Little Elm, Texas Short-Term Rental Market
Little Elm, TX STRs averaged $172/night at 60.0% occupancy in April 2026, generating $2,860 average monthly revenue.
Quick Answer: Little Elm, Texas is an active short-term rental market. average occupancy is 67%. average monthly revenue is $3,618. average daily rate is $215. the top operator is Evolve with 236 listings. market score is 79/100 (grade B).
Market data reflects the Dallas regional market, which includes Little Elm. Regulations, taxes, and permit details below are specific to Little Elm.
Market Score Breakdown
Five dimensions Apivex evaluates per market.
Market Overview
Little Elm is a lakeside community in Denton County, TX, located on the north shore of Lake Lewisville within the Dallas-Fort Worth metro. With a population of 58,496, it is considerably smaller than neighboring DFW suburbs, and its STR market draws a mix of lake-access visitors, regional leisure travelers, and overflow demand from the broader Dallas-Frisco-Prosper corridor.
Note: Little Elm’s STR performance metrics in the Apivex dataset share the same market-area data series as adjacent communities in this corridor; individual Little Elm figures may reflect a broader north DFW suburban market rather than Little Elm’s city limits exclusively.
In April 2026, the latest data month, active STR listings in the market averaged $172 per night (ADR) at 60.0% occupancy, producing a RevPAR of $103. Average monthly revenue per listing reached $2,860. The market’s Apivex total score is 79.4 out of 100, with a seasonality score of 97.3 indicating consistent year-round demand. Listing composition shows 83.3% entire-place units, 15.8% private rooms, and 0.9% shared rooms. One-bedroom units represent 46.1% of supply, followed by three-bedroom (19.4%), two-bedroom (16.1%), four-bedroom (12.5%), and five-or-more-bedroom (5.8%). Airbnb-only listings account for 59.2% of supply, with 35.7% listed on both Airbnb and VRBO, and 5.1% exclusively on VRBO.
Year-over-year as of April 2026, occupancy edged up 0.11 percentage points while ADR slipped 1.52%, producing a 1.60% revenue gain. The 2025 annual average was $170 ADR and $2,913 monthly revenue; 2024 averaged $173 ADR and $2,906 monthly revenue.
Seasonal Patterns
| Month | Occupancy | ADR | Revenue |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 55% | $131 | $2,030 |
| Feb | 60% | $133 | $2,028 |
| Mar | 65% | $149 | $2,660 |
| Apr | 61% | $146 | $2,381 |
| May | 64% | $151 | $2,558 |
| Jun | 70% | $156 | $2,833 |
| Jul | 67% | $141 | $2,549 |
| Aug | 61% | $138 | $2,316 |
| Sep | 61% | $142 | $2,279 |
| Oct | 62% | $147 | $2,470 |
| Nov | 59% | $144 | $2,307 |
| Dec | 58% | $143 | $2,292 |
Top Short-Term Rental Operators in Little Elm
Ranked by total active listings. Useful for understanding the competitive landscape.
| # | Operator | Listings | Reviews | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Evolve | 236 | 5,915 | ★ 4.41 |
| 2 | Landing, Inc. | 196 | 238 | ★ 4.36 |
| 3 | Landing | 169 | 7 | ★ 2.68 |
| 4 | Luxora | 124 | 4,413 | ★ 4.36 |
| 5 | Properties By Preston | 109 | 267 | ★ 3.61 |
What Kind of STR Should I Buy in Little Elm?
Revenue and pricing by property type, tier, and bedroom count.
Revenue by Bedroom Count
| 1 bed | 8,978 |
| 2 bed | 3,142 |
| 3 bed | 3,771 |
| 4 bed | 2,432 |
| 5 bed | 1,138 |
ADR by Property Tier
| Entire Home | $248 |
| Luxury | $365 |
| Professionally Managed | $252 |
Revenue by Dwelling Type
| Apartment | $2,987 |
| Entire Place | $4,117 |
| House | $4,031 |
Booking Channel Mix
Distribution of bookings across major STR platforms.
| Channel | Share |
|---|---|
| airbnb | 59.2% |
| vrbo | 5.1% |
| both | 35.7% |
Investment Analysis
Little Elm’s STR investment case is shaped by its lake access, lower-density residential character, and a regulatory framework that, unlike some DFW neighbors, does not impose a citywide supply cap. Housing snapshot data is not available for Little Elm in the current data period, so entry-cost analysis cannot be completed from this dataset. Prospective investors should source current Denton County MLS data and appraisal district records to evaluate purchase price relative to expected revenue.
At $2,860 average monthly revenue, the annualized gross per listing is approximately $34,320. Net returns depend on purchase price, which is not available in the current housing snapshot, along with platform fees, property management costs, local taxes (13% combined HOT), maintenance, and vacancy.
ADR tiers reveal meaningful differentiation above the $172 all-listings average: entire-home listings averaged $195, professionally managed listings averaged $187 ($15 premium over all-listings), and luxury-tier properties averaged $301 per night. Revenue by property type: entire-place listings averaged $3,211/month, houses averaged $3,205/month, and apartments averaged $2,325/month.
Apivex rates investability at 66.2 out of 100 and revenue growth at 71.3. The 97.3 seasonality score reflects very consistent year-round demand, an advantage for investors who prefer predictable monthly cash flow over peak-season windfalls. The absence of a citywide permit cap (unlike nearby Lewisville, which caps at 150 permits) means supply can grow freely, which operators should monitor as a competitive risk.
Revenue Trend (5 yr)
ADR & Occupancy Trends (5 yr)
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Booking Insights
The average booking lead time in Little Elm’s market area is 26.6 days, under four weeks ahead of arrival. This short lead window suggests primarily close-in bookings from regional DFW visitors and opportunistic travelers rather than advance-planned vacations. Operators should reprice frequently in the 2-3 weeks before unbooked dates.
Average length of stay is 4.7 nights. This is longer than a pure weekend stay but shorter than a week-long vacation, consistent with mid-week lake visitors and regional event travelers. Lake Lewisville access likely generates some same-week summer bookings from DFW residents seeking a quick getaway. At $172 ADR over 4.7 nights, the average gross booking revenue is approximately $809 before fees.
Short-Term Rental Regulations
Little Elm requires STR registration under Ordinance No. 1673 (program effective May 5, 2020). Key requirements as of mid-2026:
Registration: Any residential property or portion rented for fewer than 30 consecutive days must be registered with the Town before listing or operating. Registration costs $200 per unit annually (late fee is $400). There is no citywide cap on registrations.
Tax: Operators must collect and remit the Town’s 7% Hotel Occupancy Tax directly to the Finance Department. Combined with the 6% Texas state HOT, the total tax on stays under 30 days is 13%. Monthly remittance is required if HOT liability exceeds $500 in a calendar month or $1,500 in a quarter (due the 20th of the following month); otherwise quarterly.
Operational standards: Properties must comply with Ordinance No. 1673 requirements covering occupancy and vehicle caps, quiet hours, and anti-nuisance rules.
Enforcement: Progressive and strict. A first violation results in a written warning. Subsequent violations trigger registration termination with reapplication bans of 6 months, then 1 year, then permanent ineligibility. Fines run up to $500 per offense, with each day of violation counted as a separate offense. Violations are reportable to Community Integrity.
No owner-occupancy or primary-residence requirement applies, and there is no annual night cap. Little Elm’s registration cost ($200) and absence of a supply cap differ from nearby Lewisville, which charges $400 and limits total permits to 150 citywide.
Market Comparison
Little Elm’s April 2026 ADR of $172 is below the approximate U.S. STR median of $220, consistent with its suburban DFW positioning and smaller market scale. Its 60.0% April occupancy exceeds the national median of approximately 55%, and the year-round consistency (55-70% occupancy range across all 12 months) is a structural advantage relative to highly seasonal markets.
The operator landscape in this market area is led by Evolve (236 listings, 4.407 rating, 5,915 reviews) and Landing, Inc. (196 listings, 4.356 rating). A separate Landing entity with 169 listings and a 2.678 rating may represent a transitional portfolio. Luxora holds 124 listings with a 4.361 rating across 4,413 reviews. Properties By Preston holds 109 listings (3.612 rating).
Important context: these operator data reflect the broader north DFW suburban market area shared between Little Elm and adjacent communities. Little Elm-specific operator concentration may differ from these aggregate counts. The absence of a citywide supply cap means the operator landscape can continue to grow over time, in contrast to Lewisville’s 150-permit ceiling.
Frequently Asked Questions About Little Elm, Texas
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