Port Austin, Michigan Short-Term Rental Market
Port Austin, MI short-term rentals averaged $272/night at 60.6% occupancy in June 2026, with a steep $1,000 annual village license fee.
Quick Answer: Port Austin, Michigan is an active short-term rental market. average occupancy is 61%. average monthly revenue is $3,990. average daily rate is $272. the top operator is MiCasa Stays with 96 listings. market score is 72/100 (grade B).
Market data reflects the Michigan East Coastal regional market, which includes Port Austin. Regulations, taxes, and permit details below are specific to Port Austin.
Market Score Breakdown
Five dimensions Apivex evaluates per market.
Market Overview
Port Austin sits at the northern tip of Michigan’s Thumb where M-53 dead-ends into Lake Huron, population 622, a seasonal destination busy in summer and quiet in winter. Core visitor draws include Turnip Rock kayak tours, Lake Huron beaches, the Port Crescent State Park dark-sky preserve, and a large Saturday farmers market. Visitors are predominantly regional drive-market travelers from southeast Michigan plus some Canadian tourists. In June 2026, the latest month with data, short-term rentals in this market averaged $271.54 per night at 60.6% occupancy, generating $3,990 in average monthly revenue per listing. Revenue rose 0.5% year over year while occupancy fell 2.9 percentage points and ADR declined 5.5%. By property type, apartments averaged $2,387/month, entire homes $4,059/month, and houses $4,302/month. Regionally, entire-place listings make up roughly 97% of inventory.
Seasonal Patterns
| Month | Occupancy | ADR | Revenue |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 36% | $144 | $1,529 |
| Feb | 42% | $147 | $1,501 |
| Mar | 43% | $141 | $1,612 |
| Apr | 44% | $147 | $1,534 |
| May | 49% | $189 | $1,840 |
| Jun | 61% | $228 | $3,211 |
| Jul | 74% | $231 | $4,431 |
| Aug | 67% | $229 | $4,111 |
| Sep | 41% | $198 | $2,285 |
| Oct | 39% | $167 | $1,912 |
| Nov | 39% | $154 | $1,667 |
| Dec | 40% | $157 | $1,738 |
Top Short-Term Rental Operators in Port Austin
Ranked by total active listings. Useful for understanding the competitive landscape.
| # | Operator | Listings | Reviews | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | MiCasa Stays | 96 | 3,722 | ★ 4.70 |
| 2 | Evolve | 63 | 1,959 | ★ 4.54 |
| 3 | Creative Conservation | 24 | 487 | ★ 4.67 |
| 4 | Hunger & Ransom | 22 | 827 | ★ 4.65 |
| 5 | LiveSuites | 16 | 530 | ★ 4.23 |
What Kind of STR Should I Buy in Port Austin?
Revenue and pricing by property type, tier, and bedroom count.
Revenue by Bedroom Count
| 1 bed | 372 |
| 2 bed | 692 |
| 3 bed | 570 |
| 4 bed | 186 |
| 5 bed | 131 |
ADR by Property Tier
| Entire Home | $275 |
| Luxury | $457 |
| Professionally Managed | $325 |
Revenue by Dwelling Type
| Apartment | $2,387 |
| Entire Place | $4,059 |
| House | $4,302 |
Booking Channel Mix
Distribution of bookings across major STR platforms.
| Channel | Share |
|---|---|
| airbnb | 40.2% |
| vrbo | 15.9% |
| both | 43.9% |
Investment Analysis
Port Austin’s market-wide ADR of $271.54 trails the professionally-managed tier average ($324.55) and sits well below the luxury tier average ($457.18), suggesting room for well-run, premium-positioned properties to outperform. No typical home value is currently published for this market in the housing dataset, so a gross rental yield cannot be calculated here; investors should source comparable local sale prices directly. The standout regulatory factor for Port Austin is cost: the Village Short Term Rental License carries a $1,000 annual application fee, a relatively steep entry cost for such a small market (population 622) and one of the highest flat STR fees in this batch, so investors should factor it directly into pro forma economics. No published owner-occupancy, primary-residence, or nightly cap requirement was found for the village license, but the regulatory environment has been actively evolving, with 2025 zoning amendment proposals drawing significant public pushback, so investors should treat rules as a moving target and confirm the current ordinance with the village office before purchase.
Revenue Trend (5 yr)
ADR & Occupancy Trends (5 yr)
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Booking Insights
Guests book Port Austin listings an average of 87.8 days ahead and stay 3.8 nights per trip. That lead time gives operators several months of visibility ahead of the sharply seasonal July-August window, useful for pricing around Turnip Rock kayak-tour demand and the village’s Saturday farmers market crowds.
Short-Term Rental Regulations
Short-term rentals are permitted in the Village of Port Austin but require a village-issued Short Term Rental License, carrying a $1,000 annual application fee renewed yearly. As with all Michigan lodging, operators must collect and remit the state’s 6% use tax on stays under 30 days; Airbnb collects and remits this Michigan state tax automatically, and no separate Huron County accommodations tax was identified. No published nightly cap, owner-occupancy, or primary-residence requirement was found for the village license, but these should be verified directly, and the regulatory environment is actively evolving: in spring 2025 the village pursued zoning amendments (Ordinance No. 31 and Section 417) targeting trailers, tents, and RVs used as temporary dwellings alongside broader short-term-rental scrutiny, drawing heated public pushback. Enforcement is rated moderate. Investors should contact the Village of Port Austin office for the current STR ordinance and application, and note that nearby township and county jurisdictions outside the village boundary have their own, often lighter, rules.
Market Comparison
Port Austin’s 60.6% occupancy in June 2026 sits above the roughly 55% U.S. median often cited for short-term rentals, while its $271.54 ADR runs above the roughly $220 national median, consistent with a moderately priced, above-average-occupancy Lake Huron beach market. MiCasa Stays leads regional professional management with 96 listings, 3,722 reviews, and a 4.70 rating, ahead of Evolve (63 listings, 4.54 rating), Creative Conservation (24 listings, 4.67 rating), Hunger & Ransom (22 listings, 4.65 rating), and LiveSuites (16 listings, 4.23 rating). MiCasa Stays’ lead over the next-largest operator suggests a modest concentration of professional management in this small market.
Frequently Asked Questions About Port Austin, Michigan
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