Alden, Michigan Short-Term Rental Market
Alden, MI STRs averaged $239/night at 26.6% occupancy in April 2026, with July peak occupancy reaching 75.2% on Torch Lake.
Quick Answer: Alden, Michigan is an active short-term rental market. average occupancy is 27%. average monthly revenue is $1,790. average daily rate is $239. the top operator is Northern Michigan Escapes with 198 listings. market score is 70/100 (grade C).
Market Score Breakdown
Five dimensions Apivex evaluates per market.
Market Overview
Alden is a small lakeside community on the southeast shore of Torch Lake in Antrim County, Michigan. The short-term rental market here is shaped almost entirely by summer lake access. As of April 2026, the market posted an average daily rate of $239 and an occupancy rate of 26.6%, generating an average monthly revenue of $1,790 per active listing. RevPAR for the month stood at $63.56.
The active listing base spans roughly 4,240 listings across the dimensions tracked, with entire-place rentals making up 98% of supply (4,147 out of 4,240). Private rooms account for only 93 listings. Bedroom mix is fairly even across the 1-to-5-bedroom range: 1-bedroom units represent 898 listings, 2-bedrooms 1,101, 3-bedrooms 1,156, 4-bedrooms 678, and 5-bedroom-plus properties 403. The market skews toward larger vacation homes suitable for groups.
On the channel side, 2,250 listings are active on both Airbnb and VRBO, 1,239 are Airbnb-only, and 751 are VRBO-only, reflecting broad dual-platform distribution.
Year-over-year as of April 2026, occupancy declined 12.1 percentage points compared to April 2025, while ADR grew 5.5% and overall revenue slipped 2.1%. The full-year 2025 average occupancy was 44.2% with an ADR of $322 and average monthly revenue of $3,793 per listing.
Seasonal Patterns
| Month | Occupancy | ADR | Revenue |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 35% | $321 | $3,135 |
| Feb | 43% | $324 | $3,410 |
| Mar | 25% | $266 | $2,150 |
| Apr | 28% | $212 | $1,596 |
| May | 45% | $247 | $1,962 |
| Jun | 59% | $304 | $3,846 |
| Jul | 75% | $326 | $6,124 |
| Aug | 67% | $319 | $5,562 |
| Sep | 41% | $270 | $3,060 |
| Oct | 39% | $239 | $2,621 |
| Nov | 24% | $214 | $1,681 |
| Dec | 46% | $290 | $2,465 |
Top Short-Term Rental Operators in Alden
Ranked by total active listings. Useful for understanding the competitive landscape.
| # | Operator | Listings | Reviews | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Northern Michigan Escapes | 198 | 9,917 | ★ 4.69 |
| 2 | Evolve | 136 | 6,096 | ★ 4.71 |
| 3 | Graham Management | 73 | 1,277 | ★ 4.74 |
| 4 | Pure Vacation Management | 61 | 339 | ★ 4.73 |
| 5 | Vacation Properties of Northern Michigan | 45 | 2,209 | ★ 4.89 |
What Kind of STR Should I Buy in Alden?
Revenue and pricing by property type, tier, and bedroom count.
Revenue by Bedroom Count
| 1 bed | 898 |
| 2 bed | 1,101 |
| 3 bed | 1,156 |
| 4 bed | 678 |
| 5 bed | 403 |
ADR by Property Tier
| Entire Home | $242 |
| Luxury | $373 |
| Professionally Managed | $271 |
Revenue by Dwelling Type
| Apartment | $1,255 |
| Entire Place | $1,812 |
| House | $2,090 |
Booking Channel Mix
Distribution of bookings across major STR platforms.
| Channel | Share |
|---|---|
| airbnb | 29.2% |
| vrbo | 17.7% |
| both | 53.1% |
Investment Analysis
Alden’s investability score of 98.1 out of 100 and revenue growth score of 89.7 reflect the market’s long-term trajectory even as near-term occupancy softens. Full-year 2025 performance averaged $3,793 per month per listing at 44.2% occupancy and a $322 ADR, equating to roughly $45,500 in annualized gross revenue per active listing. Against a typical home value of $400,622 (Zillow April 2026), that implies an approximate gross revenue yield of 11.4% before expenses and vacancies.
The ADR tier spread adds nuance for buyers. Standard entire-home listings averaged $242/night in April 2026, while professionally managed properties averaged $271/night, a 12% premium suggesting professional management captures higher pricing. Luxury-tier listings averaged $373/night, more than 50% above the market-wide average, indicating a viable high-end segment for premium lakefront properties.
Revenue by listing type in April 2026: houses averaged $2,090/month, entire-place listings $1,812/month, and apartments $1,255/month. These figures reflect off-peak April performance; the July peak historically generates over $6,100/month per listing on average.
ADR has grown from $247 in 2018 to $322 in 2025 (a 30% increase over seven years), while occupancy peaked around 2020-2021 and has trended modestly lower since. The for-sale inventory in Alden stood at just 8 homes as of April 2026, signaling a tight acquisition market.
Revenue Trend (5 yr)
ADR & Occupancy Trends (5 yr)
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Booking Insights
As of April 2026, the average booking lead time for Alden STRs was 45 days, meaning guests typically book about 6.5 weeks in advance. The average length of stay was 3.1 nights.
A 45-day lead time suggests pricing decisions matter well before the stay date. Operators can hold rates for peak summer bookings made in May and June, then adjust for gaps as dates approach. The relatively short 3.1-night average stay means higher turnover and cleaning costs relative to markets with longer stays, but it also means more opportunities to fill calendars with multiple short bookings per month.
During peak summer months when demand is highest, early booking by guests likely extends the effective lead time beyond the 45-day average. During shoulder months, the lead time may compress as last-minute leisure travelers target available dates on Torch Lake.
Short-Term Rental Regulations
Alden sits within Helena Township, Antrim County, Michigan. The Helena Township Zoning Ordinance, revised and effective June 28, 2024, explicitly permits short-term vacation rentals by right in R-1 (One-Family Residential), R-2 (One- and Two-Family Residential), Agricultural, and Commercial zoning districts. No township STR permit or registration is required, and there is no owner-occupancy or primary-residence requirement.
The ordinance defines a short-term vacation rental as a rental of at least 7 days. Rentals shorter than 7 nights are not classified as lawful short-term vacation rentals under the zoning code, which investors should verify against their specific operating model.
The applicable lodging tax is Michigan’s 6% state use tax on stays of 30 days or fewer. Antrim County does not levy a separate county lodging tax. Platforms such as Airbnb typically collect and remit the state use tax automatically.
Enforcement has been described as focused on nuisance and watercraft issues rather than STR restrictions, consistent with the ordinance’s permissive stance. A public hearing was scheduled for June 2025 regarding waterfront property restrictions (Ordinance Section 5.02.02). Investors with lakefront properties should verify the outcome of that hearing, as it may affect waterfront setback or use rules. No permit ban or moratorium is in effect. Michigan House bills in 2024 proposed an additional 6% excise tax on STRs rented more than 14 days per year; those bills had not been enacted as of mid-2025.
Market Comparison
Alden’s full-year 2025 average ADR of $322 sits well above the US STR median ADR of approximately $220, reflecting a premium lake destination with limited supply. The 2025 annual average occupancy of 44.2% runs below the US STR median of roughly 55%, a direct result of the market’s heavy seasonal concentration.
The total market score of 69.7 out of 100 is supported by strong investability (98.1) and revenue growth (89.7) scores, partially offset by moderate rental demand (48.0) and seasonality (44.7) scores. The regulation score of 72.3 reflects the permissive Helena Township framework.
Property management is relatively consolidated. Northern Michigan Escapes leads the market with 198 listings and 9,917 reviews at a 4.69 rating. Evolve holds 136 listings with 6,096 reviews at a 4.71 rating. Graham Management manages 73 listings with a 4.74 rating. Together, the top three operators account for approximately 407 tracked listings. Vacation Properties of Northern Michigan, ranked fifth with 45 listings, carries the highest rating at 4.89 across 2,209 reviews.
Frequently Asked Questions About Alden, Michigan
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