CityView Magazine

22 | May/June 2019 F E A T U R E Airbnb is thriving in Fayetteville's neighborhoods BY CRISSY NEVILLE I t began in 2007 with some roommates renting out air beds in their apartment to travelers to make extra cash. Today that small venture has grown into one of the world's largest travel brands – Airbnb – which has listings of more than 6 million short- term home rentals in more than 190 countries and boasts more than 500 million guests over the past 11 years. More than 81,000 cities are home to Airbnb listings. Fayetteville is among them. With well over 100 listings on Airbnb, Fayetteville is becoming both a travel destination and a frequently-visited city on this trendy online medium. Mariah Redden-Bardwell, a real estate agent with Keller Williams Realty in Fayetteville, specializes in the Haymount, Vanstory and Forest Lakes areas. She said a good percentage of home buyers in the past year have purchased residences in those neighborhoods for their income-producing potential. Redden-Bardwell said another popular area in town for Airbnb are the Yadkin, Skibo and Morganton road corridors closer to Fort Bragg. Top picks are homes with mother-in-law suites, bonus rooms with exterior access, detached garages, basements and extra rooms. Following these are whole houses of various sizes, complete apartments and condominiums that can be leased in their entirety. "Many Airbnb owners are military families that use their VA loans to buy their primary residence. e VA allows for up to a 4-unit property on the loan as long as the financier is using it as their home," she said. "So homes with such extra spaces can be enticing for potential buyers due to their part-time or full-time income-producing potential." Photography contributed

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