This as-told-to essay is based on conversations with Selena Lounds, 47, an Airbnb host in Hudson, New York, about 120 miles from New York City. To better afford homeownership, Lounds bought a home with her best friend. The conversations have been edited for length and clarity.
I was living in New York City and spending so much money on rent that owning a home didn’t feel attainable.
During the pandemic, I was stuck in my little apartment and eventually reached a point where I wanted to move. I had friends who had bought a home in upstate New York, and I thought, ‘Maybe I could do that too.’ But I was also a single woman, and I didn’t know how to navigate the process on my own.
The anxiety kicked in. I was scared to do it by myself and worried about making the wrong decision. Still, by then, I’d reached a point in my career where I finally had extra money to invest.
I had a lot of concerns, though: Did I really want to leave the city? Would I be able to make new friends? Could I actually afford it, and was I ready to shift my life in such a big way?
Luckily, a friend of mine, Wade, was looking for an investment property in 2021. We decided to join forces.
We wanted an Airbnb-friendly home
In early 2022, I was on LinkedIn when I saw a post from Niles Lichtenstein. He was talking about a new venture he was starting: Nestment, a real estate platform meant to help people co-buy homes.
I was like, “Holy crap. That’s what I’m trying to do.” So I reached out.
Nestment’s biggest selling point was its app. It really helped us make sure we were choosing the right investment property in the right location.
Wade and I knew we wanted to live in the Hudson Valley, but there were so many places to choose from. We also knew we wanted a weekend house that we could turn into an Airbnb because even though we had some savings, we couldn’t afford to have a house just sitting there empty.
In Nestment’s app, we could drop in an address and see the potential earnings based on what other Airbnbs in the area were charging per night. It even estimated how much income we could generate annually and how much each home was likely to appreciate over the years.
We were also able to add my real estate agent to our homebuying group in the app. Together, we curated a list of homes worth touring, saving us a lot of time.
After about 10 months of looking for the right home, Wade and I purchased a 2,100-square-foot home for $565,000. It has three bedrooms and three bathrooms. We decided to treat the purchase like a business, so we opened an LLC and split the cost evenly.
We’ve made thousands renting out the home
This is our third summer owning the home.
We’ve now had over 30 Airbnb guests — I’m a superhost. Our rate fluctuates, but our base rate is $300 a night.
In 2023, we didn’t open the Airbnb for guests until the end of May. At the time, we were working with a property management company that took 25% of our earnings, leaving us with $16,126. In 2024, we earned $35,702.40, and so far, in 2025, we’ve already earned $9,220.
Whatever we earn, we put back into the house. For example, last year, we renovated the basement. We see the home as a long-term investment, especially since it will only continue to appreciate.
I love the house. I’m kind of obsessed with it. It’s my first child. The home is somewhat out of town, and it feels kind of remote, but there is a Walmart about seven minutes away, so it’s the best of both worlds.
It sits on almost two acres, and we have a little barn. The back of the property backs up against a field that usually has wild corn or beans growing. I’ve been gardening, and last year, I planted trees. I’m still working on getting a hot tub up here, too.
Hudson is a super trendy area. It’s an old town that has had a resurgence in the last 10 years. The downtown is really beautiful, with a lot of boutiques and shops. There are also many wedding venues in the area.
There’s an Amtrak station in town, which we considered when we were deciding where to buy our house. If we were going to Airbnb the home, we needed it to be easily accessible for people from the city, either New York City or Boston.
We set up rules for co-owning the home
It’s not all roses and glitter when co-owning a home with a friend, but it’s mostly good. I’m really proud of what we have done.
Wade and I’s agreement is that we can use the home for personal use, but we can’t live there.
We also have an agreement on maintaining the house. If we need to repair something that’s under $500, we can do it without talking to one another. But if it requires more money, we need to have a conversation about it.
I do most of the Airbnb tasks, like setting up automated messages for guests and checking them in. But we also have a great housekeeper and lawn guy.
Having this place is amazing. I feel like I’m truly investing in myself, and so managing the home feels more impactful and special. And going through it with a friend, somebody I trust and know is equally invested, is equally awesome.
Co-buying a home made me feel more confident
This year, I bought my first home on my own: a four-bedroom, two-bath home with 1,600 square feet on a quarter of an acre. It’s a little bit of a fixer-upper. Right now, I am painting it.
I live on the other side of the Hudson River, in Saugerties. My home is in the village, and I love my neighborhood. Modern conveniences like coffee shops, bars, and restaurants are at my fingertips. Everything’s really walkable.
I’m also in a place where I can build a community and make friends.
There’s something different about telling people you own a home. They’re like, “Oh, damn.” I love it.
From time to time, I still find myself looking at other places and comparing them to mine, thinking, “If I were to do this again” or “The next house would have this or that.”
For now, I think I’ve got my hands full with this one. But never say never.
Axel Springer, Insider Inc.’s parent company, is an investor in Airbnb.
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