Kalkaska, Michigan Short-Term Rental Market
Kalkaska, MI STRs averaged $161/night at 49.2% occupancy in April 2026, with a 97.3 investability score.
Quick Answer: Kalkaska, 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 368 listings. market score is 80/100 (grade B).
Market data reflects the Michigan Area regional market, which includes Kalkaska. Regulations, taxes, and permit details below are specific to Kalkaska.
Market Score Breakdown
Five dimensions Apivex evaluates per market.
Market Overview
The Kalkaska, Michigan short-term rental market is anchored by year-round outdoor recreation, drawing anglers, snowmobilers, hikers, and fall color visitors to this Northern Michigan village of roughly 2,276 residents. As of April 2026, the market recorded an average daily rate of $161, occupancy of 49.2%, and RevPAR of $79. Average monthly revenue across all listing types reached $1,956.
The listing mix skews strongly toward entire-place rentals, which account for 8,471 of the approximately 9,126 tracked listings. Private rooms add another 651 listings, while shared-room inventory is negligible at 4 units. On the bedroom side, 2-bedroom properties lead with 2,625 listings, followed closely by 3-bedroom (2,498) and 1-bedroom (2,246). Larger properties also have meaningful representation: 1,101 four-bedroom and 631 five-bedroom units.
Distribution skews heavily toward Airbnb, which carries 4,198 listings, compared to 1,143 VRBO-only properties. Another 3,785 listings appear on both platforms, indicating a significant share of cross-listed inventory.
Year-over-year as of April 2026, occupancy is essentially flat, down 0.2 percentage points, while ADR has grown 3.1%. Revenue is down 2.2% year-over-year for the month, consistent with a market that has compressed post-pandemic from its 2021 peak. The market scores a 79.9 overall rating, with an exceptional investability score of 97.3 and a revenue growth score of 80.6.
Seasonal Patterns
| Month | Occupancy | ADR | Revenue |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 39% | $144 | $1,622 |
| Feb | 44% | $146 | $1,641 |
| Mar | 44% | $136 | $1,697 |
| Apr | 48% | $143 | $1,717 |
| May | 52% | $172 | $2,023 |
| Jun | 62% | $214 | $3,177 |
| Jul | 71% | $218 | $4,113 |
| Aug | 64% | $214 | $3,778 |
| Sep | 46% | $187 | $2,376 |
| Oct | 45% | $164 | $2,116 |
| Nov | 42% | $148 | $1,770 |
| Dec | 45% | $150 | $1,816 |
Top Short-Term Rental Operators in Kalkaska
Ranked by total active listings. Useful for understanding the competitive landscape.
| # | Operator | Listings | Reviews | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Evolve | 368 | 11,383 | ★ 4.68 |
| 2 | Freshwater Vacation Rentals | 61 | 2,562 | ★ 4.85 |
| 3 | LiveSuites | 59 | 1,199 | ★ 4.67 |
| 4 | Short Term Rentals | 31 | 2,489 | ★ 4.68 |
| 5 | Simple Lyfe Stays | 29 | 2,354 | ★ 4.85 |
What Kind of STR Should I Buy in Kalkaska?
Revenue and pricing by property type, tier, and bedroom count.
Revenue by Bedroom Count
| 1 bed | 2,246 |
| 2 bed | 2,625 |
| 3 bed | 2,498 |
| 4 bed | 1,101 |
| 5 bed | 631 |
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 | 46% |
| vrbo | 12.5% |
| both | 41.5% |
Investment Analysis
Kalkaska presents an accessible entry point for STR investors relative to most Michigan resort markets. The April 2026 typical home value sits at approximately $205,000, with a median list price of $301,300 across 33 active for-sale properties. At average monthly revenue of $1,956, an investor could project roughly $23,500 in annualized gross revenue, implying an approximate gross yield of 11.5% against the typical home value, though actual returns depend heavily on property condition, seasonal positioning, and operating costs.
Tier differentiation is meaningful in this market. The average ADR across all listings was $161 in April 2026, but entire-home properties averaged $173, and the professionally managed tier averaged $179. The luxury tier averaged $335, nearly double the all-listings average, suggesting that well-appointed lakefront or trail-access properties command a substantial premium.
The long-run revenue trend shows recovery and growth: annual average revenue was $2,263 in 2020, climbed to a peak of $2,675 in 2021, pulled back through 2023 ($2,484), then resumed upward movement to $2,745 in 2025. ADR has risen steadily since 2022, reaching $195 on a 2025 annual average basis. The market’s 97.3 investability score and 80.6 revenue growth score reflect these underlying fundamentals. The regulatory environment is minimal in most of Kalkaska County, which reduces one common risk factor for investors.
Revenue Trend (5 yr)
ADR & Occupancy Trends (5 yr)
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Booking Insights
Kalkaska guests book an average of 41 days in advance as of April 2026, and the average length of stay is 4.2 nights. A 41-day lead time indicates that most bookings are not last-minute, giving hosts reasonable visibility into near-term occupancy roughly six weeks out. It also means that pricing adjustments made more than six weeks before a target date have time to take effect before a property fills.
The 4.2-night average stay is long relative to urban markets, reflecting the drive-to leisure profile of this market: guests traveling to fish, snowmobile, or hike typically book multi-night stays rather than overnight stops. Longer stays reduce turnover costs and cleaning frequency. Hosts who set minimum stays in the 3- to 4-night range are aligned with typical guest intent without materially restricting bookings. For peak summer weekends, setting minimums of 4 to 5 nights captures the natural booking pattern while maintaining revenue density.
Short-Term Rental Regulations
Short-term rentals are permitted in Kalkaska with no well-publicized dedicated licensing requirement at the county or township level. The broader Kalkaska County market, including Kalkaska Township, is generally described by industry and real estate professionals as open and unregulated relative to many Michigan markets.
The Village of Kalkaska operates under its own zoning ordinance (Chapter 152, adopted May 2022, amended September 2023), separate from the surrounding township. The specific provisions for short-term rentals within the village ordinance could not be fully verified in available sources; investors should confirm allowance and any registration requirements directly with the Village zoning administrator before purchasing within village limits.
On the tax side, Michigan imposes a 6% state use (lodging) tax on accommodations rented for fewer than 30 consecutive days. Airbnb collects and remits this automatically. Hosts using VRBO or managing direct bookings are responsible for remitting the tax themselves. No Kalkaska County local accommodation or excise tax was identified.
No owner-occupancy requirement, primary-residence requirement, annual night cap, or formal permit fee was found at the village or township level. Enforcement is minimal given the rural setting and the absence of a defined enforcement program. However, the regulatory landscape in Northern Michigan is shifting: MSU Extension has run short-term rental policy sessions specifically for Kalkaska County, and neighboring Clearwater Township has moved to restrict STRs. Investors should verify current status with the appropriate jurisdiction before closing.
Market Comparison
Against U.S. STR benchmarks, Kalkaska’s April 2026 occupancy of 49.2% sits below the national median of approximately 55%, reflecting typical shoulder-season softness for a recreation-dependent market. The ADR of $161 is below the national median of roughly $220, consistent with a value-oriented rural Michigan market rather than a premium destination resort.
Kalkaska’s market size and operator concentration are notable. Evolve is the dominant property manager with 368 listings in the market, holding a leading share of professionally managed inventory and carrying a 4.68-star average across 11,383 reviews. Freshwater Vacation Rentals follows with 61 listings and a 4.85-star average across 2,562 reviews, the highest rated of the top operators. LiveSuites holds 59 listings at a 4.67-star average. The top three managers collectively operate fewer than 500 listings in a market of 9,126-plus total listings, indicating that independent hosts still dominate the Kalkaska supply pool.
The market’s 97.3 investability score is one of the strongest signals in the data, driven by affordable entry prices relative to revenue potential and a permissive regulatory environment. The revenue growth score of 80.6 and total market score of 79.9 reinforce the overall assessment.
Frequently Asked Questions About Kalkaska, Michigan
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