Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock

For the better part of the past decade, it seemed like the short-term rental (STR) business was here to stay. Millions of property owners were able to monetize their investment through Airbnb with minor involvement, creating an opportunity to rake in passive income. However, a global pandemic that ground travel plans to a halt—followed by a spike in occupancy that flooded the market with subpar STR options—started to show some cracks in the business model.

As of 2026, many U.S. markets are facing challenges, including lower demand and stricter regulations, that point to a potential “collapse.” Others, meanwhile, are showing promise for stable, if subdued, growth.

For investors, location will be just as, if not more important than, the property itself when it comes to turning a profit and seeing a return on investment. To help you pinpoint the locations to look into (and the areas to avoid), Property Reach analyzed data provided by AirDNA to find the top hidden markets expected to experience either an Airbnb collapse or boom based on findings for 2025 and the outlook report for 2026. Let’s take a closer look.

What Is the ‘Airbnb Collapse’?

Following the post-pandemic travel frenzy that refreshed the STR market, many investors decided it was a better option to use their properties as Airbnbs instead of selling them. The ripple effect of too many available options on the market caused an imbalance in supply and demand, with prices dropping too low because of increased competition.

Likewise, with the U.S. economy facing higher inflation rates, Airbnb property upkeep costs became too high for some owners who weren’t breaking even. And as the travel boom slowed down, it didn’t make much sense to keep the Airbnb properties running amidst dwindling demand.

Paired with Airbnb’s crackdown on fraudulent listings, which removed over 59,000 properties in 2023, as well as stricter legislation in busy markets, customers found their options more limited. The result? Traditional hotels have once again become an attractive option.

Although some would call this phenomenon “collapse,” it may be more accurate to think of it as market maturity. Many of the Airbnb owners whose properties didn’t weather the storm weren’t experienced in the hospitality industry. Moreover, state regulations that limit who can and cannot use their property as an Airbnb aim to prevent potentially dangerous situations for both hosts and guests.

That said, there’s still a large gap between the markets that maintained high occupancy rates and a good ROI in recent years and others that weren’t so lucky.

Top 5 Markets Affecte

PeopleImages // Shutterstock

A corporate credit card program issues company-owned cards to employees so your business can control spending centrally and handle all charges under one account. These programs help growing companies gain real-time visibility into expenses, improve cash flow through extended payment terms, and set guardrails that keep budgets on track. With the right setup, they make it easier for teams to spend responsibly while reducing manual work for finance.

Ramp explains how corporate credit card programs work and how to implement them.

What is a corporate credit card program?

A corporate credit card program provides employees with company-issued cards connected to a centralized account owned and managed by the business. The company sets spending policies, controls card access, and assumes responsibility for all charges made across the program.

These programs differ from business credit cards and purchasing cards in meaningful ways. Business credit cards typically support small companies or individual owners who assume personal liability, while purchasing cards are built for procurement and vendor payments with more restricted merchant categories.

Corporate cards are used across many functions within an organization. Sales teams rely on them for client meetings and travel, executives use them for business development, and operations teams use them for software, supplies, and vendor payments. Meanwhile, spending flows into a centralized billing system.

Corporate credit cards vs. business credit cards

Corporate credit cards and business credit cards differ most clearly in liability and eligibility requirements. Corporate cards place financial responsibility on the company, while business credit cards typically require a personal guarantee from the business owner.

Here’s a quick comparison:

Ramp

Liability is the key dividing line between these two card types. Corporate cards shift responsibility to the organization, protecting employees from personal debt. Business credit cards require a personal guarantee, making them easier for early-stage companies to obtain but tying repayment obligations to the individual applicant.

Approval processes also differ. Corporate card programs review the company’s financials, bank activity, and revenue, while business credit cards rely on personal credit history. Rewards and benefits vary as well: corporate cards emphasize controls, reporting, and software integrations; business cards focus more on perks designed for i

Motortion Films // Shutterstock

Approximately 72 million people (41% of working-age Americans) have medical bill problems or are currently paying off medical debt, according to a survey from The Commonwealth Fund.

Medical debt is often used as an umbrella term for all health care debt, including medical or dental bills, and other debt accruing from health care bills (e.g., payment plans, credit cards, bank loans, and borrowing from family and friends).

The percentage of medical debt varies considerably based on the survey size and source. Some surveys capture all debt types for more people, while credit reports only show debt sold to collectors, and collections data misses debt paid directly or still in dispute. In addition, recent credit bureau changes (such as removing sub-$500 debts) have significantly reduced those numbers, leading to higher survey counts and lower credit report/collections counts for the same underlying issues, CreditNinja reports.

Key Takeaways

• About 41% of Americans—roughly 72 million people—have medical debt or are struggling with medical bills.
• Medical debt estimates vary widely because surveys capture all types of debt, while credit reports only show accounts sent to collections.
• Lower-income households, Black and Hispanic adults, uninsured or underinsured individuals, and adults aged 50–64 are the most likely to carry medical debt.
• Most medical debt balances are under $500, but millions of Americans owe $10,000 or more, often due to major medical events or chronic conditions.

How Is Health Care Debt Measured?

Health care debt is measured using surveys, credit bureau data, and provider data. Various organizations—including federal agencies, nonprofit research groups, credit bureaus, financial technology companies, healthcare providers, and media outlets—collect different forms of medical debt data.

• Household surveys — Surveys ask people whether they owe money for medical or dental care, including payment plans, credit card balances, loans, or bills not yet in collections.
• Credit bureau data — Credit bureaus track medical debt only when it goes to collections and appears as a derogatory mark on a credit report.
• Provider/hospital billing data — Researchers analyze what hospitals classify as “bad debt” or uncompensated care, typically bills patients were expected to pay but did not.

Pros And Cons of Measurement Methods

These are some of the pros and cons of different measurement methods used to track medical debt:

Household Surveys

Pros

• Captures hidden debt – Such as unpaid bills, loans from family, credit card debt used for medical expenses.
• Provides demographics – Allows analysis by income, race, insurance type, age, etc.
• Affordable – Relatively cost-effective to collect.

Cons

• Self-report bias – People may not remember exact amounts or may under/over-report.
• Not real-time – Survey

Zamrznuti tonovi // Shutterstock

For decades, experienced professionals have quietly kept the world running, training new hires, solving crises and carrying institutional knowledge built over long careers. Now, many of those workers are preparing to retire, taking with them expertise that cannot be quickly replaced.

A new global survey from Kelly shows that while most organizations know the “Silver Tsunami” is coming, few are prepared for what happens next.

Across regions, executives say experience is slipping away faster than they can replace it. In Europe and North America, retirements are already affecting operations, while in Asia and the Middle East, demand for technical expertise continues to climb.

As millions of baby boomers exit the workforce, companies across industries are struggling to replace both the labor and the know-how that leave with them.

Prepared on paper, not in practice

Executives and employees know the retirement wave is coming, but they do not know what happens next. Ninety-two percent of executives say they are concerned that retirements will worsen worker shortages, leaving critical gaps in the workforce, and nearly 4 in 10 are very or extremely worried, according to the research. Workers share those concerns. Eighty-one percent say they worry their employers will not be able to replace outgoing employees, including 28 percent who are highly concerned.

Kelly

The views are split on preparedness. Two in 3 executives say their organizations are ready to keep operations running as older workers retire. Only 17 percent of employees agree.

Kelly

Many workers see a system running on borrowed time, with institutional knowledge walking out the door faster than it can be passed down.

A problem money cannot fix

Across industries, organizations are trying to offset the lo

NDAB Creativity // Shutterstock

For the vast majority of older adults, the ideal retirement means staying right where they are. In fact, a 2024 AARP survey found that 75% of adults aged 50 and older wish to remain in their current homes as they age.

But this desire for comfort and familiarity often runs into a hard, financial reality. For many families, the prospect of funding in-home care, medical needs, and home renovations can feel like a financial burden.

A general aging-in-place checklist often focuses on grab bars and rugs. A financial checklist, however, is the most critical tool for determining if you or your loved ones can live at home safely and sustainably for the long term. To help you or your loved ones plan for retirement, Splitero covers five key financial considerations to make when preparing for aging in place.

1. Determine the true cost of home care

When planning for retirement, many budget for taxes, travel, and utilities. But the largest expense will likely be the future cost of in-home support. As Nina Pflumm Herndon, President of Aging Life Care Association and CEO of Sage Eldercare, puts it: “The biggest financial consideration you will want to be aware of is the cost and availability of in-home care should you require it.”

The baseline cost is already substantial. The 2024 Cost of Care Survey from CareScout shows the national median cost for a home health aide is approximately $6,483 per month. More importantly, this is not a static cost. An October 2025 report from Axios found that the price of in-home care surged 10% through 2025, far outpacing the 3% rise in prices overall. This spike is driven by what the report refers to as a severe labor shortage, combined with the surging demand of aging baby boomers.

But Herndon highlights that everyone’s situation is unique: “There really is no way to plan for all eventualities, but knowing what resources and average costs are in your area is a great place to start.”

While costs can change, it’s important to estimate when and for how long you may need in-home care, and coordinate with any family members who may contribute to your care. Brandon Renfro, CFP and Partner and Financial Advisor of Belonging Wealth Management, notes that this will be specific to each individual: “If you have loved ones that will be helping or involved with your care as you age in any way, it’s a good idea to talk with them beforehand so that your wishes are well understood. You can estimate the costs of your preferred approach ahead of time by checking in with providers that offer the type and level of care you want. Costs will change over time, but this will give you a solid estimate to start from.”

2. Calculate the cost of aging-in-place home modifications

Your current home may not be designed for future mobility challenges. To