From Illegal Niagara Airbnbs to 8 Units in Arizona: Lessons from Ramis’s Wild STR Journey
Watch Now 👉 https://youtu.be/MwaAYT7woPk
What if you could turn $0 into $50,000, and scale to 8 profitable Airbnb units—all while barely lifting a finger?
That’s exactly what Ramis, a Canadian realtor turned short-term rental investor, has done. In the latest episode of Beyond the Listing, we sat down with Ramis to unpack his raw, sometimes chaotic, but incredibly insightful Airbnb hosting journey—from fighting bylaws in Niagara Falls to building a passive income machine in the U.S.
If you’re a cottage owner in Ontario wondering how to increase cottage rental income, scale beyond your local market, or ditch the day-to-day headaches of self-managing your Airbnb, this story is your wake-up call.
From Wholesaling to Hosting: How Ramis Got His Start
Ramis’s story begins like many first-generation immigrants: hustling hard and learning fast. After a Rich Dad Poor Dad epiphany, he jumped into real estate wholesaling—closing a $50,000 deal in Cambridge with zero money down. That one win opened his eyes to real estate freedom.
Then came his first taste of Airbnb. It wasn’t planned—it was a client’s property that sparked his curiosity. One listing turned into another. Then came the Niagara Falls unit that, while profitable, operated in the legal grey zone. As Ramis put it in the episode, “It was cash flowing, but I had to look over my shoulder every week.”
Why He Left Ontario: Canada’s STR Red Tape
For many Ontario cottage owners, navigating Airbnb regulations is like playing whack-a-mole. Between municipal bylaws, tax rules, and inconsistent enforcement, it’s easy to feel like the deck is stacked against you.
Ramis felt the same way. “Canada’s not built for scaling STRs,” he says. After running into local opposition and constant uncertainty in Niagara, he made a bold move—investing south of the border.
The Arizona Advantage: Why Ramis Moved His Business to the U.S.
Arizona offered something Ontario didn’t: clarity. Regulations in Scottsdale and Phoenix are well-documented. As long as you register your units, follow HOA rules, and meet zoning laws, you’re good to go.
That allowed Ramis to scale to eight Airbnb units in Arizona, all remotely managed from Canada. “I run the business in about two hours a day,” he says. How? By building a virtual team—paying just $100 per listing for guest messaging, turnover scheduling, and more.
For anyone Googling “is it worth hiring a property manager in Ontario?”—this might be your answer. Imagine a team doing all the work for less than a dinner out.
The Numbers: How Much Can You Actually Make?
Let’s talk profit. Ramis says each Arizona unit nets him roughly $1,000–$1,500/month. That’s after expenses, including cleaners, automation tools, and his VA team.
Compare that to his Niagara unit, which made $3,000/month—but was illegal, unscalable, and full of drama (including a guest who invited over 20 people and got the cops called). In Ramis’s view, sustainable income beats risky income every time.
Co-Hosting vs. Rental Arbitrage: Which Airbnb Strategy Wins?
Ramis has done it all—owning units, co-hosting, and doing rental arbitrage (where you lease a property and sublet it on Airbnb). His take?
Co-hosting is lower risk but caps your income potential.
Arbitrage requires more upfront effort (finding landlords, negotiating leases), but you control the revenue—and scale faster.
If you own a cottage in Muskoka or Georgian Bay and want to stop trading time for bookings, co-hosting with the right team could offer the best of both worlds.
Ontario Owners, Pay Attention: What This Means for You
Whether you're renting out a family cottage in Innisfil or managing multiple lakefront Airbnbs near Bracebridge, Ramis’s journey holds important lessons:
If your rental is in a grey-zone or unregulated area, you might be one bylaw away from a shutdown.
If you’re doing everything yourself, you’re likely leaving money and time on the table.
If you’re hesitant to scale, consider looking at U.S. markets or bringing in a management partner who can handle everything for you.
At Homeseeker, we specialize in turning Ontario cottages into hands-free income generators—with professional listings, dynamic pricing, and full-service guest support. Whether you're looking to optimize what you have or explore out-of-province strategies, we can help.
Final Thoughts: Genius or Lucky?
Is Ramis just lucky—or is he a strategic genius? Maybe a bit of both. But one thing’s clear: his journey proves that with the right systems, mindset, and partners, it’s possible to create passive income from Airbnb without burning out.
💡 Curious how much YOUR cottage could earn on Airbnb?
Click below to get a free personalized revenue report:
👉 https://www.homeseekervacation.com/revenue-report
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