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 is 40%. average monthly revenue is $2,614. average daily rate is $282. the top operator is Jaqua Realtors with 251 listings. market score is 77/100 (grade B).
Market Score Breakdown
Five dimensions Apivex 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 | ADR | Revenue |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 30% | $260 | $2,212 |
| Feb | 36% | $252 | $2,182 |
| Mar | 41% | $250 | $2,481 |
| Apr | 40% | $266 | $2,450 |
| May | 49% | $310 | $2,986 |
| Jun | 63% | $380 | $5,339 |
| Jul | 77% | $389 | $7,518 |
| Aug | 69% | $388 | $6,901 |
| Sep | 42% | $340 | $3,858 |
| Oct | 38% | $293 | $3,175 |
| Nov | 30% | $278 | $2,458 |
| Dec | 35% | $279 | $2,443 |
Top Short-Term Rental Operators in Saint Joseph
Ranked by total active listings. Useful for understanding the competitive landscape.
| # | 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 pricing by property type, tier, and bedroom count.
Revenue by Bedroom Count
| 1 bed | 1,478 |
| 2 bed | 1,913 |
| 3 bed | 2,161 |
| 4 bed | 1,436 |
| 5 bed | 1,190 |
ADR by Property Tier
| Entire Home | $284 |
| Luxury | $568 |
| Professionally Managed | $352 |
Revenue by Dwelling Type
| Apartment | $1,909 |
| Entire Place | $2,642 |
| House | $2,842 |
Booking Channel Mix
Distribution of bookings across major STR platforms.
| Channel | Share |
|---|---|
| airbnb | 28.4% |
| vrbo | 15.1% |
| both | 56.5% |
Investment Analysis
Saint Joseph’s investment case is strong on yield metrics but constrained by zoning. The average listing earned $2,614 in April 2026, and annualizing April revenue projects to approximately $31,400 per year. Against a typical home value of $333,950, the gross yield implied by April-annualized revenue is approximately 9.4%. However, April is a shoulder month; the 12-month average is materially higher given July’s $7,518 average.
The zoning framework, revised in February 2024, limits new STRs to the W Water Recreation District, the D Downtown District (above-street-level units only, not first floor), and the R3 Multiple-family Residence District as a conditional or special use. Standard single-family residential blocks away from the lake are not generally eligible. Investors must identify properties in qualifying zones and obtain a Conditional Use Permit before assuming STR income.
For properties in eligible zones, the revenue picture is compelling. House listings averaged $2,842 per month and entire-place listings averaged $2,642. Luxury-tier properties command a $568 ADR versus the market average of $282, a 2x premium. Professionally managed listings average $352 ADR, a 25% premium over the market average, one of the larger PM premiums in the current batch.
The housing market shows a thin inventory of 83 listings, very fast turnover (9 days to pending), and a sale price of $310,483 well below the list-price median of $470,833. The sale-to-list ratio of 0.659 indicates the median sold property transacted at a significant discount to asking, which may reflect the mix of property types in the dataset rather than a single comparable class.
Revenue Trend (5 yr)
ADR & Occupancy Trends (5 yr)
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Booking Insights
Saint Joseph bookings in April 2026 averaged a lead time of 50.3 days, just over seven weeks. This reflects a mix of advance-planning summer beach vacation bookings and shorter-horizon shoulder-season fills. The Chicago market (75 miles east) drives significant demand, and Chicago metro guests often plan Lake Michigan summer weekends 6 to 10 weeks out.
The average length of stay is 3.2 nights, consistent with the weekend-getaway pattern for drive-market beach destinations. July and August bookings typically represent full-week stays or long weekend stays of 4 to 5 nights. Shoulder months see shorter 2 to 3 night visits.
For pricing, the 50-day lead time means summer peak pricing should be set by late April or early May for July bookings. Experienced Lake Michigan operators recommend holding peak rates firm 60 to 90 days out and using dynamic pricing to capture last-minute fills at moderate discounts. Minimum stays of 3 to 4 nights for summer weekends and 5 to 7 nights for holiday weekends are standard in this market.
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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