15 Cities,
One Smart Investment:
How Linda Used Data to Find the Perfect Airbnb Market
Linda, a remote SaaS saleswoman from London, was tired of overpaying for inconsistent Airbnbs.
She used Airbtics to compare 15 coastal cities in Spain & Portugal based on STR data.
After narrowing down her options, she chose Valencia for its income potential and low seasonal variance.
She bought a €150K flat and is now on track to earn €20K/year from short-term rentals while she’s away (6–9 months).
Background
Problem
With so many coastal cities to choose from, Linda struggled to narrow her search.
- Some areas had strict short-term rental (STR) regulations.
- Most realtors didn’t understand STR performance or couldn’t provide reliable data.
- Her must-haves were: good infrastructure, year-round STR demand, at least 500 active listings (to ensure a healthy market), and no oversaturation.
Solution
Using Airbtics’ market comparison tool, Linda analyzed 15 coastal cities across Spain and Portugal.
- She eliminated oversaturated markets or those with weak occupancy rates or high seasonality.
- Markets with fewer than 500 listings were also excluded as they posed higher risk.
- After narrowing down to 6 cities, she researched local STR regulations—this helped her rule out places like Barcelona and Lisbon.
Valencia stood out: strong rental performance, moderate competition, and a well-balanced market.
Result
Linda discovered she could earn around €35,000/year from a two-bedroom Airbnb in most areas of Valencia.
- The market wasn’t oversaturated, seasonality was moderate, and demand was stable.
- She bought a €147,500 apartment and listed it on Airbnb in July 2024.
- She quickly secured bookings for September through November—the months she wouldn’t be staying herself.
