Gaylord, Michigan Short-Term Rental Market
Gaylord, MI STRs averaged $161/night at 49.2% occupancy in April 2026 across 9,130 active listings.
Quick Answer: Gaylord, Michigan is an active short-term rental market. average occupancy is 61%. average monthly revenue is $3,813. average daily rate is $248. the top operator is Evolve with 367 listings. market score is 80/100 (grade B).
Market data reflects the Michigan Area regional market, which includes Gaylord. Regulations, taxes, and permit details below are specific to Gaylord.
Market Score Breakdown
Five dimensions Apivex evaluates per market.
Market Overview
Gaylord, Michigan is a year-round outdoor recreation and resort destination in Otsego County, Northern Lower Michigan. Known for its golf courses, inland lakes, snowmobiling, and the annual Alpenfest festival, the market draws visitors primarily from Michigan metros and Midwest road-trippers. The STR market covers 9,130 active listings, with 8,475 entire-place rentals (92.8%), 651 private rooms, and 4 shared rooms.
In April 2026, the market averaged $161/night ADR and 49.2% occupancy, generating $1,955/month average revenue per active listing. RevPAR was $79.29. Year-over-year in April 2026, occupancy was nearly flat (down 0.21 percentage points), ADR rose 3.05%, but revenue declined 2.24%.
By bedroom count, 2-bedroom units lead with 2,623 listings, followed by 3-bedroom (2,498), 1-bedroom (2,252), 4-bedroom (1,102), and 5-bedroom-plus (630). Airbnb-only listings account for 4,192, VRBO-only 1,140, and dual-listed 3,798. The investability score is 97.27 out of 100, and the total market score is 79.69, with a notably strong revenue growth score of 80.37.
Seasonal Patterns
| Month | Occupancy | ADR | Revenue |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 39% | $144 | $1,621 |
| Feb | 44% | $146 | $1,641 |
| Mar | 44% | $136 | $1,696 |
| Apr | 48% | $143 | $1,717 |
| May | 52% | $172 | $2,023 |
| Jun | 62% | $214 | $3,176 |
| Jul | 71% | $218 | $4,112 |
| Aug | 64% | $214 | $3,777 |
| Sep | 46% | $187 | $2,375 |
| Oct | 45% | $164 | $2,116 |
| Nov | 42% | $148 | $1,770 |
| Dec | 45% | $150 | $1,815 |
Top Short-Term Rental Operators in Gaylord
Ranked by total active listings. Useful for understanding the competitive landscape.
| # | Operator | Listings | Reviews | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Evolve | 367 | 11,455 | ★ 4.68 |
| 2 | Freshwater Vacation Rentals | 61 | 2,578 | ★ 4.85 |
| 3 | LiveSuites | 59 | 1,209 | ★ 4.67 |
| 4 | Short Term Rentals | 31 | 2,493 | ★ 4.68 |
| 5 | Simple Lyfe Stays | 29 | 2,365 | ★ 4.85 |
What Kind of STR Should I Buy in Gaylord?
Revenue and pricing by property type, tier, and bedroom count.
Revenue by Bedroom Count
| 1 bed | 2,252 |
| 2 bed | 2,623 |
| 3 bed | 2,498 |
| 4 bed | 1,102 |
| 5 bed | 630 |
ADR by Property Tier
| Entire Home | $260 |
| Luxury | $447 |
| Professionally Managed | $291 |
Revenue by Dwelling Type
| Apartment | $2,328 |
| Entire Place | $3,984 |
| House | $4,148 |
Booking Channel Mix
Distribution of bookings across major STR platforms.
| Channel | Share |
|---|---|
| airbnb | 45.9% |
| vrbo | 12.5% |
| both | 41.6% |
Investment Analysis
Gaylord’s investability score of 97.27 out of 100 reflects strong revenue growth momentum (80.37) and competitive rental demand (63.61). At April 2026’s average revenue of $1,955/month, an investor annualizing that April rate projects approximately $23,454 per year. The 2025 full-year average was $2,743/month, or approximately $32,916 annualized, reflecting that April is a slow-shoulder month.
Tier differentials are present but narrower than other markets. Professionally managed listings average $179/night, an 11% premium over the all-listings ADR of $161. Entire-home listings average $173/night. The luxury tier reached $335/night in April 2026, more than twice the market average.
The typical home value in Gaylord was $264,713 as of April 2026 (Zillow), with the median list price at $321,750. Using 2025 annual average revenue of $32,916, the implied gross yield is approximately 12.4% before expenses. Using the April 2026 annualized figure of $23,454, the implied gross yield is approximately 8.9%. Both are pre-expense estimates. Houses averaged $2,081/month in April 2026 versus $1,520 for apartments. The market had 72 for-sale listings and a median of 26 days to pending, suggesting moderate market pace for prospective investors.
Revenue Trend (5 yr)
ADR & Occupancy Trends (5 yr)
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Booking Insights
Gaylord STR guests book an average of 41.2 days in advance, a moderate lead time consistent with planned resort vacations and outdoor recreation trips. Summer peak weeks, particularly around Alpenfest in July, likely see bookings placed earlier as guests compete for preferred properties.
Average length of stay is 4.2 nights, slightly above a standard weekend, reflecting the multi-night nature of golf, lake, or ski trips. Operators can leverage this with mid-week promotions to reduce gap nights between weekend bookings, or minimum-stay requirements of 3 to 4 nights during July and August to capture full-week summer renters. The moderate lead time gives operators a 5 to 6 week pricing adjustment window before arrival, useful for dynamic rate optimization as available inventory changes.
Short-Term Rental Regulations
Gaylord falls within Otsego County, which currently has NO adopted county-wide STR ordinance. As of mid-2026, no county STR permit is required. Michigan has no statewide STR license requirement. All rentals under 30 days must collect and remit Michigan’s 6% state use (lodging) tax, which platforms like Airbnb and VRBO typically handle automatically.
Otsego County circulated a proposed Short-Term Residential Rental Ordinance in early 2025 that would, if adopted, require an annual county license, a 24/7 local agent within 30 miles, occupancy caps (2 persons per bedroom plus 2), quiet hours from 10 pm to 8 am, fire-safety and septic inspections, and a possible cap on total permits. As of mid-2026, this proposed ordinance had not been adopted and did not appear among the county’s published adopted ordinances. Operators should verify current status directly with Otsego County before relying on the no-permit status, as the regulatory landscape may change.
Enforcement severity is currently rated minimal. There is no owner-occupancy requirement, no primary-residence requirement, and no nights-per-year cap in current regulations.
Market Comparison
Gaylord’s April 2026 occupancy of 49.2% is below the US STR median of approximately 55%, but April is a well-established soft shoulder month in this market. The 2025 annual average occupancy of 50.5% was closer to the national norm. The market ADR of $161/night is below the national median of approximately $220, consistent with a Midwest drive-market recreational destination.
The investability score of 97.27 and revenue growth score of 80.37 are strong indicators for long-term positioning. The total market score of 79.69 is tempered by seasonality (60.13) and regulation risk (65.65), the latter reflecting the pending county ordinance.
Evolve leads the market with 367 listings and 11,455 reviews at a 4.68 average rating. Freshwater Vacation Rentals operates 61 listings with 2,578 reviews at 4.85. LiveSuites manages 59 listings with 1,209 reviews at 4.67. These three operators account for 487 listings, approximately 5.3% of the 9,130-listing market.
Frequently Asked Questions About Gaylord, Michigan
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