the instructor to scale and grow together in the STR business.

Instructor's words of gratitude and an opportunity to connect.

Behind-the-scenes overview of my 2 bdr. 1 ba. property.

Traffic lights

Read about what's good
what should give you pause
and possible dealbreakers
Explores rental arbitrage, which allows entrepreneurs to generate income without owning property, potentially lowering the barrier to entry into real estate investment
Covers short-term rental laws and regulations, which are essential for operating a compliant and sustainable rental arbitrage business
Teaches how to automate short-term rental businesses, which can free up time and allow for scalability and passive income generation
Requires learners to use Airdna, Wheelhouse, and TurnOverBnb, which may require subscriptions or fees to access their full functionality
Focuses on Airbnb and VRBO, which may not be applicable in all regions due to local regulations or the popularity of other platforms

Save this course

Create your own learning path. Save this course to your list so you can find it easily later.
Save

Reviews summary

Practical start to rental arbitrage

According to learners, this course provides a practical, step-by-step guide covering essential aspects of starting a rental arbitrage business. The instructor is knowledgeable and shares real-world experience. Students particularly praised the strong market analysis techniques and the valuable tips for pitching landlords. While it offers a solid introduction, some learners felt the course lacks the depth needed for advanced scaling or building a large "empire" as the title might suggest. A significant point of criticism is that the information on STR laws and permits is too general and needs more detail, as this is a critical legal first step that varies by location. Overall, it's seen as a very good starting point for those new to the business model.
Effective methods for finding profitable markets.
"I particularly found the sections on finding profitable markets using Airdna and pitching landlords invaluable."
"The course covers the basics well, especially market analysis and property setup."
"The modules are well-structured, making complex topics like market analysis and landlord pitches simple."
Instructor shares real-world experience & expertise.
"Andrey is super knowledgeable and provides practical..."
"Andrey shares his real-world experience, which makes a huge difference."
"The instructor clearly knows his stuff."
"Andrey simplifies the entire process of rental arbitrage."
Practical strategies for pitching landlords.
"I particularly found the sections on... pitching landlords invaluable."
"The step-by-step guide to pitching landlords and dealing with STR regulations was eye-opening."
"The section on pitching landlords was excellent."
"The landlord pitching strategies alone are worth the price."
Provides practical, step-by-step guidance.
"Provides practical, actionable steps."
"It takes you from A to Z on building a rental arbitrage business."
"He shows you exactly how to implement it."
"This course gives you the confidence to start."
Lacks depth for advanced scaling strategies.
"Some parts could be more in-depth, especially regarding legal nuances..."
"...the 'empire' part feels a bit aspirational without deeper dives into team building and advanced scaling strategies..."
"It's a good starting point, but be prepared to do a lot of additional research."
"The course is okay as a high-level overview but lacks the depth needed to actually 'build an empire' as the title suggests."
STR laws & permit info is too general.
"Some parts could be more in-depth, especially regarding legal nuances, which vary heavily by location."
"The information on STR permits was too general – this is a critical legal point that needs detailed, location-specific guidance..."
"...the legal section on permits is very vague. This is a critical first step in many areas, and I expected more detailed guidance..."
"The legal section on permits is very vague. This is a critical first step..."

Activities

Be better prepared before your course. Deepen your understanding during and after it. Supplement your coursework and achieve mastery of the topics covered in Build and Automate Your Airbnb VRBO Rental Arbitrage Empire with these activities:
Review Local STR Regulations
Familiarize yourself with local short-term rental laws to avoid legal issues and ensure compliance before starting the course.
Browse courses on Real Estate Law
Show steps
  • Research local city and county ordinances regarding short-term rentals.
  • Identify any restrictions on rental arbitrage in your target area.
  • Document findings and prepare questions for the instructor.
Review 'The Airbnb Story'
Understand the history and evolution of Airbnb to gain a deeper appreciation for the platform and its potential.
View The Airbnb Story: How Three Guys Disrupted an... on Amazon
Show steps
  • Read the book, paying attention to the challenges and opportunities Airbnb faced.
  • Reflect on how the company's history can inform your own rental arbitrage strategy.
  • Consider the ethical implications of short-term rentals and Airbnb's impact on communities.
Review 'Start Your Own Airbnb Business'
Gain a broader understanding of the Airbnb business model to complement the course's focus on rental arbitrage.
View Start Your Own Airbnb Business on Amazon
Show steps
  • Read the book, focusing on sections about listing optimization and guest management.
  • Take notes on key strategies and tactics for running a successful Airbnb business.
  • Compare the book's advice with the course's teachings on rental arbitrage.
Four other activities
Expand to see all activities and additional details
Show all seven activities
Market Research Project: Identify a Profitable Market
Apply the course's teachings on market research to identify a promising location for rental arbitrage.
Show steps
  • Use Airdna or similar tools to analyze potential markets.
  • Evaluate key performance indicators (KPIs) such as occupancy rates and average daily rates.
  • Research local regulations and permitting processes.
  • Create a report summarizing your findings and recommendations.
Create a Sample Airbnb Listing Description
Practice writing compelling listing descriptions to attract potential guests and maximize bookings.
Show steps
  • Research successful Airbnb listings in your target market.
  • Write a draft listing description highlighting key features and amenities.
  • Optimize the description for search engines and readability.
  • Get feedback from peers or mentors and revise accordingly.
Explore iGMS Tutorials
Learn how to use iGMS to automate and streamline your short-term rental management tasks.
Show steps
  • Visit the iGMS website and explore their tutorial library.
  • Watch tutorials on key features such as calendar synchronization and automated messaging.
  • Experiment with the iGMS demo account to practice using the platform.
Develop a Scalability Plan
Create a detailed plan for scaling your rental arbitrage business, including team building and automation strategies.
Show steps
  • Outline your goals for scaling your business.
  • Identify key tasks that can be automated or delegated.
  • Develop a budget for hiring team members and implementing automation tools.
  • Create a timeline for achieving your scalability goals.

Career center

Learners who complete Build and Automate Your Airbnb VRBO Rental Arbitrage Empire will develop knowledge and skills that may be useful to these careers:
Short Term Rental Manager
A short term rental manager oversees the operations of properties listed on platforms like Airbnb and VRBO; this course provides a complete guide to this process. It covers critical aspects such as understanding short-term rental regulations, optimizing listings, managing guest relations, and automating tasks. A short term rental manager will find the course's training on using tools like Wheelhouse and iGMS extremely valuable for managing pricing and operations, respectively. This course is well-suited for anyone wanting to learn the ins and outs of optimizing short term rental properties for maxiumum return.
See salaries and explore the career path for Short Term Rental Manager
Real Estate Entrepreneur
A real estate entrepreneur identifies opportunities to generate income through properties, and this course offers an approach to do so without direct ownership using rental arbitrage. The course focuses on building a business in short-term rentals, covering regulations, market analysis using data, and setting up properties for success. A real estate entrepreneur benefits from this course's insights into finding profitable markets, pitching to landlords, and automating operations, which are key to scaling a rental arbitrage portfolio. The course's emphasis on data-driven decision-making and scalability is particularly valuable for aspiring real estate entrepreneurs seeking to maximize profits and build a passive income stream.
See salaries and explore the career path for Real Estate Entrepreneur
Small Business Owner
A small business owner manages all aspects of their company; this course helps provide a framework for launching a short term rental business. The course extensively covers rental arbitrage, including regulations, market analysis, setup, marketing, and scaling. A small business owner will learn how to manage all aspects of a short-term rental, from finding properties to hiring a team. The course’s focus on automation and passive income is useful to anyone who needs to balance their time and resources, and could be helpful to someone wanting to start a rental arbitrage business.
See salaries and explore the career path for Small Business Owner
Property Manager
A property manager oversees the maintenance and operation of rental properties; this course teaches management from the perspective of short term rental arbitrage. The focus is on setting up properties for the short-term rental market, covering topics such as optimizing listings, handling customer service, and managing operations; this skillset is very relevant for a property manager. The course’s insights into automation and scaling can also help a property manager efficiently handle multiple properties. A property manager learns through the course how to use data to locate profitable markets, as well as how to obtain necessary permits, all of which is helpful in the field. This training is especially helpful for property managers who want to work with short term rentals.
See salaries and explore the career path for Property Manager
Business Development Manager
A business development manager focuses on growing a company, and this course on building a rental arbitrage empire provides a great guide to an individual doing so in the short term rental business. The course emphasizes market research, property acquisition, marketing, and scaling operations. A business development manager would gain insights into identifying profitable markets and strategies for expanding a rental portfolio. This course particularly helps teach how to pitch landlords and implement automation. The course’s approach to building passive income streams is very helpful to anyone wanting to grow a short term rental business.
See salaries and explore the career path for Business Development Manager
Operations Manager
An operations manager oversees the day-to-day functions of a business, and the skills taught in this course are directly applicable to managing short term rental operations. The course covers setting up properties, managing customer service, automating tasks, and scaling a rental business. An operations manager will gain valuable insights into establishing systems and processes to handle multiple properties from the discussions about automation tools and team building. This course provides a practical guide to managing and scaling a short-term rental business, which is beneficial for anyone looking to oversee operations in this industry.
See salaries and explore the career path for Operations Manager
Digital Nomad
A digital nomad works remotely and travels, and this course teaches a business model that can be managed from anywhere, with the right systems in place. The course emphasizes setting up a passive income system of short term rentals by automating operations. A digital nomad will find the course guidance helpful in creating a location-independent business that can be managed via online tools and teams. The focus on automation and remote management is particularly valuable for those seeking to maintain a flexible lifestyle, and may be helpful to anyone looking for location independent income.
See salaries and explore the career path for Digital Nomad
Marketing Specialist
A marketing specialist develops and executes marketing strategies; this course has a focus on marketing short term rental properties in particular. This course provides a guide to setting up and marketing properties for quick bookings, optimizing listings, and using data to understand market trends. A marketing specialist will benefit from the specific techniques taught for improving search engine results page rankings on platforms like Airbnb and VRBO. The focus on maximizing profitability through effective marketing strategies is especially valuable. A marketing specialist will be able to take the knowledge gained in these strategies and apply them in similar contexts.
See salaries and explore the career path for Marketing Specialist
Hospitality Consultant
A hospitality consultant advises businesses on how to improve their operations and customer experience; this course, with its focus on short-term rentals, helps build insights into this area of hospitality. It provides a foundation in understanding the operational side of short-term rentals, from setting up listings to handling customer service and achieving Superhost status. A great hospitality consultant would benefit from the course content about maximizing occupancy through effective marketing and automation strategies, and how to use data to build a successful rental arbitrage business. This course will be helpful to consultants who want to understand how to advise clients on rental arbitrage and short term rental management.
See salaries and explore the career path for Hospitality Consultant
Financial Analyst
A financial analyst examines data to make business recommendations, and this course offers training in using data for market analysis in the rental arbitrage space. The course emphasizes the use of market data to identify profitable properties and forecast performance. A financial analyst will find the course’s approach to using tools like Airdna and Wheelhouse to analyze market trends and make informed decisions, very helpful. This course's focus on profitability and data-driven analysis is helpful to financial analysts who want to apply their skills to real estate investing.
See salaries and explore the career path for Financial Analyst
Freelance Consultant
A freelance consultant provides expertise on a contract basis to clients; this course will help a consultant specialize in the area of short term rentals and arbitrage. The course offers a comprehensive guide to rental arbitrage, with a heavy focus on local regulations, marketing strategies, and automation. A freelance consultant who takes this course will be able to advise clients on how to set up, manage, and scale their own short term rental businesses, using the instructor's real-world experience in the field. A freelance consultant will be able to use the course to understand how to grow a rental arbitrage business.
See salaries and explore the career path for Freelance Consultant
Pricing Strategist
A pricing strategist develops strategies for pricing goods or services; this course teaches how to use dynamic pricing tools for short-term rental properties. The course focuses on maximizing revenue through the analysis of market data. A pricing strategist would find the course helpful in understanding the dynamics of short-term rental pricing and using tools to optimize rates. The training on using Wheelhouse and other tools to set pricing, is especially relevant. This course may be useful to a pricing strategist who wants to learn about dynamic pricing in the rental market.
See salaries and explore the career path for Pricing Strategist
E-commerce Specialist
An e-commerce specialist manages the online sales and marketing of products; this course offers parallels in managing short-term rental listings like an online storefront. The course covers setting up listings, marketing properties, and maximizing bookings, which are similar to managing an online shop. An e-commerce specialist will find the course content about optimizing search engine rankings and utilizing platforms to drive sales, relevant to their work, even though it does not relate to physical products. This course may be useful to those who want to apply their understanding of data-driven online business to the short term rental market.
See salaries and explore the career path for E-commerce Specialist
Data Analyst
A data analyst interprets data to help businesses make decisions, and this course showcases how to use market data to make smarter choices in the short term rental realm. The course emphasizes using tools to find profitable markets and analyze property performance. A data analyst will benefit from the course instruction on using Airdna and Zillow to find properties and forecast revenue. This course may be helpful to a data analyst who wants to learn how to apply their skills in a real estate context.
See salaries and explore the career path for Data Analyst
Customer Service Manager
A customer service manager ensures positive customer experiences; this course emphasizes the importance of guest relations in the short term rental industry. The course provides a detailed guide, in particular, to providing excellent customer service, achieving Superhost status, and handling guest communications efficiently. This course teaches a customer service manager how to maintain high standards of service and handle any conflicts that arise. This course may be useful in understanding the importance of customer service in this particular industry.
See salaries and explore the career path for Customer Service Manager

Reading list

We've selected two books that we think will supplement your learning. Use these to develop background knowledge, enrich your coursework, and gain a deeper understanding of the topics covered in Build and Automate Your Airbnb VRBO Rental Arbitrage Empire.
Cover image
Start Your Own Airbnb Business
Save
Provides a comprehensive guide to starting and running an Airbnb business. It covers topics such as finding profitable properties, setting up listings, and managing guests. It useful resource for understanding the fundamentals of the Airbnb business model and can serve as a helpful reference throughout the course. While not specifically focused on rental arbitrage, it provides a solid foundation for understanding the platform.
Start Your Own Airbnb Business
Paperback
Check
Start Your Own Airbnb Business
Kindle Edition
Check
Cover image
The Airbnb Story
Save
Tells the story of how Airbnb was founded and grew into a global phenomenon. It provides valuable insights into the company's culture, strategy, and challenges. While not directly related to rental arbitrage, it offers a broader understanding of the Airbnb ecosystem and can help you make more informed business decisions. It is more valuable as additional reading to provide context.
The Airbnb Story: How Three Guys Disrupted an...
Paperback
$$

Share

Help others find this course page by sharing it with your friends and followers:
Facebook
LinkedIn
Reddit
X
Link
Email

Similar courses

Similar courses are unavailable at this time. Please try again later.
Course image
Rating
4.4 Filled star Filled star Filled star Filled star Empty star
Effort
3.5 total hours
Via
Udemy
Instructor
Andrey Kozlov
Language
English
Traffic lights
Read about what's good
what should give you pause
and possible dealbreakers
Explores rental arbitrage, which allows entrepreneurs to generate income without owning property, potentially lowering the barrier to entry into real estate investment
Covers short-term rental laws and regulations, which are essential for operating a compliant and sustainable rental arbitrage business
Teaches how to automate short-term rental businesses, which can free up time and allow for scalability and passive income generation
Requires learners to use Airdna, Wheelhouse, and TurnOverBnb, which may require subscriptions or fees to access their full functionality
Focuses on Airbnb and VRBO, which may not be applicable in all regions due to local regulations or the popularity of other platforms
Share this
Share to help others discover this course.
Facebook LinkedIn X Reddit Link Email
Begin learning today
Enroll now to gain full access to Build and Automate Your Airbnb VRBO Rental Arbitrage Empire.
Enroll now
Save for later
Add this course to your list. Find it anytime.
Save
Our mission

OpenCourser helps millions of learners each year. People visit us to learn workspace skills, ace their exams, and nurture their curiosity.

Our extensive catalog contains over 50,000 courses and twice as many books. Browse by search, by topic, or even by career interests. We'll match you to the right resources quickly.

Find this site helpful? Tell a friend about us.

Affiliate disclosure

We're supported by our community of learners. When you purchase or subscribe to courses and programs or purchase books, we may earn a commission from our partners.

Your purchases help us maintain our catalog and keep our servers humming without ads.

Thank you for supporting OpenCourser.

© 2016 - 2025 OpenCourser