News & Commentary

We've been online for nearly 30 years, and we've been vacation-rental owners for over 14 years. During those decades we've written and thought a lot about both subjects. The News & Commentary page is where you'll find our "two cents worth." (Probably it should be our "$1.75 worth," given inflation!) News & Commentary pieces appear here first. After a month or so, they are moved to the News Archive in the Member Exclusives section of the site.

Recent Articles

Why HomeAway's New Gulf Coast Site Is Good News for VR Owners Everywhere Aug 12, 2010: The BP/Deep Water Horizon oil-well leak in the Gulf of Mexico has produced tens of thousands of news stories. But one story that has been largely overlooked is the creation by HomeAway of a Web site devoted to helping VR owners with Gulf Coast properties deal with the results of the oil spill. Read on for our take on why this is an important development for VR owners throughout the world.

Flood Insurance and Hurricane Season Jun 20, 2010: Did you know that federally-sponsored flood insurance expired on June 1, 2010? Here's a Wall Street Journal article that can tell you "what to do now" if you own a coastal vacation property.

Travel Insurance: Good for VR Owners As Well As Travelers Apr 27, 2010: In mid-April 2010, when an Icelandic volcano blasted so much ash into the air that many European airports had to shut down for a week, our thoughts turned to travel insurance and its benefits for VR owners as well as travelers.

VR Turnaround on the Way? Nov 30, 2009: Are luxury vacation rentals on the way back after the Great Recession? The Wall Street Journal thinks so. (But the evidence is anecdotal.)

This VR's for You: HomeAway to Advertise on 2010 Super Bowl Oct 30, 2009: Thirty seconds for $3 million. What does it all mean for you and for the industry?