If you were planning to invest in the home rental company AirBnB, you're going to have to wait.  The company is expected to expand its global operations now that it raised US$1 Billion in new investment funding.

The deal values AirBnB at almost US$31 Billion (AU$41.2 Billion), according to papers filed with the US Securities and Exchange Commission.  With this kind of money on hand, the firm has no plans to list its shares on the stock market in an IPO for the near future.

AirBnB launched in 2008 and has exploded globally, operating in 65,000 cities.  It makes its money by enabling homeowners to rent out their homes.  Homeowners hand over a 3 percent cut for the service, and the company also takes a 6 to 12 percent charges from guests.  Lately, it has expanded its offerings with city tours and specialty programs with local experts.

But critics say AirBnB has enabled higher rents which lock out lower income people, and is creating housing shortages in some cities.  New York, Berlin, and Barcelona all have enacted regulations to after claims the website is driving up rents and contributing to housing shortages in some cities.