Heber Springs, Arkansas Short-Term Rental Market
Heber Springs STRs averaged $159/night at 44.0% occupancy in April 2026 across 6,660 entire-place listings.
Quick Answer: Heber Springs, Arkansas is an active short-term rental market. average occupancy is 44%. average monthly revenue is $1,961. average daily rate is $159. the top operator is Evolve with 434 listings. market score is 85/100 (grade A).
Market Score Breakdown
Five dimensions Apivex evaluates per market.
Market Overview
Heber Springs, Arkansas sits at the foot of Greers Ferry Lake, one of the largest lakes in the state at roughly 40,000 acres, and along the Little Red River, known internationally for trophy rainbow trout. That outdoor recreation draw sustains a short-term rental market that skews heavily toward entire-place listings: 6,660 of the roughly 6,880 active units are entire-place rentals, with 219 private rooms and just one shared room rounding out the supply. Bedroom distribution is nearly even across the 1-to-3 range, with 1,997 one-bedroom listings, 2,014 two-bedrooms, and 1,921 three-bedrooms; larger properties account for 647 four-bedroom and 296 five-bedroom units. Channel split shows 3,238 listings active on both Airbnb and VRBO simultaneously, 3,041 exclusively on Airbnb, and 601 on VRBO alone. In April 2026, the overall average daily rate was $158.61 and occupancy reached 44.0%, producing RevPAR of $69.72 and average monthly revenue of $1,961. Year-over-year, occupancy improved 5.05 percentage points while ADR slipped 1.78%, yielding a net revenue gain of 4.58% compared to April 2025. The market’s composite score of 85.11 out of 100 is anchored by an investability sub-score of 96.47, reflecting the combination of low acquisition costs and steady outdoor-tourism demand.
Seasonal Patterns
| Month | Occupancy | ADR | Revenue |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 32% | $132 | $1,364 |
| Feb | 40% | $132 | $1,298 |
| Mar | 51% | $153 | $2,029 |
| Apr | 43% | $151 | $1,813 |
| May | 49% | $161 | $2,038 |
| Jun | 57% | $176 | $2,694 |
| Jul | 57% | $178 | $2,879 |
| Aug | 44% | $163 | $2,085 |
| Sep | 42% | $155 | $1,800 |
| Oct | 50% | $156 | $2,184 |
| Nov | 45% | $152 | $1,890 |
| Dec | 38% | $146 | $1,697 |
Top Short-Term Rental Operators in Heber Springs
Ranked by total active listings. Useful for understanding the competitive landscape.
| # | Operator | Listings | Reviews | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Evolve | 434 | 17,398 | ★ 4.78 |
| 2 | Arkansas Vacation | 38 | 768 | ★ 4.74 |
| 3 | King Rhodes | 32 | 413 | ★ 4.75 |
| 4 | Buffalo Outdoor Center | 27 | 308 | ★ 4.91 |
| 5 | Ivy Vacations | 25 | 3,144 | ★ 4.90 |
What Kind of STR Should I Buy in Heber Springs?
Revenue and pricing by property type, tier, and bedroom count.
Revenue by Bedroom Count
| 1 bed | 1,997 |
| 2 bed | 2,014 |
| 3 bed | 1,921 |
| 4 bed | 647 |
| 5 bed | 296 |
ADR by Property Tier
| Entire Home | $161 |
| Luxury | $295 |
| Professionally Managed | $197 |
Revenue by Dwelling Type
| Apartment | $1,373 |
| Entire Place | $1,988 |
| House | $2,090 |
Booking Channel Mix
Distribution of bookings across major STR platforms.
| Channel | Share |
|---|---|
| airbnb | 44.2% |
| vrbo | 8.7% |
| both | 47.1% |
Investment Analysis
At a typical home value of $248,467, Heber Springs offers one of the lower entry points among lake-destination STR markets in the mid-South. Using April 2026 average monthly revenue of $1,961, an annualized gross revenue run rate of approximately $23,532 implies a gross yield of roughly 9.5% on the typical home value, before expenses, management fees, or taxes. Investors targeting higher-end properties can look to the luxury tier ADR of $295.37 per night (compared to the all-listings average of $158.61), and professionally managed listings averaged $197.47 per night, suggesting that active management or property positioning lifts realized rates by roughly 25% above the market average. Year-over-year revenue was up 4.58% in April 2026 versus April 2025, and annual averages show revenue held in the $2,100 range during 2024 and 2025 before the seasonal April dip. The investability score of 96.47 reflects the market’s relatively low regulation burden, the lake’s consistent visitation base, and the breadth of the listing pool. Prospective investors should note that median list prices were $330,817 as of April 2026, so newer acquisitions will carry a higher cost basis than the typical home value suggests, compressing that gross yield toward approximately 7.1% on a list-price acquisition.
Revenue Trend (5 yr)
ADR & Occupancy Trends (5 yr)
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Booking Insights
In April 2026, Heber Springs guests booked an average of 39.0 days in advance and stayed an average of 3.68 nights. A 39-day lead time gives operators roughly five to six weeks to adjust pricing before arrival, which is enough window to practice moderate dynamic pricing without sacrificing too many last-minute bookings. The 3.68-night average stay is consistent with weekend-and-one-extra leisure travel to a lake destination, suggesting the typical booking covers a long weekend or a partial week rather than a full week. For operators, this means turnover costs (cleaning, linens, restocking) repeat roughly 8 times per month for fully occupied properties, which can meaningfully affect net margins. Positioning minimum-stay requirements of 2 to 3 nights rather than 1 night can reduce cleaning frequency during high-demand summer weeks without substantially reducing total bookings, given the guest profile here.
Short-Term Rental Regulations
Heber Springs does not have a dedicated short-term rental ordinance, permit, or owner-occupancy requirement as of mid-2026. STRs are permitted and operate under the city’s general zoning code; no specific permit is required and enforcement is characterized as minimal. However, STR operators must collect and remit the city’s 2% Advertising and Promotion lodging tax, which applies explicitly to hotel, motel, and short-term rental accommodation revenues. In addition to that 2% A&P tax, guests are subject to the combined 9.125% sales tax (6.5% Arkansas state, 1.625% Cleburne County, 1% city) and Arkansas’s 2% statewide tourism tax on lodging, producing an effective tax burden of approximately 13% on the rental. There is no published maximum nights per year or primary-residence restriction. Zoning matters remain under the city’s general planning framework; the Planning Commission and Board of Adjustment handle rezoning and variance requests. Investors should confirm zoning compliance for any specific parcel directly with the Planning and Development office at 806 W. Main St. No recent changes to Heber Springs STR rules were identified as of mid-2026, though multiple other Arkansas cities have adopted dedicated STR business-license ordinances since 2021, which is a pattern worth monitoring.
Market Comparison
The U.S. STR median occupancy hovers near 55% and median ADR near $220. Heber Springs sits below both benchmarks at 44.0% occupancy and $158.61 ADR in April 2026, which is typical for a rural lake market with a concentrated summer season and a slow winter. The investability score of 96.47 stands out as notably high, driven by the low home-value entry point relative to revenue potential. Among the top operators, Evolve leads the market with 434 listings and 17,398 reviews at a 4.78-star average, giving it roughly 6.3% of total supply. Arkansas Vacation (38 listings, 4.74 stars), King Rhodes (32 listings, 4.75 stars), Buffalo Outdoor Center (27 listings, 4.91 stars), and Ivy Vacations (25 listings, 4.90 stars) fill out the top five. The high ratings from smaller operators like Buffalo Outdoor Center and Ivy Vacations suggest that specialist local managers can compete effectively on guest experience. The market remains fragmented overall, with Evolve’s 434-listing share still a small fraction of roughly 6,880 total units.
Frequently Asked Questions About Heber Springs, Arkansas
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