Royal Oak, Michigan Short-Term Rental Market
Royal Oak STRs averaged $139/night at 58.3% occupancy in April 2026, scoring 95.8 out of 100 overall with strong year-round demand.
Quick Answer: Royal Oak, Michigan is an active short-term rental market. average occupancy in the Detroit market area is 65%. average monthly revenue in the Detroit market area is $2,928. average daily rate in the Detroit market area is $164. the top operator in the Detroit market area is Evolve with 111 listings. market score is 96/100 (grade A).
Market data reflects the Detroit regional market, which includes Royal Oak. Regulations, taxes, and permit details below are specific to Royal Oak.
Market Score Breakdown
Five dimensions StaySTRA evaluates per market.
Market Overview
Royal Oak, Michigan is an inner-ring Detroit suburb about 10 miles north of downtown, anchored by the Detroit Zoo (1.6 million annual visitors) and a walkable downtown entertainment district. As of April 2026, the STR market holds approximately 6,642 active listings, with 5,339 entire-place units, 1,289 private rooms, and 14 shared rooms. The average daily rate is $139, occupancy sits at 58.3%, and RevPAR is $81.
The bedroom distribution reflects the suburban residential character: 1-bedroom listings lead with 2,646, followed by 2-bedroom (1,593), 3-bedroom (1,538), 4-bedroom (556), and 5-bedroom-plus (276). Airbnb-exclusive listings total 4,158, VRBO-exclusive 241, and 2,243 properties cross-list on both platforms, indicating strong Airbnb dominance in this urban-adjacent market.
Year-over-year as of April 2026, occupancy declined marginally (-0.75%), ADR rose 2.4%, and revenue is essentially flat (+0.03%). The total market score of 95.8 out of 100 is among the highest in the current batch, driven by a seasonality score of 87.2 (consistent year-round demand) and an investability score of 95.7. The strong scores reflect Royal Oak’s position as a city-adjacent, event-driven market with low regulatory barriers.
Seasonal Patterns
| Month | Occupancy |
|---|---|
| Jan | 48% |
| Feb | 55% |
| Mar | 57% |
| Apr | 58% |
| May | 62% |
| Jun | 64% |
| Jul | 66% |
| Aug | 63% |
| Sep | 60% |
| Oct | 59% |
| Nov | 55% |
| Dec | 54% |
Month-by-month nightly rates and revenue figures for Royal Oak are available to StaySTRA Pro members. Unlock with StaySTRA Pro or analyze a specific address free.
Top Short-Term Rental Operators in Detroit market area
Ranked by total active listings. Useful for understanding the competitive landscape. Operator data is published for the Detroit market as a whole, which includes Royal Oak, so these counts are not Royal Oak-only figures.
| # | Operator | Listings | Reviews | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Evolve | 111 | 1,878 | ★ 4.31 |
| 2 | Easy Stay | 66 | 2,461 | ★ 4.94 |
| 3 | Monty | 48 | 1,038 | ★ 4.14 |
| 4 | StayArbor | 46 | 1,269 | ★ 4.81 |
| 5 | Easy Stay Homes | 44 | 477 | ★ 4.90 |
What Kind of STR Should I Buy in Royal Oak?
Revenue and nightly-rate breakdowns by bedroom count, property tier, and dwelling type for Royal Oak 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 | 62.6% |
| vrbo | 3.6% |
| both | 33.8% |
Home Value Trends (Royal Oak)
Typical home values, median sale prices, and the 10-year price trend for Royal Oak 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 Royal Oak — 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
Royal Oak permits short-term rentals under Chapter 556 of the City Code and requires hosts to register and obtain an annual business license. The registration fee is set by City Commission resolution (the specific amount was not published in the available data at time of writing). The fee is non-prorated and non-refundable.
Hosts must maintain at least $1,000,000 in liability insurance with a copy filed with the city. If the property owner lives more than 30 miles from the rental or the property is held by an LLC, corporation, or trust, the owner must designate a local responsible party residing within 30 miles. Renters must receive a Good Neighbor Policy each booking covering trash, parking, property boundaries, visitor limits, and noise ordinance copies.
Occupancy is capped at two occupants per bedroom plus two additional per finished story meeting Michigan Residential Code egress requirements. There is no owner-occupancy or primary-residence requirement.
Michigan imposes a 6% state use tax on stays of 30 nights or fewer. Airbnb collects and remits this on behalf of hosts. As of May 2026, no local lodging tax is in effect in Royal Oak. A pending state proposal would allow local voters to approve a local accommodations fee of up to 3%, but this had not been enacted as of the profile date. Enforcement severity is rated moderate.
Market Comparison
Royal Oak’s 58.3% April occupancy is just above the national STR median of approximately 55%, reflecting the market’s strong year-round demand base. The ADR of $139 is below the US median of approximately $220, consistent with Royal Oak’s positioning as an affordable urban-adjacent market rather than a resort destination.
Among the top operators, Evolve leads with 111 listings and a 4.31 average rating, representing approximately 1.7% of the market. Easy Stay holds 66 listings with 2,461 reviews at a 4.94 rating, the highest among the top five. StayArbor manages 46 listings (4.81 rating) and Easy Stay Homes holds 44 listings (4.90 rating). Collectively the top five operators control 315 listings, approximately 4.7% of the market, indicating a predominantly owner-operated market.
The total market score of 95.8 and investability score of 95.7 place Royal Oak among the highest-rated markets nationally for STR investment fundamentals. The combination of a moderate entry price, consistent demand, and operator-friendly regulation drives these scores.
Frequently Asked Questions About Royal Oak, Michigan
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