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 is 65%. average monthly revenue is $2,928. average daily rate is $164. the top operator 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 Apivex 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 | ADR | Revenue |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 48% | $102 | $1,468 |
| Feb | 55% | $103 | $1,444 |
| Mar | 57% | $109 | $1,709 |
| Apr | 58% | $115 | $1,807 |
| May | 62% | $128 | $2,042 |
| Jun | 64% | $135 | $2,329 |
| Jul | 66% | $131 | $2,369 |
| Aug | 63% | $131 | $2,330 |
| Sep | 60% | $122 | $2,013 |
| Oct | 59% | $118 | $1,965 |
| Nov | 55% | $117 | $1,750 |
| Dec | 54% | $117 | $1,775 |
Top Short-Term Rental Operators in Royal Oak
Ranked by total active listings. Useful for understanding the competitive landscape.
| # | 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 pricing by property type, tier, and bedroom count.
Revenue by Bedroom Count
| 1 bed | 2,646 |
| 2 bed | 1,593 |
| 3 bed | 1,538 |
| 4 bed | 556 |
| 5 bed | 276 |
ADR by Property Tier
| Entire Home | $190 |
| Luxury | $308 |
| Professionally Managed | $200 |
Revenue by Dwelling Type
| Apartment | $2,533 |
| Entire Place | $3,360 |
| House | $3,151 |
Booking Channel Mix
Distribution of bookings across major STR platforms.
| Channel | Share |
|---|---|
| airbnb | 62.6% |
| vrbo | 3.6% |
| both | 33.8% |
Investment Analysis
Royal Oak’s investment appeal centers on affordability, consistent demand, and one of the highest investability scores (95.7) in the current batch. The market explicitly permits non-owner-occupied STRs with no primary-residence requirement. The average listing earned $2,209 in April 2026, and annualizing April revenue projects to approximately $26,500 per year. Against a typical home value of $335,042, the gross yield implied by April-annualized revenue is approximately 7.9%.
The housing market shows a sale-to-list ratio of 0.853, meaning properties are selling below asking price, with 233 active listings and median days to pending of just 13 days, indicating active buyer demand even in a buyer-favorable pricing environment. The median sale price of $320,833 is below the typical home value of $335,042, suggesting accessible entry points.
Entire-place listings averaged $2,505 per month and house listings averaged $2,335. Luxury-tier properties command a $254 ADR versus the market average of $139, an 83% premium. Professionally managed listings average $166 ADR, a 19% premium over the market average. The PM premium is modest, suggesting that self-managed operators compete effectively in this market.
Royal Oak suits investors seeking consistent urban-adjacent income rather than seasonal peak concentration. The 58% base occupancy, stable year-over-year performance, and low entry cost relative to coastal alternatives make this a yield-through-volume rather than ADR-premium market.
Revenue Trend (5 yr)
ADR & Occupancy Trends (5 yr)
Run a Free Address Analysis
Skip the market averages. Get revenue projections, comp analysis, and ROI for your specific property address. Free, instant, no signup required.
Analyze My Property →Home Value Trends (Royal Oak)
Booking Insights
Royal Oak bookings in April 2026 averaged a lead time of 31.3 days, roughly four and a half weeks, the shortest lead time among urban markets in the current batch. This reflects the event-driven and metro-adjacent demand pattern: guests booking for Detroit Zoo trips, concerts at Royal Oak Music Theatre, Woodward Dream Cruise, or sports events often decide 2 to 4 weeks out.
The average length of stay is 4.7 nights, which is high for a suburban market and suggests that Royal Oak attracts a mix of weekend visitors and extended-stay guests, potentially including relocating professionals or contractors working in the Detroit metro area during weekday stays.
For pricing strategy, the short lead time means pricing decisions should be finalized no more than 4 to 5 weeks in advance. Event weekends (Woodward Dream Cruise, major Detroit Tigers or Lions home games, concert runs) warrant premium pricing held firm 60 to 90 days out. The consistent demand floor allows operators to set higher minimum prices in Royal Oak than in purely seasonal markets.
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
What is the average nightly rate for STRs in Royal Oak, MI?
How much can a Royal Oak STR earn per month?
Do I need a permit to operate an STR in Royal Oak?
What taxes apply to Royal Oak short-term rentals?
Is Royal Oak a good STR investment market?
When is peak season for STRs in Royal Oak?
Who are the top property managers in Royal Oak?
Analyze Royal Oak Rentals
Use our free calculator to estimate Airbnb revenue for any property in Royal Oak.
Free Royal Oak STR Calculator →
