Airbnb BIG DATA Course Review: Pick Winning Markets Before You Spend a Dollar
That is the average loss from one bad Airbnb lease in the wrong market over 12 months. The BIG DATA course costs $180. It teaches you how to check your market before you sign anything.
- BIG DATA costs $180 one time and covers STR market research from start to finish.
- You learn to find winning markets before you spend money on furniture or deposits.
- The comp analysis module shows you how to compare your listing to real competitors.
- Best for beginners who want data skills before launching their first Airbnb.
- Sean Rakidzich teaches every lesson using examples from his own 155+ property portfolio.
- Your access includes video lessons, downloadable worksheets, and all future updates.
What Is the Airbnb BIG DATA Course?
Most people lose money on Airbnb before they ever open their doors. They sign a lease in the wrong city. They buy furniture for a market that is already too crowded. They guess on their nightly price instead of checking the actual data. The BIG DATA course was built to fix all of that.
BIG DATA is Sean Rakidzich's entry-level training for short-term rental market research. It teaches you how to find, read, and act on the numbers that decide whether a market will make money. In other words, it teaches you to think before you spend.
Sean runs more than 155 Airbnb properties across 8 cities. Before he opened any of those properties, he ran the same research process he teaches in this course. At $180 one time, BIG DATA gives beginners access to a system that took years to build.
- Price: $180 one-time. No subscription, no renewal fees.
- Access: Immediate. Lifetime access plus future updates.
- Format: Video lessons plus downloadable worksheets.
- Level: Beginner. No prior data experience required.
- Enrollment: classes.milliondollarrenter.com or rakidzich.com/courses
I see too many people sign leases in markets they have never researched. This course exists so that never happens to anyone I teach.
Who Should Take the BIG DATA Course?
This course is a strong fit for three types of people. So before you read the module breakdown, figure out which group you fall into.
Pre-Launch Hosts
If you have not launched your first Airbnb yet, this course is for you. Specifically, it helps you answer the most expensive question in the business: is this market worth it? Because of this course, you can run a full data check before you sign a lease or buy a single piece of furniture. That process alone can save you tens of thousands of dollars.
Hosts With 1 to 3 Properties
Many hosts with a few properties are still guessing. They set prices based on what feels right. They pick their next market based on where they like to vacation. As a result, they leave money on the table every single month. BIG DATA gives these hosts a structured research routine they can repeat for every new property.
Rental Arbitrage Operators
Rental arbitrage means you rent an apartment from a landlord and re-list it on Airbnb. To make this work, you need to convince landlords that your plan is financially sound. That means showing them real market data and professional revenue projections. In other words, you need exactly what BIG DATA teaches.
If you are already using professional STR market data platforms daily and manage 10 or more properties, most of this content will feel like review. BIG DATA is built for people who are just starting to build their data skills. For more advanced training, Sean recommends his Pricing Masterclass instead.
Before You Enroll
- Write down the top two or three markets you are thinking about.
- Pull a free market report on one of them to see what questions come up.
- Come back to BIG DATA with those specific questions ready.
What You Learn Inside BIG DATA
The course covers five skill areas. Each one builds on the last. Together they give you a complete system for researching any Airbnb market from scratch.
| Module | Topic | What You Can Do After |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Market Selection | Score any city on four data filters before committing |
| 2 | Comp Analysis | Find your 10 real competitors and track them weekly |
| 3 | Revenue Projections | Build a realistic income model before signing a lease |
| 4 | Pricing Data | Set your rates using comp data instead of guesswork |
| 5 | Listing Performance | Track key numbers and catch problems early |
Module 1: Market Selection
Most new hosts pick a city because they like it or because they have vacationed there. Sean's approach is different. He uses four specific filters to score any market before he spends a single dollar.
- Demand score. How many nights per month do active listings in this city actually book?
- Supply trend. Is the number of active listings growing or shrinking?
- Average daily rate. What do the top performers charge each night?
- Regulatory risk. How likely is local government to restrict short-term rentals in the next two years?
Each filter gives you real data. Together, they tell you whether a city is worth your time and money. Sean pulls this data from market data platforms and direct Airbnb research. The course shows you where to find each number.
Module 2: Comp Analysis
The comp analysis module is where most students say they get their money back. Before this course, most hosts compare themselves to every listing in their city. That approach is far too broad to be useful.
Your real competitors are listings that match yours in three specific ways: bedroom count, neighborhood, and amenity set. You might only be competing with 10 or 15 listings in your entire city. Sean teaches you how to find those listings and study them closely.
| Comp Factor | Why It Matters |
|---|---|
| Bedroom count | Direct inventory competition for the same guests |
| Neighborhood | Same demand pool and travel patterns |
| Amenity score | Guest expectations and booking decisions |
| Review count | Algorithm weighting in Airbnb search results |
| Average nightly rate | Your pricing benchmark for the market |
Do not average all your comps together. Instead, find your top 10 performers and aim to match their occupancy and rate. Those are the listings your guests will compare you to.
Module 3: Revenue Projections
This module helps you build a realistic income estimate before you commit to anything. You fill out a worksheet that accounts for occupancy rate, cleaning fees, Airbnb platform fees, and slow seasons. The result is a number you can actually trust. See the next section for a full breakdown of why this worksheet matters so much.
Module 4: Pricing Data
Once you know your market, you need to set your rates. This module shows you how to use your comp set to find a smart starting price. Rather than guessing, you look at what your best competitors charge and price at a level that earns bookings right away. Sean recommends starting at the 40th percentile of your comp set, which means slightly below the midpoint of your competitors.
Module 5: Listing Performance
The final module covers tracking. You learn which numbers to watch, what good performance looks like in your market, and how to spot problems before they get expensive. This is how you stay ahead instead of reacting after revenue has already dropped.
After You Finish Each Module
- Run each exercise on your actual target market, not a hypothetical one.
- Compare at least three markets side by side using the worksheet.
- Flag any market with high regulatory risk before you commit any money.
The Revenue Projection Worksheet: Why This Alone Is Worth $180
Inside Module 3, Sean includes a revenue projection worksheet. It is the most useful tool in the entire course. Here is why it matters so much.
Most people estimate their Airbnb income by looking at what other listings charge per night. They multiply that number by 30 days. That math almost always comes out too high. In reality, listings do not book every night. There are cleaning fees, platform fees, and slow seasons to account for.
Without building in those variables, your income estimate will be wrong before you even start. As a result, new hosts routinely sign leases on properties that cannot cover their costs at realistic occupancy rates.
The BIG DATA worksheet forces you to plug in real numbers. You enter your expected occupancy rate, your average nightly rate, your cleaning fee, and your platform costs. At the end, you get a realistic monthly income estimate tied to actual market data.
That number might be lower than you expected. Even so, it is honest. And an honest number before you sign a lease is worth far more than a surprise after you have already paid first and last month's rent.
The revenue projection worksheet forces you to account for seasonality, cleaning fees, platform fees, and vacancy rate before you commit to any property. Many students say this single tool helped them avoid a costly mistake they were about to make.
Before BIG DATA vs. After BIG DATA: What Actually Changes
The clearest way to see the value of this course is to compare what most hosts do without it versus what they do after completing it.
| Decision | Without BIG DATA | After BIG DATA |
|---|---|---|
| Picking a market | Gut feeling or vacation memory | Four-filter data score from market research tools |
| Estimating income | Nightly rate × 30 days | Occupancy-adjusted worksheet with fees |
| Finding competitors | All listings in the city | Your specific 10-listing comp set |
| Setting a price | Matching the most popular listing | 40th percentile of your real comp set |
| Tracking performance | Checking occupancy when curious | Weekly tracking of key metrics vs. comps |
The difference is not just knowledge. It is a complete change in how you make decisions. Instead of guessing, you check. Instead of hoping, you project. That shift is what separates hosts who build profitable portfolios from those who struggle for years without knowing why.
Data is not optional in this business anymore. The hosts who win are the ones who make decisions based on numbers, not feelings.
Is the BIG DATA Course Worth $180?
For a first-time host, yes. Here is the honest math.
A bad lease in the wrong market can cost between $20,000 and $50,000 over 12 months. That happens when a host picks a city that looks good on the surface but does not hold up under real market data. They end up stuck paying rent on a property that barely books enough nights to break even.
BIG DATA costs $180. If it helps you avoid even one bad market decision, the return on that $180 is enormous. In fact, it only needs to save you a few months of avoided loss to pay for itself hundreds of times over.
| Who You Are | What You Get | Verdict |
|---|---|---|
| Pre-launch host | Market validation before any financial commitment | Strong buy |
| 1 to 3 property host | Structure for decisions you are currently guessing on | Buy |
| 5+ property host with analytics skills | Worksheets and some refinements | Conditional |
| Experienced operator who already uses market data tools daily | Low incremental value | Skip |
Sean's students span 76 countries. Together, they have generated more than $1.4 billion in results. The data skills taught in BIG DATA are part of the foundation behind those numbers.
Ready to Start With Real Data?
Use the same market research system Sean runs across 155+ properties. One price, lifetime access, immediate start.
Enroll in BIG DATA for $180BIG DATA vs. Free YouTube Content
Sean publishes free content on his YouTube channel, Airbnb Automated. With more than 300,000 subscribers, it is one of the largest STR education channels anywhere. A lot of the concepts in BIG DATA appear there in some form.
So why pay $180?
Because free YouTube content comes in random order. The algorithm surfaces what gets clicks, not what you need to learn next. You might watch a video about comp analysis before you understand market selection. Or you might miss a key topic entirely because the algorithm never surfaced it.
BIG DATA solves that problem in four specific ways:
- Structured sequence. You learn skills in the right order. Each module builds on the one before it.
- Downloadable worksheets. You get the actual tools to apply what you learn to your specific market, not just concepts to remember.
- No distractions. No ads, no recommendations, no algorithm pulling you toward unrelated videos.
- Student community. You get access to Sean's community, where you can compare notes with other hosts going through the same process.
If you have 40 or more hours to self-curate free YouTube content and watch it in exactly the right sequence, you could approximate BIG DATA on your own. Most people do not have that kind of time. The $180 buys you structure and speed.
300,000+ subscribers watch Sean break down real Airbnb decisions on YouTube.
How to Enroll in BIG DATA
You can enroll in two ways. The first is through Sean's courses page at rakidzich.com, where you can see his full catalog before choosing. The second is to go directly to the BIG DATA purchase page if you are ready to start today.
The price is $180 one time. After you enroll, you get immediate access to everything inside.
- All video lesson modules, available immediately
- Downloadable worksheets for each module
- Access to the student community
- All future updates as the course is refreshed
If you plan to take more of Sean's Airbnb courses, BIG DATA is the recommended starting point. Sean himself suggests it before RE:Algorithm, Target Price, or the Pricing Masterclass, because the data skills here make everything else work better.
How to Get the Most From BIG DATA
- Enroll at classes.milliondollarrenter.com for $180. Access starts immediately.
- Pick two or three real markets you are considering and run every exercise on those actual cities.
- Complete the revenue projection worksheet before looking at any properties in person.
- Build your comp set and track those listings weekly for 30 days before you launch.
- Set your opening price at the 40th percentile of your comp set to earn early reviews.
Common Questions About the BIG DATA Course
What does the BIG DATA course cost?
The BIG DATA course costs $180 as a one-time payment. There are no monthly fees. You get lifetime access to all lessons and any future updates Sean adds to the course.
Is BIG DATA for beginners or experienced hosts?
BIG DATA is designed for beginners and early-stage hosts with one to three properties. If you are already using professional market data tools daily and have ten or more properties, most of the content will feel familiar. In that case, Sean's Pricing Masterclass is a better fit.
Does Sean Rakidzich teach the course himself?
Yes. Sean personally teaches every lesson in BIG DATA. He uses real examples from his own portfolio of more than 155 properties across eight cities. So the methods you learn are the same ones running a real business right now.
How long does it take to complete BIG DATA?
Most students finish the core video lessons in eight to twelve hours. The worksheets take additional time because you complete them for your own specific target market. Plan on a full weekend to go through the material and do the exercises properly.
Can I take BIG DATA before I have a property?
Yes, and that is actually the best time to take it. When you complete the course before signing any lease or making any financial commitment, you use the data system to pick your first market instead of guessing. That sequence is exactly what Sean recommends.
What tools do I need alongside BIG DATA?
The course teaches you how to use market data tools, including Rabbu. A free trial gives you enough access to complete most course exercises. You do not need a paid subscription to get started.
Is BIG DATA useful for rental arbitrage?
Yes. The market research and revenue projection modules are especially useful for rental arbitrage operators. The worksheets help you build professional reports to show landlords as proof that a market makes financial sense. That kind of documentation often makes the difference in getting a landlord to say yes.
Where do I enroll in BIG DATA?
You can enroll at rakidzich.com/courses or go directly to the BIG DATA purchase page. The course costs $180 and access begins immediately after you complete your purchase.
Start With Data, Win Every Time
Use the same market research system Sean runs across 155+ properties. Pick markets that work before you spend a dollar.
Enroll in BIG DATA Now