Cave Creek, Arizona Short-Term Rental Market
Cave Creek and the Phoenix metro STR market averaged $189 ADR, 57.9% occupancy, $2,841 monthly revenue in September 2026.
Quick Answer: Cave Creek, Arizona is an active short-term rental market. average occupancy in the Phoenix/Scottsdale market area is 58%. average monthly revenue in the Phoenix/Scottsdale market area is $2,841. average daily rate in the Phoenix/Scottsdale market area is $189.
Market data reflects the Phoenix/Scottsdale regional market, which includes Cave Creek. Regulations, taxes, and permit details below are specific to Cave Creek.
Market Overview
Cave Creek is a small Sonoran Desert foothills town of about 5,108 residents north of Phoenix and Scottsdale. The short-term rental performance figures in this profile describe the Phoenix metro area STR market, which is tracked at a shared regional level. Read the numbers as a metro benchmark rather than a Cave Creek only measurement. Bedroom, channel and listing-type counts and top operator names are also tracked at a shared regional level rather than uniquely for Cave Creek, so this profile omits them.
In September 2026 the Phoenix metro area STR market posted an average daily rate of $189, occupancy of 57.9%, and average monthly revenue of $2,841 per listing. Against September 2025, occupancy is up 3.6%, ADR is up 4.6%, and revenue is up 2.1%. Entire place rentals averaged $205 per night and $3,030 in monthly revenue, houses averaged $3,247 in monthly revenue, and apartments averaged $2,011.
Over a longer window the market has grown. In 2017 occupancy averaged 52.0% at a $137 ADR and $1,812 in monthly revenue. Occupancy was highest in 2021 at 68.7%, with $3,618 in monthly revenue. Through the first nine months of 2026, occupancy averages 63.3%, ADR is $232, and monthly revenue is $4,093, compared with $3,927 for all of 2025. Adding up the typical monthly revenue pattern across a full year gives about $39,579 in annualized revenue per listing.
Cave Creek itself draws regional weekend visitors, outdoor recreation enthusiasts (hiking, horseback riding, mountain biking), retirees and snowbirds wintering in the area, motorcyclists, and Phoenix area residents looking for saloons, rodeo and Western heritage. The population swells during the cooler season from fall through spring, which matches the strongest months in the data. Local draws include Spur Cross Ranch Conservation Area, Frontier Town, the Cave Creek Museum, the Buffalo Chip Saloon and Cave Creek Regional Park. No official annual visitor count is published.
Seasonal Patterns
| Month | Occupancy |
|---|---|
| Jan | 65% |
| Feb | 74% |
| Mar | 76% |
| Apr | 57% |
| May | 56% |
| Jun | 58% |
| Jul | 60% |
| Aug | 59% |
| Sep | 59% |
| Oct | 63% |
| Nov | 63% |
| Dec | 58% |
Month-by-month nightly rates and revenue figures for Cave Creek are available to StaySTRA Pro members. Unlock with StaySTRA Pro or analyze a specific address free.
What Kind of STR Should I Buy in Cave Creek?
Revenue and nightly-rate breakdowns by bedroom count, property tier, and dwelling type for Cave Creek are available to StaySTRA Pro members. Unlock with StaySTRA Pro or analyze a specific address free.
Home Value Trends (Cave Creek)
Typical home values, median sale prices, and the 10-year price trend for Cave Creek are available to StaySTRA Pro members. Unlock with StaySTRA Pro or analyze a specific address free.
Booking Insights
Booking-window and length-of-stay analysis for Cave Creek — how far ahead guests book and how to price around it — is available to StaySTRA Pro members. Unlock with StaySTRA Pro or analyze a specific address free.
Short-Term Rental Regulations
Short-term rentals are permitted in Cave Creek. Arizona statute ARS 9-500.39 preempts municipalities from prohibiting STRs or restricting them by classification, use or occupancy, so the town cannot zone them out of residential areas. There is no maximum nights per year, no primary residence requirement, and no general owner occupancy requirement. Owner occupancy can only be required for properties with an accessory dwelling unit that received a certificate of occupancy on or after September 14, 2024.
A permit is required. The town framework comes from Resolution R2023-02 and Ordinance O2023-02, adopted July 17, 2023, and requires a Town Short-Term Rental License plus an annual Business License. Operators complete four steps: obtain an Arizona Transaction Privilege Tax license from the Department of Revenue, register the property with the Maricopa County Assessor under ARS 33-1902 (renting before county registration is illegal), obtain the Town Business License ($50 per year), and obtain the Town Short-Term Rental License ($250 per year per property). The combined town license cost is $300, and all licensing renews annually. Operators must carry at least $500,000 in liability insurance, or list through a marketplace such as Airbnb or VRBO that provides equal or greater coverage, and must provide neighbor notification.
Taxes changed recently. Effective February 1, 2026, Ordinance O2025-16 raised the Hotels classification tax from 3% to 5% and the additional transient lodging tax from 4% to 5%, for a combined 10% city lodging tax. With state and county taxes the total is roughly 15% to 16%. Enforcement severity is rated moderate. Confirm current requirements with the Town of Cave Creek before listing.
Market Comparison
September 2026 occupancy in the Phoenix metro area STR market was 57.9% at an ADR of $189.
The annual picture is stronger than the September snapshot. Through the first nine months of 2026, occupancy averages 63.3% and ADR averages $232. March reaches 76.3% occupancy at a $274 ADR. The September ADR is lower because it falls in the hot season, when the Phoenix area runs soft on rate, with July and August at $153.
This means the market is a seasonal, winter weighted one rather than a year round premium market. Investors comparing it with other destinations should look at annual revenue rather than a single month. Luxury listings at $463 and professionally managed listings at $253 sit well above the all-listings ADR of $189, while apartments at $2,011 monthly revenue sit below the all-listings average of $2,841.
The cost side also differs from many markets, with a typical home value of $1,057,746. Top operator data is tracked at a shared regional level rather than uniquely for Cave Creek, so this profile omits it.
Frequently Asked Questions About Cave Creek, Arizona
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