Why Gen Z and Millennials are betting on holiday home rentals for passive income
'Gen Z and Millennials aren't just living off one paycheck anymore. They're stacking incomes,' says Arpit Bansal, CEO and founder of Sea Breeze Group. 'Rental income, especially in lifestyle markets like Goa, gives them the security and freedom to operate outside the 9-to-5 norm.'That shift is driven by multiple forces: job instability, rising inflation, a desire for autonomy, and exposure to global digital tools. According to Manjunath V., Managing Partner at Aakruthi Properties, 'They're finance-oriented, assessing ROI and rental yield using tech. Real estate isn't just a home—it's an asset that works for them.'From stability to utilityIf you go by the older idea of home or property ownership, it was mostly about stability, or it was something passed down by ancestors. The idea of functional ownership did exist, but the penetration wasn't nearly as widespread. Today, however, young investors are opting for Airbnb-style stays, co-living models, and content-friendly homes that generate income from Day One.'Young investors aren't waiting for long-term capital gains; they're activating properties now,' Bansal explains. 'Think pool villas, studio flats, or designer homes that are both income assets and lifestyle spaces.'Sarika Shetty, co-founder and CEO of RentenPe, echoes that: 'They're choosing properties with optionality. Not just for living, but for leasing, monetising, and reselling when needed. Ownership today is dynamic.'Gen Z, Millennials are making it look coolSiliguri's Shiwangi Chettri was stuck in her 9-5 job until she and her friends took that trip to Goa, which was life-changing, at least for her. During a conversation with a full-time Airbnb host who was also travelling the world while doing so, she realised that it could be her chance to try something new and break free from the burnout. A few months later, she became an Airbnb host herself.'I met someone who was running Airbnbs full-time while travelling the world, and doing it well. That moment gave me the social proof I didn't even know I needed,' she says.advertisement'In India, there might be people doing this full-time, but there aren't many creators or influencers openly sharing that journey. So I thought, maybe I could be that person. I quit my job, started from scratch, and poured my heart (and savings) into building something of my own,' she shares.That's how Shiwangi's Airbnb business started. Now, in the process of figuring out how to do the business herself, she is also sharing her learnings with her followers on Instagram. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Shiwangi | Airbnb Host | Siliguri (@shiwangi_chhetri)Meanwhile, Sushmita Pramanick, a 25-year-old from Krishnanagar, West Bengal, started her homestay business from scratch in Manali. Today, she is not just managing the space she acquired in the beautiful Himalayas, but she is also diversifying her travel business step by step. The founder of 'Off The Cuff' community has been sharing her experiences of building everything from zero in her daily vlogs on Instagram. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Susmita Pramanick (@_rastaqueen_)advertisementSo, what can we conclude from their story?Pandemic push and the rise of holiday homesThe remote work boom during the pandemic didn't just trigger a migration, it changed how people view geography and homeownership.'Goa and Manali saw a surge of digital nomads. "Surprisingly, that trend hasn't reversed,' says Bansal. 'Young investors realised they could work from anywhere, so they invested where they'd want to live, or earn from.'Shetty adds, 'Second-tier cities and vacation destinations offer emotional yield in addition to financial returns. Homes now double as retreats and rentals.'The locationWhile metro cities still attract traditional investors, yields there are thinning. 'Most metros offer only 2–3 per cent annual rental returns,' says Bansal. 'But Goa and other lifestyle hubs are clocking 5–8 per cent, especially with short-stay models.'While the Tier 1 cities stand as the playground for seasoned real estate moguls, for first-timers or the ones willing to invest a small sum, touristy Tier 2 or 3 cities and offbeat locations are where they are investing.advertisementWords of caution and adviceThe glamorisation of real estate on social media has played a double-edged role. It's inspired many, but also misled.'Social media has made property investing look like the coolest side hustle,' says Shetty. 'But it often skips the hard parts, upkeep, regulation, tenant issues, and local licensing.'All three experts agree: don't confuse aesthetics with ROI. 'Not every sea-facing home is profitable,' says Bansal. 'It takes careful acquisition, compliance, and local partnerships to make the model work.'Shetty advises first-time investors to 'start small and smart. Focus on consistent demand, legal clarity, and manageable properties. Use tech tools to streamline rent collection, screen tenants, and track costs. This is a business, treat it like one.'Manjunath recommends thinking long-term: 'Don't chase short-term hype. Look for areas with appreciation potential and steady tenant demand. Your first property should anchor your portfolio.'Bansal agrees. 'Passive income from rentals is passive only if professionally managed. Otherwise, it's a part-time job. Hidden costs like furnishing upgrades, taxes, and commissions often catch first-time investors off guard.'TakeawayIn an economy marked by volatility and fluidity, rental real estate is emerging as a rare constant: a flexible, functional asset that earns while you sleep, and works even harder if you do it right.- EndsMust Watch
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