World Cup lifts Baselane short-term rental income 60%

Short-term rental income among Baselane customers in US World Cup host markets rose 60% year on year, based on hosts active in both comparison periods.

That compares with 11% growth in non-host markets among the same customer group, based on the company's analysis of payout transactions from short-term rental and property management platforms.

The data points to a sharp but uneven uplift in rental earnings tied to the tournament, with some host cities recording much larger gains than others between May and June. Customers in host markets also posted a 79% increase in short-term rental payouts from May to June, outpacing non-host markets and exceeding the seasonal rise recorded in the same period a year earlier.

The pattern highlights how major events can quickly reshape income flows for landlords and operators, especially in markets with strong visitor demand.

City differences

The largest increase in Baselane's analysis was in Miami, where short-term rental income rose by more than 709% between May and June compared with the same period a year earlier. Kansas City followed at more than 607%, while Dallas-Fort Worth recorded an increase of more than 587%.

Atlanta rose by more than 219%, Houston by more than 214% and the San Francisco Bay Area by more than 156%. Seattle increased by more than 69%, Philadelphia by more than 68%, Boston by more than 45%, New York and New Jersey by more than 23%, and Los Angeles by more than 12%.

Baselane also cited examples from individual operators to illustrate the swings. In Atlanta, one owner of a single rental property generated about USD $16,000 in four weeks, compared with a typical monthly income of roughly USD $1,200. In Seattle, a professional operator with 23 units, including 14 in the city, generated about USD $216,000 in four weeks, compared with about USD $81,000 in a typical month.

Such shifts can add pressure on landlords and property managers, who must reconcile income, match expenses and prepare records for reporting and tax purposes while receipts move quickly across multiple properties.

"The World Cup created significant revenue opportunities for short-term rental owners, but it also shows why rental property finances are becoming harder to manage with spreadsheets and disconnected bank accounts," said Mathias Korder, Chief Executive Officer of Baselane.

"When income can change this quickly, owners need an integrated financial platform that shows what's happening across their portfolio while there's still time to respond," Korder said.

Regulatory effect

Local rules appeared to influence how much event-driven demand translated into rental income. In host markets where short-term renting is broadly permitted, income increased 421% compared with June 2025.

Markets with moderate restrictions recorded a 75% increase, while highly regulated markets including New York, Los Angeles and Boston posted growth of 18%, the analysis found.

The contrast suggests visitor demand alone did not determine earnings. Rules governing short-term lets may have limited how many properties could be listed or how fully operators could respond to the influx of travellers in some cities.

Baselane's methodology drew on customer payout transactions from platforms including Airbnb, Vrbo, Booking.com, Expedia, Guesty, Hospitable, Lodgify and Cloudbeds. Year-on-year growth figures were based on income categorised as short-term rent by customers active during both comparison periods.

The findings reflect activity among Baselane customers rather than the broader US rental market. The company serves more than 50,000 independent real estate investors and says more than USD $3.7 billion is processed annually through its platform.

"The strongest gains were concentrated in markets where visitor demand was high and short-term rental activity was more broadly permitted," Korder said.

"Major events will continue to create localised opportunities, making accurate financial visibility even more critical. Investors who understand where gains are coming from and what's driving them will be better positioned to make faster, more informed operating and investment decisions," he said.