Fort Wayne, Indiana Short-Term Rental Market
Fort Wayne STRs averaged $116/night at 71.9% occupancy in April 2026, with a total market score of 99.9 out of 100.
Quick Answer: Fort Wayne, Indiana is an active short-term rental market. average occupancy is 72%. average monthly revenue is $2,160. average daily rate is $116. the top operator is Jtrade Properties with 59 listings. market score is 100/100 (grade A).
Market Score Breakdown
Five dimensions Apivex evaluates per market.
Market Overview
Fort Wayne is Indiana’s second-largest city and a Midwest hub with a strong, year-round tourism base. Allen County drew approximately 9.2 million visitors in 2023 who spent over $1.1 billion, the first year visitor spending exceeded $1 billion in the region. The city’s STR market is small relative to its visitor volume, which creates an interesting supply-demand dynamic for operators.
The active listing base totals approximately 780 units based on bedroom-segment data: 693 entire-place listings (89% of the market), 89 private rooms, and 1 shared room. This is a compact, host-driven market with minimal large-operator concentration. In April 2026, the market posted an average daily rate of $116, occupancy of 71.9%, and a RevPAR of $83. All three key metrics improved year-over-year: occupancy gained 5.6 percentage points, ADR rose 7.3%, and revenue grew 10.8%.
Channel distribution is heavily Airbnb-dominant: 520 Airbnb-only listings versus 36 VRBO-only, with 227 on both platforms. The bedroom mix skews toward smaller units: 289 one-bedrooms, 227 two-bedrooms, 179 three-bedrooms, 57 four-bedrooms, and 28 five-plus-bedroom properties.
Fort Wayne’s market scores are exceptional: total market score of 99.9 out of 100, investability score of 98.9, seasonality score of 99.1, and revenue growth score of 100.0 — all among the highest observable in the data. These scores reflect the combination of very high occupancy, consistent revenue growth, and a low-competition supply environment.
Seasonal Patterns
| Month | Occupancy | ADR | Revenue |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 60% | $80 | $1,390 |
| Feb | 62% | $90 | $1,456 |
| Mar | 64% | $92 | $1,622 |
| Apr | 67% | $96 | $1,736 |
| May | 69% | $98 | $1,890 |
| Jun | 74% | $93 | $1,876 |
| Jul | 75% | $89 | $1,885 |
| Aug | 70% | $87 | $1,707 |
| Sep | 67% | $91 | $1,654 |
| Oct | 66% | $87 | $1,607 |
| Nov | 65% | $87 | $1,546 |
| Dec | 64% | $85 | $1,534 |
Top Short-Term Rental Operators in Fort Wayne
Ranked by total active listings. Useful for understanding the competitive landscape.
| # | Operator | Listings | Reviews | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Jtrade Properties | 59 | 977 | ★ 4.59 |
| 2 | Fortified Homes LLC | 12 | 234 | ★ 4.77 |
| 3 | Landing, Inc. | 10 | 23 | ★ 2.89 |
| 4 | Evolve | 9 | 169 | ★ 4.20 |
| 5 | Fortified | 7 | 189 | ★ 4.85 |
What Kind of STR Should I Buy in Fort Wayne?
Revenue and pricing by property type, tier, and bedroom count.
Revenue by Bedroom Count
| 1 bed | 289 |
| 2 bed | 227 |
| 3 bed | 179 |
| 4 bed | 57 |
| 5 bed | 28 |
ADR by Property Tier
| Entire Home | $127 |
| Luxury | $178 |
| Professionally Managed | $146 |
Revenue by Dwelling Type
| Apartment | $1,910 |
| Entire Place | $2,331 |
| House | $2,317 |
Booking Channel Mix
Distribution of bookings across major STR platforms.
| Channel | Share |
|---|---|
| airbnb | 66.4% |
| vrbo | 4.6% |
| both | 29% |
Investment Analysis
Fort Wayne presents a high-occupancy, low-ADR investment profile uncommon among major Indiana markets. The city’s typical home value was not available in the current housing dataset, so a gross yield computation cannot be made at this time. What the data does show is consistent and accelerating revenue growth.
April 2026 average monthly revenue was $2,160, with an annualized run rate of approximately $25,918 based on that single month. However, the 2025 annual average of $2,063/month suggests the annualized baseline is closer to $24,756. Revenue has grown from $966/month annually in 2017 to $2,063 in 2025, a 114% cumulative increase.
Tier differentiation is moderate but meaningful. The all-listings ADR of $116/night compares to $127 for entire-home listings (a 10% premium), $146 for professionally managed properties (26% premium), and $178 for luxury-tier properties (54% premium). The luxury premium is present but more compressed than in beach markets.
Revenue by property type: entire-place units averaged $2,331/month in April 2026, houses averaged $2,317, and apartments averaged $1,910. The minimal gap between houses and entire-place units ($14/month) reflects the market’s structure, where most entire-place listings are houses. Apartments trail by 18%.
The market’s exceptional scores (revenue growth: 100/100; investability: 98.9/100) suggest the data models view Fort Wayne as one of the best-positioned smaller Midwest markets for STR investment, driven by high occupancy and consistent year-over-year growth.
Revenue Trend (5 yr)
ADR & Occupancy Trends (5 yr)
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Fort Wayne guests book an average of 35 days in advance as of April 2026, the shortest lead time among the five markets in this batch. A 5-week booking window reflects a demand base of regional drive-market visitors, event attendees, and sports tournament travelers who make decisions on a relatively short timeline. This compressed window means operators have less forward visibility into occupancy and should monitor pricing dynamically in the 14-30 day approach window.
Average length of stay is 4.97 nights, longer than the national median for urban markets. This extended stay average likely reflects a mix of corporate relocators, extended family visits, and tournament-week bookings where guests stay for multi-day events. Operators should consider offering weekly rates or discounts for 5-7 night stays to attract this segment while maintaining per-night rate integrity for shorter bookings.
Short-Term Rental Regulations
Fort Wayne requires short-term rental operators to obtain a permit from the City before listing. The reported permit cost is $150 for the initial registration, with renewals at approximately $75, plus an approximately $75 inspection fee. Permits are commonly described as valid for two years and are non-transferable to new owners.
There is no published cap on annual rental nights. Owner-occupancy and primary-residence requirements are not imposed by the city’s rules, though Indiana state law provides additional protections for owner-occupants. Non-owner-occupied rentals are allowed but face stricter zoning hurdles: reported density limits of approximately one STR per 400-foot radius in single-family residential zones, with a requirement to obtain approval from a substantial majority of adjacent property owners before operating.
On taxes, hosts must collect Indiana’s 7% state sales tax plus Allen County’s 8% innkeeper’s tax on stays under 30 days, for a combined rate of approximately 15%. The Allen County innkeeper’s tax was raised from 7% to 8% in August 2019, with the additional revenue directed to regional tourism marketing.
Enforcement is complaint-driven, primarily addressing noise, parking, and nuisance complaints through city code enforcement. Operating without a required permit can trigger fines as a Class C infraction. Operators in single-family zones should verify their specific zoning classification and density eligibility with the Fort Wayne Building Commission before listing.
Market Comparison
Fort Wayne’s April 2026 ADR of $116 is well below the US STR median of approximately $220/night, reflecting an inland Midwest market with a lower cost of living and accommodation base. However, the 71.9% occupancy rate significantly exceeds the US STR median of approximately 55%, meaning properties in Fort Wayne run full more often than average despite a lower nightly rate.
The professional management landscape is fragmented and small-scale. Jtrade Properties leads with 59 listings, 977 reviews, and a 4.59 average rating. Fortified Homes LLC holds 12 listings at a 4.77 rating. Landing, Inc. has 10 listings with a 2.89 rating. Evolve operates 9 listings at a 4.20 rating, and Fortified holds 7 more at a 4.85 rating. The top five managers combined account for 97 listings, representing approximately 12% of the estimated 780-listing market. The overwhelming majority of Fort Wayne’s STR inventory is self-managed by individual hosts.
The revenue growth score of 100.0 out of 100 and total market score of 99.9 out of 100 are among the highest in the national dataset, indicating the data models place Fort Wayne near the top of all tracked markets for sustained revenue growth trajectory.
Frequently Asked Questions About Fort Wayne, Indiana
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