Saint Joseph, Michigan Short-Term Rental Market
Saint Joseph STRs averaged $282/night at 40.0% occupancy in April 2026, with a concentrated summer peak that drives 9.4% implied gross yield.
Quick Answer: Saint Joseph, 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 251 listings. market score is 77/100 (grade B).
Market data reflects the Michigan West Coastal regional market, which includes Saint Joseph. Regulations, taxes, and permit details below are specific to Saint Joseph.
Market Score Breakdown
Five dimensions StaySTRA evaluates per market.
Market Overview
Saint Joseph, Michigan is a Lake Michigan beach town in Berrien County, about 75 miles from Chicago, drawing seasonal visitors to Silver Beach County Park and the downtown bluff district. As of April 2026, the market holds approximately 8,184 active listings, with 7,895 entire-place units and 289 private rooms. The average daily rate is $282, occupancy sits at 40.0%, and RevPAR is $112.
The bedroom distribution reflects the group-vacation beach rental profile: 3-bedroom listings lead with 2,161, followed by 2-bedroom (1,913), 4-bedroom (1,436), 1-bedroom (1,478), and 5-bedroom-plus (1,190). The large-bedroom inventory is notable for a city of under 8,000 residents. Cross-platform listings are strong: 4,620 properties list on both Airbnb and VRBO, with VRBO-exclusive listings at 1,239, higher than most markets in this batch.
Year-over-year as of April 2026, occupancy improved 3.7%, ADR rose 7.6%, and revenue increased 1.9%. The market total score is 77.3 out of 100, with an investability score of 94.7 and revenue growth score of 94.4. The seasonality score of 44.1 reflects the extreme summer concentration of demand in this market. A critical zoning constraint limits where STRs can operate: new STRs are permitted only in the W Water Recreation, D Downtown (above first floor), and R3 Multiple-family zones.
Seasonal Patterns
| Month | Occupancy |
|---|---|
| Jan | 30% |
| Feb | 36% |
| Mar | 41% |
| Apr | 40% |
| May | 49% |
| Jun | 64% |
| Jul | 77% |
| Aug | 69% |
| Sep | 42% |
| Oct | 38% |
| Nov | 30% |
| Dec | 35% |
Month-by-month nightly rates and revenue figures for Saint Joseph 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 Saint Joseph, so these counts are not Saint Joseph-only figures.
| # | Operator | Listings | Reviews | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Jaqua Realtors | 251 | 4,872 | ★ 4.74 |
| 2 | Evolve | 181 | 8,033 | ★ 4.66 |
| 3 | Vacasa | 146 | 6,781 | ★ 4.54 |
| 4 | Unsalted Vacations | 128 | 2,711 | ★ 4.75 |
| 5 | Bluefish Vacation Rentals | 112 | 2,875 | ★ 4.75 |
What Kind of STR Should I Buy in Saint Joseph?
Revenue and nightly-rate breakdowns by bedroom count, property tier, and dwelling type for Saint Joseph 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 | 15.1% |
| both | 56.5% |
Home Value Trends (Saint Joseph)
Typical home values, median sale prices, and the 10-year price trend for Saint Joseph 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 Saint Joseph — 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
Saint Joseph regulates short-term rentals (fewer than 30 consecutive days) through a combination of zoning controls, conditional use permits, and the Residential Rental Inspection Program under Chapter 8, Article VI of the City Code, as amended in February 2024.
New STRs are permitted only in the W Water Recreation District and the D Downtown District (units above street level only, not on the first floor), and as conditional or special uses in the R3 Multiple-family Residence District. STRs are not permitted in manufacturing districts and are generally not available in standard single-family residential blocks away from Lake Michigan.
Operators must obtain a Conditional Use Permit and register with the Building Inspection Department. A mandatory life-safety inspection covers fire extinguishers, egress, lavatory and bathing facilities, and smoke alarms. The rental permit is valid for two years and renewed via re-inspection. The permit fee amount was not published in the available data at time of writing.
Operators must collect and remit the Michigan 6% use tax on stays under 30 days. Berrien County does not impose an additional county lodging tax beyond the state use tax. There is no owner-occupancy or primary-residence requirement, and no annual night cap. Enforcement severity is rated moderate.
Market Comparison
Saint Joseph’s 40.0% April occupancy is below the national STR median of approximately 55%, accurately reflecting April’s position as a shoulder month in a summer-concentrated Lake Michigan market. The ADR of $282 is well above the US median of approximately $220, reflecting the premium pricing that Lake Michigan beach markets command even in shoulder periods.
Among the top operators, Jaqua Realtors leads with 251 listings, 4,872 reviews, and a 4.74 rating, representing approximately 3.1% of the market. Evolve holds 181 listings (4.66 rating, 8,033 reviews). Vacasa manages 146 listings (4.54 rating) and Unsalted Vacations holds 128 listings (4.75 rating). Collectively the top five operators control 818 listings, approximately 10.0% of the market, a moderately concentrated market for a beach town this size.
The total market score of 77.3 is solid, with the investability score of 94.7 and revenue growth score of 94.4 both indicating strong long-term investment fundamentals. The primary risk factor is the zoning restriction limiting eligible properties to W, D (above first floor), and R3 zones.
Frequently Asked Questions About Saint Joseph, Michigan
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