Airbnb Offers Multifamily Financing Solution Through RealtyShares

RealtyShares, a leading online marketplace for commercial real estate investing, announced it is now featured on the Airbnb site as a financing resource in its Multifamily Properties Toolkit.

The toolkit provides owners, operators and developers of multifamily buildings with resources for long-term tenants who want to rent out their space. Now RealtyShares will provide the building’s owners and operators with financing to buy, refinance, and renovate their properties.

In addition, landlords can manage Airbnb activity in their buildings, as well as share in the rental income with the Airbnb Friendly Buildings Program.

“Home sharing is good for landlords, good for tenants and good for travelers,” said Jaja Jackson, Airbnb’s Director of Multifamily Housing Partnerships. “Adding home sharing as an option is just another way buildings can attract and retain tenants.”

The company has already been working with developers to design apartment properties that lend themselves more easily to sharing. For example, at the “Niido powered by Airbnb” in Kissimmee, Florida, residents will be allowed to share their apartment for up to 180 days of the year, and revenue will be automatically shared with their landlord.

Last year, RealtyShares helped finance more than 80 multifamily properties from Miami to Phoenix. Its investment marketplace has deployed more than $700 million dollars across over 1,000 projects in 39 states.

“RealtyShares’ biggest strength is our non-traditional mentality,” said Bill Lanting, Vice President of Debt Originations for RealtyShares. ”Landlords are increasingly interested in offering home sharing as an option for their tenants. We see a big opportunity to create value for the multifamily housing community by financing properties that are adopting this model.”

This is the latest offering from Airbnb, which has been looking for ways to offer customers more than just homes for rent. Last month, the company announced the launch of a Plus-tier offering aimed at higher-end customers, as well as its luxury Beyond tier, which offers fully constructed trips that include hospitality and custom experiences.

In addition, its Experiences feature links travelers to the offbeat and unique experiences in the area, guided by local hosts and hostesses.