Hayesville, North Carolina Short-Term Rental Market
Hayesville, NC STRs averaged $210/night at 44.3% occupancy in April 2026, with summer and fall peaks generating $3,426-$4,163 average monthly revenue.
Quick Answer: Hayesville, North Carolina is an active short-term rental market. average occupancy is 58%. average monthly revenue is $3,793. average daily rate is $251. the top operator is Evolve with 723 listings. market score is 70/100 (grade B).
Market data reflects the North Carolina Mtns regional market, which includes Hayesville. Regulations, taxes, and permit details below are specific to Hayesville.
Market Score Breakdown
Five dimensions Apivex evaluates per market.
Market Overview
Hayesville, North Carolina (town population 461) is a small mountain community in Clay County in the far-western Smokies, approximately 4 miles from the Georgia border. The area draws outdoor recreation and heritage travelers to Lake Chatuge, a 7,200-acre TVA reservoir with 132 miles of shoreline, as well as hikers using the Nantahala National Forest and Appalachian Trail corridor and cultural visitors attending the John C. Campbell Folk School in nearby Brasstown. The market encompasses approximately 12,370 active STR listings across the broader Clay County lake region.
The market posted an average daily rate of $209.83 and an occupancy rate of 44.3% in April 2026, with a RevPAR of $92.99. Year-over-year as of April 2026, occupancy is up 3.23%, ADR is up 0.37%, and revenue is up 5.73%, indicating healthy and balanced demand growth.
By listing type, entire-place rentals account for 12,067 of approximately 12,370 tracked listings (98% of supply), with 303 private-room listings rounding out supply. By bedroom count, the market is distributed across 1-bedroom (2,991), 2-bedroom (3,814), 3-bedroom (3,371), 4-bedroom (1,418), and 5-bedroom-plus (761) properties. Channel distribution shows 7,543 listings on both Airbnb and VRBO, 3,366 Airbnb-only, and 1,461 VRBO-only, reflecting strong dual-channel penetration characteristic of mountain cabin markets. The total market score of 70.06 and investability score of 81.02 place this market in the above-average tier.
Seasonal Patterns
| Month | Occupancy | ADR | Revenue |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 32% | $183 | $1,842 |
| Feb | 41% | $181 | $1,882 |
| Mar | 47% | $187 | $2,363 |
| Apr | 47% | $194 | $2,450 |
| May | 49% | $205 | $2,533 |
| Jun | 61% | $230 | $3,558 |
| Jul | 68% | $226 | $4,163 |
| Aug | 56% | $218 | $3,422 |
| Sep | 49% | $207 | $2,750 |
| Oct | 61% | $212 | $3,426 |
| Nov | 49% | $213 | $2,819 |
| Dec | 46% | $208 | $2,732 |
Top Short-Term Rental Operators in Hayesville
Ranked by total active listings. Useful for understanding the competitive landscape.
| # | Operator | Listings | Reviews | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Evolve | 723 | 35,109 | ★ 4.76 |
| 2 | Vacasa | 454 | 17,037 | ★ 4.47 |
| 3 | Yonder | 119 | 3,777 | ★ 4.71 |
| 4 | Rumbling Bald Resort | 112 | 415 | ★ 4.35 |
| 5 | Bryson City Cabin Rentals | 112 | 1,400 | ★ 4.65 |
What Kind of STR Should I Buy in Hayesville?
Revenue and pricing by property type, tier, and bedroom count.
Revenue by Bedroom Count
| 1 bed | 2,991 |
| 2 bed | 3,814 |
| 3 bed | 3,371 |
| 4 bed | 1,418 |
| 5 bed | 761 |
ADR by Property Tier
| Entire Home | $253 |
| Luxury | $433 |
| Professionally Managed | $290 |
Revenue by Dwelling Type
| Apartment | $2,628 |
| Entire Place | $3,843 |
| House | $4,036 |
Booking Channel Mix
Distribution of bookings across major STR platforms.
| Channel | Share |
|---|---|
| airbnb | 27.2% |
| vrbo | 11.8% |
| both | 61% |
Investment Analysis
Hayesville’s STR market generated average monthly revenue of $2,508.47 in April 2026, projecting to approximately $30,101 in annualized gross revenue at that rate. With a typical home value of $350,142, the implied gross STR yield is approximately 8.6% at current revenue rates before operating expenses, taxes, and management fees, making entry cost-efficient relative to many coastal or resort markets.
Tier differentiation is present. The overall average daily rate of $209.83 compares to $211.86 for entire-home listings, $242.77 for professionally managed properties, and $357.79 for the luxury tier. Professional management adds a $32.94/night premium (16%), while the luxury tier commands a $147.96/night premium (70%) over the market average ADR.
Revenue by property type: houses average $2,650.50/month, entire-place listings average $2,541.30/month, and apartments average $1,761.53/month. The 2025 annual average revenue of $3,032 per listing represents a recovery from the post-pandemic trough of $2,959 in 2023, with the investability score of 81.02 reflecting the market’s favorable entry cost, permissive regulatory environment, and consistent demand from the Appalachian mountain-tourism corridor. The revenue growth score of 67.61 and 5.73% year-over-year revenue growth in April 2026 indicate continued positive momentum.
Revenue Trend (5 yr)
ADR & Occupancy Trends (5 yr)
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Booking Insights
Hayesville STR guests book an average of 48.80 days in advance in April 2026, with an average length of stay of 3.70 nights. The 49-day lead time is among the highest in this batch, reflecting a leisure market where travelers plan ahead for summer lake stays, fall foliage trips, and cultural visits to the Smokies region.
A 3.70-night average stay is consistent with long-weekend and mid-week extension bookings common to mountain cabin markets. At 44.3% occupancy across a 30-day month, the average listing accommodates approximately 3-4 guest parties per month. Summer peak months at 60-68% occupancy likely see 5-6 parties per month.
The longer lead time of nearly 7 weeks means operators should load availability and finalize pricing early in the booking cycle. Setting rates and opening calendars at the 7-week mark captures the highest-intent early planners. Dynamic pricing tools that trigger rate adjustments at 7 weeks and again at 2-3 weeks before arrival are well-suited to this market’s booking pattern. Minimum stays of 2-3 nights align with the 3.70-night average, and brief 1-night minimums on shoulder weekends can fill gaps without undermining average stay length.
Short-Term Rental Regulations
Hayesville and Clay County operate with minimal STR regulation. No dedicated STR permit, registration, or licensing program is required in the Town of Hayesville or Clay County as of mid-2026.
Most of the lake-area STR inventory sits in unincorporated Clay County, which uses land-use development rules rather than full zoning and imposes no STR registration, permit, occupancy cap, or owner-occupancy requirement. Inside the Town of Hayesville limits and its Extraterritorial Jurisdiction, a general town zoning permit is required for property uses. A proposed STR ordinance was introduced at the September 11, 2023 Town Council meeting and would have required an annually renewed zoning permit, restricted rentals to residential units for lodging only, capped occupancy at two adults per bedroom (excluding children under 13), and barred exterior advertising. After public pushback over the 30-day rental threshold, the council tabled the ordinance. No successor ordinance has been confirmed as adopted as of mid-2026.
On taxes, Clay County levies a 3% room-occupancy tax on gross rental receipts, authorized by the NC General Assembly. Investors should verify current remittance procedures directly with the Clay County Tax Office. Owner-occupancy and primary-residence requirements do not apply. Enforcement severity is rated minimal.
Market Comparison
Nationally, the median STR market occupancy rate is approximately 55% and median ADR is around $220. Hayesville’s April 2026 occupancy of 44.3% is below the national median, a normal reading for an Appalachian mountain market in shoulder season, while its ADR of $209.83 sits near the national median. July peak occupancy of 67.92% is above the national median.
The top operator is Evolve with 723 listings and 35,109 reviews at an average rating of 4.76, the largest presence of any operator in this batch. Vacasa holds 454 listings with 17,037 reviews at 4.47. Yonder manages 119 listings at 4.71, and Rumbling Bald Resort and Bryson City Cabin Rentals each hold 112 listings. The top five collectively manage approximately 1,520 listings, representing roughly 12% of the estimated 12,370 active listings, a moderately concentrated landscape with two large operators (Evolve and Vacasa) holding the majority of managed inventory.
Compared to similar western NC mountain markets, Hayesville’s typical home value of $350,142 and resulting gross yield of approximately 8.6% represent a materially better entry-cost-to-revenue ratio than higher-priced Appalachian destination markets. The dual-peak seasonal pattern (summer plus autumn foliage) also reduces the binary all-eggs-in-summer-months risk that characterizes some mountain lake markets.
Frequently Asked Questions About Hayesville, North Carolina
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