Mears, Michigan Short-Term Rental Market
Mears MI short-term rentals averaged $282/night at 40.0% occupancy in April 2026, with July peak hitting 77.3% occupancy.
Quick Answer: Mears, Michigan is an active short-term rental market. average occupancy is 66%. average monthly revenue is $7,737. average daily rate is $492. the top operator is Jaqua Realtors with 261 listings. market score is 77/100 (grade B).
Market data reflects the Michigan West Coastal regional market, which includes Mears. Regulations, taxes, and permit details below are specific to Mears.
Market Score Breakdown
Five dimensions Apivex evaluates per market.
Market Overview
Mears is a small unincorporated community in Oceana County, Michigan, with a resident population of approximately 332. The STR market is driven almost entirely by Silver Lake State Park and the adjacent Silver Lake Sand Dunes, which attract over one million visitors per year. The dunes are the only place east of the Mississippi where the public can drive motorized vehicles on sand, drawing ORV enthusiasts, beachgoers, and outdoor-recreation travelers from West Michigan, Grand Rapids, Chicago, and Detroit.
In April 2026, listings averaged $282/night with occupancy of 40.0%, generating average monthly revenue of $2,613. RevPAR was $113. April is a shoulder month; peak metrics are substantially higher. Year-over-year, April occupancy rose 3.9 percentage points, ADR increased 7.5%, and revenue grew 2.1%.
The listing mix in the regional dataset is dominated by entire-place properties (7,953). Both Airbnb and VRBO are active, with a combined-platform presence of 4,631 listings, indicating cross-listing is common. Bedroom distribution skews toward mid-size vacation homes, with 3-bedroom (2,180) and 2-bedroom (1,922) units most prevalent. The market’s investability score is 94.7 and revenue growth score is 94.4, both exceptional. The seasonality score of 44.1 signals high revenue concentration in summer, a critical consideration for cash-flow planning.
Seasonal Patterns
| Month | Occupancy | ADR | Revenue |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 30% | $260 | $2,214 |
| Feb | 36% | $252 | $2,183 |
| Mar | 41% | $249 | $2,479 |
| Apr | 40% | $266 | $2,448 |
| May | 49% | $318 | $3,104 |
| Jun | 63% | $392 | $5,599 |
| Jul | 77% | $389 | $7,507 |
| Aug | 68% | $388 | $6,895 |
| Sep | 42% | $340 | $3,855 |
| Oct | 38% | $293 | $3,172 |
| Nov | 30% | $278 | $2,455 |
| Dec | 35% | $279 | $2,446 |
Top Short-Term Rental Operators in Mears
Ranked by total active listings. Useful for understanding the competitive landscape.
| # | Operator | Listings | Reviews | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Jaqua Realtors | 261 | 5,161 | ★ 4.72 |
| 2 | Evolve | 182 | 8,064 | ★ 4.66 |
| 3 | Vacasa | 175 | 7,412 | ★ 4.57 |
| 4 | Unsalted Vacations | 129 | 2,715 | ★ 4.73 |
| 5 | Bluefish Vacation Rentals | 112 | 2,880 | ★ 4.75 |
What Kind of STR Should I Buy in Mears?
Revenue and pricing by property type, tier, and bedroom count.
Revenue by Bedroom Count
| 1 bed | 1,487 |
| 2 bed | 1,922 |
| 3 bed | 2,180 |
| 4 bed | 1,448 |
| 5 bed | 1,200 |
ADR by Property Tier
| Entire Home | $499 |
| Luxury | $827 |
| Professionally Managed | $616 |
Revenue by Dwelling Type
| Apartment | $5,059 |
| Entire Place | $7,874 |
| House | $8,516 |
Booking Channel Mix
Distribution of bookings across major STR platforms.
| Channel | Share |
|---|---|
| airbnb | 28.4% |
| vrbo | 15.4% |
| both | 56.2% |
Investment Analysis
Monthly revenue averaged $2,613 in April 2026. Houses generated $2,841/month, entire-place listings $2,642, and apartments $1,916. These are shoulder-month figures. The 2025 annual average revenue was $4,449/month and July peak months reach $7,509.
ADR tiers show meaningful stratification: professionally managed listings commanded $351/night versus a $282 market average, a 24% premium suggesting professional management and listing optimization add measurable pricing power in this market. Luxury-tier properties averaged $565/night.
No housing value data is available from Zillow for this area, so cost-of-entry figures and gross yield calculations cannot be derived from verified sources.
Revenue growth has been strong: 2025 annual average revenue of $4,449 compared to $4,136 in 2024, a 7.6% increase. ADR grew from $335 in 2024 to $344 in 2025. The revenue growth score of 94.4 reflects this trajectory and positions Mears among the highest-growth markets in the dataset.
Investors must plan for acute seasonality. July average revenue ($7,509) is 3.4x January average revenue ($2,213). Operating costs and debt service must be modeled against income concentrated in June through August.
Revenue Trend (5 yr)
ADR & Occupancy Trends (5 yr)
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Booking Insights
Average booking lead time is 50 days, longer than most coastal and resort markets. Average length of stay is 3.2 nights. The longer lead time reflects the high demand for summer inventory in this supply-limited market. Peak-summer listings, especially around July Fourth weekend and August, commonly fill 6-8 or more weeks in advance.
The 3.2-night average stay is consistent with extended-weekend visits typical of drive-market beach destinations. Minimum-stay requirements of 3-4 nights during peak summer are standard in the Mears/Silver Lake area and help protect per-booking revenue while reducing turnover. In the off-season, flexible 1-2 night minimums can help fill otherwise empty inventory for shoulder-period events such as fall fruit festivals and the Hart-Montague Trail cycling season.
Short-Term Rental Regulations
Short-term rentals are legal in Mears under Golden Township Ordinance #52, last revised June 8, 2021. Every STR must hold an annual township permit. All applications and payments are due by February 28; late submissions incur a late fee. The application requires a 5-page form, proof of rental-coded insurance, a site plan, a photo of the property, posted renter rules, and a Septic Inspection Certification. Each application must also include a permit from District Health Department #10 covering the well and septic system, reflecting the area’s reliance on private septic.
The permit fee is set annually by Golden Township and was not published online at the time of review; applicants should confirm the current fee directly with the township clerk. No owner-occupancy or primary-residence requirement applies. No cap on annual rental nights was identified. The township runs an active online permit portal, and the annual February 28 deadline with late-fee penalties is actively enforced.
Michigan imposes a 6% state use tax on accommodations rented for fewer than one month. Airbnb and VRBO typically collect and remit this on behalf of hosts. No separate Oceana County accommodations tax was identified, though a statewide proposal to allow local governments to add up to a 3% voter-approved accommodations tax was pending as of 2025-2026 and its status should be monitored. Enforcement is rated moderate.
Market Comparison
The US STR median occupancy is approximately 55% and median ADR approximately $220. Mears’s April 2026 occupancy of 40.0% runs below the national median, but July peak occupancy of 77.3% far exceeds it. Annual average occupancy in 2025 was 46.2%, closer to but still below the national median. April and July ADR both exceed the national median at $282 and $389, respectively.
Jaqua Realtors leads the regional market with 261 listings and 5,161 reviews (rating 4.716). Evolve manages 182 listings with 8,064 reviews (rating 4.664). Vacasa operates 175 listings with 7,412 reviews (rating 4.566). Unsalted Vacations, a regional operator, holds 129 listings and 2,715 reviews (rating 4.733). Bluefish Vacation Rentals has 112 listings and 2,880 reviews (rating 4.746).
The strong presence of regional operators alongside national platforms reflects the established local management ecosystem in the Silver Lake area. Regional operators like Jaqua, Unsalted, and Bluefish collectively hold a significant share of the market and generally carry competitive ratings relative to national operators.
Frequently Asked Questions About Mears, Michigan
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