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 in the Michigan West Coastal market area is 66%. average monthly revenue in the Michigan West Coastal market area is $7,737. average daily rate in the Michigan West Coastal market area is $492. the top operator in the Michigan West Coastal market area 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 StaySTRA 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 |
|---|---|
| Jan | 30% |
| Feb | 36% |
| Mar | 41% |
| Apr | 40% |
| May | 49% |
| Jun | 63% |
| Jul | 77% |
| Aug | 68% |
| Sep | 42% |
| Oct | 38% |
| Nov | 30% |
| Dec | 35% |
Month-by-month nightly rates and revenue figures for Muskegon are available to StaySTRA Pro members. Unlock with StaySTRA Pro or analyze a specific address free.
Top Short-Term Rental Operators in Michigan West Coastal market area
Ranked by total active listings. Useful for understanding the competitive landscape. Operator data is published for the Michigan West Coastal market as a whole, which includes Muskegon, so these counts are not Muskegon-only figures.
| # | 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 nightly-rate breakdowns by bedroom count, property tier, and dwelling type for Muskegon are available to StaySTRA Pro members. Unlock with StaySTRA Pro or analyze a specific address free.
Booking Channel Mix
Distribution of bookings across major STR platforms.
| Channel | Share |
|---|---|
| airbnb | 28.4% |
| vrbo | 15.4% |
| both | 56.2% |
Home Value Trends (Muskegon)
Typical home values, median sale prices, and the 10-year price trend for Muskegon are available to StaySTRA Pro members. Unlock with StaySTRA Pro or analyze a specific address free.
Booking Insights
Booking-window and length-of-stay analysis for Muskegon — how far ahead guests book and how to price around it — is available to StaySTRA Pro members. Unlock with StaySTRA Pro or analyze a specific address free.
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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How much does an STR permit cost in Muskegon, MI?
What taxes apply to short-term rentals in Muskegon?
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