Turning Your Second Home Into a Short-Term Rental – What You Need to Know

Empty Nester Life: The Podcast with Mark and Jacki

Thinking about turning your second home into a short-term rental? 🏡✨
In this episode of Empty Nester Life, we’re diving into everything you need to know before listing your vacation home on Airbnb, VRBO, or another rental platform. From permits and regulations to property management, marketing, taxes, and guest prep—we cover the real-world details that can make or break your rental experience.

We’ll also share our own experience renting out our Rockport, Texas home and the lessons we learned along the way. Whether you want to offset the cost of owning a second home or create a steady income stream, this episode gives you the insights to do it right.

👉 What you’ll learn in this episode:

• Why empty nesters turn second homes into short-term rentals
• The most important local laws and HOA rules to check first
• How to calculate realistic rental income (and avoid overestimating)
• Tips for self-managing vs. hiring a property manager
• Best practices for marketing, guest experience, and reviews
• Tax and insurance essentials every rental owner must know

🎧 Empty Nester Life is all about travel, lifestyle, and navigating the empty nest years with confidence. Subscribe for weekly episodes where we share personal stories, practical advice, and inspiration for this exciting new season of life.

#ShortTermRental #AirbnbHost #EmptyNesterLife #VacationRental #RealEstateTips

Thanks for listening to Empty Nester Life: The Podcast!
Follow us on Instagram at Instagram.com/EmptyNesterLifePodcast
Watch full episodes on YouTube: YouTube.com/@EmptyNesterLife
Join us on Facebook: facebook.com/ouremptynesterlife
And catch behind-the-scenes on TikTok: @emptynesterlife