Suttons Bay, Michigan Short-Term Rental Market
Suttons Bay, MI short-term rentals averaged $411/night at 64.4% occupancy in June 2026, but STR permits do not transfer when a home sells.
Quick Answer: Suttons Bay, Michigan is an active short-term rental market. average occupancy in the Traverse City market area is 64%. average monthly revenue in the Traverse City market area is $6,344. average daily rate in the Traverse City market area is $411. the top operator in the Traverse City market area is Vacasa with 206 listings. market score is 59/100 (grade C).
Market data reflects the Traverse City regional market, which includes Suttons Bay. Regulations, taxes, and permit details below are specific to Suttons Bay.
Market Score Breakdown
Five dimensions StaySTRA evaluates per market.
Market Overview
Suttons Bay is a small waterfront village on the eastern shore of Michigan’s Leelanau Peninsula, population 580, roughly 15 miles north of Traverse City. It anchors the Leelanau Peninsula Wine Trail, Michigan’s oldest and largest, with 20 to 30-plus wineries and tasting rooms, plus beaches on Grand Traverse Bay. In June 2026, the latest month with data, short-term rentals in this market averaged $410.84 per night at 64.4% occupancy, generating $6,344 in average monthly revenue per listing. Occupancy eased 0.6 point year over year and ADR fell 6.0%, but revenue still rose 4.5%. By property type, apartments averaged $5,431/month, entire homes $6,470/month, and houses $6,994/month. Regionally, entire-place listings make up roughly 97% of inventory.
Seasonal Patterns
| Month | Occupancy |
|---|---|
| Jan | 32% |
| Feb | 39% |
| Mar | 35% |
| Apr | 40% |
| May | 52% |
| Jun | 64% |
| Jul | 79% |
| Aug | 71% |
| Sep | 49% |
| Oct | 45% |
| Nov | 29% |
| Dec | 39% |
Month-by-month nightly rates and revenue figures for Suttons Bay are available to StaySTRA Pro members. Unlock with StaySTRA Pro or analyze a specific address free.
Top Short-Term Rental Operators in Traverse City market area
Ranked by total active listings. Useful for understanding the competitive landscape. Operator data is published for the Traverse City market as a whole, which includes Suttons Bay, so these counts are not Suttons Bay-only figures.
| # | Operator | Listings | Reviews | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Vacasa | 206 | 5,978 | ★ 4.46 |
| 2 | Elevated Homes & Hospitality | 116 | 4,924 | ★ 4.76 |
| 3 | True North Property Management | 109 | 3,627 | ★ 4.54 |
| 4 | The Mitten Group Property Management | 108 | 9,528 | ★ 4.79 |
| 5 | Evolve | 94 | 4,171 | ★ 4.76 |
What Kind of STR Should I Buy in Suttons Bay?
Revenue and nightly-rate breakdowns by bedroom count, property tier, and dwelling type for Suttons Bay 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 | 28.2% |
| vrbo | 15.5% |
| both | 56.2% |
Home Value Trends (Suttons Bay)
Typical home values, median sale prices, and the 10-year price trend for Suttons Bay 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 Suttons Bay — 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 Village of Suttons Bay but tightly capped and increasingly restricted. A short-term rental is any dwelling rental of less than 30 consecutive days, and operating one requires a Village permit. The Village has capped total STR permits at 45; because roughly 53 were already issued when the cap was adopted, the Village is not issuing any new permits and is reducing the count through attrition until it reaches 45. Permits are non-transferable: when a home is sold, its permit dies, so a buyer cannot inherit STR rights from the seller. Renting only a room while living on-site is treated instead under bed-and-breakfast zoning. Enforcement is rated strict, with a 24-hour complaint hotline. The adjacent Suttons Bay Township is a separate jurisdiction with its own program: up to 150 permits per year on a first-come basis in Residential Districts only, a $200 annual fee, and also non-transferable permits. Michigan levies a 6% state use tax on rentals under 30 days; no Leelanau County local lodging tax was confirmed.
Market Comparison
Suttons Bay’s 64.4% occupancy in June 2026 runs above the roughly 55% U.S. median often cited for short-term rentals, and its $410.84 ADR nearly doubles the roughly $220 national median, reflecting its position as a premium Leelanau wine-country market. No property manager snapshot data is currently published for this specific market, so a top-operator comparison is not available here; the Village’s hard 45-permit cap and non-transferable rule mean professional management concentration is unlikely to grow within Village limits regardless of investor demand.
Frequently Asked Questions About Suttons Bay, Michigan
If I buy a house in Suttons Bay, MI that already has a short-term rental permit, do I keep the permit?
Can I get a new short-term rental permit in the Village of Suttons Bay?
What is the average occupancy rate for short-term rentals in Suttons Bay, MI?
What is the average nightly rate for a Suttons Bay short-term rental?
What is the gross rental yield on a Suttons Bay short-term rental?
When is the busiest month for Suttons Bay short-term rentals?
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