Issaquah, Washington Short-Term Rental Market
Issaquah STRs averaged $159/night at 62.6% occupancy in April 2026 across roughly 15,200 active listings.
Quick Answer: Issaquah, Washington is an active short-term rental market. average occupancy is 72%. average monthly revenue is $4,921. average daily rate is $268. the top operator is Blueground with 508 listings. market score is 51/100 (grade D).
Market data reflects the Seattle regional market, which includes Issaquah. Regulations, taxes, and permit details below are specific to Issaquah.
Market Score Breakdown
Five dimensions Apivex evaluates per market.
Market Overview
Issaquah, Washington is a Cascade-foothills suburb approximately 18 miles east of Seattle with a permanent population of roughly 39,664. The short-term rental market carries approximately 15,218 active listings as of the latest snapshot. Entire-place rentals account for 12,230 of those (80%), with private-room listings making up an additional 2,997. The bedroom mix skews heavily toward smaller units: 7,894 one-bedroom listings dominate, followed by 3,504 two-bedroom, 2,172 three-bedroom, 1,008 four-bedroom, and 640 five-bedroom or larger units, reflecting the suburban and apartment-corridor character of the market. As of April 2026, the all-listings ADR was $159.05 and occupancy averaged 62.6%, producing a RevPAR of $99.58. Year-over-year, occupancy declined 2.54% and revenue fell 3.38%, while ADR edged up 0.67%. Channel distribution leans strongly toward Airbnb, with 9,261 listings on Airbnb only, 5,400 on both Airbnb and VRBO, and 587 on VRBO only. Rental demand scores 90.7 out of 100, among the highest nationally, though the total market score of 50.9 and investability score of 48.9 indicate that high regulatory complexity tempers the demand signal.
Seasonal Patterns
| Month | Occupancy | ADR | Revenue |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 55% | $119 | $1,900 |
| Feb | 62% | $120 | $1,857 |
| Mar | 68% | $132 | $2,380 |
| Apr | 65% | $136 | $2,390 |
| May | 71% | $149 | $2,747 |
| Jun | 79% | $184 | $3,696 |
| Jul | 80% | $178 | $3,826 |
| Aug | 77% | $177 | $3,658 |
| Sep | 71% | $159 | $3,020 |
| Oct | 64% | $142 | $2,570 |
| Nov | 60% | $134 | $2,171 |
| Dec | 59% | $132 | $2,133 |
Top Short-Term Rental Operators in Issaquah
Ranked by total active listings. Useful for understanding the competitive landscape.
| # | Operator | Listings | Reviews | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Blueground | 508 | 265 | ★ 4.36 |
| 2 | Evolve | 181 | 4,933 | ★ 4.55 |
| 3 | Vacasa | 151 | 8,263 | ★ 4.47 |
| 4 | Snowball Rentals | 139 | 5,391 | ★ 4.78 |
| 5 | Vince | 132 | 12,247 | ★ 4.57 |
What Kind of STR Should I Buy in Issaquah?
Revenue and pricing by property type, tier, and bedroom count.
Revenue by Bedroom Count
| 1 bed | 7,894 |
| 2 bed | 3,504 |
| 3 bed | 2,172 |
| 4 bed | 1,008 |
| 5 bed | 640 |
ADR by Property Tier
| Entire Home | $307 |
| Luxury | $466 |
| Professionally Managed | $351 |
Revenue by Dwelling Type
| Apartment | $4,907 |
| Entire Place | $5,608 |
| House | $4,985 |
Booking Channel Mix
Distribution of bookings across major STR platforms.
| Channel | Share |
|---|---|
| airbnb | 60.7% |
| vrbo | 3.8% |
| both | 35.4% |
Investment Analysis
Issaquah presents a high-demand, high-complexity investment profile. At April 2026 rates, the average listing generated $2,690 per month. Entire-place listings outperform at $3,026 per month. Housing value data was not available in the latest snapshot, so a gross yield calculation cannot be provided. The tier_professionally_managed ADR of $187.64 is 18% above the all-listings average of $159.05, and the luxury tier ADR of $280.63 is 76% above the market average, suggesting meaningful upside for well-positioned properties. Apartments and houses perform similarly in this market, at $2,703 and $2,699 per month respectively, with entire-place listings ($3,026) outperforming both, likely due to self-contained units commanding a premium over individual rooms in shared buildings. The 2025 full-year average monthly revenue of $3,254 was the second-highest on record, behind 2024 at $3,275, and well above the 2020 trough of $1,947. The market’s high investability score of 48.9 reflects regulatory uncertainty: the city’s bed-and-breakfast zoning framework requires owner occupancy in residential zones, and several large HOA communities, most notably Issaquah Highlands, prohibit STRs outright. Investors must conduct community-level due diligence before purchasing.
Revenue Trend (5 yr)
ADR & Occupancy Trends (5 yr)
Run a Free Address Analysis
Skip the market averages. Get revenue projections, comp analysis, and ROI for your specific property address. Free, instant, no signup required.
Analyze My Property →Home Value Trends (Issaquah)
Booking Insights
Issaquah guests book an average of 35 days in advance and stay an average of 5.12 nights per visit. The 35-day lead time is relatively short and suggests a blend of regional travelers making spontaneous weekend plans and longer-stay corporate or relocation guests. The 5.12-night average stay is longer than most urban markets, likely reflecting a mix of extended-stay guests, corporate travelers relocating to or from the Seattle tech corridor, and leisure visitors who use Issaquah as a hiking and outdoor recreation base. Longer average stays reduce turnover frequency, which can lower cleaning costs and improve net operating margins. At the April 2026 occupancy of 62.6% and a 5.12-night average stay, a listing turns over approximately 4 to 5 times per month on average. The short lead time also means operators can be more aggressive with last-minute discounting without as much advance-booking pressure as in pure destination markets.
Short-Term Rental Regulations
Issaquah does not have a standalone short-term-rental ordinance. The city treats STR activity as a business requiring a City of Issaquah business license (approximately $60 per year, renewed annually, plus a Washington state Business Licensing Service handling fee). Because no dedicated STR land-use category exists, the city applies its bed-and-breakfast and home-business zoning standards. In residential zones, a bed-and-breakfast-style operation generally requires the owner or proprietor to live on the premises, provide separate guest bathroom facilities, and comply with home-business standards under the Issaquah Municipal Code. This means whole-home, non-owner-occupied short-term rentals sit in a regulatory grey area and may not be clearly permitted under current zoning. At the state level, Washington’s RCW 64.37 requires STR operators to carry at least $1,000,000 in liability insurance (or rely on platform coverage), register with the Department of Revenue for a UBI and state business license if renting three or more times per year, and collect and remit applicable taxes. Guests pay state retail sales tax plus Issaquah’s 1% local lodging tax (which funds tourism promotion), in addition to King County sales taxes, bringing total tax well above 10% on short-term stays. Critically, many Issaquah subdivisions and HOAs impose stricter restrictions: Issaquah Highlands, one of the largest planned communities in the area, prohibits short-term leasing and requires written leases of six months or longer. Investors must verify HOA rules for any specific property before purchase. No Issaquah-specific STR ordinance change was identified as of early 2026.
Market Comparison
Issaquah’s April 2026 occupancy of 62.6% exceeds the U.S. STR median of approximately 55%, and rental demand scores 90.7 out of 100, placing this market among the top nationally by that measure. The ADR of $159.05 is below the national median of roughly $220, consistent with a suburban market without a strong luxury or coastal draw. The top property manager is Blueground with 508 listings and a 4.36 rating across 265 reviews, reflecting a strong corporate extended-stay orientation. Evolve follows with 181 listings and 4.55 rating across 4,933 reviews, and Vacasa manages 151 listings at 4.47 across 8,263 reviews. Snowball Rentals holds 139 listings with a strong 4.78 rating across 5,391 reviews, and Vince manages 132 listings at 4.57 across 12,247 reviews. These five operators collectively manage approximately 1,111 listings, representing roughly 7.3% of total market inventory. Blueground’s lead in this market, unusual nationally, signals that corporate and extended-stay demand is a significant component of Issaquah’s STR revenue base.
Frequently Asked Questions About Issaquah, Washington
What is the average daily rate for short-term rentals in Issaquah, WA?
What occupancy rate can Issaquah Airbnb hosts expect?
Is it legal to run an Airbnb in Issaquah?
What taxes apply to Issaquah short-term rentals?
When is peak season for Issaquah vacation rentals?
How long do Issaquah STR guests typically stay?
Who are the top property managers in Issaquah?
Analyze Issaquah Rentals
Use our free calculator to estimate Airbnb revenue for any property in Issaquah.
Free Issaquah STR Calculator →
