Auburn Hills, Michigan Short-Term Rental Market
Auburn Hills, MI STRs averaged $139/night at 58.3% occupancy in April 2026 with a market score of 95.8 out of 100.
Quick Answer: Auburn Hills, Michigan is an active short-term rental market. average occupancy is 65%. average monthly revenue is $2,928. average daily rate is $164. the top operator is Evolve with 113 listings. market score is 96/100 (grade A).
Market data reflects the Detroit regional market, which includes Auburn Hills. Regulations, taxes, and permit details below are specific to Auburn Hills.
Market Score Breakdown
Five dimensions Apivex evaluates per market.
Market Overview
Auburn Hills, Michigan is a city of approximately 25,105 residents in Oakland County, situated north of Detroit. The STR market spans approximately 6,648 active listings. Entire-place properties represent the majority at 5,346 (80.4%), with a notable private-room contingent of 1,288 listings (19.4%) and 14 shared-room listings. The bedroom mix is weighted toward smaller properties: 1-bedroom units lead at 2,647 listings, followed by 2-bedroom (1,594), 3-bedroom (1,542), 4-bedroom (558), and 5-bedroom (276).
In April 2026, the all-listings average daily rate was $139.49 and average occupancy was 58.3%, producing a RevPAR of $81.33. Year-over-year, occupancy was nearly flat (-0.72%), ADR rose 2.37%, and revenue grew 0.20%. The 2025 full-year average ADR was $143 at 58.4% occupancy, generating average monthly revenue of $2,377. Distribution is Airbnb-dominant with 4,152 Airbnb-exclusive listings, 240 VRBO-exclusive, and 2,256 on both platforms. The market’s total score is 95.8 out of 100, among the highest scores in this data set, with investability at 95.8 and revenue growth at 90.6.
Seasonal Patterns
| Month | Occupancy | ADR | Revenue |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 48% | $102 | $1,468 |
| Feb | 55% | $103 | $1,444 |
| Mar | 57% | $109 | $1,709 |
| Apr | 58% | $115 | $1,807 |
| May | 62% | $128 | $2,042 |
| Jun | 64% | $135 | $2,329 |
| Jul | 66% | $131 | $2,369 |
| Aug | 63% | $131 | $2,330 |
| Sep | 60% | $122 | $2,013 |
| Oct | 59% | $118 | $1,965 |
| Nov | 55% | $117 | $1,750 |
| Dec | 54% | $117 | $1,775 |
Top Short-Term Rental Operators in Auburn Hills
Ranked by total active listings. Useful for understanding the competitive landscape.
| # | Operator | Listings | Reviews | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Evolve | 113 | 1,891 | ★ 4.31 |
| 2 | Easy Stay | 67 | 2,503 | ★ 4.92 |
| 3 | Monty | 48 | 1,052 | ★ 4.13 |
| 4 | StayArbor | 46 | 1,274 | ★ 4.81 |
| 5 | Easy Stay Homes | 45 | 497 | ★ 4.93 |
What Kind of STR Should I Buy in Auburn Hills?
Revenue and pricing by property type, tier, and bedroom count.
Revenue by Bedroom Count
| 1 bed | 2,647 |
| 2 bed | 1,594 |
| 3 bed | 1,542 |
| 4 bed | 558 |
| 5 bed | 276 |
ADR by Property Tier
| Entire Home | $190 |
| Luxury | $308 |
| Professionally Managed | $200 |
Revenue by Dwelling Type
| Apartment | $2,533 |
| Entire Place | $3,360 |
| House | $3,151 |
Booking Channel Mix
Distribution of bookings across major STR platforms.
| Channel | Share |
|---|---|
| airbnb | 62.5% |
| vrbo | 3.6% |
| both | 33.9% |
Investment Analysis
Auburn Hills is a commerce-and-retail destination anchored by Great Lakes Crossing Outlets, described as Michigan’s largest indoor outlet mall with more than 185 stores across 1.355 million square feet. The mall generates substantial out-of-state visitor traffic and draws corporate travelers from nearby Stellantis North America headquarters and Oakland University. This dual demand base (retail tourism plus business travel) contributes to more consistent year-round occupancy compared to pure leisure markets.
Average monthly revenue of $2,215 in April 2026 annualizes to approximately $26,574 per property. The 2025 annual average of $2,377/month annualizes to approximately $28,524. No housing data was available for this area in our current snapshot, so purchase-price yield calculations cannot be provided. The tier analysis reveals moderate premiums: entire-home listings average $161.88/night versus $139.49 for all listings, a 16% premium. Luxury properties average $254.06/night, an 82% premium over the all-listings rate. Professionally managed listings average $166.62/night, about 19% above the market average. The outstanding total score (95.8) and revenue growth sub-score (90.6) position Auburn Hills as one of the stronger-scoring suburban markets in the Midwest, though the relatively low ADR ($139) means yield depends more on sustained occupancy than on rate power.
Revenue Trend (5 yr)
ADR & Occupancy Trends (5 yr)
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Booking Insights
Auburn Hills has the shortest booking lead time of any market in this batch at 31.4 days, meaning guests are booking approximately one month in advance. This compressed lead window suggests guests are responding to near-term business trips, event attendance (mall events, Oakland University activities), or last-minute leisure travel. The implication for operators is that yield management should prioritize maintaining rate through the 14-30 day window rather than discounting early. Average length of stay is 4.66 nights, which is notably longer than the 3.35-3.55 night averages seen in other markets here. The longer stay length suggests corporate-style extended visits and week-long business trips are a meaningful share of demand. A minimum-stay policy of 3-4 nights aligns well with this LOS profile and reduces turnover costs without meaningfully restricting demand.
Short-Term Rental Regulations
Auburn Hills does not have a dedicated short-term rental ordinance. STRs are neither expressly banned nor specifically regulated by a standalone STR code. Under Chapter 18, Article VII (Ordinance 18-901, adopted June 2018), any detached one-family home offered for rent must be registered with the Community Development Department and obtain a permit to occupy before tenancy. The reported fee structure is a $200 registration fee plus a $50 permit-to-occupy fee per property, with a self-certification inspection required or a city inspection at a fee of approximately $155. There is no published nightly cap, no owner-occupancy requirement, and no primary-residence requirement.
On occupancy taxes, Oakland County does not levy a local hotel or accommodation excise tax. STR operators owe Michigan’s 6% state use (lodging) tax on stays under 30 days. The effective tax burden is therefore lower than in many Michigan cities. Enforcement severity is rated minimal, though standard rental-registration, building-safety, noise, and nuisance ordinances still apply. HOA and condominium restrictions may impose additional limits in specific developments. Investors should confirm current requirements directly with the Community Development Department (248-364-6900). Michigan HB 5437 proposed allowing local STR excise taxes but had not become law as of mid-2026.
Market Comparison
Against U.S. STR benchmarks (median occupancy approximately 55%, median ADR approximately $220), Auburn Hills outperforms on occupancy (58.3%) but runs well below median ADR ($139.49). This is consistent with a suburban corporate market where high utilization is driven by consistent business and retail demand rather than premium leisure rates. The market’s outstanding total score (95.8 out of 100) and revenue growth score (90.6) are notable. The seasonality score (87.2) indicates a more even year-round demand distribution than typical leisure markets.
Among professional operators, Evolve leads with 113 listings and 1,891 reviews (4.31 rating), representing approximately 1.7% of total supply. Easy Stay manages 67 listings and holds a 4.92 average rating across 2,503 reviews. Monty operates 48 listings (4.13 rating) and StayArbor manages 46 listings (4.81 rating). Easy Stay Homes (45 listings, 4.93 rating) rounds out the top five. The most professionally managed operators (Easy Stay and Easy Stay Homes) carry the highest ratings, suggesting active management creates a meaningful quality signal in this market.
Frequently Asked Questions About Auburn Hills, Michigan
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