Frankfort, Michigan Short-Term Rental Market
Frankfort, MI STRs averaged $232/night at 38.2% occupancy in April 2026, with peak-July occupancy reaching 78.9%.
Quick Answer: Frankfort, Michigan is an active short-term rental market. average occupancy in the Traverse City market area is 64%. average monthly revenue in the Traverse City market area is $6,344. average daily rate in the Traverse City market area is $411. the top operator in the Traverse City market area is Vacasa with 206 listings. market score is 59/100 (grade C).
Market data reflects the Traverse City regional market, which includes Frankfort. Regulations, taxes, and permit details below are specific to Frankfort.
Market Score Breakdown
Five dimensions StaySTRA evaluates per market.
Market Overview
Frankfort is a small Lake Michigan resort city in Benzie County with a resident population of approximately 1,252. The city markets itself as the southern gateway to Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore, one of the most-visited national parks in Michigan. The STR market data reflects the broader Frankfort regional area, which captures the surrounding Benzie County vacation rental supply.
In April 2026, the market recorded a $232 average daily rate and 38.2% occupancy, generating average monthly revenue of $2,189 per listing. April is a pre-season month for this lake destination. Year-over-year, April 2026 occupancy fell 3.7% while ADR rose 4.6%, resulting in near-flat revenue growth of 0.2%, indicating that operators have largely offset volume softness with rate increases.
The supply is concentrated in entire-place vacation rentals, which account for 5,064 of the approximately 5,222 listings in the regional dataset, with private rooms at 158. The listing channel mix is more balanced than most markets: 2,936 listings appear on both Airbnb and VRBO, 1,475 are on Airbnb only, and 811 are on VRBO only, reflecting the strong vacation-rental-platform culture of Michigan lake markets.
Bedroom distribution skews toward mid-size properties: 2-bedroom (1,523), 1-bedroom (1,303), 3-bedroom (1,236), 4-bedroom (711), and 5-bedroom-plus (443). The composite market score is 59.2, with investability (84.1) and regulation (73.0) as the strongest components.
Seasonal Patterns
| Month | Occupancy |
|---|---|
| Jan | 32% |
| Feb | 39% |
| Mar | 35% |
| Apr | 40% |
| May | 52% |
| Jun | 64% |
| Jul | 79% |
| Aug | 71% |
| Sep | 49% |
| Oct | 45% |
| Nov | 29% |
| Dec | 39% |
Month-by-month nightly rates and revenue figures for Frankfort are available to StaySTRA Pro members. Unlock with StaySTRA Pro or analyze a specific address free.
Top Short-Term Rental Operators in Traverse City market area
Ranked by total active listings. Useful for understanding the competitive landscape. Operator data is published for the Traverse City market as a whole, which includes Frankfort, so these counts are not Frankfort-only figures.
| # | Operator | Listings | Reviews | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Vacasa | 206 | 5,978 | ★ 4.46 |
| 2 | Elevated Homes & Hospitality | 116 | 4,924 | ★ 4.76 |
| 3 | True North Property Management | 109 | 3,627 | ★ 4.54 |
| 4 | The Mitten Group Property Management | 108 | 9,528 | ★ 4.79 |
| 5 | Evolve | 94 | 4,171 | ★ 4.76 |
What Kind of STR Should I Buy in Frankfort?
Revenue and nightly-rate breakdowns by bedroom count, property tier, and dwelling type for Frankfort 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 | 28.2% |
| vrbo | 15.5% |
| both | 56.2% |
Home Value Trends (Frankfort)
Typical home values, median sale prices, and the 10-year price trend for Frankfort 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 Frankfort — 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
Frankfort regulates STRs under Ordinance D-1 of 2023, adopted January 23, 2023 and published February 1, 2023. The ordinance explicitly cites affordable housing preservation and residential character as its motivations. A separate city STR permit is required for each dwelling unit. Permits do not run with the land and terminate on sale of the property; a buyer must re-apply.
The city reserves the right to cap total STR permits at 120 per calendar year. Each owner is limited to a maximum of 2 STR units. Owners operating 3 units before December 31, 2022 were grandfathered only until the property changes hands or is occupied for more than 30 days. Permits are valid for up to 3 years, expiring December 31 of the final year, with renewal required roughly every 3 years.
Sleeping occupancy is capped at 2 people per legal bedroom plus 4 additional. Operators must designate a 24/7 local contact reachable within 60 minutes, carry general liability insurance, pass fire and safety inspection at least once per permit period, and post a Good Neighbor Guide. STRs may not be used as special-event venues. Application and permit fees are set by City Council resolution and are not fixed in the ordinance text.
Michigan’s 6% state use (lodging) tax applies to stays under 30 days. The ordinance applies to all residential zoning districts; hotels and units rented fewer than 2 weeks per calendar year are excluded. Enforcement is rated moderate. The city updated its STR registration form in March 2024, indicating active ongoing administration of the program.
Market Comparison
Frankfort’s 38.2% April 2026 occupancy is below the U.S. STR median of approximately 55%, but April is one of this market’s weakest months. The July peak of 78.9% significantly exceeds the national median and reflects concentrated summer resort demand. The $232 ADR in April is above the national median of roughly $220, consistent with a Lake Michigan premium resort market.
The regulation score of 73.0 reflects Frankfort’s structured permit system, which is more defined than most small Michigan cities but less restrictive than outright bans. The 120-unit citywide cap creates supply scarcity that may support pricing power for permitted operators.
Among professional operators, Vacasa leads with 206 listings and 5,978 reviews at a 4.46 rating. Elevated Homes and Hospitality manages 116 listings with 4,924 reviews at 4.76, the highest rating among top operators. True North Property Management holds 109 listings with 3,627 reviews at 4.54. The Mitten Group Property Management operates 108 listings with 9,528 reviews at 4.79, indicating an established regional operator with deep guest experience. Evolve manages 94 listings with 4,171 reviews at 4.76. The top 5 operators together hold approximately 633 listings, representing roughly 12% of the regional supply.
Frequently Asked Questions About Frankfort, Michigan
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Does a Frankfort STR permit transfer when the property is sold?
What is the average daily rate for Frankfort, MI short-term rentals?
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What taxes apply to Frankfort, MI short-term rentals?
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Who are the largest vacation rental managers in Frankfort, MI?
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