Airbnb: Buyers Use Rentals to Test New Neighborhoods | Realtor Magazine
Prospective home buyers are using short-term rentals as an opportunity to test out neighborhoods and cities before committing to a full relocation, according to data from Airbnb, a short-term rental network. The company reports a 128% increase from July to September over the same period last year in guest reviews that mention “relocation,” “relocate,” “remote work,” and “trying a new neighborhood.”
Airbnb guests are booking longer stays of two weeks or more in small and midsize cities with access to natural surroundings and wide open spaces. Some of the popular cities for Airbnb rentals are:
- Park City, Utah
- Truckee, Calif.
- Steamboat Springs, Colo.
- Durham, N.C.
- Santa Fe, N.M.
- Boise, Idaho
- Richmond, Va.
- Greenville, S.C.
- Indianapolis
- Fort Walton Beach, Fla.
Popular vacation days aren’t limited to the time surrounding holidays. Sixty percent of parents say they are very or somewhat likely to consider working remotely and traveling with their children if schools continue to be disrupted, according to a survey of about 1,000 U.S. adults commissioned by Airbnb. Also, 62% of people say they are interested in taking a vacation within driving distance of their current home.