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Would you prefer to live in a community that banned short-term rentals?

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SUBSCRIBER

“I have nothing against short-term renting in principle, but I don’t want to live somewhere that

allows it,” said Mr. Swenson, who recently launched a new data center company. “It makes life too

unpredictable.”

It's fine for the peasants, but not for folks of a better sort...

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William Diaz-Brown

1 day ago

SUBSCRIBER

I like the idea of neighborhoods that prohibit STRs. I live in one in a college town where football

game weekends make most neighborhoods a madhouse. It is tempting to look down on the

"tourists". Still, we have to remember that those visitors make possible many of the amenities we

residents enjoy. The guy with the house near Zion has a great setup, but don't forget that the park

counts on all those visitors to maintain his hiking area. A private community can maintain a golf

course with no outside revenue, but not a ski mountain.

When I travel, though, I don't mind being in a condo complex full of visitors because I am one. I look

longingly at the private community on the other side of the ski run, and then remember what a

poor skier I am and my flight out in three days and am content.

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Bill Taylor

1 day ago

SUBSCRIBER

So glad this article was written - if you’ve never lived next to an STR you have no idea how awful it

is and how desperately you need to be protected from them - Short Term Rentals are a crime

against neighborhoods - ruining your safety and security - turning friendly neighborhoods into war

zones where everyone is on edge about how the next group of intruders will disrupt the

community - people HATE having an STR next door because transients have fundamentally

di"erent attitudes and behaviors than actual residents - Gov Ducey has turned Arizona into

Airbnb’s “lab rat” for totally unregulated STRs - it’s been a disaster of increasing crime, hospitality

tax revenues in free fall and neighborhoods on the brink - Don’t let it happen to you!

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Bill H

1 day ago

SUBSCRIBER

STRs by their very nature are not neighbors, they are STRANGERS. They disrupt neighborhoods,

and harm families, children, and the elderly.

Arizona has a large RETIREE population that has been negatively impacted by STRs. No

neighbors, no friends, and no one nearby to call in the event of a medical emergency. Very isolating.

Neighborhoods are vital to the social fabric of the country.

STRs are bad on so many levels.

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Sandra S

1 day ago

SUBSCRIBER

We amended our CC&Rs two years ago. Our development consists of 20-acre parcel properties in

forested area and some folks took upon themselves to provide STRs. Well, those renters were

having campfires, etc. That put an end to that nonsense.

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Tamar June

3 days ago

SUBSCRIBER

I think that the author is not up to the latest law on short-term rentals.

I live in Laguna Woods,California. We were just informed that our rule against short term rentals is

now illegal. Not only that, but we must allow at least 25% of our rentals to be short term. We also

used to say that someone had to live in their unit for a year before they could rent it out. Now that’s

all o" the table.

With the Democrats in charge the California law will soon be national.

The Democrats (and Michelle Obama) believe that zoning laws are racist and so now someone can

buy a single family home in the suburbs tear it down and build a 5-story high-occupancy building

and the neighbors be dammed. Any backyard is also now open for construction as is the garage.

Anyone complaining will be accused of showing their White Privilege.

President Trump tried to warn you.

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William Wilson

4 days ago (Edited)

SUBSCRIBER

The California Coastal Commission sets the policies for short term vacation rentals for

coastal cities by prohibiting most restrictions. The idea is that vacation rentals allow poor

people to enjoy the beaches, an opportunity otherwise unavailable. Since some rentals might

be $1200/night, you can see how many people must be in the property to make the party

house a"ordable.

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Craig Hodson

3 days ago

SUBSCRIBER

Trump is a loser.

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M Donnella

3 days ago

SUBSCRIBER

But he was at least a legitimate President.

Unlike slow Joe who is illegitimate.

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William Wilson

3 days ago

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As per the department of Homeland Security, the 2020 election was the MOST

SECURE and well executed in history.

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Dan Gould

2 days ago

SUBSCRIBER

I’m trying not to laugh.

Joseph Goebbels would be very proud of you.

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William Wilson

2 days ago

SUBSCRIBER

For all of you who question the election please read : (Joint Statement from

Elections Infrastructure Government) It explains why, “The November 3rd

election was the most secure in American history". It is in fact completely and

totally obvious that the 2020 November elections were in fact the best run

elections in history. If there was ANY EVIDENCE WHATSOVER of significant

voter fraud it would have been brought to light. However there has

been...........None, zero brought to light. None

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Dan Gould

2 days ago

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I think that the author is not up to the latest law on short-term rentals.

Sounds more like you're assuming – very much incorrectly – that the "latest law on short-

term rentals" is somehow uniform. This isn't even true most of the time within a single

county or area (let alone statewide or nationwide), nor does it have anything to do with with

political parties or their broader views on zoning.

As noted in another comment, the California Coastal Commission sets many of the state's

regs for oceanside real estate, and while the Commission itself is unique – none others have a

similar ability to overturn local zoning laws – allowing private property owners the right to

use their land as they see fit is a longtime Republican axiom.

How is it not an infringement upon your neighbor's freedoms for you to object to them

building a granny flat in their backyard? Why do you get to be the self-appointed

neighborhood hall monitor in this respect?

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Je! Kirk

2 days ago

SUBSCRIBER

The ability to live in a neighborhood with wide streets and big backyards is aspirational

and not a right. Backyards are going to be turned into three or four story high density

units. Then there’s the garage. This is Michelle Obama’s idea to force blacks into

traditional White neighborhoods. Zoning laws are racist- unless you live in an estate on

Martha’s Vineyard. To see an example of what happens when zoning laws are ignored

one need only look to Santa Ana, California. But don’t go at night as this once lovely

jewel is now very dangerous.

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William Wilson

2 days ago

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SUBSCRIBER

Very interesting. A few years ago, my 100+ years old waterfront homeowners association on Long

Island Sound imposed (after some resistance) a prohibition on short term rentals.

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John Mcgraw

4 days ago

SUBSCRIBER

This article hits the nail on the head. Retirees, and likely people of all ages, want a community of

neighbors, not transients. One of the most important factors in maintaining a successful HOA is

building a sense of community. That is much harder to do if the HOA has an over abundance of

transient renters who don't contribute to the volunteer tasks needed to keep the HOA going. Not

to mention the age old problems of landlords who don't take care of their property. Most of our

enforcement issues are with rental properties.

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Stephen Struck

4 days ago

SUBSCRIBER

How do you address the problem of having unoccupied properties while the owners are away

on extended leaves to their other properties? Seems like having people around would be

preferable to having the properties unoccupied.

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Christine Cole

3 days ago

SUBSCRIBER

I would say that an unoccupied unit is preferable to one that is used for a wedding on

Saturday, a Quinceanera on Sunday, a bachelor blowout on Monday, a large family

reunion on Tuesday—you get the idea. Traffic, noise, police aren’t what the neighbors

signed up for.

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William Wilson

2 days ago (Edited)

SUBSCRIBER

Privilege rears its ugly head one more time.

And so does in v?

Yes dear mod er ators I'm sure. I guess I'm violating one of your sacrosanct rules. Either that, or

your "AI" is a bit on the slow side?

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R Desprez

4 days ago

SUBSCRIBER

What I am amazed about is these retirees buying up such huge properties where I suspect the

upkeep is just as huge.

And after a life time of working and interacting with folks  not withstanding Wuhan to live in

Utah  to be sure views are good.

But not a soul around.

Not for me, thank you.

I am 72 and don't work any longer after 4 plus decades in the oil patch. I live in Bogota, Colombia ina

2,000 plus sq ft penthouse by myself - in the middle of the city - their Upper East Side or whatever.

I have sta" to look after me - but I could never live such isolated life - regardless of views,

expensive homes etc.

If anything Wuhan should teach us - human interactions are essential.

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Neil Marathe

4 days ago

SUBSCRIBER

Um, St. George, Utah is not a rural area where you can't see your neighbors. I'm guessing

you've never actually been to St. George. Look at it on Google maps. It's not like the houses

discussed are in San Juan County and spitting distance from Four Corners.

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CHRISTOPHER TITUS

3 days ago

SUBSCRIBER

You can travel to friends, or bring them to you. You don't have to have them living next door.

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Christine A. Shustak

1 day ago

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Exactly that why we don't want short term rentals, we want trusting long term neighbor

relationships whether the neighbors are 10 feet away or a quarter mile.

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Marie Hoch

1 day ago

SUBSCRIBER

Renting, period, has concerns. Friends of ours in Ft Worth rented out their $1.7 million house for a

year rather than sell when they upgraded. Obviously both parties had money. Right before the ice

hit Texas the renters flew away for 2 weeks with zero preparation, our friend entered the house to

assess damage and found 5 broken pipes and a frozen pool. A background check would not have

prevented that. You couldn't pay me enough to become a landlord.

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Je! Murray

4 days ago

SUBSCRIBER

Even as a Texan who su"ered some property damage from the recent freeze, I'm not seeing

why this in and of itself is a reason to forgo buying homes as investments & renting them

out. Surely your Fort Worth friends' pool & plumbing were covered by insurance?

Also not seeing what this has to do with Airbnbs...

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Je! Kirk

2 days ago

SUBSCRIBER

I’m thinking you must not have lived in a nice quiet neighborhood and have had

someone buy the home down the block for an investment. Bachelor party on Saturday,

Quinceanera on Sunday, Wedding on Monday, big family reunion on Tuesday. You get

the picture. Noise, traffic, parking, police, all change the neighborhood. Any wonder why

the neighbors protest?

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William Wilson

2 days ago

SUBSCRIBER

Wow- Utah is stunning !

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Joyce W Behr

4 days ago

SUBSCRIBER

I cannot but conclude that except for perhaps the most exclusive developments, "Short-Term

Rental Bans" will by limiting their appeal to many potential purchasers, lower the sales prices of

properties.

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DAVID ALDRIDGE

4 days ago

SUBSCRIBER

The opposite is true in the HOA of single family homes I live in (coastal San Diego County).

After having a house near us become listed as a STR, the noise and parties began. Regular

calls to the sheri" about noise ensued. The HOA updated the 1975 CC&R's to clearly state

that a business could not be run in the HOA, and STR's in my town have to get business

permits and pay hotel tax, like the local Holiday Inn, and such.

No more STR down the street.

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Bill Stoops

3 days ago

SUBSCRIBER

David .... on the contrary, people have to decide whether they are "in the business" of renting

out, or enjoying their personal home for themselves and their family. Short term rentals are

a business and taxed as such. There are numerous examples in southern California of HOAs

increasing their appeal by banning short-term rentals. The owners' feelings are they don't

want to live next to a commercial space. In addition, with short-term renters you naturally

have less control over what they do. For instance a fire in an HOA having shared-wall homes

would be a terrible danger. Finally, short-term rentals became such a problem in coastal

Europe the taxing authorities established licensing, home inspections, and high fines for tax

avoidance on rental income.

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Michael R

3 days ago

SUBSCRIBER

No one in their right mind will buy a house next to a short term vacation rental. The market is

limited to (1) the naive and gullible, (2) a bargain hunter, or (3) an investor, who might also be

a bargain hunter, looking to buy a property for conversion to vacation rental.

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Craig Hodson

3 days ago

SUBSCRIBER

Maybe the real concern should be why so many people are tone deaf to the needs of

other people when they stay at a short term rental. I would think that being

considerate of your neighbors is something that should be foremost on your mind

when you sign up for one.

For example, I never let my dogs outside before 8 AM, and try to bring them in if they

start barking. I never throw parties after 10 PM, and talk to my neighbors beforehand if

I'm planning on doing something disruptive.

What ever happened to empathy, consideration, kindness and manners?

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Christine A. Shustak

1 day ago

SUBSCRIBER

"But for a minority of buyers, making sure they will spend retirement in a community of neighbors,

not a rotating cast of visitors, is essential."

I'm surprised if it's a minority. I pointed out to my HOA board that they should amend the

covenants before it's too late. They haven't done so.

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Jerry Stevens

4 days ago

SUBSCRIBER

Our HOA understood the danger of short term rentals as it related to the existing covenants

which were written over 20 years ago. We had a special election to close o" this avenue of

use of our over-55 community. You should push your association so they understand what is

at stake. Let the people decide if they want this activity in the neighborhood.

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Frank Dickof

4 days ago (Edited)

SUBSCRIBER

The short term rental tsunami has gutted resort communities by pricing out the seasonal and

local workers. I speak as a semi-retired older adult who has had to locate rental housing in places

such as the areas near Durango, Aspen, Jackson Hole, Taos, and Winter Park.

While it was always expensive and challenging to acquire seasonal housing in resort areas, it is

now a crisis. This is not just my opinion, either, as the employers cannot secure dishwashers, cooks,

servers, lift operators, retail sta" etc...Local Chambers are expressing great concern for staffing

shortages.

The logic to property owners of more AirBnB rental income with fewer problems with tenants is

inexorable, but not desirable for the resort areas themselves, long-term.

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Andrea Otte

4 days ago

SUBSCRIBER

I completely agree that it's a severe challenge for seasonal workers to secure a"ordable

housing in areas where prices have gotten out of control, and that this has long been the

case. I'd disagree about the extent to which Airbnb & Vrbo have impacted it, however. All of

the destinations cited here have seen considerable growth in summertime visitors (even pre-

pandemic), meaning more folks are living more or less full-time in what was originally a

seasonal home.

Regarding places like Aspen & Jackson Hole specifically: median home prices in the former

are around $1.7 million. In its "cheaper" Wyoming counterpart they're "only" around $885K.

This has zilch to do with Airbnb, but goes a long way in explaining why a"ordable rentals are

so hard to find. If a homeowner is paying $8K/mo for mortgage + property tax payments,

how can they realistically rent it out to seasonal workers at rates they can a"ord, short of

stuffing two-dozen folks into a single house? (which, sadly, happens)

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Je! Kirk

2 days ago

SUBSCRIBER

Nothing wrong with covenants as long as everyone is aware of them and they are properly made.

There has to be privity. Has to run.

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Howard Carter

4 days ago

SUBSCRIBER

I live in an 800 + home community in SW FL and our HOA specifies that any rental must be for a

least 4 weeks. Our community did not want to become a glorified hotel , but long term Renters that

abide by our biLaws are always welcome.

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DEAN L OESTREICH

4 days ago

SUBSCRIBER

Glad to hear this. Our HOA is considering doing a ban on rentals of less than a month as well.

Since this is in Arizona where we get lots of snowbirds every winter this makes sense - since

most come here for at least 3 or 4 months during the winter.

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David Abel

4 days ago

SUBSCRIBER

My wife and I have a place in St Michaels MD on the Eastern Shore of Chesapeake Bay. The historic

district part of town prohibits rentals of less than one year although there are a few remaining

B&Bs.

There are still lots of tourists that come into town particularly on summer weekends but I know

that all my neighbors are geezers like me who like some peace and quiet.

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Michael Gombola

4 days ago

SUBSCRIBER

We live in a tourist town with hundreds of B&B's filling up on the weekend. We voted two years

ago to ban short term rentals in our 185 gated home community. Overwhelmingly passed. Not

every neighborhood is a good fit for short term rentals.

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Frank Dickof

4 days ago (Edited)

SUBSCRIBER

Fair, though it begs the question of why you live in "a tourist town with hundreds of B&Bs" if

you apparently dislike tourists so much.

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Je! Kirk

2 days ago

SUBSCRIBER

prices of houses in these neighborhoods are actually cheaper than comparable properties without

restrictions. Short term rental revenue drives up the price to the point most people can’t a"ord to

live in them full time.

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CHUCK CLEMENTS

4 days ago

SUBSCRIBER

"Mr. Murray partly finances his retirement with income from two properties he rents out via

Airbnb, one on the west side of Sedona and the other in Puerto Peñasco, Mexico."

“I have nothing against short-term renting in principle, but I don’t want to live somewhere that

allows it,” said Mr. Swenson

So they like rentals, just not near them. let someone else su"er. I think there was term a few years

back that covered this attitude: NIMBY. Privilege rears its ugly head one more time.

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russell burns

4 days ago

SUBSCRIBER

Agreed. He sounds selfish.

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Carole Meagher

4 days ago

SUBSCRIBER

NIMBY has a racially or culturally discriminatory connotation. Mr. Swenson's proviso is

based on privacy, noise and community and doesn't discriminate against any group.

He believes there should be areas for short-term rentals for those who want that lifestyle

and areas that don't allow it for those who want privacy, quiet and consistent neighbors. To

each his own. Nothing wrong with that.

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Paul Callaro

4 days ago

SUBSCRIBER

NIMBY has a racially or culturally discriminatory connotation.

It can have one of those connotations, but its original definition is "not in my back yard"

– and that applies to the likes of heavy industry & short-term renters just as much as

urbanites who might oppose a low-income subsidized housing development down

their street.

And while there's nothing wrong in not wanting to live in an area with short-term

rentals, it's nonetheless hypocritical to own two of them but refuse to live in a

neighborhood that allows them – especially destinations for hikers & nature-lovers, as

opposed to the "partiers" who typically rent ski condos & the like.

Mr. Swenson may feel like STRs are "part of some problem," and yet appears to have no

qualms about contributing to said problem – as long as it's at least 200 miles away.

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Je! Kirk

2 days ago

SUBSCRIBER

As I said, there is nothing wrong with both accepting and prohibiting STR. To

each neighborhood, its own.

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Paul Callaro

2 days ago

SUBSCRIBER

This also caught my eye. So what's good for the goose is not good for the gander. LOL

Mrs.

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robert schaefer

4 days ago

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Speaking as a previous president of a 318 home HOA, the trouble here in Arizona, and I presume

elsewhere, is the legislature has made HOA fines a personal fine rather than having the option to

lien against the property. As a consequence the legal costs of going to court, winning a judgement,

and then actually collecting on that judgement and recovering legal fees has made HOA fines

useless. Particularly in a bankruptcy. And to that add out of state owners and investment

companies in it for the appreciation and it becomes even worse. Plus the only way to find out

about properties for short, or even long, term rental is when the neighbors complain. Landlords

routinely ignore reporting requirements.

Bottom line: CC&R's need to be better written and laws need to give Associations the tools to

e"ectively enforce the CC&R's. Don't count on just what the CC&R's say, look into how they are

enforced.

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CE Cunningham

4 days ago

SUBSCRIBER

A lien against a property for a basic HOA fine? Seriously?? Sorry, but there's zero chance

such a thing would hold up in a court of law, and the mere concept is repugnant to fair

consumer laws.

You also seem to be assuming all of these HOA fines are "reasonable," and if so I'd strongly

disagree. OTOH the HOAs in my neck of the woods (Texas) are dictatorial enough in their

proclamations as to come o" as socialist in nature (yes, in Texas!!). A friend of mine who

lived in a HOA had their house repainted a shade that was visually identical to what preceded

it but not the literal "approved" color. She was fined $2,000. (Prompting her to leave -

without paying the absurd fine.) Another is fined $50 each time anyone parks in an "on-

street location," a.k.a. by the curb.

Municipal regulations smother our lives enough as it is. Adding more bureaucratic nonsense

into the mix (e.g. devising a system for controlling HOA owners) is the opposite of smaller

government.

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Je! Kirk

2 days ago

SUBSCRIBER

I wonder how many of these Boomers thought just the opposite 50 years ago.

I share the view on not having your luxury property neighbor an Air B&B headache, but I’m not a

Boomer who was a hippie flake turned grey-haired swell.

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MICHAEL WILLIAMSON

4 days ago (Edited)

SUBSCRIBER

Beachfront condos I have owned on the gulf coast of Florida had three month minimum rental

periods and a maximum of two rentals per year. That is intended to keep away renters who were

given the contract for buying a car.

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robert staab

4 days ago

SUBSCRIBER

Ironically, it is these higher-end enclaves that do NOT have problems with short-term rentals

because the rental rates are high enough to filter out the rif-raf...

I just returned from renting a house (on VRBO) in Florida (Gulf Coat) for 4 weeks. The local

property management company was very good about enforcing the well-publicized noise

restrictions.

The fervor against short-term rentals is based on false fear-mongering.

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Carl Castrogiovanni

4 days ago

SUBSCRIBER

The only serious problem with short term rentals is noise and parties. In a resort town, if you

ban them, houses and condos will be simply vacant for many weeks and months of the year.

The guy in the article has two homes. Six months of the year, his neighbors will see an empty

house.

And short term rentals don't always displace workforce housing. Our AirBNB is a 225 square

foot condo. No one wants to live there for more than a few days. It is across from the ski lift,

so it is perfect as a short term rental. We write our ad to ban parties and loud gatherings.

Four years into that project and we have not had any problems.

But I get it. If I had a firefighter bachelor party rent the house next door to me, I would be

upset.

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Andy Cooley

4 days ago

SUBSCRIBER

<Ironically, it is these higher-end enclaves that do NOT have problems with short-term

rentals because the rental rates are high enough to filter out the rif-raf...>

But what if the rif-raf are long-term renters. Asking for a friend, obviously...

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Jon Shields

4 days ago

SUBSCRIBER

Are you saying the neighborhood improved when we left after renting there for 10

years? ;)

I can't believe that fewer grill masters on the block wouldn't hurt property values... )o

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Carl Castrogiovanni

4 days ago

SUBSCRIBER

Well, except for your old neighbors, whose plow service did a great job of building

a replica of The Wall across my driveway...

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Jon Shields

4 days ago

SUBSCRIBER

Mr. Swenson is living large!

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MICHAEL CASTALDO

4 days ago

SUBSCRIBER

St George is growing so fast that it is no longer a desirable place to live. Our streets were not

designed for the amount of traffic we are experiencing and just going to the grocery store has

become an ordeal. Young families are being priced out of the market by Californians who are

moving here in droves and are paying premium prices. This is raising property values so much that

my property taxes have gone through the roof, threatening to tax me out of my home.

Lisa's Mom

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Lisa Berlin

5 days ago (Edited)

SUBSCRIBER

Count me out because it’s a huge pain to buy a good bottle of wine retail there.

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MICHAEL WILLIAMSON

4 days ago

SUBSCRIBER

So true. Have lived here and there in the West during my many decades, moving to stay out

in front of congestion . All the signs are there-- the mob has beautiful, well-located St.

George in its crosshairs.

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Judy Harmon Smith

4 days ago

SUBSCRIBER

Utah needs a prop 13.

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Will Rogers

3 days ago

SUBSCRIBER

Utah needs a prop 13.

Ironic, considering Prop 13 is one of the main reasons folks are leaving California in

droves. As no less than the Oracle of Omaha himself has pointed out, it's absurd that

this property tax bill on his (now-former) SoCal beach house totaled only a few

thousand dollars a year, despite appreciating from a five- to a seven-figure valuation

during his 30+ years of ownership.

The trickle-down e"ect onto younger families just starting out is both tremendous &

horrific: they're being asked to shoulder the majority of the state's property tax burden

despite being least able to a"ord it – thus pushing more & more out entirely, and into

places such as St. George.

Other places do much more sensible things to protect seniors from rising property

taxes, e.g. eliminating school-funding taxes once a homeowner turns 65 and setting a

maximum allowable annual increase (e.g. 10%-15%) – both of which are done in my

home state of Texas.

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Je! Kirk

2 days ago

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But it’s going to keep the inner city people out. Waiting for the outcry of discrimination. Go watch

the movie Good Fences

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don harry

5 days ago