June 24--Homebuyers who want to know what a neighborhood is really like before purchasing have a new option -- rent there for a while first.
Realtor.com and Airbnb have teamed up to show visitors to the realty website what Airbnb rentals are near properties listed for sale, so potential buyers can test-drive a neighborhood.
"This collaboration with Airbnb reinforces our commitment to giving consumers unparalleled insight to make informed real estate decisions," Ryan O'Hara, chief executive officer of Realtor.com, said in a statement Wednesday. "Our relationship with Airbnb ... allows us to reduce some of the unknown factors associated with relocating to a new community."
Founded in 2008, California-based Airbnb is a community marketplace for people to list and book travel accommodations. Realtor.com is a leading real estate services website operated by Move, a subsidiary of News Corp.
rchannick@tribpub.com
