Carrabelle, Florida Short-Term Rental Market
Carrabelle STRs averaged $403/night at 52.1% occupancy in April 2026 across roughly 4,700 active listings.
Quick Answer: Carrabelle, Florida is an active short-term rental market. average occupancy is 52%. average monthly revenue is $5,378. average daily rate is $403. the top operator is Pristine Properties with 384 listings. market score is 58/100 (grade C).
Market Score Breakdown
Five dimensions Apivex evaluates per market.
Market Overview
Carrabelle sits on Florida’s Forgotten Coast in rural Franklin County, a small fishing village of about 2,438 residents that draws visitors seeking uncrowded beaches, fishing, and coastal access. The short-term rental market is driven almost entirely by entire-place listings: 4,649 of approximately 4,703 active rentals are whole-property units, with only 54 private-room listings. The average daily rate in April 2026 was $402.53, with occupancy at 52.1% and RevPAR of $209.56 per available night.
The bedroom mix skews toward larger units. Three-bedroom properties lead with 1,487 active listings, followed by four-bedroom homes (1,122), two-bedroom units (986), five-bedroom-plus homes (686), and one-bedroom properties (416). This concentration in the 3-5 bedroom range reflects the market’s position as a destination for extended group stays and fishing trips rather than solo or couple travel.
By channel, 2,829 listings appear on both Airbnb and VRBO, while 1,287 are VRBO-only and 587 are Airbnb-only — suggesting VRBO carries significant weight here, consistent with vacation destination markets. Year over year, occupancy grew 3.4%, ADR rose 2.8%, and revenue increased 0.9%, indicating steady but modest improvement. The market score stands at 57.93 overall, with particularly strong investability (92.76) and revenue growth scores (74.80).
Seasonal Patterns
| Month | Occupancy | ADR | Revenue |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 42% | $256 | $2,621 |
| Feb | 64% | $258 | $3,324 |
| Mar | 68% | $336 | $4,747 |
| Apr | 53% | $354 | $4,827 |
| May | 64% | $363 | $5,422 |
| Jun | 81% | $424 | $8,134 |
| Jul | 78% | $390 | $7,485 |
| Aug | 50% | $355 | $4,701 |
| Sep | 50% | $328 | $4,236 |
| Oct | 50% | $304 | $3,782 |
| Nov | 38% | $286 | $2,678 |
| Dec | 35% | $286 | $2,583 |
Top Short-Term Rental Operators in Carrabelle
Ranked by total active listings. Useful for understanding the competitive landscape.
| # | Operator | Listings | Reviews | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pristine Properties | 384 | 4,847 | ★ 4.58 |
| 2 | Vacasa | 310 | 8,976 | ★ 4.58 |
| 3 | Cape & Coast Vacation Rentals | 230 | 3,225 | ★ 4.66 |
| 4 | Collins Vacation Rentals | 186 | 175 | ★ 4.49 |
| 5 | 360 Blue | 119 | 1,551 | ★ 4.69 |
What Kind of STR Should I Buy in Carrabelle?
Revenue and pricing by property type, tier, and bedroom count.
Revenue by Bedroom Count
| 1 bed | 416 |
| 2 bed | 986 |
| 3 bed | 1,487 |
| 4 bed | 1,122 |
| 5 bed | 686 |
ADR by Property Tier
| Entire Home | $405 |
| Luxury | $598 |
| Professionally Managed | $467 |
Revenue by Dwelling Type
| Apartment | $4,229 |
| Entire Place | $5,428 |
| House | $5,736 |
Booking Channel Mix
Distribution of bookings across major STR platforms.
| Channel | Share |
|---|---|
| airbnb | 12.5% |
| vrbo | 27.4% |
| both | 60.2% |
Investment Analysis
Carrabelle’s investability score of 92.76 out of 100 is notably high for a market of this size, driven by strong rental demand (71.74) and revenue growth momentum (74.80). The April 2026 average monthly revenue of $5,378 per listing projects to roughly $64,534 annualized. Without a housing snapshot on file, a purchase-price yield calculation is not possible for this area.
Tier comparisons reveal meaningful spread: entire-home ADR of $404.68 runs close to the all-listings average of $402.53. The professionally managed tier outperforms at $467.36 ADR (+16.1% premium over the all-listings average), and the luxury tier reaches $598.44 (+48.7%). House listings generate higher average revenue ($5,736/month) than apartment-type units ($4,229), a $1,507 monthly gap that matters significantly in annual return calculations.
The seasonality score of 45.78 is low, reflecting substantial swings between peak summer months and the December trough — a meaningful risk for investors relying on year-round income. Operators who price and market aggressively through shoulder months (spring and fall) will outperform the market average. The regulation score of 50.52 reflects Florida’s preemptive framework, which is permissive but requires active state licensing compliance.
Revenue Trend (5 yr)
ADR & Occupancy Trends (5 yr)
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Carrabelle guests book an average of 62.9 days in advance, just over two months of lead time. This is a longer booking window than many urban markets, consistent with a destination vacation market where travelers plan fishing trips, family beach weeks, and group getaways well ahead. For operators, this lead time supports dynamic pricing strategies that open at moderate rates well in advance and increase prices as dates fill — particularly important for the June and July peak when demand reliably exceeds supply.
Average length of stay is 4.73 nights, close to a full week. This longer stay pattern reduces turnover frequency, which is operationally beneficial in a market where cleaning crews and property managers may have limited availability. It also means that losing a single booking is a larger revenue event than in markets with 2-3 night stays. Operators should set minimum stay requirements thoughtfully: a 3-4 night minimum through peak season preserves margin while keeping the calendar competitive.
Short-Term Rental Regulations
Carrabelle’s STR environment is permissive, shaped primarily by Florida state law rather than local ordinance. Florida Statute 509.032 preempts cities and counties from banning vacation rentals or regulating how often or how long a property is rented. There is no maximum nights per year, no owner-occupancy requirement, and no primary-residence mandate in Carrabelle or Franklin County.
The core compliance requirement is a state-level Florida DBPR Vacation Rental Dwelling license, required for anyone renting a dwelling more than three times per year for stays under 30 days. The license costs approximately $170 per year, plus a $50 new-application fee and a $10 hospitality-education fee on initial registration, renewed annually. Operators must also register with the Florida Department of Revenue.
The applicable lodging tax is Franklin County’s 3% Tourist Development Tax (TDT), the lowest in the region, layered on top of 6% Florida state sales tax and applicable county surtax, bringing the combined lodging tax to approximately 9-10%. Airbnb and VRBO typically collect and remit this tax automatically for their platform bookings. Enforcement is described as minimal in this small, tourism-friendly market. Florida’s SB 280 (2024), which would have created a statewide STR registration framework, passed the legislature but was vetoed by Governor DeSantis, leaving existing preemption protections intact. Investors should verify any updates with Franklin County directly, as Florida STR legislation continues to evolve.
Market Comparison
Carrabelle’s April 2026 ADR of $402.53 is well above the U.S. STR median ADR of approximately $220, placing this market in the upper tier of coastal rental pricing nationally. Occupancy at 52.1% is close to the national median of roughly 55%, though summer months push significantly above that. The RevPAR of $209.56 reflects the combination of premium ADR with moderate year-round occupancy.
The market is managed predominantly by established regional and national operators. Pristine Properties leads with 384 listings (4,847 reviews, 4.577 average rating). Vacasa follows with 310 listings (8,976 reviews, 4.577 rating). Cape and Coast Vacation Rentals holds 230 listings (3,225 reviews, 4.661 rating), Collins Vacation Rentals manages 186 listings (175 reviews, 4.485 rating), and 360 Blue rounds out the top five at 119 listings (1,551 reviews, 4.694 rating). Together the top five operators account for approximately 1,229 of the roughly 4,703 total listings, or about 26% of the market — a meaningful concentration that gives these operators scale advantages in pricing and marketing.
Frequently Asked Questions About Carrabelle, Florida
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