A young woman makes an impressive $180,000 a month without owning any property—how does she do it? Meet Hailie Anderson, a 21-year-old TikTok influencer who has tapped into the booming Airbnb market by renting nearly 50 properties and then subleasing them to guests at a premium. This innovative business model has been quietly gaining traction within the Chinese community in Southern California in recent years.
According to reports from Yahoo News and Business Insider, Anderson has become a prominent figure in this trend, showcasing how young individuals are moving away from traditional 9-to-5 jobs to take advantage of real estate arbitrage. They’re not just making money; they’re also flaunting their luxurious lifestyles on social media.
Los Angeles resident Ms. G, who also operates a similar business, shared her experience. She rents a spacious house in the San Gabriel Valley for about $4,000 per month, living in one half with her family while turning the other half into an Airbnb rental. With a one-bedroom, one-bath setup priced at around $250 a night, she finds that her short-term rental income effectively offsets her entire rent. “It’s as if we’re living in the house for free, and sometimes when business is good, I can even make a few thousand dollars in profit each month,” she explained.
After enjoying success with her initial rental, Ms. G decided to expand her operations. Recently, she signed a lease for another standalone house at $5,000 a month, again for Airbnb purposes. This three-bedroom, three-bath property is priced between $400 and $500 a night, but the returns have not met her expectations. “A one-bedroom, one-bath is much easier to manage for short-term rentals. With larger homes, there are times when I go days without bookings, leading to potential losses,” she noted.
This trend of leveraging Airbnb through subleasing is gaining popularity among young people because it requires significantly less startup capital than purchasing property. The key to success lies in securing long-term leases from property owners and then booking these homes at higher nightly rates to earn the difference—akin to running a hotel without the need to own real estate.
However, this profitable model is not without its risks. Experts point out that the lack of property ownership translates to diminished control. Landlords can decide not to renew leases or even sell their properties, leaving subletters in precarious situations. Anderson herself acknowledges the inherent challenges and sees buying property as her ultimate goal. She has utilized Airbnb profits to position herself for future home ownership.
