More Buyers Renting Airbnbs to Test Out Neighborhoods

City dwellers considering a move to the suburbs often wonder if it’s really a good decision. To find out, more are now booking two-week-plus Airbnb rentals first.

NEW YORK – Prospective homebuyers are using short-term rentals to test out neighborhoods and cities before committing to a full relocation, according to data from Airbnb, a short-term rental network. The company reported a year-to-year 128% increase from July to September in guest reviews that mention “relocation,” “relocate,” “remote work,” and “trying a new neighborhood.”

Airbnb guests are also 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 are also less limited to the time surrounding holidays, with 60% of parents saying they’re very or somewhat likely to consider working remotely and traveling with their children if schools continue to be disrupted. In addition, 62% of people say they’re interested in taking a vacation within driving distance of their current home.

Source: “How Airbnb and Travelers Are Redfining Travel in 2021,” Airbnb (Oct. 15, 2020)

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