Muskegon, Michigan Short-Term Rental Market
Muskegon, MI short-term rentals averaged $492/night at 65.8% occupancy in June 2026, with revenue up 12.8% year over year.
Quick Answer: Muskegon, 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 Muskegon. Regulations, taxes, and permit details below are specific to Muskegon.
Market Score Breakdown
Five dimensions Apivex evaluates per market.
Market Overview
Muskegon is West Michigan’s largest Lake Michigan shoreline community, population 37,287, with roughly 26-27 miles of sandy beaches, three state parks, and the Muskegon Luge Adventure Sports Park. Tourism is the county’s fourth-largest industry, generating $409.4 million in visitor spending and economic impact in 2024, up 5.4% from $388.3 million in 2023. In June 2026, the latest month with data, short-term rentals in this market averaged $492.36 per night at 65.8% occupancy, generating $7,737 in average monthly revenue per listing. Revenue jumped 12.8% year over year, one of the strongest gains in this batch, driven by a 2.7-point occupancy increase even as ADR eased 3.6%. By property type, apartments averaged $5,059/month, entire homes $7,874/month, and houses $8,516/month. Regionally, entire-place listings make up roughly 97% of inventory.
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 Muskegon
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 Muskegon?
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
Muskegon’s market-wide ADR of $492.36 trails the professionally-managed tier average ($615.87) and the luxury tier average ($826.62) meaningfully, suggesting room for well-positioned, professionally run properties to price above the market baseline. Revenue per listing grew 12.8% year over year, the standout growth figure in this batch, driven primarily by higher occupancy rather than rate, which suggests demand is broadening in this market. No typical home value is currently published for this market in the housing dataset, so a gross rental yield cannot be calculated here; investors should source comparable local sale prices directly. The defining regulatory factor for Muskegon is its zone-based licensing cap: the city’s Short-Term Rental Overlay District splits residential areas into 11 zones aligned with census tracts, and licensed STRs in each zone are capped at 4% of that zone’s total housing units. Once a zone hits its cap, no new licenses are issued there, so investors should confirm zone-cap availability with the city’s Building Inspections Department before purchasing, since a property in a maxed-out zone may not be licensable regardless of the deal’s economics.
Revenue Trend (5 yr)
ADR & Occupancy Trends (5 yr)
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Booking Insights
Guests book Muskegon listings an average of 96.7 days ahead and stay 3.8 nights per trip. That long lead time gives operators several months of visibility into the strongly seasonal July-August demand window, useful for setting rates and minimum-stay policies well ahead of Muskegon’s summer beach season and events like the Muskegon Luge’s warm-weather activities.
Short-Term Rental Regulations
Short-term rentals are legal in the City of Muskegon but actively regulated. Owners must obtain a city STR permit costing $500, renewed annually each spring. The program’s defining feature is a Short-Term Rental Overlay District that splits the city’s residential districts into 11 zones aligned with U.S. Census tracts, capping licensed STRs in each zone at 4% of that zone’s housing units; once a zone hits its cap, no new licenses are issued there. The Downtown Development Authority and the Lakeside Business Improvement District/Corridor Improvement Authority are exempt from the cap. A short-term rental is defined as a non-hosted dwelling rented for less than 28 days but more than 24 hours; hosted rentals (owner on premises) are not classified as STRs but still must register. There is no owner-occupancy or primary-residence mandate, and no published annual night cap. Operators must collect and remit Muskegon County’s 5% accommodation tax, which combines with Michigan’s 6% state sales/use tax for roughly 11% total to guests. License transfers on sale are largely restricted, though a one-time transfer is allowed under the current ordinance. Enforcement is rated moderate.
Market Comparison
Muskegon’s 65.8% occupancy in June 2026 runs well above the roughly 55% U.S. median often cited for short-term rentals, and its $492.36 ADR is more than double the roughly $220 national median, reflecting its position as a premium Lake Michigan beach market. No property manager snapshot data is currently published for this market, so a top-operator comparison is not available here; based on available data, ownership appears fragmented among individual operators, consistent with a market of roughly 128 registered short-term rentals as of the city’s most recent public count.
Frequently Asked Questions About Muskegon, Michigan
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