Buford, Georgia Short-Term Rental Market
Buford, GA STRs averaged $219/night at 56.4% occupancy in April 2026, driven by 12 million annual Lake Lanier visitors.
Quick Answer: Buford, Georgia is an active short-term rental market. average occupancy in the Lake Lanier market area is 64%. average monthly revenue in the Lake Lanier market area is $5,266. average daily rate in the Lake Lanier market area is $299. the top operator in the Lake Lanier market area is Suyun Home with 26 listings. market score is 48/100 (grade D).
Market data reflects the Lake Lanier regional market, which includes Buford. Regulations, taxes, and permit details below are specific to Buford.
Market Score Breakdown
Five dimensions StaySTRA evaluates per market.
Market Overview
The Buford, Georgia short-term rental market draws its demand almost entirely from Lake Lanier, the most visited U.S. Army Corps of Engineers reservoir in the country, which attracts over 12 million visitors annually. As of April 2026, the market reported an average daily rate of $219, occupancy of 56.4%, and RevPAR of $123. Approximately 1,267 active listings are distributed across a wide bedroom range: 1-bedroom units lead with 417 listings, followed by 3-bedroom (308), 2-bedroom (220), 4-bedroom (171), and 5-bedroom (151). Entire-place listings dominate at 1,028 (81% of inventory), with 239 private-room listings rounding out the supply. Airbnb is the primary distribution channel with 646 listings, while 532 properties list on both Airbnb and VRBO, and 89 list exclusively on VRBO. Year-over-year through April 2026, occupancy improved 2.8 percentage points and revenue grew 4.2%, though ADR slipped 2.1%. The market’s investability score of 75 out of 100 reflects relatively strong rental demand (64/100), while a total market score of 48 signals moderate overall performance, shaped in part by regulation complexity across multiple county jurisdictions surrounding the lake.
Seasonal Patterns
| Month | Occupancy |
|---|---|
| Jan | 41% |
| Feb | 53% |
| Mar | 57% |
| Apr | 56% |
| May | 59% |
| Jun | 65% |
| Jul | 67% |
| Aug | 56% |
| Sep | 53% |
| Oct | 55% |
| Nov | 52% |
| Dec | 50% |
Month-by-month nightly rates and revenue figures for Buford are available to StaySTRA Pro members. Unlock with StaySTRA Pro or analyze a specific address free.
Top Short-Term Rental Operators in Lake Lanier market area
Ranked by total active listings. Useful for understanding the competitive landscape. Operator data is published for the Lake Lanier market as a whole, which includes Buford, so these counts are not Buford-only figures.
| # | Operator | Listings | Reviews | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Suyun Home | 26 | 331 | ★ 4.65 |
| 2 | Evolve | 25 | 626 | ★ 4.82 |
| 3 | Landing | 19 | 1 | ★ 2.60 |
| 4 | Anna Home | 16 | 136 | ★ 4.63 |
| 5 | ATLHomestay | 14 | 65 | ★ 4.93 |
What Kind of STR Should I Buy in Buford?
Revenue and nightly-rate breakdowns by bedroom count, property tier, and dwelling type for Buford 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 | 51% |
| vrbo | 7% |
| both | 42% |
Home Value Trends (Buford)
Typical home values, median sale prices, and the 10-year price trend for Buford 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 Buford — 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
Lake Lanier spans five Georgia counties, each with distinct STR rules, and the regulations differ materially depending on which county a property falls in. Hall County (covering much of the north Lanier shoreline) permits STRs in all residential zoning districts. Operators must obtain a county business license through a three-step process: license application, a building inspection ($75 fee, with Fire Marshal inspection added for properties with 16 or more occupants), and annual renewal by January 1. A local contact must respond to complaints within one hour. Hall County collects a 5% hotel/motel excise tax; starting August 2025, monthly remittance reports are due by the 20th of each month. Airbnb and VRBO remit taxes automatically for platform bookings; direct bookings require owner remittance. Forsyth County restricts STRs to A1 (Agricultural) and Ag-Res (Agricultural Residential) zoning only. Before licensing, operators must obtain a Conditional Use Permit through a public notice and county planning hearing. The annual STR license costs $250 and expires December 31. Forsyth County raised its hotel/motel excise tax to 8% in late 2024. Gwinnett County passed a new STR ordinance in April 2026 requiring annual licenses, safety inspections, and 24/7 local agents for all STRs in unincorporated areas. Enforcement is characterized as moderate. Investors must verify the specific county jurisdiction for any target property before purchase, as STR eligibility can vary significantly by parcel.
Market Comparison
Buford’s April 2026 ADR of $219 sits just below the U.S. STR median of approximately $220, and its occupancy of 56.4% is slightly above the national median of roughly 55%. This positions Buford as a mid-tier market by national benchmarks, with performance tightly aligned to U.S. norms. The market’s investability score of 75 out of 100 compares favorably to many lake markets, reflecting Lake Lanier’s scale and its accessibility from the Atlanta metro (approximately 60 miles north). The operator landscape is fragmented. Suyun Home leads with 26 listings and a 4.65 rating across 331 reviews. Evolve holds 25 listings with a 4.82 rating across 626 reviews. ATLHomestay earns the highest guest rating at 4.93 across 14 listings. Landing holds 19 listings but carries a 2.60 rating, suggesting variable guest experience across that portfolio. No single operator controls more than about 2% of the estimated 1,267-listing inventory, meaning the market remains predominantly self-managed with no dominant regional property manager.
Frequently Asked Questions About Buford, Georgia
What is the average daily rate for STRs in Buford, GA?
What occupancy rate do Buford short-term rentals typically achieve?
Do I need a permit to operate a short-term rental near Lake Lanier?
What is the occupancy tax rate for STRs in the Buford area?
How much monthly revenue can a Buford STR generate?
How far in advance do guests typically book Buford STRs?
Which platforms dominate the Buford STR market?
Analyze Buford Rentals
Use our free calculator to estimate Airbnb revenue for any property in Buford.
Free Buford STR Calculator →
