Why are AirBnBs expensive here?? (Detroit: foreclosed, renting, homes)

[BostonJad]

This might seem like a naive question from someone coming from an alleged expensive city in the US thinking COL is cheap compared to it within Detroit. Perhaps there is an added tax that might inflate the prices I dunno. To give you some perspective I am looking at areas like Eastern Market and CorkTown. Prices only start to look reasonable across the river in Windsor, but is it a practical choice if I am going to spend the majority of my time in the Motor City?

[craig11152]

I have no idea why AirBnB's are expensive compared to Boston. But to answer your last question in my opinion staying in Windsor would not be practical. Crossing the International border can be easy or slow. And you have to pay a fare to get over the privately owned bridge. I think its $5 each way each time.
I haven't crossed in a long while but I have friends who do on occasion. Depending on time of day and day of week the customs line can be a breeze or a pain. It was always easier getting in to Canada than back home last I knew. .

[snoopygirlmi]

Well, if you are looking to stay in the trendier/safer areas of Detroit Proper, then it's going to cost you more money. The areas that you are looking at are the ones that are booming, so yeah....they are going to be more expensive.

I understand where you'd get the idea that it would be super-cheap (it's Detroit!), but that kind of thinking is really unrealistic these days.

Today's Detroit is a lot different than the Detroit of even 3-5 years ago. Detroit simply isn't a place that people avoid anymore. It's a destination and pricing reflects that.

Although I don't know your specific dates of needing an airbnb, just from a cursory search, I'm noticing that if you don't specifically stay in these areas, then prices drop a lot.

You could always stay outside Midtown/Eastern Market/Corktown and uber to where you want to go and still save a lot of money - given that some a lot of the housing is over $100/$200.

As the poster above said, Detroit/Windsor is one of the busiest crossings between the US/Canada. Also, we've found that it's a lot easier getting into Canada than it is coming back to the States.

[Nattering Heights]

AirBnB has shady practices. Tripadvisor is safer and may be cheaper.

[BostonJad]

One thing I noticed is that most of the AirBnB homes are owned by the same people like someone who scooped up a bunch of foreclosed homes at a good deal in 2008 and make a killing now by renting them out via AirBnB now that the area is coming around as you say.