South Haven, Michigan Short-Term Rental Market
South Haven, MI short-term rentals averaged $492/night at 65.8% occupancy in June 2026, but a moratorium has frozen new registrations since April 2025.
Quick Answer: South Haven, Michigan is an active short-term rental market. average occupancy is 66%. average monthly revenue is $7,737. average daily rate is $492. the top operator is Jaqua Realtors with 251 listings. market score is 77/100 (grade B).
Market data reflects the Michigan West Coastal regional market, which includes South Haven. Regulations, taxes, and permit details below are specific to South Haven.
Market Score Breakdown
Five dimensions Apivex evaluates per market.
Market Overview
South Haven is one of the premier Lake Michigan beach resort towns on Michigan’s southwest coast, population 4,001, drawing over 400,000 visitors a year to nine public beach access points, its harbor and lighthouse, and the annual National Blueberry Festival. South Beach was named the #1 Best Beach in Michigan by USA Today’s 10Best Readers’ Choice. In June 2026, the latest month with data, short-term rentals in this market averaged $492.36 per night at 65.8% occupancy, generating $7,737 in average monthly revenue per listing. Revenue jumped 12.8% year over year, driven by a 2.7-point occupancy gain even as ADR eased 3.6%. By property type, apartments averaged $5,059/month, entire homes $7,874/month, and houses $8,516/month. Regionally, entire-place listings make up roughly 96% of inventory.
Seasonal Patterns
| Month | Occupancy | ADR | Revenue |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 30% | $260 | $2,212 |
| Feb | 36% | $252 | $2,182 |
| Mar | 41% | $249 | $2,480 |
| Apr | 40% | $266 | $2,449 |
| May | 49% | $318 | $3,107 |
| Jun | 64% | $392 | $5,606 |
| Jul | 77% | $389 | $7,512 |
| Aug | 69% | $388 | $6,899 |
| Sep | 42% | $340 | $3,856 |
| Oct | 38% | $293 | $3,173 |
| Nov | 30% | $278 | $2,456 |
| Dec | 35% | $279 | $2,445 |
Top Short-Term Rental Operators in South Haven
Ranked by total active listings. Useful for understanding the competitive landscape.
| # | Operator | Listings | Reviews | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Jaqua Realtors | 251 | 4,872 | ★ 4.74 |
| 2 | Evolve | 181 | 8,033 | ★ 4.66 |
| 3 | Vacasa | 146 | 6,781 | ★ 4.54 |
| 4 | Unsalted Vacations | 128 | 2,711 | ★ 4.75 |
| 5 | Bluefish Vacation Rentals | 112 | 2,875 | ★ 4.75 |
What Kind of STR Should I Buy in South Haven?
Revenue and pricing by property type, tier, and bedroom count.
Revenue by Bedroom Count
| 1 bed | 1,478 |
| 2 bed | 1,913 |
| 3 bed | 2,161 |
| 4 bed | 1,436 |
| 5 bed | 1,190 |
ADR by Property Tier
| Entire Home | $499 |
| Luxury | $827 |
| Professionally Managed | $616 |
Revenue by Dwelling Type
| Apartment | $5,059 |
| Entire Place | $7,874 |
| House | $8,516 |
Booking Channel Mix
Distribution of bookings across major STR platforms.
| Channel | Share |
|---|---|
| airbnb | 28.4% |
| vrbo | 15.1% |
| both | 56.5% |
Investment Analysis
South Haven’s market-wide ADR of $492.36 trails the professionally-managed tier average ($615.87) and the luxury tier average ($826.62) by a wide margin, suggesting meaningful upside for well-positioned, professionally run properties. The typical home value here is $372,860, and average monthly revenue of $7,737 annualizes to about $92,850, working out to a gross rental yield of roughly 24.9% before expenses, one of the strongest figures in this batch, though it should be weighed against South Haven’s tightly capped and currently frozen licensing environment described below. For-sale inventory of 65 homes with a median 23 days to pending suggests reasonable market liquidity. Revenue growth of 12.8% year over year, one of the strongest in this dataset, was driven mainly by occupancy rather than rate. The dominant investment risk in South Haven is regulatory: the city has imposed a moratorium on new STR registrations since April 2025, and total licenses citywide are capped at roughly 1 per 4 homes (about 20% of housing stock), so new-entrant investors should confirm current licensing status with the city before assuming they can obtain a permit.
Revenue Trend (5 yr)
ADR & Occupancy Trends (5 yr)
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Booking Insights
Guests book South Haven listings an average of 96.7 days ahead and stay 3.8 nights per trip. That long lead time reflects South Haven’s status as a planned beach-vacation destination for Chicago, Kalamazoo, Grand Rapids, and Detroit travelers, giving operators months of visibility to manage pricing ahead of the sharply seasonal July-August window.
Short-Term Rental Regulations
The City of South Haven tightly regulates short-term rentals. Every STR must be registered and licensed before operating, pass a zoning-compliance review, and undergo inspections. There are two license tiers: Class I ‘Business’ (roughly $600/year, renewed annually, no more than 2 rental stays per 7-day period, requires $1,000,000 liability insurance) and Class II ‘Personal’ (roughly $125 biennially, capped at 6 rental terms or 28 rental days per calendar year). A citywide density cap limits STRs to 1 per 4 homes (about 20% of housing stock), and an STR overlay map defines where they are allowed. A moratorium on new STR registrations has been in place since April 2025, so effectively only previously registered properties can be licensed. Enforcement is rated strict, with a 24/7 complaint hotline requiring local agents to acknowledge complaints within 45 minutes. Guests pay Michigan’s 6% state use tax on stays under 30 days. Because only about 20% of the city’s roughly 700 STRs had completed the new licensing process by March 2026, City Council approved conditional STR licenses for the 2026 season effective March 27, 2026, letting owners registered as of March 17, 2025 keep renting while zoning review and inspections continue. Note that South Haven Charter Township is a separate jurisdiction with its own, distinct STR ordinance.
Market Comparison
South Haven’s 65.8% occupancy in June 2026 runs well above the roughly 55% U.S. median often cited for short-term rentals, and its $492.36 ADR is more than double the roughly $220 national median, reflecting its position as a premium Lake Michigan beach market. No property manager snapshot data is currently published for this specific market, so a top-operator comparison is not available here; the city’s density cap and current moratorium likely limit how much further professional management can consolidate regardless of demand.
Frequently Asked Questions About South Haven, Michigan
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