Atlantic Beach, North Carolina Short-Term Rental Market
Crystal Coast STRs averaged $242/night at 48.7% occupancy in April 2026 across 5,400+ active listings.
Quick Answer: Atlantic Beach, North Carolina is an active short-term rental market. average occupancy is 49%. average monthly revenue is $3,027. average daily rate is $242. the top operator is Bluewater Vacation Rentals with 557 listings. market score is 56/100 (grade C).
Market Score Breakdown
Five dimensions Apivex evaluates per market.
Market Overview
The Morehead City and Emerald Isle market on North Carolina’s Crystal Coast hosts more than 5,400 active short-term rental listings anchored almost entirely by whole-property inventory. Entire-place listings account for 5,110 units (roughly 97% of supply), with 155 private rooms and just one shared-room listing. By bedroom count, 3-bedroom properties lead with 1,755 units, followed by 2-bedroom (1,302), 1-bedroom (928), 4-bedroom (799), and 5-bedroom (477). The most recent data month (April 2026) shows an average daily rate of $242 across all listing types and average occupancy of 48.7%, producing a RevPAR of $118. Revenue per listing that month was $3,027. Year-over-year, occupancy declined 3.7 percentage points while ADR rose 8.96% and revenue grew 10.13%, suggesting the revenue gain is being driven by pricing rather than booking volume. Channel distribution shows 2,915 properties listed on both Airbnb and VRBO, with 1,344 Airbnb-only and 1,007 VRBO-only, indicating this is a cross-platform market where broad distribution matters. The overall market score is 56.5 out of 100, with investability (75.6) and revenue growth (82.9) as the strongest signals.
Seasonal Patterns
| Month | Occupancy | ADR | Revenue |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 36% | $152 | $1,614 |
| Feb | 46% | $150 | $1,632 |
| Mar | 54% | $179 | $2,191 |
| Apr | 54% | $197 | $2,625 |
| May | 60% | $230 | $3,295 |
| Jun | 76% | $284 | $5,316 |
| Jul | 78% | $275 | $5,649 |
| Aug | 65% | $261 | $4,533 |
| Sep | 51% | $220 | $2,974 |
| Oct | 48% | $192 | $2,503 |
| Nov | 41% | $176 | $1,973 |
| Dec | 38% | $159 | $1,761 |
Top Short-Term Rental Operators in Atlantic Beach
Ranked by total active listings. Useful for understanding the competitive landscape.
| # | Operator | Listings | Reviews | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Bluewater Vacation Rentals | 557 | 506 | ★ 4.50 |
| 2 | Vacasa | 276 | 6,357 | ★ 4.37 |
| 3 | Evolve | 153 | 6,899 | ★ 4.68 |
| 4 | Casago | 152 | 2,112 | ★ 4.34 |
| 5 | Spectrum Rental Properties | 126 | 2,213 | ★ 4.78 |
What Kind of STR Should I Buy in Atlantic Beach?
Revenue and pricing by property type, tier, and bedroom count.
Revenue by Bedroom Count
| 1 bed | 928 |
| 2 bed | 1,302 |
| 3 bed | 1,755 |
| 4 bed | 799 |
| 5 bed | 477 |
ADR by Property Tier
| Entire Home | $247 |
| Luxury | $397 |
| Professionally Managed | $324 |
Revenue by Dwelling Type
| Apartment | $2,594 |
| Entire Place | $3,087 |
| House | $3,326 |
Booking Channel Mix
Distribution of bookings across major STR platforms.
| Channel | Share |
|---|---|
| airbnb | 25.5% |
| vrbo | 19.1% |
| both | 55.4% |
Investment Analysis
For investors evaluating the Crystal Coast, the typical home value in this area is $531,239 based on April 2026 housing data, with median list prices at $469,667. Against an average monthly STR revenue of $3,027 (April 2026 actuals), annualized gross revenue projects to approximately $36,324 per year, implying a gross yield of roughly 6.8% on the typical home value before expenses. Tier separation shows meaningful upside for operators at scale: the professionally managed tier averages $324/night versus $242 for all listings, and the luxury tier reaches $397/night. Entire-home listings average $247/night, slightly above the all-listing mean. Revenue by property type in April 2026 shows houses generating $3,326/month, entire-place units $3,087, and apartments $2,594. The market’s revenue growth score of 82.9 out of 100 is a notably strong signal. Annual data shows revenue per listing climbed from $2,889 in 2020 to $3,452 in 2025, a 19.4% gain over five years despite occupancy softening from pandemic highs. ADR has risen from $189 in 2020 to $240 in 2025, a 27% increase, absorbing the occupancy decline and still improving net revenue per listing.
Revenue Trend (5 yr)
ADR & Occupancy Trends (5 yr)
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Booking Insights
Crystal Coast STR guests book an average of 45 days in advance (April 2026 data), which is a moderately long lead window for a beach destination. This gives operators meaningful pricing flexibility: rates can be held firm at peak pricing through the 6-week mark before a stay, with dynamic discounts applied only as the booking window shortens. The average length of stay is 3.98 nights, close to four nights and consistent with mid-week-plus-weekend booking patterns typical of beach markets. A near-4-night average reduces turnover frequency compared to markets with 2-night minimums, lowering cleaning costs per booking. Operators using dynamic pricing tools should set their base rates with this 45-day lead window in mind, avoiding early discounting that leaves revenue on the table during peak summer demand.
Short-Term Rental Regulations
Atlantic Beach, NC (the anchor municipality of this market area) operates under a permissive STR framework. No town-specific STR registration permit or operational license was identified in publicly available sources. North Carolina’s Vacation Rental Act (G.S. Chapter 42A) governs statewide and limits local governments’ ability to ban STRs that were legally operating before any new ordinance. No owner-occupancy or primary-residence requirement applies. No maximum-nights-per-year cap was identified. The primary compliance layer is tax: Carteret County levies a 6% occupancy tax on gross rental receipts from stays under 90 days, and North Carolina’s combined sales tax on accommodations is approximately 6.75% (4.75% state plus 2% local for Carteret County), for a combined effective tax burden of roughly 13% of gross rent. Airbnb and VRBO collect and remit these taxes for platform-facilitated bookings. The regulation score for this market is 67.5 out of 100, and enforcement is rated minimal. Operators should confirm current zoning compliance with the Atlantic Beach Planning and Inspections Department at (252) 726-4456.
Market Comparison
Compared to national STR benchmarks (approximately 55% median occupancy and $220 median ADR), the Crystal Coast runs below median on occupancy (48.7% in April 2026) but above on ADR ($242 versus the $220 national median). This above-average rate environment reflects the coastal vacation premium. Revenue growth year-over-year was +10.1%, outpacing most inland markets. The professional management landscape is concentrated: Bluewater Vacation Rentals leads with 557 listings and a 4.50 average rating, followed by Vacasa (276 listings, 4.37 rating), Evolve (153 listings, 4.68 rating), Casago (152 listings, 4.34 rating), and Spectrum Rental Properties (126 listings, 4.78 rating). The top two operators alone account for approximately 833 listings, or roughly 15% of the entire-place inventory. Operators entering this market compete against well-established local and national management companies with deep review profiles.
Frequently Asked Questions About Atlantic Beach, North Carolina
What is the average daily rate for STRs on the Crystal Coast (Morehead City/Emerald Isle)?
What is the typical monthly revenue for a Crystal Coast short-term rental?
Do I need a permit to operate an Airbnb in Atlantic Beach or Emerald Isle, NC?
What are the best and worst months for Crystal Coast STR revenue?
How far in advance do guests typically book Crystal Coast rentals?
What is the gross rental yield for a Crystal Coast investment property?
Who are the largest property managers on the Crystal Coast?
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