Albany, New York Short-Term Rental Market
Albany, NY STRs averaged $163/night at 52.3% occupancy in April 2026, with August rates surging to $316/night during peak Saratoga racing season.
Quick Answer: Albany, New York is an active short-term rental market. average occupancy is 52%. average monthly revenue is $2,223. average daily rate is $163. the top operator is Evolve with 74 listings. market score is 41/100 (grade D).
Market Score Breakdown
Five dimensions Apivex evaluates per market.
Market Overview
Albany is New York State’s capital city, drawing an estimated 1.5 million annual visitors to Albany County for government, heritage tourism, and events. Its STR market spans approximately 4,250 active listings: 2,586 on Airbnb only, 217 on VRBO only, and 1,447 cross-listed on both platforms.
The April 2026 average daily rate was $163, with 52.3% occupancy and RevPAR of $85. Average monthly revenue was $2,223. Entire-place listings dominate at 3,683 (roughly 87% of supply), with private rooms at 566 (13%) and shared rooms at just 1.
Bedroom distribution is led by one-bedrooms (1,568), followed by two-bedrooms (990), three-bedrooms (887), four-bedrooms (518), and five-bedrooms (284). The mix reflects both urban apartment conversions (one and two-bedrooms) and larger historic homes for group travel.
Year-over-year for April 2026: occupancy rose 2.44 percentage points, ADR declined 3.03%, and revenue increased 3.41% versus April 2025. The 2025 full-year average of $218 ADR and 51.51% occupancy, and the 2024 peak of $236 ADR indicate a market where annual averages are pulled substantially upward by the summer racing-season spike. The market’s investability score of 70.8 is the strongest individual component, though the total score of 40.9 reflects broadly moderate overall fundamentals. The seasonality score of 54.8 is the lowest in this batch, a counterintuitive result given the extreme July-August ADR spike, likely reflecting variability in year-round occupancy.
Seasonal Patterns
| Month | Occupancy | ADR | Revenue |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 43% | $146 | $1,843 |
| Feb | 52% | $155 | $1,915 |
| Mar | 48% | $148 | $2,029 |
| Apr | 53% | $152 | $2,078 |
| May | 56% | $165 | $2,148 |
| Jun | 57% | $229 | $3,097 |
| Jul | 63% | $292 | $4,529 |
| Aug | 63% | $316 | $5,264 |
| Sep | 45% | $208 | $2,615 |
| Oct | 51% | $178 | $2,514 |
| Nov | 45% | $160 | $2,043 |
| Dec | 49% | $161 | $2,076 |
Top Short-Term Rental Operators in Albany
Ranked by total active listings. Useful for understanding the competitive landscape.
| # | Operator | Listings | Reviews | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Evolve | 74 | 1,916 | ★ 4.61 |
| 2 | Enlightened Habitat | 26 | 2,161 | ★ 4.80 |
| 3 | Luxe Rentals | 20 | 1,556 | ★ 4.57 |
| 4 | Saratoga Stays | 18 | 386 | ★ 4.84 |
| 5 | Archer Casten | 17 | 509 | ★ 4.29 |
What Kind of STR Should I Buy in Albany?
Revenue and pricing by property type, tier, and bedroom count.
Revenue by Bedroom Count
| 1 bed | 1,568 |
| 2 bed | 990 |
| 3 bed | 887 |
| 4 bed | 518 |
| 5 bed | 284 |
ADR by Property Tier
| Entire Home | $193 |
| Luxury | $486 |
| Professionally Managed | $212 |
Revenue by Dwelling Type
| Apartment | $1,721 |
| Entire Place | $2,471 |
| House | $2,739 |
Booking Channel Mix
Distribution of bookings across major STR platforms.
| Channel | Share |
|---|---|
| airbnb | 60.8% |
| vrbo | 5.1% |
| both | 34% |
Investment Analysis
Albany offers a notably low entry price relative to its STR revenue potential. The typical home value is $324,670, with a median sale price of $298,392 and median list price of $296,783. The sale-to-list ratio of 1.005 indicates homes are selling right at list price on average, and the median 8 days to pending signals a fast-moving market with 147 properties for sale.
Using the April 2026 average monthly revenue of $2,223, annualized gross revenue projects to approximately $26,676 per year, yielding a gross revenue-to-purchase-price ratio of roughly 8.2% against the typical home value. This is among the highest gross yield ratios in this batch, reflecting Albany’s low asset prices rather than exceptional STR performance.
However, the annual average substantially underrepresents peak-month performance. August alone averages $5,264 in revenue, July $4,529 — both driven by Saratoga race season spillover. Properties that capture peak-season bookings can materially exceed the annual average. Houses average $2,739/month (annualized ~$32,868, a 10.1% gross yield against typical home value), the strongest category. Entire-place listings average $2,471/month.
The tier ADR spread is extreme in Albany. The all-market $163 ADR compares to $193 for the entire-home tier, $212 for professionally managed properties, and $486 for luxury-tier listings. The luxury premium of approximately 198% above market average reflects the outsized demand from high-value racing-season visitors willing to pay top dollar for premium properties during the August window.
Revenue Trend (5 yr)
ADR & Occupancy Trends (5 yr)
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Booking Insights
Albany guests book an average of 35 days in advance and stay approximately 4.4 nights per booking. These patterns reflect a market split between government/business travelers and event-driven leisure visitors.
A 35-day lead time indicates moderate advance planning. Legislative session visitors and Saratoga racing-season travelers typically book 4-6 weeks ahead once racing dates or session calendars are confirmed. Operators can leverage this window with dynamic pricing that raises rates 5-6 weeks before peak racing weekends and legislative return dates.
The 4.4-night average stay is moderate, shorter than pure destination-resort markets but longer than typical urban transient markets. It reflects a blend of multi-night government stays (officials and lobbyists in town for legislative sessions), racing-season visitors spending a week in the area, and weekend leisure travelers visiting from the broader Northeast. Operators should consider 3 or 4-night minimum stays during peak July-August weeks to capture the bulk of demand while limiting gap-night inefficiency.
Short-Term Rental Regulations
Short-term rentals are permitted in Albany, NY under an evolving regulatory framework.
At the state level, Governor Hochul signed the New York State Short-Term Rental Registry Act (S885C/A4130C) in December 2024, effective September 22, 2025. This law requires all counties to establish STR registries or formally opt out. Operators must register with the NYS Department of State or a qualifying local registry. Booking platforms began collecting and remitting the 8% combined state and local sales tax (4% NYS plus 4% Albany County/local) on Albany bookings as of March 2025.
At the county level, the Albany County Legislature approved a 6.5% hotel occupancy tax on short-term rentals on May 12, 2026, matching the rate applied to hotels. Collection is pending the launch of the county-wide STR registry (being built with Deckard Technologies).
At the city level, Albany has no adopted STR ordinance as of mid-2026. The city’s Unified Sustainable Development Ordinance does not define or restrict STRs. The Common Council has been studying potential regulations since February 2024, discussing concepts such as owner-occupancy requirements, bedroom-based density caps, and district-level restrictions, but no ordinance has been adopted. There is currently no owner-occupancy requirement, no primary-residence requirement, and no cap on nights rented per year, making Albany one of the more permissive urban markets in the Northeast. Enforcement is minimal and complaint-driven. Investors operating whole-home STRs should monitor city council developments closely.
Market Comparison
Albany’s April 2026 occupancy of 52.3% is slightly below the US STR median of approximately 55%, and its ADR of $163 is below the US STR median of approximately $220. However, Albany’s low home values ($324,670 typical) produce a gross yield ratio of approximately 8.2%, well above most California or coastal markets where entry costs dramatically compress yields.
Within the Northeast, Albany competes for Saratoga racing-season overflow, legislative-session business travel, and Hudson Valley tourism. Its low cost base positions it as an accessible investment market compared to New York City, the Hudson Valley, or the Adirondacks.
The top operator is Evolve with 74 listings and 1,916 reviews (4.61 average rating). Enlightened Habitat holds second with 26 listings and 2,161 reviews (4.80 rating), a high review-to-listing ratio suggesting excellent guest satisfaction. Luxe Rentals ranks third with 20 listings and 1,556 reviews (4.57 rating). Saratoga Stays (18 listings, 4.84 rating) and Archer Casten (17 listings, 4.29 rating) round out the top five. The top five manage 155 listings combined in a market of approximately 4,250 total, indicating a largely owner-operated landscape with limited professional management concentration.
Frequently Asked Questions About Albany, New York
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