Buford, Georgia Short-Term Rental Market
Buford short-term rentals averaged a $254 ADR, 56.8% occupancy and $3,772 monthly revenue in September 2026.
Quick Answer: Buford, Georgia is an active short-term rental market. average occupancy in the Lake Lanier market area is 57%. average monthly revenue in the Lake Lanier market area is $3,772. average daily rate in the Lake Lanier market area is $254. 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
This page covers short-term rental performance for Buford, Georgia, using data through September 2026. The figures describe the Lake Lanier area STR market, a regional series rather than numbers measured for Buford alone. Bedroom, channel, and listing-type counts and top operator names are tracked at a shared regional level rather than uniquely for Buford, so this profile omits them.
In September 2026 the average daily rate (ADR) across all listings in the Lake Lanier area STR market was $254, and occupancy was 56.8%. Average monthly revenue per listing was $3,772. Compared with September 2025, occupancy is up 14.7%, ADR is up 4.2%, and revenue is up 19.2%. Most of that gain comes from occupancy, which suggests more nights are being booked rather than the improvement coming from price alone.
Demand is tied to Lake Lanier, which draws more than 12 million visitors per year and is the most visited U.S. Army Corps of Engineers lake in the nation. The reservoir covers 38,000 acres with 692 miles of shoreline and sits roughly 60 miles north of Atlanta, so many guests are day-trippers from the metro area while overnight stays are driven by boating, fishing, and resort visits. Margaritaville at Lanier Islands and Don Carter State Park anchor much of the activity, and nearby Helen and Dahlonega extend visitor interest into fall.
Annual averages show the market has held up since the 2020 and 2021 surge. Occupancy was 62.7% in 2021, 54.4% in both 2024 and 2025, and 56.3% across the first nine months of 2026. ADR for 2026 so far averages $241, compared with $228 for 2025. The typical home value is $466,577, which sets the entry cost for investors.
Seasonal Patterns
| Month | Occupancy |
|---|---|
| Jan | 41% |
| Feb | 53% |
| Mar | 57% |
| Apr | 56% |
| May | 59% |
| Jun | 65% |
| Jul | 67% |
| Aug | 55% |
| 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
Short-term rentals are permitted around Lake Lanier and a permit is required, but rules differ materially by county. Investors must confirm the exact jurisdiction before buying. Enforcement severity is rated moderate. There is no owner-occupancy or primary-residence requirement, and no annual night cap is published.
Hall County allows STRs in all residential zoning districts with no conditional use permit. Operators need a county business license, which involves an application, a $75 building inspection, and in-person pickup. Licenses renew annually by January 1, and a local contact must respond to complaints within 1 hour.
Forsyth County limits STRs to A1 or Ag-Res zones and requires a Conditional Use Permit through a public hearing process. After approval, a $250 annual license applies, expiring December 31. Occupancy is capped at two persons per bedroom plus two, with a hard cap of 15 overnight occupants, and a local contact must respond on-site within 3 hours.
Gwinnett County passed an ordinance in April 2026 requiring an annual license, a safety inspection, and a local agent. Dawson County requires an STR permit valid for 12 months.
The occupancy tax is 5% in Hall County. Forsyth County raised its hotel/motel excise tax to 8% in late 2024. Since August 2025, Hall County license holders file monthly tax reports due by the 20th. Platforms remit taxes on platform bookings, while direct bookings require owner remittance. Georgia preemption bills HB 109 and SB 104 were introduced in 2026 but had not been voted on as of May 2026.
Market Comparison
In September 2026 the Lake Lanier area STR market posted 56.8% occupancy and a $254 ADR, which together produce average monthly revenue of $3,772.
The mix of those two numbers matters. The area is not winning on price alone or on volume alone: occupancy is up 14.7% and ADR is up 4.2% year over year, which is why revenue is up 19.2%. That gain also shows the market recovering from the softer 2024 and 2025 years, when occupancy sat at 54.4% and ADR at $230 and $228.
The seasonal range is wide. January occupancy is 41.0%, while June and July reach 65.1% and 67.0%. Annual performance therefore depends on capturing the summer months.
Operator names and listing counts are tracked at a shared regional level rather than uniquely for Buford, so this profile omits them. Investors comparing Buford with other markets should weigh the proximity to Atlanta and Lake Lanier visitation against the county-by-county permit rules.
Frequently Asked Questions About Buford, Georgia
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How far ahead do guests book and how long do they stay?
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