09/29/2026
Short-term rental owner Doug Bricker meets all of his guests at the front door. Putting a face to the owner often stops renters from trashing the property, and it introduces them to the charm of Saratoga Springs. The welcome stays brief but productive as Bricker answers questions and reminds guests that should they need anything, he lives close by. Importantly, he tells guests about the neighborhood and reminds them to be respectful of the community. https://buff.ly/nTtVVGn
โAt the end of the day, a short-term rental is a member of the neighborhood, and they have to be a good neighbor,โ said Bricker, who is also a Keller Williams real estate agent.
Rentals like Bricker's can encourage tourism and drive up tax income for Capital Region municipalities, but finding a path between over- and under-regulation has exposed tensions between Short-term rental (STR) owners and locals concerned about spiking property costs and unruly renters. At the heart of the tensions is a desire to preserve the authenticity and affordability of a community.
While some short-term rentals keep the peace and are neighborly, others have disrupted their communities with loud guests.
Reporter Gino Diminich II has more on how Capital Region communities are grappling with short-term rental regulation.
