Lake Havasu City, Arizona Short-Term Rental Market
Lake Havasu City STRs averaged $227/night at 52.7% occupancy in April 2026 across roughly 3,400 active listings.
Quick Answer: Lake Havasu City, Arizona is an active short-term rental market. average occupancy is 50%. average monthly revenue is $3,912. average daily rate is $275. the top operator is Evolve with 306 listings. market score is 45/100 (grade D).
Market data reflects the Lake Havasu/Kingman regional market, which includes Lake Havasu City. Regulations, taxes, and permit details below are specific to Lake Havasu City.
Market Score Breakdown
Five dimensions Apivex evaluates per market.
Market Overview
Lake Havasu City, Arizona is a water-recreation destination on the Colorado River with an estimated 835,000 annual visitors and a population of approximately 57,000 permanent residents. The city draws spring break visitors, winter snowbirds, boaters, and off-road enthusiasts year-round. Its short-term rental market is anchored by about 3,400 to 3,418 active listings, making it a moderately sized STR market by national standards.
In April 2026, the average daily rate was $227 and occupancy was 52.7%, generating $120 in revenue per available room. Year-over-year performance showed marginal occupancy growth of 0.11 percentage points, a slight ADR decline of 1.70%, and net revenue growth of 2.67%.
Entire-place listings dominate at 3,313 (97% of the market), with 105 private rooms. The bedroom mix centers on three-bedroom properties (1,611 listings), followed by two-bedroom (579), four-bedroom (517), and one-bedroom (513), with 194 listings at five or more bedrooms. Three-bedroom homes represent 47% of the market, reflecting the group and extended-stay character of lake and river recreation demand.
Channel distribution shows strong dual-platform presence: 1,845 listings appear on both Airbnb and VRBO, 1,292 on Airbnb only, and 281 on VRBO only. The 54% dual-platform rate suggests active distribution management across channels. The overall market score of 44.5 out of 100 and investability score of 68.9 reflect a functional but not standout investment market relative to top-tier national vacation destinations.
Seasonal Patterns
| Month | Occupancy | ADR | Revenue |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 59% | $150 | $2,213 |
| Feb | 70% | $161 | $2,515 |
| Mar | 72% | $189 | $3,316 |
| Apr | 53% | $211 | $2,788 |
| May | 46% | $229 | $2,728 |
| Jun | 55% | $261 | $3,820 |
| Jul | 57% | $268 | $4,240 |
| Aug | 45% | $240 | $3,037 |
| Sep | 39% | $221 | $2,369 |
| Oct | 41% | $180 | $2,118 |
| Nov | 42% | $165 | $1,758 |
| Dec | 43% | $157 | $1,797 |
Top Short-Term Rental Operators in Lake Havasu City
Ranked by total active listings. Useful for understanding the competitive landscape.
| # | Operator | Listings | Reviews | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Evolve | 306 | 12,409 | ★ 4.75 |
| 2 | Desert Concierge Management | 86 | 3,385 | ★ 4.81 |
| 3 | StayEasyLLC | 68 | 2,968 | ★ 4.88 |
| 4 | Integrity Arizona Real Estate Sales | 60 | 785 | ★ 4.65 |
| 5 | Help U Sell Real Estate | 39 | 248 | ★ 4.61 |
What Kind of STR Should I Buy in Lake Havasu City?
Revenue and pricing by property type, tier, and bedroom count.
Revenue by Bedroom Count
| 1 bed | 513 |
| 2 bed | 579 |
| 3 bed | 1,611 |
| 4 bed | 517 |
| 5 bed | 194 |
ADR by Property Tier
| Entire Home | $279 |
| Luxury | $454 |
| Professionally Managed | $331 |
Revenue by Dwelling Type
| Apartment | $2,398 |
| Entire Place | $3,977 |
| House | $4,204 |
Booking Channel Mix
Distribution of bookings across major STR platforms.
| Channel | Share |
|---|---|
| airbnb | 37.8% |
| vrbo | 8.2% |
| both | 54% |
Investment Analysis
Lake Havasu City offers a mid-tier STR investment case with a clear appeal for buyers seeking affordable Arizona waterfront-adjacent properties. The April 2026 all-listing ADR of $227 reflects standard market pricing, but tiers diverge significantly: luxury listings averaged $394 and professionally managed properties averaged $282, compared to the $232 average for entire-home listings.
Monthly revenue for the average listing was $3,000 in April 2026. Entire-place listings averaged $3,048 and house listings averaged $3,207. At the April 2026 pace, annualized revenue would be approximately $35,994, though the market’s heavy spring concentration and quiet winter months require careful cash-flow modeling.
The typical home value was $464,630 as of April 2026, with a median sale price of $462,667 and a median list price of $503,533. The sale-to-list ratio of 0.919 and median 39 days to pending suggest a balanced-to-soft resale market, which may give buyers some pricing leverage. At an annualized revenue pace of $35,994 against a typical home value of $464,630, the implied gross revenue yield is approximately 7.8%. This does not account for operating costs, management fees, or financing.
With 696 properties for sale as of April 2026, the for-sale inventory is relatively deep for a market of this size, providing meaningful acquisition opportunities. The investability score of 68.9 out of 100 is above average but below the top-tier markets. Revenue growth of 2.67% year-over-year is positive but modest.
Revenue Trend (5 yr)
ADR & Occupancy Trends (5 yr)
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Booking Insights
Lake Havasu City guests booked an average of 44 days in advance in April 2026, and stays averaged 4.44 nights. The 44-day lead time is moderate, consistent with a mix of spring break planners (who book well in advance) and spontaneous summer lake visitors who may book closer to arrival.
The 4.44-night average stay is above the national norm for urban STR markets and reflects the drive-destination character of Lake Havasu, where visitors traveling from Phoenix (about 3.5 hours), Las Vegas (roughly 2.5 hours), or Southern California tend to stay multiple nights to justify the drive. Longer stays also reduce turnover costs and lower per-stay cleaning expenses.
For pricing strategy, the 44-day window suggests operators should set spring break pricing (February and March) by early January and summer rates (July and August) by late May. The dual-season demand pattern means two distinct pricing calendars are worth maintaining. Last-minute discounts in the November through January window may improve occupancy during the trough period, but the low ADR in those months ($157 to $164) limits the revenue uplift from filling additional nights.
Short-Term Rental Regulations
Lake Havasu City regulates short-term rentals under City Code Chapter 5.20 (Ordinance No. 16-1142), effective March 1, 2023. Any residential property rented for fewer than 30 consecutive days must obtain a city Vacation Rental Permit for each property before being listed or offered for rent. The permit costs $250 per year and renews annually.
To qualify, owners must hold a valid Arizona Transaction Privilege Tax license, provide proof of neighbor notification of intent to rent, carry insurance, provide a 24/7 emergency contact, and acknowledge Chapter 5.20. The permit number and TPT number must be displayed on all listings and advertisements. Failing to display permit information can result in a $250 fine. Operating without a permit entirely can draw fines of approximately $500 per day.
The combined lodging tax is 10.5%: 5.5% state transient lodging tax plus a combined 5.0% in city hotel and motel taxes. There is no owner-occupancy requirement, no primary-residence requirement, and no cap on annual rental nights. Arizona state law bars municipalities from banning STRs or restricting them by zoning, so non-owner-occupied investor properties are explicitly permitted. Private HOA or CC&R restrictions may still apply independently of city rules. Enforcement is rated moderate, focused on nuisance complaints such as noise, parking, and trash.
Market Comparison
Nationally, STR markets average approximately 55% occupancy and $220 in ADR. Lake Havasu City’s April 2026 occupancy of 52.7% is modestly below the national average, while the $227 ADR is slightly above the national median. The market’s unique seasonal profile means occupancy in February and March (70% to 72%) is well above national norms, while October through December falls well below.
Revenue growth of 2.67% year-over-year is positive but below the pace of top-performing resort markets. The revenue growth score of 52.5 out of 100 places the market in the moderate range nationally, suggesting neither strong tailwinds nor headwinds for established operators.
Evolve leads the Lake Havasu City market with 306 listings and 12,409 reviews at a 4.75 average rating, accounting for roughly 9% of the market. Desert Concierge Management holds 86 listings with 3,385 reviews (4.81 rating). StayEasyLLC manages 68 listings with 2,968 reviews and a 4.88 rating. The top three operators together account for 460 listings, approximately 13.5% of the estimated market. The 696 for-sale properties and modest market concentration suggest meaningful room for new operators to enter or scale, compared to more consolidated resort markets.
Frequently Asked Questions About Lake Havasu City, Arizona
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