Leakey, Texas Short-Term Rental Market
Leakey, TX STRs averaged $204/night at 42.7% occupancy in April 2026, with luxury properties reaching $444 per night.
Quick Answer: Leakey, Texas is an active short-term rental market. average occupancy is 53%. average monthly revenue is $3,860. average daily rate is $271. the top operator is Evolve with 772 listings. market score is 63/100 (grade C).
Market data reflects the Texas East Area regional market, which includes Leakey. Regulations, taxes, and permit details below are specific to Leakey.
Market Score Breakdown
Five dimensions Apivex evaluates per market.
Market Overview
Leakey is the county seat of Real County in the Texas Hill Country’s Frio Canyon, serving as a primary gateway to Garner State Park and the Frio River. The short-term rental market centers on riverfront cabins, cottages, and vacation homes catering to Texas regional visitors from San Antonio, Austin, and the DFW Metroplex.
In April 2026, the market recorded an average daily rate of $203.57 and occupancy of 42.7%, producing RevPAR of $87.00. Average monthly revenue per active listing was $2,436. Year-over-year, occupancy edged up 1.0%, while ADR declined 3.3%, resulting in revenue that was essentially flat (-0.1%).
The active listing mix is overwhelmingly entire-home properties, which account for 20,911 units in the broader market dataset, with private rooms at 1,267 units and shared rooms a negligible 12. Bedroom configuration skews toward 1-bedroom (7,128 units) and 3-bedroom (5,654) units, with 2-bedroom (5,371) also well represented. Four- and five-bedroom properties (2,441 and 1,528 units respectively) serve larger groups seeking Frio River cabin experiences.
Airbnb is the dominant booking channel (10,314 units), with VRBO serving a meaningful secondary segment (2,241 units) and a large share cross-listed on both platforms (9,635 units).
The market scores an overall investability rating of 88.99 out of 100 and a total market score of 62.53, reflecting strong investment fundamentals offset by moderate rental demand (58.45) and revenue growth (60.55). The seasonality score of 75.05 captures the pronounced summer concentration driven by Garner State Park and Frio River tubing demand. Note: listing counts in the dimension data represent the broader Frio Canyon/Hill Country market served by this data feed, which extends beyond Leakey’s incorporated limits.
Seasonal Patterns
| Month | Occupancy | ADR | Revenue |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 33% | $161 | $1,618 |
| Feb | 41% | $161 | $1,627 |
| Mar | 50% | $211 | $2,696 |
| Apr | 41% | $206 | $2,332 |
| May | 44% | $231 | $2,695 |
| Jun | 53% | $272 | $3,781 |
| Jul | 53% | $275 | $4,011 |
| Aug | 42% | $236 | $2,767 |
| Sep | 39% | $215 | $2,248 |
| Oct | 42% | $205 | $2,399 |
| Nov | 41% | $201 | $2,223 |
| Dec | 37% | $190 | $2,097 |
Top Short-Term Rental Operators in Leakey
Ranked by total active listings. Useful for understanding the competitive landscape.
| # | Operator | Listings | Reviews | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Evolve | 772 | 27,488 | ★ 4.72 |
| 2 | Vacasa | 225 | 8,425 | ★ 4.68 |
| 3 | FCR Partners, LP | 103 | 172 | ★ 4.68 |
| 4 | Neal’s Lodges | 97 | 170 | ★ 4.79 |
| 5 | 979 Vacation Property Services | 96 | 3,212 | ★ 4.60 |
What Kind of STR Should I Buy in Leakey?
Revenue and pricing by property type, tier, and bedroom count.
Revenue by Bedroom Count
| 1 bed | 7,128 |
| 2 bed | 5,371 |
| 3 bed | 5,654 |
| 4 bed | 2,441 |
| 5 bed | 1,528 |
ADR by Property Tier
| Entire Home | $281 |
| Luxury | $538 |
| Professionally Managed | $442 |
Revenue by Dwelling Type
| Apartment | $2,174 |
| Entire Place | $4,002 |
| House | $4,276 |
Booking Channel Mix
Distribution of bookings across major STR platforms.
| Channel | Share |
|---|---|
| airbnb | 46.5% |
| vrbo | 10.1% |
| both | 43.4% |
Investment Analysis
At an April 2026 average monthly revenue of $2,436 per active listing, a Leakey STR generates approximately $29,233 in gross annual revenue. Against a Zillow typical home value of $319,632, that implies a gross yield of roughly 9.1%. Properties marketed as vacation rentals carry higher list prices: the median list price for area homes was $582,333 as of April 2026, which compresses the implied gross yield to approximately 5.0% on an as-listed basis.
The tier split provides additional context. Entire-home properties averaged $211 per night versus $204 for all listing types combined. Professionally managed listings commanded an ADR of $315, a 55% premium over the market average, and luxury-tier properties reached $444 per night. Operators in the professional and luxury segments achieve substantially higher revenue per night, though operating costs and management fees reduce net returns accordingly.
Year-over-year trends through April 2026 show ADR compression of 3.3%, consistent with broader post-pandemic normalization across Texas Hill Country markets. Occupancy improved slightly (+1.0%) and revenue was nearly unchanged (-0.1%), suggesting the market has stabilized rather than declined. The investability score of 88.99 reflects the established STR base and ongoing demand from Texas regional travelers. The regulation environment is minimal (enforcement severity: minimal), with no permit or registration requirement identified, which removes a common barrier to entry.
Investors should verify that specific parcels, subdivisions, or HOA covenants do not impose additional restrictions, as these are more likely to constrain operations than municipal rules in this rural county.
Revenue Trend (5 yr)
ADR & Occupancy Trends (5 yr)
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Booking Insights
In April 2026, the average booking lead time for Leakey was 38.7 days, and the average length of stay was 3.81 nights.
A 38.7-day lead time indicates that a meaningful share of bookings arrive more than one month before the stay, giving operators reasonable advance notice for scheduling and pricing. For a market with pronounced summer seasonality, this lead time suggests that June-July inventory can be priced at premium rates during the spring booking window rather than being discounted late. Operators who open their calendars with peak-season pricing well in advance (at least 60-90 days out) are positioned to capture the higher willingness-to-pay from Texas regional travelers planning summer Frio River trips.
An average stay length of 3.81 nights sits between the weekend-trip (2-night) and full-week-cabin patterns typical of Hill Country markets. This suggests a mix of long-weekend getaways and mid-week extended stays. Setting a 3- or 4-night minimum during peak summer weekends reduces turnover cost while accommodating the typical booking pattern, though shorter minimum stays in low-season months may improve calendar fill rates.
Short-Term Rental Regulations
Short-term rentals in Leakey and Real County operate in a permissive environment. No Leakey city ordinance or Real County STR permit, registration, night-cap, or owner-occupancy requirement was identified in publicly available sources. Texas has no statewide STR licensing law, and enforcement in this rural Hill Country county is minimal.
The primary compliance obligation is lodging tax. Operators of any rental under 30 days must collect and remit the 6% Texas State Hotel Occupancy Tax plus a 4% Real County lodging occupancy tax, for a combined 10% lodging tax rate. Real County began collecting its 4% county portion on March 1, 2023. Airbnb and VRBO may collect and remit the state portion automatically; operators should confirm whether county-level remittance is also handled by the platform or requires direct operator action.
Because the area has no found STR registration system, there is no permit cost or renewal cycle to budget for. Investors should verify two things directly: whether the City of Leakey or Real County has adopted any local rules since the profile was last updated, and whether any specific parcel, subdivision, or community has private deed restrictions or HOA rules governing rentals. Private covenants are the more likely operational constraint in this rural market.
The regulation market score of 59.67 reflects the relatively open environment, though the absence of a formal registration system means some regulatory uncertainty remains.
Market Comparison
Relative to national STR benchmarks, Leakey performs below the US median occupancy of approximately 55% at 42.7%, but its ADR of $204 is close to the national median of approximately $220. This occupancy gap reflects Leakey’s small-market, rural character and its pronounced off-season compared with higher-traffic coastal or resort markets.
Texas Hill Country STR markets vary considerably. Fredericksburg and New Braunfels typically report higher occupancies driven by larger visitor bases and more year-round demand drivers. Leakey’s investability score of 88.99 and total market score of 62.53 suggest strong investment fundamentals relative to the market’s own characteristics, particularly given the low regulatory friction.
The professionally managed listing segment (ADR $315) substantially outperforms the all-market average ($204), indicating that professional management can add meaningful rate premiums in this market.
Among active property managers, Evolve leads with 772 listings and 27,488 reviews at an average rating of 4.72. Vacasa operates 225 listings with 8,425 reviews and a 4.68 rating. FCR Partners, LP manages 103 listings, Neal’s Lodges 97, and 979 Vacation Property Services 96. The presence of established regional operators indicates competitive professional management options are available for investors who prefer a managed approach.
Frequently Asked Questions About Leakey, Texas
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