Harbor Springs, Michigan Short-Term Rental Market
Harbor Springs, MI STRs averaged $239/night in April 2026 with 26.6% occupancy, a shoulder-season snapshot in a market that peaks at 75% occupancy in July.
Quick Answer: Harbor Springs, Michigan is an active short-term rental market. average occupancy is 60%. average monthly revenue is $5,178. average daily rate is $382. the top operator is Northern Michigan Escapes with 198 listings. market score is 70/100 (grade C).
Market data reflects the Michigan North Coastal regional market, which includes Harbor Springs. Regulations, taxes, and permit details below are specific to Harbor Springs.
Market Score Breakdown
Five dimensions Apivex evaluates per market.
Market Overview
Harbor Springs is an affluent resort town on Little Traverse Bay in Emmet County, Michigan, with a year-round population of approximately 1,274 residents. The STR market serves a strongly seasonal leisure demand base: summer boating and beach access, fall color drives on the M-119 Tunnel of Trees, and winter skiing at Nub’s Nob and The Highlands. In April 2026, an off-peak month, listings averaged $239 per night at 26.6% occupancy, generating average monthly revenue of $1,790. RevPAR stood at $64. The 2025 full-year annual average occupancy was 44.2%, ADR was $322, and monthly revenue averaged $3,793, more representative baselines for annual planning.
Year over year in April 2026, occupancy declined 12.1 percentage points, ADR rose 5.5%, and revenue fell 2.1%. The occupancy dip in an already-low shoulder month reflects the seasonal concentration of this market rather than a structural demand shift.
The supply is almost entirely entire-place listings: 4,147 of the 4,240 total listings are entire-place units, with 93 private rooms. Bedroom mix favors 3-bedroom (1,156) and 2-bedroom (1,101) units, followed by 1-bedroom (898), 4-bedroom (678), and 5-bedroom (403) configurations. Both Airbnb and VRBO are active here: 2,250 listings appear on both platforms, 1,239 are Airbnb-exclusive, and 751 are VRBO-exclusive. Market scores show a standout investability of 98.1 out of 100 and revenue growth of 89.7, against a total score of 69.7.
Seasonal Patterns
| Month | Occupancy | ADR | Revenue |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 35% | $321 | $3,134 |
| Feb | 43% | $324 | $3,409 |
| Mar | 25% | $266 | $2,151 |
| Apr | 28% | $212 | $1,596 |
| May | 45% | $253 | $2,032 |
| Jun | 60% | $313 | $3,994 |
| Jul | 75% | $325 | $6,121 |
| Aug | 67% | $319 | $5,559 |
| Sep | 41% | $269 | $3,058 |
| Oct | 39% | $239 | $2,621 |
| Nov | 24% | $214 | $1,681 |
| Dec | 46% | $290 | $2,465 |
Top Short-Term Rental Operators in Harbor Springs
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 Harbor Springs?
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 | $385 |
| Luxury | $621 |
| Professionally Managed | $420 |
Revenue by Dwelling Type
| Apartment | $3,971 |
| Entire Place | $5,244 |
| House | $5,835 |
Booking Channel Mix
Distribution of bookings across major STR platforms.
| Channel | Share |
|---|---|
| airbnb | 29.2% |
| vrbo | 17.7% |
| both | 53.1% |
Investment Analysis
Harbor Springs is a high-barrier, high-return resort market with two key constraints: a hard cap of 63 STR licenses outstanding per city per year, and entry costs well above national medians. The typical home value is $562,581 and the median list price is $816,000 based on the April 2026 housing snapshot. Active for-sale inventory was 67 units.
The investability score of 98.1 out of 100 reflects the market’s strong long-run revenue trajectory and scarcity premium. Using the 2025 annual average monthly revenue of $3,793, the annualized gross revenue is approximately $45,500. Against a $562,581 typical home value, that implies a gross yield of approximately 8.1%, well above most national STR markets. Peak months drive the bulk of this return: July alone averaged $6,124 in monthly revenue at 75.2% occupancy and $326 ADR.
Houses outperform the all-listings average. In April 2026, house-type listings averaged $2,090 per month versus $1,812 for entire-place units and $1,255 for apartments. Professionally managed listings averaged $271 per night compared to $239 across all listings. Luxury-tier units averaged $373 per night. Revenue growth scored 89.7 out of 100, indicating strong directional momentum in rates and revenue over the historical dataset.
The 63-license cap is the most material risk factor. If the cap is reached for a given calendar year, new operators face a waitlist. Investors should verify current license availability with the City of Harbor Springs Assessor or Zoning Administrator before purchasing.
Revenue Trend (5 yr)
ADR & Occupancy Trends (5 yr)
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Booking Insights
Harbor Springs STR guests book an average of 45 days in advance and stays average 3.1 nights. The 45-day lead time is moderate and suggests guests are planning roughly six weeks out, consistent with weekend leisure trips from Chicago and the broader Midwest market that this area serves.
The 3.1-night average length of stay is notably short for a resort market, indicating that Harbor Springs caters to frequent short-break visitors rather than extended vacation stays. This means higher turnover rates per month during peak periods, which generates strong per-listing revenue in July and August but also increases the operational demands on cleaning and maintenance. Operators who can efficiently manage 2- to 3-night minimum stay gaps in their calendar will capture incremental bookings that longer-minimum-stay properties leave on the table.
Short-Term Rental Regulations
Harbor Springs requires a Short-Term Rental License for each unit operating within city limits, governed by Ordinance No. 437 (adopted May 2023) and amended by Ordinance No. 439 (adopted May 20, 2024). An STR is defined as a residential property rented for 30 days or fewer.
A hard annual cap limits the total number of outstanding STR licenses to 63 per calendar year. Owners with multiple rental units must file a separate license application for each unit. The city is described as particularly attentive to noise and parking enforcement. Specific license fee amounts were not confirmed from primary sources; operators should contact the City Assessor or Zoning Administrator at (231) 526-2104 for current fees and license availability.
Operators must also obtain a general business license. Michigan’s state use tax of 6% applies to accommodations. No separate Harbor Springs local lodging or occupancy tax was identified. Owner-occupancy and primary-residence requirements were not confirmed and should be verified with the city. The enforcement classification is moderate. The 63-license cap is the most operationally significant constraint for investors: if the cap is met for the current calendar year, new applicants join a waitlist.
Market Comparison
Against national STR benchmarks of approximately 55% median occupancy and $220 median ADR, Harbor Springs’s April 2026 occupancy of 26.6% is well below the national median, reflecting a deep off-peak period. The 2025 full-year average occupancy of 44.2% is also below the national median, consistent with a highly seasonal resort market. However, the 2025 annual average ADR of $322 is above the national median of approximately $220.
The professional management landscape is led by Northern Michigan Escapes with 198 listings, 9,917 reviews, and an average rating of 4.687. Evolve holds 136 listings with 6,096 reviews at a 4.711 rating. Graham Management manages 73 listings at 4.740. Pure Vacation Management holds 61 listings at 4.726 and Vacation Properties of Northern Michigan manages 45 listings with the highest rating in the top five at 4.887. Together the top five operators account for 513 listings, representing approximately 12% of the 4,240 total supply. The relatively higher market share of the top operators (12% vs. the 14% in larger markets) reflects the smaller overall market size and the presence of regionally specialized management firms rather than national chains.
Frequently Asked Questions About Harbor Springs, Michigan
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