Goldwater Institute
Where we stand on home-sharing
The sharing economy creates new economic opportunities by connecting property owners and travelers through Internet home-sharing platforms like Airbnb and Homeaway. States should embrace these new opportunities and give homeowners a shot at living the American Dream.
Home-sharing is a long-standing American tradition. For centuries, property owners have let people stay in their homes, rather than in a hotel, sometimes in exchange for money or doing chores. Today, “sharing economy” technology has empowered homeowners and travelers to connect better than ever before. Online home-sharing platforms like Airbnb and Homeaway enable people to rent their homes to visitors to make money and help pay their mortgages. Consumers benefit from more choice and lower prices. Communities attract visitors who support local businesses. And people are given an incentive to buy dilapidated homes and fix them up.
