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Friday, November 28, 2025 in RENTAL ARBITRAGE
5 Best Solutions for Finding Rental Arbitrage‑Approved Landlords in 2025-26
We reviewed the most popular acquisition methods based on approval rate, time investment, and risk.
We Discovered the Best Ways to Get Airbnb-Friendly Properties And Ranked the Top 5 Strategies That Actually Work
Ever feel like no matter how many messages you send on Zillow, no landlord ever says “yes” to Airbnb? You’re not alone. For new Airbnb operators trying to launch through rental arbitrage, the biggest bottleneck isn’t furnishing the unit or setting up automation; it’s getting a landlord to approve subleasing first verbally, and then write it into the lease.
Trust us, we’ve seen it all too many times before. You’re following the scripts, copying the outreach templates, and doing everything your coach said… but all you’re getting are ghosted messages and rejections. It’s exhausting. And if you don’t fix this part, you don’t have a business.
The good news? 2026 introduces more innovative, more efficient ways to solve this problem, from done-for-you acquisition platforms to sourcing models that skip the cold-calling entirely. But with so many “strategies” floating around (Zillow scripts, VA outreach, Facebook DMs…), which ones actually lead to approved units and which ones waste months?
That’s where we come in.
We broke down the five most common ways people are getting sublease-approved properties - from automated platforms to old-school grind methods - and ranked them by effectiveness, approval speed, and stress level.
Let’s dive in.
1. Best Overall: Zi-Find Sublease Marketplace
Effectiveness: 98%
Safety: 100%
Price: $
Overall: A+
Zi-Find quickly became our top choice when it came to securing landlord-approved Airbnb properties - without cold-calling, pitching, or guessing. The platform connects you with pre-vetted landlords who already understand and approve subleasing, eliminating the #1 reason most new operators fail to launch.
Rather than wasting hours messaging listings on Zillow, hoping someone says “yes,” Zi-Find puts you directly in front of landlords who are ready to work with short-term rental operators. Every listing is curated, verified, and matched with your exact criteria, including rent range, location, and lease flexibility.
Our reviewers said the difference was night and day. They went from being ignored or rejected by landlords to getting deals with full written consent and sometimes within days. One user mentioned, “This was the first time I actually felt like a real business owner, not someone begging for permission.”
And unlike expensive coaching programs or VA outreach systems, Zi-Find acts as your own behind-the-scenes acquisition team, streamlining sourcing, outreach, and landlord conversations for a fraction of the cost. If you're serious about building a compliant, scalable Airbnb business, Zi-Find is by far the fastest and safest way to start.
By far, Zi-Find is the fastest and most reliable solution for Airbnb operators seeking sublease-approved properties without cold-calling, guesswork, or landlord rejection.
2. Facebook Groups & Marketplace Threads
Effectiveness: 68%
Safety: 60%
Price: $$ (pay-per-lead)
Overall: B-
Facebook groups aren’t just for memes and marketplace flips anymore - they’ve quietly become a place where some Airbnb operators share property leads, landlord connections, and unit opportunities. Many of these groups were created specifically for rental arbitrage and subleasing, and you can find real deals if you know where (and how) to look.
Testers appreciated the fact that some landlords and property finders post units that are genuinely open to Airbnb or mid-term rentals. In the right group, with the right timing, you can get access to a deal faster than you would scrolling Zillow for hours.
However, that’s where the pros end, and the risks begin.
Because these groups are unmoderated, you’re often dealing with unverified people, vague listings, or pay-per-lead gatekeepers who refuse to release landlord info until you pay. And even then, there’s no guarantee the property is still available or that the landlord fully understands subleasing. Some users reported getting ghosted or even scammed after paying for leads that never materialized.
Best For: Hustlers willing to take chances, vet leads manually, and navigate inconsistent results.
Not Ideal For: Operators who want guaranteed compliance, clear contracts, or don’t have time to play digital detective.
3. Real Estate Agents
Effectiveness: 52%
Safety: 75%
Price: Free
Overall: C+
Working with licensed real estate agents might seem like a smart move because they have access to the MLS, deep local market knowledge, and direct relationships with property managers. In theory, this should make them a reliable partner for finding sublease-friendly listings.
But in practice? It’s rarely that simple.
Most agents are focused on buying and selling homes, where the commissions are higher. Leasing is typically an afterthought and when they hear you run a “management company,” they often shut down or label you as competition. Even when they are open to helping, few truly understand the rental arbitrage model, which leads to confusion, delays, or miscommunication with landlords.
Some users in our test group were able to find agents willing to help scout deals, but the results were inconsistent - often requiring detailed explanations, back-and-forth clarification, and still no guarantee the landlord would approve subleasing. One user said, “The agent just kept pushing me toward buying a duplex. He didn’t get what I was trying to build.”
Best For: Operators who want a professional intermediary and are willing to educate agents from scratch.
Not Ideal For: Those who need fast, sublease-approved deals and don’t want to be seen as a competitor or sideline client.
4. Zillow Cold Outreach (DIY Method)
Effectiveness: 40%
Safety: 55%
Price: Free (but high time cost)
Overall: C-
Zillow is one of the most popular real estate platforms online, but when it comes to finding landlord-approved sublease deals for Airbnb, it’s one of the least effective. Why? Because Zillow wasn’t built for B2B leasing. It’s made for individual buyers, renters, and sellers, not short-term rental operators.
You’re essentially cold-calling landlords who aren’t expecting to be pitched, and many don’t even know what Airbnb arbitrage is, let alone approve of it.
Members of our test group shared that it often took 50–60 property messages or calls just to get one “maybe”, and that “maybe” still required back-and-forth clarification, lease negotiation, and sometimes didn’t even pencil out profitably. “It felt like applying to jobs I didn’t want,” one reviewer told us. “I was sending the same script over and over and just getting ignored or blocked by Zillow.”
The only upside? Some users who found promising properties on Zillow were able to submit those listings to Zi-Find, which then handled the landlord outreach on their behalf. That feature (exclusive to Zi-Find users) turned dead-end leads into warm conversations with verified outcomes.
Best For: Newbies trying to test the waters without spending money - and who have time to burn.
Not Ideal For: Anyone who values their time, wants actual landlord approval, or prefers a professional, filtered approach.
5. Craigslist & Outdated Classifieds
Effectiveness: 18%
Safety: 30%
Price: Free
Overall: D
Craigslist might’ve worked in 2012, but today, it’s more of a digital wasteland for sublease hunters. The listings are outdated, landlords rarely reply, and half the time you’re not even sure if the property is real. Several testers in our group said the leads they found were either already rented, completely inaccurate, or listed by people who “didn’t even remember posting it.”
And unlike platforms built for professional leasing, Craigslist offers zero filters for landlord approval, subleasing terms, or Airbnb-friendliness. You’re flying blind.
One user told us, “I emailed someone about a two-bedroom and they responded with a blurry photo and said, ‘Just drive by and let me know.’ That was the whole pitch.”
Even worse, when you finally get in touch with someone, they’re either confused, unqualified, or just not interested in anything involving short-term rental use.
Best For: Total beginners with zero budget who want to take one last shot in the dark.
Not Ideal For: Anyone who values real deal flow, verified leads, or their own sanity.
While we believe the other methods on this list have their place, Zi-Find stood out as the clear winner. To understand why, we asked one of our contributors, Michael, who was part of our testing group, to share his experience using the platform.
Michael tells the story.
“I’m a numbers guy. I work in finance, I follow the process, and I don’t mind putting in work, but chasing landlords on Zillow felt like torture.
I sent 47 messages in two weeks, followed all the outreach templates, and either got ignored or hit with an automatic ‘we don’t allow that.’ It got to the point where I started thinking maybe this model wasn’t even real.
But then a friend in a real estate Discord told me about Zi-Find. He said they do all the outreach for you, and the landlords already know you’re operating Airbnb. Honestly, I didn’t believe him… until he showed me a signed lease.
I signed up and submitted a Zillow link that I had already been ghosted on. Zi-Find handled the communication, confirmed sublease approval, and within 6 days, I was talking to the landlord directly, with a green light.
I didn’t have to sell, explain, or worry about saying the wrong thing. The process felt like I had a whole sales team working behind the scenes because they use their website, their history, their landlord references, and their branding instead of me.
Now I’ve got my first compliant unit, and it’s already booked. Zi-Find didn’t just find me a property… it gave me my start.”
How Does Zi-Find's Sublease Marketplace Work?
Most rental arbitrage sourcing methods rely on cold outreach, manual scraping, or praying a landlord says “yes.” Zi-Find was built differently. Its Verified Landlord Flow connects you directly to owners who already approve of subleasing for short-term rentals, no pitching, no guessing, and no rejection.
The key? A combination of human-verified listings, done-for-you landlord outreach, and AI-powered qualification filters that simplify the entire sourcing process from end to end.
Verified Sublease-Friendly Listings: Every property on Zi-Find is screened and confirmed for STR or MTR approval with written or verbal consent from the landlord.
Done-For-You Zillow Outreach: Submit any property from Zillow or similar platforms, and Zi-Find handles landlord follow-up & confirmations on your behalf.
SmartMatch Filters: Customize your unit preferences (rent range, location, property type), and only get matched with deals that fit your exact criteria.
Zi-Find doesn’t just help you find units; it completely removes the outreach bottleneck so you can launch your business faster, while remaining fully compliant.
The Secret Behind Zi-Find’s Fast, Landlord-Approved Deals: Verified MatchFlow System
Zi-Find’s Sublease Marketplace is powered by a Verified MatchFlow™ System, its a three-part engine that removes the friction, confusion, and rejection from traditional property sourcing:
Source: Their team curates and verifies listings from landlords who already allow Airbnb or mid-term rental use - with written consent in place before you ever reach out.
Outreach: For properties outside the marketplace (like Zillow or Apartments.com), you can submit links, and Zi-Find handles the landlord communication, pre-screens for sublease approval, and brings back warm, ready-to-push leases.
Match: Once verified, listings are filtered through your custom criteria - rent range, location, lease type - and delivered directly to your dashboard for fast action.
This focused system replaces weeks of cold calling, ghosted messages, and awkward landlord negotiations with a clean, frictionless path to launch. No rejection. No guessing. Just deals, verified, compliant, and ready when you are.
Did It Finally Work?
After weeks of getting ignored and rejected by landlords, I submitted one of my favorite Zillow listings through Zi-Find — and waited.
Three days later, I got a message back: Landlord approved subleasing. Ready to talk. I couldn’t believe it.
No cold calls. No awkward explanations. Just a warm lead who already understood my Airbnb model — and wanted to move forward. For the first time, I wasn’t chasing or selling. I was simply choosing which verified property made the most sense for my launch.
It was the first time I didn’t feel like I had to “fight” to get a deal.
No rejections. No gray-area leases. Just a compliant, ready-to-close unit… and the green light to finally get started.
Real Results from Real Hosts
“Hi, Yes we've signed the contract and the lease starts on the 1st.”
— Neil
"Scott T is closing on a lease"
— Jeff - Airbnb Coach
“In lease negotiation.”
— Trey C
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[1] This website is owned and operated by Middleman Ventures, LLC. an independent company that accepts sponsorships from some brands on this site.
The information presented on this site is for informational and educational purposes only and should not be considered legal, financial, or real estate advice. Zi-Find is a software platform and marketplace that connects users with property opportunities; it does not act as a licensed brokerage, legal representative, or financial advisor. While we aim to provide accurate and up-to-date content, all leasing decisions and transactions are the sole responsibility of the user. Platform features, availability, and results may vary. Always conduct your own due diligence and consult with a qualified professional before entering into any lease or investment agreement. Any references to earnings, approvals, or outcomes are illustrative and not guaranteed.© 2025 All Rights Reserved.