# Stead

> Know the home before you go. An open-source home rental marketplace built around clearer information, walkthroughs and transparent pricing.

When a home is published, the homepage shows that home. Until then the homepage collects waitlist interest from guests, homeowners and people who want both. Do not describe homes as bookable while guest bookings are disabled.

Availability follows real, ready homes. There is no city launch calendar or minimum inventory threshold: one eligible home can be the first in its area. The host-led catalog can be empty; that is an honest state, not a defect.

Site: https://openstead.app
Repo: https://github.com/nsheinbe/stead (Apache-2.0). Copyright 2026 Stead contributors.

## Stay lengths

- Each home has its own minimum, based on the host's preference and the home's reviewed eligibility. Read the listing and quote rather than assuming a universal stay length.
- Existing homes default to 30 nights. Shorter stays require a current eligibility review covering the requested dates. Thirty nights is a compatibility default, not a universal legal clearance.
- Local property, permit, tenancy and tax requirements still apply. Do not describe Stead or AI as certifying legal compliance everywhere.

## The Home Record vision

The homepage shows an illustrative Home Record concept: everyday supplies, cookware materials, maintenance records, workspace details, sources, dates and unanswered questions. Proposed AI assistance would help hosts draft and review this information. The example is not a real listing, and the AI inventory feature is not yet implemented. A photo, a host statement and an inspection report are different kinds of evidence. Do not infer current safety, mold-free status or non-toxic cookware from a photo or an old report.

## Pricing and trust

- The current guest network fee is 2%, shown separately. Pricing is read from configuration in the app. Deposits are separate from the stay charge; processing and applicable taxes are separate considerations.
- The host is merchant of record via Stripe Connect. Do not claim Stead is merchant of record or holds guest funds.
- Walkthrough verification and property eligibility are different checks. Do not treat a verified walkthrough as legal or safety certification.
- Do not invent seed inventory, homes, reviews, occupancy, earnings, waitlist positions or launch dates.
- Waitlist members receive a confirmation, then one relevant availability email. There is no newsletter. Addresses are never sold or shared, and every email provides a way to leave the list.

## Canonical URLs

- https://openstead.app/
- https://openstead.app/explore
- https://openstead.app/for-homeowners
- https://openstead.app/host/start
- https://openstead.app/login
- https://github.com/nsheinbe/stead