Brevard, North Carolina Short-Term Rental Market
Brevard / Western NC short-term rentals averaged $210/night at 44.4% occupancy in April 2026, with July peak revenue reaching $4,163 per listing.
Quick Answer: Brevard, North Carolina is an active short-term rental market. average occupancy is 44%. average monthly revenue is $2,509. average daily rate is $210. the top operator is Evolve with 725 listings. market score is 70/100 (grade C).
Market Score Breakdown
Five dimensions Apivex evaluates per market.
Market Overview
The Brevard / Western North Carolina short-term rental market spans six mountain counties: Buncombe, Haywood, Jackson, Swain, Transylvania, and Madison. The area is anchored by Great Smoky Mountains National Park (12.2 million visitors in 2024), the Blue Ridge Parkway, and Asheville’s arts and culinary scene. In April 2026, the market posted an average daily rate of $210 and occupancy of 44.4%, generating average monthly revenue of $2,509. RevPAR was $93.07.
Year-over-year in April 2026, occupancy grew 3.30%, ADR rose 0.35%, and revenue increased 5.71%, reflecting a recovery from Hurricane Helene’s September 2024 impact. The 2025 full-year average showed 48.5% occupancy at $221 ADR and $3,033/month, modestly below 2021’s $3,441 peak as the market continues to normalize post-pandemic and post-Helene.
The listing pool comprises approximately 12,402 active listings. By bedroom count: 2-bedroom leads at 3,826 listings, followed by 3-bedroom (3,374), 1-bedroom (2,999), 4-bedroom (1,423), and 5-bedroom (766). Entire-place listings account for 12,099 units, or approximately 97.6% of inventory, with 303 private-room listings. Channel distribution shows strong dual-platform penetration: 7,567 listings appear on both Airbnb and VRBO (61% of inventory), 3,372 are Airbnb-only, and 1,463 are VRBO-only.
The composite market score is 69.9 out of 100. Investability scores 80.9, regulation 74.2, and seasonality 71.1. Rental demand (59.4) and revenue growth (67.4) are moderate.
Seasonal Patterns
| Month | Occupancy | ADR | Revenue |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 32% | $182 | $1,841 |
| Feb | 41% | $181 | $1,882 |
| Mar | 47% | $187 | $2,364 |
| Apr | 47% | $194 | $2,452 |
| May | 49% | $203 | $2,509 |
| Jun | 61% | $227 | $3,529 |
| Jul | 68% | $226 | $4,163 |
| Aug | 56% | $217 | $3,422 |
| Sep | 49% | $207 | $2,750 |
| Oct | 61% | $212 | $3,425 |
| Nov | 49% | $213 | $2,818 |
| Dec | 46% | $208 | $2,731 |
Top Short-Term Rental Operators in Brevard
Ranked by total active listings. Useful for understanding the competitive landscape.
| # | Operator | Listings | Reviews | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Evolve | 725 | 35,200 | ★ 4.76 |
| 2 | Vacasa | 463 | 17,166 | ★ 4.47 |
| 3 | Yonder | 118 | 3,770 | ★ 4.71 |
| 4 | Rumbling Bald Resort | 112 | 412 | ★ 4.35 |
| 5 | Bryson City Cabin Rentals | 112 | 1,406 | ★ 4.64 |
What Kind of STR Should I Buy in Brevard?
Revenue and pricing by property type, tier, and bedroom count.
Revenue by Bedroom Count
| 1 bed | 2,999 |
| 2 bed | 3,826 |
| 3 bed | 3,374 |
| 4 bed | 1,423 |
| 5 bed | 766 |
ADR by Property Tier
| Entire Home | $212 |
| Luxury | $357 |
| Professionally Managed | $243 |
Revenue by Dwelling Type
| Apartment | $1,759 |
| Entire Place | $2,542 |
| House | $2,651 |
Booking Channel Mix
Distribution of bookings across major STR platforms.
| Channel | Share |
|---|---|
| airbnb | 27.2% |
| vrbo | 11.8% |
| both | 61% |
Investment Analysis
Western NC offers a balance of moderate entry costs and consistent mountain tourism demand. At a typical home value of $463,000 and average monthly STR revenue of $2,509, the implied gross yield before expenses is approximately 6.5% annualized ($30,111 / $463,221). The investability score of 80.9 reflects competitive but not extreme home prices for a four-season mountain destination.
Property-type tiers show revenue differentiation. House listings averaged $2,651/month in April, entire-place listings averaged $2,542, and apartment listings averaged $1,759. The house-to-apartment spread is about 51%, illustrating the premium placed on private, cabin-style accommodations that characterize the Western NC vacation market.
Tier-level ADR: luxury listings averaged $357/night, professionally managed listings averaged $243/night, and the all-listings average was $210/night. The professionally managed premium is 16% over the market average, suggesting meaningful rate lift from professional management platforms in this market.
Housing market conditions: typical home value is $463,000, median sale price is $466,000, and median list price is $556,000. The 0.837 sale-to-list ratio indicates properties are selling below asking price on average, giving buyers negotiating room. Inventory stands at 192 homes for sale.
Hurricane Helene’s September 2024 impact reduced Buncombe County lodging revenue 26% year-over-year through March 2025. By summer 2025, approximately 85% of tourism businesses had reopened. The Blue Ridge Parkway closures caused by Helene were largely restored by 2026. Revenue in 2025 ($3,033/month) recovered modestly from the 2024 impact ($3,000) and is approaching pre-Helene 2023 levels ($2,960 average for that year).
Revenue trend by year: $2,960 (2023), $3,000 (2024, Helene year), $3,033 (2025, partial recovery).
Revenue Trend (5 yr)
ADR & Occupancy Trends (5 yr)
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Booking Insights
Western NC guests book an average of 48.8 days in advance, and the average length of stay is 3.7 nights. The 49-day lead time is consistent with destination mountain vacation planning, particularly for fall foliage season where preferred October weeks book far in advance.
With a 49-day average booking window, operators should price October leaf-season weekends no later than 60-70 days before the target date. Columbus Day weekend and mid-October (typically peak foliage) are the most competitive booking dates in the fall season. Similarly, summer holiday weekends (July 4th, Labor Day) should be priced at premium rates at least 60 days out.
The 3.7-night average stay is consistent with the Bowling Green, KY market, reflecting extended long-weekend and short-vacation travelers. The dual-peak structure (summer July, fall October) means operators who set season-appropriate minimums, such as 3-night minimums for peak fall weekends versus 2-night minimums for shoulder months, can improve revenue per booking while keeping occupancy competitive.
Short-Term Rental Regulations
The Western NC market spans six counties with significantly different STR rules. Investors must evaluate the jurisdiction where their specific property sits.
Asheville city (Buncombe County, most restrictive): Whole-home short-term vacation rentals (STVRs) have been banned in all residential zones since 2018. New STVRs are permitted only in the Resort zoning district, which contains large resort hotels. The only compliant path in residential zones is a Homestay Permit: the owner must live full-time at the property, be present overnight during all guest stays, rent no more than 1-2 bedrooms, keep each stay under 30 days, and pay an annual $208 fee. Violations carry fines up to $500 per day. Enforcement is rated strict.
Unincorporated Buncombe County: No formal STR permit required as of May 2026. Proposed ordinance amendments to restrict whole-home STRs were deferred in April 2024 and remain on hold while the county focuses on Hurricane Helene recovery. The county passed a temporary emergency housing ordinance in late 2024 allowing STR-to-long-term-rental conversion for disaster victims.
Haywood, Jackson, Swain, Transylvania counties: No county-wide STR permit required as of May 2026. Waynesville (Haywood County) planning board has been studying STR regulations since 2024. Jackson County raised its occupancy tax from 4% to 6% effective July 1, 2025.
State tax: North Carolina levies a 6.75% state and local room occupancy tax on STR stays. County and municipal occupancy taxes vary; the combined rate in this area is referenced at 6% in the area profile. Operators should verify applicable local rates with county revenue departments.
NC Senate Bill 291 (2025), which would limit local STR preemption authority, has not advanced as of May 2026.
Market Comparison
Western NC’s 44.4% April occupancy is below the U.S. STR median of approximately 55%. However, the 2025 full-year average of 48.5% is more representative of the market’s performance across seasons. The $210 ADR in April falls close to the U.S. median of roughly $220, and the October ADR of $212 reflects the consistent pricing power of the fall foliage season.
Revenue growth of 5.71% year-over-year in April 2026 is a positive signal given the Hurricane Helene disruption in 2024. The market’s recovery trajectory is evident in the year-over-year comparisons.
Property management in this market is heavily concentrated. The top five managers collectively hold approximately 1,530 listings, or about 12% of total market inventory. Evolve leads with 725 listings and 35,200 reviews (4.76 average rating), the largest operator presence by a wide margin in this batch of markets. Vacasa follows with 463 listings (17,166 reviews, 4.47 rating). Yonder manages 118 listings (3,770 reviews, 4.71 rating), Rumbling Bald Resort 112 listings (412 reviews, 4.35 rating), and Bryson City Cabin Rentals 112 listings (1,406 reviews, 4.64 rating).
The large Evolve listing count reflects the platform’s broad reach across independent cabin operators in the multi-county region. Rumbling Bald Resort’s low review count (412 at a 4.35 rating) suggests a newer or more limited-season operation.
Frequently Asked Questions About Brevard, North Carolina
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