El Prado, New Mexico Short-Term Rental Market
El Prado, NM STRs averaged $207/night at 25.0% occupancy in April 2026, with summer peaks reaching 64% occupancy and $236 ADR.
Quick Answer: El Prado, New Mexico is an active short-term rental market. average occupancy is 55%. average monthly revenue is $3,552. average daily rate is $271. the top operator is Vacasa with 239 listings. market score is 49/100 (grade D).
Market data reflects the Taos regional market, which includes El Prado. Regulations, taxes, and permit details below are specific to El Prado.
Market Score Breakdown
Five dimensions Apivex evaluates per market.
Market Overview
El Prado is an unincorporated community immediately north of Taos, New Mexico, sharing the Taos tourism economy. The greater Taos area draws over one million visitor trips annually, driven by Taos Ski Valley (approximately 300 inches of annual snowfall), the Taos art colony and museums, UNESCO World Heritage Site Taos Pueblo, and outdoor recreation along the Rio Grande Gorge. El Prado’s STR market reflects Taos’s pronounced dual-season pattern.
In April 2026, the market posted an average daily rate of $207 and occupancy of 25.0%, producing a RevPAR of $51.58. April is historically the weakest month for this area, as spring mud season falls between the ski and summer seasons. Year-over-year, April 2026 occupancy improved 3.1% and ADR rose 2.8%, but gross monthly revenue per listing declined 5.1% from April 2025.
The listing supply is nearly entirely entire-place units (2,886 of 2,996 total), with 110 private rooms. The market has strong dual-platform coverage: 1,864 listings appear on both Airbnb and VRBO, 836 are Airbnb-only, and 296 are VRBO-only, reflecting the vacation rental nature of the demand. By bedroom, 2-bedrooms lead at 902 listings, followed by 1-bedrooms (802), 3-bedrooms (772), 4-bedrooms (343), and 5-bedrooms (175).
Market scores reflect the bifurcated picture: investability at 71.1 and regulation at 76.6 are solid, but revenue growth at 43.6 indicates slowing earnings momentum. Seasonality scores 71.5, reflecting the real but manageable peaks-and-troughs pattern.
Seasonal Patterns
| Month | Occupancy | ADR | Revenue |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 42% | $278 | $3,372 |
| Feb | 54% | $280 | $3,746 |
| Mar | 50% | $290 | $4,140 |
| Apr | 27% | $183 | $2,085 |
| May | 51% | $190 | $2,079 |
| Jun | 57% | $230 | $3,091 |
| Jul | 64% | $236 | $4,031 |
| Aug | 53% | $217 | $3,235 |
| Sep | 46% | $204 | $2,605 |
| Oct | 46% | $199 | $2,561 |
| Nov | 37% | $196 | $1,970 |
| Dec | 57% | $304 | $3,552 |
Top Short-Term Rental Operators in El Prado
Ranked by total active listings. Useful for understanding the competitive landscape.
| # | Operator | Listings | Reviews | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Vacasa | 239 | 7,221 | ★ 4.38 |
| 2 | Evolve | 186 | 7,989 | ★ 4.71 |
| 3 | Resort Properties | 148 | 1,996 | ★ 4.66 |
| 4 | M Vacation | 142 | 3,424 | ★ 4.56 |
| 5 | Abode Vacation | 93 | 4,053 | ★ 4.82 |
What Kind of STR Should I Buy in El Prado?
Revenue and pricing by property type, tier, and bedroom count.
Revenue by Bedroom Count
| 1 bed | 802 |
| 2 bed | 902 |
| 3 bed | 772 |
| 4 bed | 343 |
| 5 bed | 175 |
ADR by Property Tier
| Entire Home | $275 |
| Luxury | $472 |
| Professionally Managed | $330 |
Revenue by Dwelling Type
| Apartment | $2,309 |
| Entire Place | $3,599 |
| House | $4,280 |
Booking Channel Mix
Distribution of bookings across major STR platforms.
| Channel | Share |
|---|---|
| airbnb | 27.9% |
| vrbo | 9.9% |
| both | 62.2% |
Investment Analysis
El Prado’s investment profile is shaped by high-ADR rental demand but deep off-peak troughs and a recently imposed permit cap that creates a supply ceiling. No housing price data was available in the current snapshot for this area, so yield calculations cannot be provided. Investors should source current comparable sales independently.
Revenue potential is strong in peak months. The 2025 annual average revenue across all months was $3,601 per listing per month, putting annualized gross revenue at approximately $43,212 for a well-performing listing. The 2026 partial-year average through the data month is tracking at $3,659/month, slightly above 2025 despite lower occupancy, as ADR continues to rise (2025 annual average ADR was $271, up from $257 in 2024).
Professionally managed listings averaged a substantially higher ADR of $272 in April, versus the market-wide $207, a 31% premium. Luxury-tier listings averaged $480 ADR. For operators willing to invest in professional management or position in the luxury segment, rate capture can be significantly above the blended market average.
The most significant investment risk beyond seasonality is the regulatory environment. Taos County’s Ordinance 2024-4 imposes a hard cap of 400 STR permits countywide. Investors who cannot document an exemption (10-year county residency, existing home occupation permit, or affordable-housing qualification) must secure one of the finite permit slots. Investors should verify permit availability before closing.
Revenue Trend (5 yr)
ADR & Occupancy Trends (5 yr)
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Booking Insights
In April 2026, El Prado STRs had an average booking lead time of 42.8 days, meaning guests typically reserved about six weeks in advance. This is longer than the national average, reflecting that Taos-area visitors often plan ski trips and summer getaways well ahead. For peak ski-season weeks in December through February and summer peak weeks in July and August, demand is strong enough that savvy operators can open their calendars 90 to 120 days out and set firm rates without early-bird discounting.
Average length of stay was 3.93 nights in April 2026. This suggests a mix of long-weekend trips and shorter mid-week stays during the spring shoulder period. Peak-season guests, particularly ski visitors, often stay 4 to 7 nights. Setting a 4-night minimum during December, February, March, July, and August reduces turnover while maintaining strong occupancy. During November and April, the weakest months, reducing minimums to 2 nights or even 1 night may help fill gaps between longer bookings, as even modest incremental revenue outperforms vacant nights.
Short-Term Rental Regulations
Short-term rentals are permitted in El Prado, which falls under Taos County jurisdiction as an unincorporated community. Taos County adopted its first STR ordinance (Ordinance 2024-4) on August 20, 2024, effective October 19, 2024, with permit applications accepted from October 21, 2024.
An STR permit is mandatory. The ordinance creates two tiers: owner-occupied (owner present on the property at least 275 days per year), with a $400 permit fee, and non-owner-occupied, with a $900 permit fee. There is no requirement for owner occupancy to operate; non-owner-occupied permits are available.
The most significant constraint is a hard countywide cap of 400 STR permits. Several categories are exempt from this cap: properties with an existing home occupation permit, owners who have lived in Taos County for 10 or more years, and owners qualifying for an affordable-housing exemption. Investors who do not qualify for an exemption must secure one of the finite permit slots. The county committed to dedicated STR code enforcement officers to monitor compliance. The occupancy tax rate is 5% on stays of 29 nights or fewer. Enforcement severity is rated moderate. Properties inside incorporated municipalities such as the Town of Taos or Taos Ski Valley are subject to separate, distinct rules.
Market Comparison
El Prado’s April 2026 ADR of $207 is slightly below the US STR market median of approximately $220 but is within normal range for a mountain art-and-ski market with significant off-peak troughs. The 2025 annual average ADR of $271 is above the national median, reflecting the premium the Taos market commands at its peaks. Occupancy at 25.0% in April is well below the national STR median of roughly 55%, but April is the historical trough for this market; the 2025 annual average of 48.3% is more representative.
The professional management market is large and includes several major national operators. Vacasa leads with 239 listings and 7,221 reviews (4.38 average rating). Evolve operates 186 listings with a 4.71 rating and 7,989 reviews. Resort Properties holds 148 listings. M Vacation manages 142 listings. Abode Vacation rounds out the top 5 with 93 listings and a 4.82 rating. The top 5 operators collectively account for approximately 808 listings, a substantial share of the 2,996-listing market. The strong presence of national platforms alongside regional specialists reflects the established vacation rental infrastructure in the Taos corridor.
Frequently Asked Questions About El Prado, New Mexico
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