Maple Falls, Washington Short-Term Rental Market
Maple Falls, WA STRs averaged $241 per night in April 2026, serving as the gateway basecamp community for the Mt. Baker skiing and hiking corridor.
Quick Answer: Maple Falls, Washington is an active short-term rental market. average occupancy is 55%. average monthly revenue is $4,164. average daily rate is $305. the top operator is E-Domizil with 117 listings. market score is 49/100 (grade D).
Market data reflects the Northern Cascade Mtns regional market, which includes Maple Falls. Regulations, taxes, and permit details below are specific to Maple Falls.
Market Score Breakdown
Five dimensions Apivex evaluates per market.
Market Overview
The Maple Falls STR market spans approximately 1,574 listings in the latest snapshot. Entire-place listings account for 1,500 (95.3% of the market) and private-room rentals for 74 (4.7%); no shared rooms appear in this snapshot. By bedroom count, one-bedroom units are most common (539), followed by two-bedroom (439), three-bedroom (430), four-bedroom (111), and five-plus bedroom (53).
In April 2026, the market reported an average daily rate of $241 and occupancy of 29.1%, producing a RevPAR of $70. April is a seasonal trough for this mountain market. Average monthly revenue in April 2026 was $1,959. Year-over-year, occupancy fell 6.52 percentage points, ADR rose 4.44%, and revenue declined 3.42%.
Annual occupancy has been on a declining trend: 51.36% in 2022, 47.29% in 2023, 43.44% in 2024, and 43.93% in 2025 (ADR $295, monthly revenue $3,520). The 2025 annual average of $3,520 per month provides a more representative revenue benchmark than the April trough figure.
Airbnb and VRBO share the channel mix, with 546 Airbnb-only listings, 851 on both platforms, and 177 VRBO-only listings. The relatively high VRBO share (29% of cross-platform and exclusive listings) reflects VRBO’s strength in outdoor recreation and cabin markets.
Market scores: investability 73.3, revenue growth 72.7, total investability 49.1. The gap between the high investability sub-score (73.3) and lower total score (49.1) reflects declining occupancy weighing on the composite.
Maple Falls is a tiny unincorporated community (population 291) in Whatcom County, Washington, approximately 30 miles east of Bellingham on SR 542 (Mt. Baker Highway). It functions as the last significant supply hub before the Mt. Baker Ski Area and draws skiers, hikers, and outdoor recreation visitors. The Zillow typical home value is approximately $364,246, with only 16 properties currently listed for sale, indicating a highly illiquid real estate market.
Seasonal Patterns
| Month | Occupancy | ADR | Revenue |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 49% | $312 | $3,986 |
| Feb | 53% | $314 | $4,013 |
| Mar | 39% | $289 | $3,084 |
| Apr | 34% | $248 | $2,087 |
| May | 44% | $253 | $2,461 |
| Jun | 54% | $280 | $3,357 |
| Jul | 61% | $291 | $4,591 |
| Aug | 60% | $290 | $4,635 |
| Sep | 45% | $262 | $3,181 |
| Oct | 37% | $252 | $2,645 |
| Nov | 31% | $257 | $1,990 |
| Dec | 48% | $295 | $3,205 |
Top Short-Term Rental Operators in Maple Falls
Ranked by total active listings. Useful for understanding the competitive landscape.
| # | Operator | Listings | Reviews | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | E-Domizil | 117 | 78 | ★ 4.44 |
| 2 | Mt. Baker Lodging | 112 | 4,577 | ★ 4.55 |
| 3 | RedAwning | 97 | 206 | ★ 4.20 |
| 4 | Methow Reservations | 83 | 4,071 | ★ 4.88 |
| 5 | Your.Rentals | 76 | 53 | ★ 4.47 |
What Kind of STR Should I Buy in Maple Falls?
Revenue and pricing by property type, tier, and bedroom count.
Revenue by Bedroom Count
| 1 bed | 539 |
| 2 bed | 439 |
| 3 bed | 430 |
| 4 bed | 111 |
| 5 bed | 53 |
ADR by Property Tier
| Entire Home | $314 |
| Luxury | $583 |
| Professionally Managed | $372 |
Revenue by Dwelling Type
| Apartment | $2,483 |
| Entire Place | $4,237 |
| House | $4,636 |
Booking Channel Mix
Distribution of bookings across major STR platforms.
| Channel | Share |
|---|---|
| airbnb | 34.7% |
| vrbo | 11.2% |
| both | 54.1% |
Investment Analysis
The 2025 annual average monthly revenue of $3,520 projects to approximately $42,240 annualized, a more representative benchmark than the April trough figure of $1,959. At the 2025 annual revenue pace and a typical home value of $364,246, the implied gross yield is approximately 11.6%, before accounting for management fees, taxes, maintenance, and vacancies.
Entire-place listings average $1,998 per month in April 2026 (trough) and houses average $2,134. The 2025 annual average of $3,520 reflects the market across all seasons, including the high-revenue summer and winter windows.
The ADR tier structure in April 2026:
– Market average: $241 per night
– Entire-home tier: $245 per night (2% above market)
– Professionally managed tier: $303 per night (26% above market)
– Luxury tier: $396 per night (64% above market)
Occupancy has declined every year from 2022 (51.36%) through 2025 (43.93%), a persistent trend that investors must factor into projections. ADR has risen ($285 in 2024 to $295 in 2025), providing a partial offset, but revenue has also trended down ($3,799 in 2022 to $3,520 in 2025).
The for-sale inventory of 16 properties across the Maple Falls market area indicates very limited acquisition opportunities. The low liquidity and small community size mean investors should approach this market as a long-hold position rather than a short-term trade.
Revenue Trend (5 yr)
ADR & Occupancy Trends (5 yr)
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Booking Insights
Maple Falls STR guests book an average of 61 days (approximately 8.7 weeks) in advance, the longest lead time among all 10 markets in this batch. This long booking window reflects the planned nature of mountain recreation trips: ski weekends are often reserved months in advance, and summer hiking and camping trips to the Mt. Baker area are planned ahead as well.
The average length of stay is 3.22 nights, consistent with weekend-plus mountain getaways from Bellingham and the Vancouver, BC metro. The combination of a very long booking window and a short average stay creates specific revenue management opportunities.
Setting firm rates for confirmed ski season weekends (December through March) and summer peak weekends (July and August) early in the booking cycle is essential given that the 8.7-week lead time means bookings are landing well ahead of arrival. Operators who adjust rates reactively (waiting to see demand) will miss peak-window booking opportunities. A minimum 2-night stay on weekends and 3 nights during ski and summer holiday windows is appropriate given the market’s character.
Short-Term Rental Regulations
Maple Falls is an unincorporated community in Whatcom County, so short-term rentals are governed by the county rather than a city government. STRs are clearly permitted: on July 25, 2023, the Whatcom County Council adopted zoning amendments formally recognizing vacation rental units as a permitted accessory use wherever single-family dwellings are allowed in residential, rural, and agricultural zones.
As of mid-2026, Whatcom County has no active STR registration or licensing program. A countywide program with fees and performance standards (signage, safety, septic, and guest conduct requirements) was directed but had not yet been adopted. There is currently no county STR permit fee. Operators should monitor county communications for the program launch, as registration requirements are expected to take effect in the near term.
The notable special case is the Lake Whatcom Watershed Overlay District, where STRs require a Conditional Use Permit (CUP) due to environmental sensitivity. Maple Falls is in the Mount Baker and Nooksack River corridor, outside the Lake Whatcom watershed, so the CUP requirement does not apply here.
There are no owner-occupancy, primary-residence, or maximum-nights requirements. Operators must collect Whatcom County’s 2% transient occupancy (special hotel/motel) lodging tax under WCC Chapter 3.36, on top of Washington state and local sales and use taxes that also apply to lodging.
Note: Washington State SB 5576 (2025) authorizes (but does not mandate) a new local STR excise tax of up to 4%. If Whatcom County adopts such a tax, the total lodging tax burden would increase. Verify current rates with Whatcom County before collecting taxes from guests.
Market Comparison
Maple Falls’s 29.1% April 2026 occupancy reflects the seasonal trough (spring shoulder before summer activity begins). The 2025 annual average of 43.93% is below the U.S. STR median of approximately 55%, consistent with a small, highly seasonal mountain community. The $241 ADR in April exceeds the national median of approximately $220, reflecting a rate premium for outdoor recreation proximity.
Occupancy has declined every year from 2022 through 2025, a consistent signal of either supply growth or softening demand. ADR rose 4.44% year-over-year in the most recent period, showing that rate increases partially offset booking volume contraction.
The market’s total score of 49.1 is the lowest in this batch of 10 markets, primarily driven by the occupancy decline trend. The investability sub-score of 73.3 reflects that revenue relative to typical home values is still attractive.
The top five property managers in the Maple Falls market are:
1. E-Domizil: 117 listings, 78 reviews, 4.44 rating
2. Mt. Baker Lodging: 112 listings, 4,577 reviews, 4.55 rating
3. RedAwning: 97 listings, 206 reviews, 4.20 rating
4. Methow Reservations: 83 listings, 4,071 reviews, 4.88 rating
5. Your.Rentals: 76 listings, 53 reviews, 4.47 rating
Mt. Baker Lodging leads on established track record with 4,577 reviews and a 4.55 rating across 112 listings. Methow Reservations earns the highest rating among top operators at 4.88 from 4,071 reviews, though the firm is primarily based in the Methow Valley and may manage properties across multiple Washington mountain markets.
Frequently Asked Questions About Maple Falls, Washington
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