Hiawassee, Georgia Short-Term Rental Market
Hiawassee, GA STRs averaged $264/night at 40.6% occupancy in April 2026 with a top overall market score of 87.8 driven by strong investability in the North Georgia mountains.
Quick Answer: Hiawassee, Georgia is an active short-term rental market. average occupancy is 54%. average monthly revenue is $4,483. average daily rate is $309. the top operator is Evolve with 470 listings. market score is 88/100 (grade A).
Market data reflects the North GA Mtns regional market, which includes Hiawassee. Regulations, taxes, and permit details below are specific to Hiawassee.
Market Score Breakdown
Five dimensions Apivex evaluates per market.
Market Overview
Hiawassee is the seat of Towns County in the North Georgia Blue Ridge Mountains, situated on Lake Chatuge, a 7,000-acre TVA reservoir with 132 miles of shoreline. It sits roughly two hours north of Atlanta and draws boaters, anglers, hikers, leaf-peepers, and event attendees. The Georgia Mountain Fairgrounds and Anderson Music Hall host the summer Georgia Mountain Fair (approximately 100,000 attendees) and year-round concerts. Nearby Brasstown Bald (Georgia’s highest peak) and Hamilton Gardens add to the draw.
In April 2026, the market posted a 40.6% occupancy rate and a $264 average daily rate, generating an average monthly revenue of $3,097 per active listing. All three key metrics improved year-over-year: revenue rose 2.9%, ADR gained 2.9 percentage points, and occupancy increased 2.0 percentage points.
Entire-place listings dominate at 9,838 units (98.8% of the market), with private rooms at 117 units and shared rooms at 1. By bedroom count, 3-bedroom properties are the largest segment at 3,276 units, followed by 2-bedroom (2,458), 4-bedroom (1,776), 1-bedroom (1,526), and 5-bedroom (915). VRBO and dual-channel distribution is notably strong: 7,045 listings appear on both Airbnb and VRBO, versus 2,014 Airbnb-only and 897 VRBO-only, reflecting this cabin-rental market’s reliance on VRBO’s vacation rental audience.
The market’s total score is 87.8 out of 100, with an investability score of 91.8 and revenue growth at 72.3. Rental demand (68.4) is the weakest dimension, consistent with an off-season April reading.
Seasonal Patterns
| Month | Occupancy | ADR | Revenue |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 33% | $239 | $2,415 |
| Feb | 39% | $239 | $2,389 |
| Mar | 48% | $240 | $3,216 |
| Apr | 44% | $235 | $2,869 |
| May | 44% | $242 | $2,792 |
| Jun | 58% | $263 | $3,919 |
| Jul | 64% | $257 | $4,473 |
| Aug | 47% | $237 | $3,148 |
| Sep | 47% | $243 | $3,086 |
| Oct | 61% | $262 | $4,476 |
| Nov | 55% | $262 | $3,973 |
| Dec | 51% | $264 | $3,937 |
Top Short-Term Rental Operators in Hiawassee
Ranked by total active listings. Useful for understanding the competitive landscape.
| # | Operator | Listings | Reviews | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Evolve | 470 | 28,108 | ★ 4.76 |
| 2 | Vacasa | 457 | 32,402 | ★ 4.58 |
| 3 | Escape To Blue Ridge | 371 | 4,391 | ★ 4.78 |
| 4 | Southern Comfort Cabin Rentals | 292 | 5,288 | ★ 4.71 |
| 5 | Georgia CFY | 187 | 4,592 | ★ 4.57 |
What Kind of STR Should I Buy in Hiawassee?
Revenue and pricing by property type, tier, and bedroom count.
Revenue by Bedroom Count
| 1 bed | 1,526 |
| 2 bed | 2,458 |
| 3 bed | 3,276 |
| 4 bed | 1,776 |
| 5 bed | 915 |
ADR by Property Tier
| Entire Home | $310 |
| Luxury | $492 |
| Professionally Managed | $342 |
Revenue by Dwelling Type
| Apartment | $2,572 |
| Entire Place | $4,511 |
| House | $4,650 |
Booking Channel Mix
Distribution of bookings across major STR platforms.
| Channel | Share |
|---|---|
| airbnb | 20.2% |
| vrbo | 9% |
| both | 70.8% |
Investment Analysis
Hiawassee presents one of the more compelling investability profiles in the dataset, with a score of 91.8 out of 100 against a typical home value of approximately $397,603. The combination of mountain cabin appeal, lake access, and the Georgia Mountain Fairgrounds event calendar creates durable demand.
In April 2026, the overall ADR was $264. Entire-home listings averaged $264.37, essentially matching the market average. Professionally managed properties averaged $284.80 per night. Luxury-tier properties averaged $397.04 per night.
Monthly revenue averaged $3,097 per listing in April 2026. Houses averaged $3,194 and entire-place listings averaged $3,114. Apartments averaged $1,933. Using the 2025 annual average revenue of $3,807 per month (approximately $45,700 annualized) relative to the typical home value of $397,603, the implied gross yield is approximately 11.5%. This is a rough estimate using market-wide averages and Zillow’s typical value; individual property results will vary based on property type, location, and management quality.
The median list price as of April 2026 was $449,300, with 121 active for-sale listings providing reasonable inventory for buyers. Revenue has grown from $3,447 per month in 2023 to $3,673 in 2024 and $3,807 in 2025, showing consistent upward trend over three years. The revenue growth score of 72.3 is consistent with this trajectory.
Revenue Trend (5 yr)
ADR & Occupancy Trends (5 yr)
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Booking Insights
In April 2026, the average booking lead time for Hiawassee STRs was 42.5 days, and the average length of stay was 3.33 nights. These metrics reflect a regional leisure drive market.
A 42.5-day lead time suggests guests plan about 6 weeks ahead on average, which is moderate for a mountain cabin market. Operators can hold rates firm for about 3 to 4 weeks before the stay date without significant last-minute vacancy risk in peak periods. In shoulder months (January, April), more aggressive last-minute pricing may help fill gaps.
The 3.33-night average stay reflects primarily long-weekend getaway behavior, consistent with Atlanta-area drive-market visitors. This is shorter than true week-rental mountain destinations and means more frequent turnover than, for example, Smoky Mountains markets. Operators should price cleaning fees and minimum stays to account for this relatively frequent turnover, particularly during high-demand fall foliage and summer fair weekends when minimum 3 to 4 night stays can protect weekly revenue.
Short-Term Rental Regulations
Hiawassee and surrounding Towns County operate with a light regulatory touch that is widely considered investor-friendly. The City of Hiawassee requires an annual business license (occupation tax certificate) for STR operators within city limits. The fee is approximately $100 per year, due December 31, with late fees after January 1. The city’s application explicitly asks whether the business is a VRBO, Airbnb, or rental property, indicating active awareness of STR operators.
No dedicated STR ordinance, permit cap, density limit, owner-occupancy requirement, maximum-nights rule, or primary-residence requirement was found for either the city or the county. Towns County’s unincorporated areas have no zoning and are marketed as unrestricted, meaning STRs outside city limits face essentially no land-use restrictions.
The main tax obligation is lodging tax: the City of Hiawassee levies an 8% hotel/motel excise tax on stays of 30 days or fewer, plus a Georgia state hotel-motel fee of $5 per night and standard state and local sales taxes. Enforcement is rated minimal and appears to be complaint-driven.
Buyers should confirm whether their specific property falls within city limits or the unincorporated county, and verify any HOA or lake-community covenant restrictions that may apply independently of public regulation.
Market Comparison
Hiawassee’s April 2026 ADR of $264 is well above the U.S. STR median ADR of approximately $220, reflecting the premium commanded by mountain cabin inventory. Its 40.6% April occupancy is below the U.S. median of approximately 55%, but this reflects the off-season timing of the data; peak months reach above 60%.
The market’s total score of 87.8 ranks it in the upper tier of tracked markets nationally. The investability score of 91.8 is particularly strong, consistent with the favorable price-to-revenue ratio visible in the gross yield calculation.
Among professional operators, Evolve leads with 470 listings and 28,108 reviews at a 4.76 average rating. Vacasa holds 457 listings with 32,402 reviews at a 4.58 rating. Escape To Blue Ridge manages 371 listings with 4,391 reviews at a 4.78 rating. Southern Comfort Cabin Rentals operates 292 listings with 5,288 reviews at a 4.71 rating. Georgia CFY rounds out the top five with 187 listings and 4,592 reviews at a 4.57 rating. The top five operators together manage approximately 1,777 listings, representing roughly 17.8% of the tracked inventory, indicating a moderately concentrated professional management presence.
Frequently Asked Questions About Hiawassee, Georgia
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