What is it like to use a short-term rental? Simple. You look for a mega corporation site (VRBO or Airbnb or similar – one that advertises units in a location you wish to visit and then sign up for a rental of choice. (They are usually expensive once all the charges are added in, which doesn’t happen till the final page of your agreement.)

Financial advisors suggest that people “put their money to work” by buying property in a place where said client might want to hang out. Easy money for the owner, they say. A contract is signed with AIRBNB or VRBO etc., which then sets up the contr...