Moore County residents rent out homes, apartments for US Open after hotels ‘completely booked’

PINEHURST, N.C. (WNCN) — Golf fans are urgently looking for places to stay ahead of the 124th U.S. Open in Pinehurst.

“We still have requests for reservations coming in,” Debbie Putz, Property Manager & Broker at Village Properties of Pinehurst said.

There are only a small number of hotels across Moore County, and they have been completely booked since 2023. Moore County residents are now putting their houses, condos, and apartments on the market to rent between June 10 and June 16.

“They are estimating 35,000 to 45,000 people a day here. A day! There’s no way it’s enough [hotels]. This isn’t Raleigh or Durham or a Cary area,” Putz said.

The cost to rent a home in Pinehurst during the 2024 U.S. Open isn’t cheap.

“Your smaller house would go for $12,000 to $15,000 for the week and some of our larger homes are going for $50,000 for the week,” Putz said.

The way fans rent homes has changed since the last U.S. Open in Pinehurst back in 2014. Now there are apps including Airbnb. Also cashing in on all of this is the state.

“The state makes out very well with taxes on this. Because in the State of North Carolina, any rental under 90 days is taxable. And that 7% sales tax and 3% hotel tax,” Putz explained.

Putz said rental properties and hotels in Raleigh and Charlotte will also benefit from the tournament.

The U.S. Open runs from June 10 through Father’s Day, June 16.

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