South Bend, Indiana Short-Term Rental Market
South Bend short-term rentals averaged $423 ADR, 45.6% occupancy and $4,529 monthly revenue in September 2026.
Quick Answer: South Bend, Indiana is an active short-term rental market. average occupancy in the South Bend market area is 46%. average monthly revenue in the South Bend market area is $4,529. average daily rate in the South Bend market area is $423. the top operator in the South Bend market area is Irish Management with 56 listings. market score is 90/100 (grade A).
Market data reflects the wider South Bend market, which covers 2 areas. Regulations, taxes, and permit details below are specific to South Bend.
Market Score Breakdown
Five dimensions StaySTRA evaluates per market.
Market Overview
South Bend, Indiana is a university-driven short-term rental market, and the figures below describe the South Bend area STR market through September 2026. Roughly 1,870 listings are tracked. Of those, 1,657 are entire places, 210 are private rooms, and 3 are shared rooms. The channel mix leans toward Airbnb: 1,084 listings are on Airbnb only, 111 are on VRBO only, and 675 are listed on both. By size, 3-bedroom homes are the largest group at 541 listings, followed by 4-bedroom homes at 408, 1-bedroom units at 389, 2-bedroom units at 336, and 5-bedroom homes at 195. The average daily rate in September 2026 was $423, occupancy was 45.6%, and average monthly revenue per listing was $4,529. Compared with a year earlier, occupancy is down 1.4%, ADR is up 0.6%, and revenue is down 3.2%, so the market is roughly flat on price and slightly softer on bookings. The city has 103,713 residents, and St. Joseph County draws nearly 5 million visitors a year (a county-wide figure, not South Bend alone). The University of Notre Dame is the single biggest demand driver, with football weekends and campus events filling lodging. A heavy youth-sports calendar in hockey, baseball, softball, soccer, and lacrosse adds weekend demand. The county has nearly 5,000 hotel rooms, so short-term rentals compete with a deep hotel supply for the same event guests. Investors should read the market as event-driven rather than steady. Demand clusters around football season and summer, and the shoulder months are much weaker. The sections below cover investment returns, seasonality, revenue by property type, local rules, booking behavior, and the leading operators.
Seasonal Patterns
| Month | Occupancy |
|---|---|
| Jan | 38% |
| Feb | 48% |
| Mar | 50% |
| Apr | 52% |
| May | 49% |
| Jun | 53% |
| Jul | 63% |
| Aug | 55% |
| Sep | 47% |
| Oct | 38% |
| Nov | 37% |
| Dec | 38% |
Month-by-month nightly rates and revenue figures for South Bend are available to StaySTRA Pro members. Unlock with StaySTRA Pro or analyze a specific address free.
Top Short-Term Rental Operators in South Bend market area
Ranked by total active listings. Useful for understanding the competitive landscape. Operator data is published for the South Bend market as a whole, which includes South Bend, so these counts are not South Bend-only figures.
| # | Operator | Listings | Reviews | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Irish Management | 56 | 1,517 | ★ 4.87 |
| 2 | D&H Residential | 37 | 544 | ★ 4.76 |
| 3 | HomeStayHQ | 32 | 961 | ★ 4.64 |
| 4 | Evolve | 22 | 275 | ★ 4.72 |
| 5 | Gameday Housing | 16 | 111 | ★ 4.95 |
What Kind of STR Should I Buy in South Bend?
Revenue and nightly-rate breakdowns by bedroom count, property tier, and dwelling type for South Bend 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 | 58% |
| vrbo | 5.9% |
| both | 36.1% |
Home Value Trends (South Bend)
Typical home values, median sale prices, and the 10-year price trend for South Bend 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 South Bend — 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
South Bend permits short-term rentals, defined as dwellings rented for 30 days or less, and enforcement severity is rated moderate. There is no dedicated STR license. Instead, operators fall under the city’s Rental Registration program run by the DCI Neighborhood Services and Enforcement division. Any owner of residential rental property they do not personally occupy must register. Registration costs $5 and renews annually, and failure to register carries a $300 civil penalty. Registered rentals face an occupancy inspection against the International Property Maintenance Code, covering electrical, plumbing, heating and ventilation, safety devices, and structural integrity, and operators should designate a responsible local agent as the primary contact. Owner-occupied primary residences are exempt from registration. There is no annual night cap, no owner-occupancy requirement, and no primary-residence requirement. Reporting suggests a common limit of up to four STR properties per operator, and up to 100 properties may be registered under a single owner or manager account, but sources differ, so confirm zoning-district allowances and any operator limit with the city before buying. Lodging tax is the St. Joseph County innkeeper’s tax of 8% plus Indiana’s 7% state sales and use tax, roughly 15% in total. Airbnb and VRBO typically collect and remit these on bookings made through their platforms. St. Joseph County raised the innkeeper’s tax from 6% to 8% effective October 1, 2021, and no major STR-specific ordinance changes have been identified since. This is general information, not legal advice.
Market Comparison
In September 2026 South Bend ran 45.6% occupancy at a $423 ADR. September is a high-rate month: the seasonal averages put monthly ADR between $147 and $346, so the current rate sits above the typical year-round level. Seasonal occupancy is highest in July (62.9%) and August (55.3%). The market is spread across many operators. Irish Management leads with 56 listings and a 4.87 rating, followed by D&H Residential with 37 listings (4.76), HomeStayHQ with 32 (4.64), Evolve with 22 (4.72), and Gameday Housing with 16 (4.95). Together the five run 163 listings, about 8.7% of the roughly 1,870 tracked, so no single operator dominates and independent hosts hold most of the supply. For investors, South Bend suits those who can price dynamically around Notre Dame and youth-sports events and who can absorb a long, low-occupancy winter.
Frequently Asked Questions About South Bend, Indiana
What is the average daily rate for short-term rentals in South Bend?
What is the occupancy rate for South Bend Airbnbs?
How much do South Bend short-term rentals earn?
Is it legal to run an Airbnb in South Bend, Indiana?
What taxes apply to South Bend short-term rentals?
What is the gross yield for a South Bend short-term rental?
When is the best time of year for South Bend short-term rentals?
Analyze South Bend Rentals
Use our free calculator to estimate Airbnb revenue for any property in South Bend.
Free South Bend STR Calculator →
