Over the past 15 years or so, Airbnb Inc. has established a new market in short-term real estate rentals. The site, along with competitors such as Vrbo, made it easier for property owners to take on renters by helping travelers find alternatives to hotels and handling some of the transaction details. This was a boon for many property owners, who suddenly had a new source of income to help pay off their mortgages or fund renovations. Airbnb, the world's biggest short-term rental platform, added more than a million active listings last year, while posting record profit. It has more than doubled its market value to $97 billion since its 2020 initial public offering.