Baldwin, Michigan Short-Term Rental Market
Baldwin, Michigan STR operators averaged $161/night at 49.2% occupancy in April 2026 with a 97.3 investability score.
Quick Answer: Baldwin, Michigan is an active short-term rental market. average occupancy is 49%. average monthly revenue is $1,955. average daily rate is $161. the top operator is Evolve with 367 listings. market score is 80/100 (grade B).
Market Score Breakdown
Five dimensions Apivex evaluates per market.
Market Overview
Baldwin sits at the center of Lake County in northern Michigan’s Lower Peninsula, anchored by the Pere Marquette River, one of the country’s premier fly-fishing trout streams, and surrounded by Manistee National Forest. The area draws anglers, canoeists, campers, hunters, and motorcycle enthusiasts, with a visitor base pulling from the Grand Rapids and Detroit metro areas roughly two hours away.
As of April 2026, the short-term rental market recorded an average daily rate of $161, occupancy of 49.2%, and RevPAR of $79. Average monthly revenue per active listing was $1,955. Year-over-year, ADR rose 3.1% while occupancy dipped a marginal 0.2% and revenue slipped 2.2%, indicating a slight softening in demand against steady rate growth.
The market is dominated by entire-place listings, which account for 8,475 of 9,130 tracked units (92.8%). Private rooms make up another 651 listings. By bedroom count, 2-bedroom properties are the most common segment (2,623 units), followed closely by 3-bedroom (2,498) and 1-bedroom (2,252) listings; 4-bedroom and 5-bedroom homes represent smaller but meaningful shares at 1,102 and 630 units respectively. Airbnb is the primary channel with 4,192 single-platform listings, while 3,798 properties are active on both Airbnb and VRBO, reflecting strong dual-channel distribution.
Seasonal Patterns
| Month | Occupancy | ADR | Revenue |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 39% | $144 | $1,620 |
| Feb | 44% | $145 | $1,640 |
| Mar | 44% | $136 | $1,696 |
| Apr | 48% | $143 | $1,717 |
| May | 52% | $168 | $1,965 |
| Jun | 62% | $209 | $3,096 |
| Jul | 71% | $218 | $4,112 |
| Aug | 64% | $214 | $3,776 |
| Sep | 46% | $187 | $2,375 |
| Oct | 45% | $164 | $2,115 |
| Nov | 42% | $148 | $1,769 |
| Dec | 45% | $150 | $1,815 |
Top Short-Term Rental Operators in Baldwin
Ranked by total active listings. Useful for understanding the competitive landscape.
| # | Operator | Listings | Reviews | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Evolve | 367 | 11,455 | ★ 4.68 |
| 2 | Freshwater Vacation Rentals | 61 | 2,578 | ★ 4.85 |
| 3 | LiveSuites | 59 | 1,209 | ★ 4.67 |
| 4 | Short Term Rentals | 31 | 2,493 | ★ 4.68 |
| 5 | Simple Lyfe Stays | 29 | 2,365 | ★ 4.85 |
What Kind of STR Should I Buy in Baldwin?
Revenue and pricing by property type, tier, and bedroom count.
Revenue by Bedroom Count
| 1 bed | 2,252 |
| 2 bed | 2,623 |
| 3 bed | 2,498 |
| 4 bed | 1,102 |
| 5 bed | 630 |
ADR by Property Tier
| Entire Home | $173 |
| Luxury | $335 |
| Professionally Managed | $179 |
Revenue by Dwelling Type
| Apartment | $1,520 |
| Entire Place | $2,059 |
| House | $2,081 |
Booking Channel Mix
Distribution of bookings across major STR platforms.
| Channel | Share |
|---|---|
| airbnb | 45.9% |
| vrbo | 12.5% |
| both | 41.6% |
Investment Analysis
Baldwin’s market score of 79.7 out of 100 is headlined by an exceptional investability score of 97.3, the strongest signal in the dimension set, alongside a revenue growth score of 80.4. These figures suggest the market has room for upside compared to its price-to-income entry cost.
The average listing generated $1,955/month in April 2026, which annualizes to roughly $23,454. Entire-place properties averaged $2,059/month, houses averaged $2,081/month, and apartments tracked at $1,520/month. The professionally managed tier averaged $179 ADR versus the all-listings average of $161, a 11% premium, while the luxury tier reached $335 ADR, signaling a wide performance range depending on property type and positioning.
Housing price data for the Baldwin market was not available in the current dataset, so a gross yield calculation cannot be provided. Prospective buyers should obtain current local comps before projecting returns. The 2025 annual average revenue of $2,743/month (across all 12 months of that year) represents the strongest full-year average in the dataset, up from $2,583 in 2024 and $2,483 in 2023.
Revenue Trend (5 yr)
ADR & Occupancy Trends (5 yr)
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April 2026 data shows an average booking lead time of 41 days and an average length of stay of 4.2 nights. A 41-day lead window means most bookings for Baldwin properties are not last-minute; guests are planning roughly six weeks ahead on average. This gives operators meaningful pricing leverage: dynamic pricing tools can hold rates firm through the 45-day mark before tapering to fill gaps.
A 4.2-night average stay is consistent with a weekend-plus or week-minus booking pattern, typical for outdoor recreation markets where guests combine a weekend with adjacent weekdays. This reduces per-stay cleaning cost relative to markets with frequent 1-2 night turnovers, though operators should structure minimum-night policies carefully around the July and August peak to avoid leaving mid-week gaps.
For channel strategy, the high dual-platform presence (3,798 listings on both Airbnb and VRBO) confirms that Baldwin guests shop across platforms. Operators listing on only one channel are likely leaving occupancy on the table, particularly for VRBO’s audience of cabin and outdoor-recreation travelers.
Short-Term Rental Regulations
Baldwin and the surrounding Webber Township have no identified standalone short-term-rental ordinance, license, or permit requirement. STRs operate under Michigan state law and general local zoning rules. No local registration, permit fee, nightly cap, owner-occupancy requirement, or primary-residence restriction has been identified.
The primary compliance obligation is tax. Michigan applies a 6% state use tax to transient lodging stays under 30 days. Major booking platforms such as Airbnb and VRBO typically collect and remit this tax on behalf of hosts. Lake County does not appear to levy an additional local accommodations or lodging excise tax, so the all-in lodging tax burden is generally the 6% state rate.
Enforcement is rated minimal given the absence of a dedicated local ordinance. However, owners should confirm zoning for their specific parcel with the Village of Baldwin or Webber Township, review any deed restrictions or HOA covenants (which can ban STRs regardless of municipal code), and verify platform tax collection is active. At the state level, Michigan legislators have introduced STR standardization bills in recent sessions, but no statewide framework had been enacted as of mid-2026. Investors should monitor future legislative developments.
Market Comparison
Baldwin’s April 2026 occupancy of 49.2% sits below the US STR median of approximately 55%, which is partly explained by the seasonal nature of the market: April falls in the pre-summer shoulder, and full-year averages run closer to 50-51% (the 2025 annual average was 50.5%). ADR at $161 is below the national median of approximately $220, consistent with a rural Michigan market where property values are lower and the guest base is leisure-driven rather than urban-business.
On the operator side, Evolve leads the Baldwin market with 367 listings and 11,455 reviews (average rating 4.68), making it the dominant regional manager by a wide margin. Freshwater Vacation Rentals, a locally specialized operator, holds 61 listings with a 4.85 average rating across 2,578 reviews. LiveSuites operates 59 listings (4.67 average rating). The top three operators collectively represent approximately 5.3% of total market listings, indicating a fragmented market where independent hosts hold significant share. The high investability score of 97.3 suggests the market is underpriced relative to its demand fundamentals compared to similar outdoor-recreation STR markets nationally.
Frequently Asked Questions About Baldwin, Michigan
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