Cashiers, North Carolina Short-Term Rental Market
North Carolina Mountains STRs averaged $210/night at 44.3% occupancy in April 2026 across 12,300+ active listings.
Quick Answer: Cashiers, North Carolina is an active short-term rental market. average occupancy is 44%. average monthly revenue is $2,508. average daily rate is $210. the top operator is Evolve with 723 listings. market score is 70/100 (grade B).
Market Score Breakdown
Five dimensions Apivex evaluates per market.
Market Overview
The North Carolina Mountains market, anchored by resort communities such as Cashiers on the Highlands-Cashiers Plateau, is one of the largest mountain STR markets in the Southeast. More than 12,300 active listings are on record, with 12,067 entire-place units (97.5% of supply) and 303 private rooms. The bedroom distribution is relatively balanced: 2-bedroom (3,814), 1-bedroom (2,991), 3-bedroom (3,371), 4-bedroom (1,418), and 5-bedroom (761). April 2026 data shows an average daily rate of $210, average occupancy of 44.3%, and RevPAR of $93. Monthly revenue per listing was $2,508. Year-over-year, occupancy improved 3.2 percentage points, ADR edged up 0.37%, and revenue grew 5.7%. Channel distribution shows 7,543 listings on both Airbnb and VRBO, with 3,366 Airbnb-only and 1,461 VRBO-only. The overall market score is 70.1 out of 100, with investability (81.0) and seasonality (71.0) among the higher scores — the latter reflecting that this market sees demand across two distinct peak seasons rather than just summer.
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 | $2,508 |
| Jun | 61% | $227 | $3,529 |
| Jul | 68% | $226 | $4,163 |
| Aug | 56% | $217 | $3,422 |
| Sep | 49% | $207 | $2,750 |
| Oct | 61% | $212 | $3,426 |
| Nov | 49% | $213 | $2,818 |
| Dec | 46% | $208 | $2,731 |
Top Short-Term Rental Operators in Cashiers
Ranked by total active listings. Useful for understanding the competitive landscape.
| # | Operator | Listings | Reviews | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Evolve | 723 | 35,109 | ★ 4.76 |
| 2 | Vacasa | 454 | 17,037 | ★ 4.47 |
| 3 | Yonder | 119 | 3,777 | ★ 4.71 |
| 4 | Rumbling Bald Resort | 112 | 415 | ★ 4.35 |
| 5 | Bryson City Cabin Rentals | 112 | 1,400 | ★ 4.65 |
What Kind of STR Should I Buy in Cashiers?
Revenue and pricing by property type, tier, and bedroom count.
Revenue by Bedroom Count
| 1 bed | 2,991 |
| 2 bed | 3,814 |
| 3 bed | 3,371 |
| 4 bed | 1,418 |
| 5 bed | 761 |
ADR by Property Tier
| Entire Home | $212 |
| Luxury | $358 |
| Professionally Managed | $243 |
Revenue by Dwelling Type
| Apartment | $1,762 |
| Entire Place | $2,541 |
| 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
The NC Mountains market presents an unusual investment picture driven by the luxury nature of the Cashiers-Highlands area. The typical home value is $1,385,228 (April 2026 data), with median list prices at $1,640,000, reflecting the high-end resort character of the area. Against average monthly STR revenue of $2,508 (April 2026), annualized gross revenue projects to approximately $30,096, implying a gross yield of roughly 2.2% on the typical home value before expenses. Investors should note this headline figure reflects the broad-market average across the entire NC mountains region; properties at lower price points and higher-traffic locations can substantially outperform this average. Tier pricing shows significant upside potential: the professionally managed tier averages $243/night versus $210 for all listings (a 16% premium), and luxury-tier listings average $358/night (70% above the market average). Revenue growth of 5.7% year-over-year is positive. Annual data shows steady improvement from $2,265 per listing annually in 2019 to $3,442 in 2021, a pullback to $2,999 in 2024, and stabilization near $3,032 in 2025. ADR has climbed from $186 in 2019 to $221 in 2025.
Revenue Trend (5 yr)
ADR & Occupancy Trends (5 yr)
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Booking Insights
NC Mountains STR guests book approximately 49 days in advance on average (April 2026 data). This longer-than-average lead window reflects the destination character of mountain resort communities where guests plan trips around foliage season and summer outdoor activity. The average length of stay is 3.7 nights, slightly below four nights, consistent with long-weekend getaways. Operators should note the dual-peak structure: the fall foliage window in October is heavily booked in advance, similar to the summer peak, while winter and spring shoulder months tend to see shorter booking horizons and more last-minute availability. Setting minimum stay requirements of 3 nights or more during peak periods aligns with the market’s booking behavior and reduces turnover costs.
Short-Term Rental Regulations
Cashiers sits in unincorporated Jackson County, NC, so no municipal STR ordinance applies. Operators must register with the Jackson County Finance Office (828-631-2251) before renting and collect and remit occupancy tax. Effective July 1, 2025, Jackson County raised its occupancy tax from 4% to 6%, adding an estimated $1.25 million in annual county revenue. The 6% occupancy tax applies to properties rented 15 or more days per calendar year; stays of 90 or more consecutive days are exempt. Combined with the NC state sales tax rate of 6.75% (4.75% state plus 2% Jackson County local), the total tax burden is approximately 12.75% of gross rental receipts. No county-wide STR permit beyond occupancy tax registration is required for unincorporated areas. NC General Statute 160D-1207(c) prevents the county from imposing a mandatory registration permit separate from tax registration. No owner-occupancy requirement, no primary-residence requirement, and no cap on maximum rental nights per year applies at the county level. The regulation score for this market is 74.2 out of 100, and enforcement is rated minimal.
Market Comparison
Against national STR benchmarks (approximately 55% median occupancy, $220 median ADR), the NC Mountains market runs below national median on occupancy (44.3%) and near the median on ADR ($210). The dual-peak seasonal pattern differentiates it from single-peak coastal and ski markets. Revenue growth year-over-year was a positive 5.7%. The professional management landscape is led by national operators: Evolve holds 723 listings with a 4.76 average rating across 35,109 reviews, followed by Vacasa with 454 listings (4.47 rating, 17,037 reviews), Yonder with 119 listings (4.71 rating), Rumbling Bald Resort with 112 listings (4.35 rating), and Bryson City Cabin Rentals with 112 listings (4.65 rating). Evolve’s dominance at 723 listings represents about 6% of entire-place inventory. The market is less concentrated than the Outer Banks, with more room for independent operators to compete on quality and positioning.
Frequently Asked Questions About Cashiers, North Carolina
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What are the peak seasons for NC Mountains short-term rentals?
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