Estero, Florida Short-Term Rental Market
Estero FL STRs averaged $302/night at 48.7% occupancy in April 2026, a post-peak shoulder reading in Southwest Florida's high-season market.
Quick Answer: Estero, Florida is an active short-term rental market. average occupancy in the Cape Coral/Fort Myers market area is 55%. average monthly revenue in the Cape Coral/Fort Myers market area is $4,159. average daily rate in the Cape Coral/Fort Myers market area is $294. the top operator in the Cape Coral/Fort Myers market area is Roelens Realty & Property Management with 614 listings. market score is 48/100 (grade D).
Market data reflects the Cape Coral/Fort Myers regional market, which includes Estero. Regulations, taxes, and permit details below are specific to Estero.
Market Score Breakdown
Five dimensions StaySTRA evaluates per market.
Market Overview
Estero is a planned community in Lee County, Southwest Florida, with a permanent population of approximately 37,858. It sits between Fort Myers and Naples within the broader Visit Fort Myers tourism region, which welcomed roughly 3.32 million visitors in 2025 generating more than $3.3 billion in direct spending. Estero draws a mix of Midwest and Northeast snowbirds, golfers, shoppers, and leisure travelers, with peak demand running December through April.
As of April 2026, the market posted an average daily rate of $301.63 and occupancy of 48.7%, generating average monthly revenue of $4,164 per listing. RevPAR reached $147. April is a shoulder month for this market; the winter peak months run significantly higher. Year-over-year, occupancy declined 3.0% while ADR rose 4.9%, leaving revenue nearly flat at -0.2%.
The market holds approximately 19,851 active listings. Entire-place rentals account for 96.5% of listings (19,156), with 688 private rooms and 7 shared rooms. By bedroom count, 3-bedroom units are the most common configuration (7,149), followed by 2-bedrooms (5,514), 1-bedrooms (3,320), 4-bedrooms (3,032), and 5-bedrooms (821). The overall market score is 47.9, with investability (69.1) and revenue growth (76.6) scoring higher than the composite, while seasonality (54.0) and regulation (56.5) weigh it down.
Seasonal Patterns
| Month | Occupancy |
|---|---|
| Jan | 67% |
| Feb | 82% |
| Mar | 80% |
| Apr | 53% |
| May | 49% |
| Jun | 60% |
| Jul | 61% |
| Aug | 44% |
| Sep | 40% |
| Oct | 52% |
| Nov | 59% |
| Dec | 61% |
Month-by-month nightly rates and revenue figures for Estero are available to StaySTRA Pro members. Unlock with StaySTRA Pro or analyze a specific address free.
Top Short-Term Rental Operators in Cape Coral/Fort Myers market area
Ranked by total active listings. Useful for understanding the competitive landscape. Operator data is published for the Cape Coral/Fort Myers market as a whole, which includes Estero, so these counts are not Estero-only figures.
| # | Operator | Listings | Reviews | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Roelens Realty & Property Management | 614 | 8,143 | ★ 4.58 |
| 2 | Evolve | 446 | 11,657 | ★ 4.62 |
| 3 | Vacasa | 340 | 4,515 | ★ 4.44 |
| 4 | Sun Palace | 278 | 4,019 | ★ 4.60 |
| 5 | Royal Shell Vacations | 249 | 1,913 | ★ 4.64 |
What Kind of STR Should I Buy in Estero?
Revenue and nightly-rate breakdowns by bedroom count, property tier, and dwelling type for Estero are available to StaySTRA Pro members. Unlock with StaySTRA Pro or analyze a specific address free.
Booking Channel Mix
Distribution of bookings across major STR platforms.
| Channel | Share |
|---|---|
| airbnb | 22.2% |
| vrbo | 17.1% |
| both | 60.7% |
Home Value Trends (Estero)
Typical home values, median sale prices, and the 10-year price trend for Estero 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 Estero — 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
Estero’s STR regulatory environment operates on two separate levels: state licensing and local compliance, with an additional private layer from community covenants.
At the state level, Florida’s DBPR (Division of Hotels and Restaurants) requires every vacation rental dwelling to hold an annual Vacation Rental Dwelling License. The base fee is approximately $150, plus $10 per unit and a roughly $50 application fee. Operators also need a local business tax receipt from Lee County.
On taxes, guests pay Lee County’s 5% Tourist Development Tax on stays of six months or less, in addition to Florida’s 6% state sales tax and Lee County’s 0.5% discretionary surtax, for a combined transient tax burden of approximately 11.5%. Airbnb collects the 5% county bed tax automatically.
Florida law preempts municipalities incorporated after 2011 from capping rental frequency or duration. Estero incorporated in 2014, so the Village cannot impose a minimum-stay requirement or night cap. There is no owner-occupancy or primary-residence mandate at the state or local level.
However, many Estero subdivisions, HOAs, and condo associations impose their own minimum-stay rules (frequently 7 nights) and may prohibit STRs entirely. These private covenants are enforceable independently of Village rules. Enforcement severity is rated moderate, driven by county tax collection, state licensing, and code complaints rather than aggressive local sweeps. Investors must verify covenants at the specific property or community level before purchase.
Market Comparison
Estero’s April 2026 ADR of $301.63 is well above the U.S. STR median of approximately $220, consistent with Southwest Florida’s premium coastal positioning. Occupancy at 48.7% is below the national median of roughly 55%, but April is a shoulder month; the winter peak (February at 82.4%) far exceeds national norms.
The total market score of 47.9 is below the national midpoint, primarily held down by seasonal concentration and a moderately complex regulatory picture. The revenue growth score of 76.6 is a positive outlier within the composite.
The operator landscape features a strong regional presence. Roelens Realty and Property Management leads with 614 listings and 8,143 reviews (4.58 rating). Evolve follows with 446 listings and 11,657 reviews (4.62 rating). Vacasa holds 340 listings (4.44 rating). Sun Palace has 278 listings (4.60 rating), and Royal Shell Vacations rounds out the top five with 249 listings (4.64 rating). Combined, these five operators hold approximately 1,927 listings, or roughly 9.7% of the active market. The presence of a strong regional leader (Roelens Realty) alongside national platforms is characteristic of established Florida vacation rental markets.
Frequently Asked Questions About Estero, Florida
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