Burnsville, North Carolina Short-Term Rental Market
Burnsville, NC STRs averaged $246/night at 37.1% occupancy in April 2026 across a mountain market with an 89/100 total score.
Quick Answer: Burnsville, North Carolina is an active short-term rental market. average occupancy is 50%. average monthly revenue is $3,568. average daily rate is $282. the top operator is Blue Ridge Mountain Rentals with 753 listings. market score is 89/100 (grade A).
Market data reflects the Boone regional market, which includes Burnsville. Regulations, taxes, and permit details below are specific to Burnsville.
Market Score Breakdown
Five dimensions Apivex evaluates per market.
Market Overview
Burnsville is the seat of Yancey County in North Carolina’s Blue Ridge Mountains, roughly 30 miles northeast of Asheville. The STR market here draws outdoor recreation visitors, leaf-peepers, arts travelers, and road-trippers accessing Mount Mitchell State Park (the highest peak east of the Mississippi at 6,684 feet), the Blue Ridge Parkway, and the Penland School of Craft. As of April 2026, the market posted an average daily rate of $246, occupancy of 37.1%, and RevPAR of $91. Approximately 7,743 active listings are distributed heavily toward larger properties: 2-bedroom units lead with 2,298 listings, followed closely by 3-bedroom (2,200), 1-bedroom (1,427), 4-bedroom (1,242), and 5-bedroom (569). Entire-place listings account for 7,612 (98% of inventory), with 131 private-room listings. The dual-channel presence is unusually strong: 4,950 properties list on both Airbnb and VRBO, versus 1,966 Airbnb-only and 827 VRBO-only. Year-over-year through April 2026, occupancy declined 6.5 percentage points and revenue slipped 1.5%, though ADR grew 4.7%. The overall market score of 89 out of 100 is among the highest in this batch, driven by strong seasonality handling (86/100), investability (87/100), and revenue growth trajectory (80/100).
Seasonal Patterns
| Month | Occupancy | ADR | Revenue |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 43% | $258 | $3,215 |
| Feb | 45% | $259 | $3,097 |
| Mar | 35% | $218 | $2,356 |
| Apr | 41% | $215 | $2,350 |
| May | 42% | $231 | $2,450 |
| Jun | 53% | $241 | $3,163 |
| Jul | 64% | $236 | $3,953 |
| Aug | 55% | $228 | $3,417 |
| Sep | 46% | $231 | $2,804 |
| Oct | 53% | $247 | $3,323 |
| Nov | 46% | $248 | $2,933 |
| Dec | 50% | $262 | $3,517 |
Top Short-Term Rental Operators in Burnsville
Ranked by total active listings. Useful for understanding the competitive landscape.
| # | Operator | Listings | Reviews | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Blue Ridge Mountain Rentals | 753 | 16,672 | ★ 4.77 |
| 2 | Carolina Cabin Rentals | 478 | 16,022 | ★ 4.65 |
| 3 | Evolve | 315 | 16,846 | ★ 4.74 |
| 4 | Vacasa | 306 | 13,132 | ★ 4.30 |
| 5 | Foscoe Rentals | 142 | 3,407 | ★ 4.85 |
What Kind of STR Should I Buy in Burnsville?
Revenue and pricing by property type, tier, and bedroom count.
Revenue by Bedroom Count
| 1 bed | 1,427 |
| 2 bed | 2,298 |
| 3 bed | 2,200 |
| 4 bed | 1,242 |
| 5 bed | 569 |
ADR by Property Tier
| Entire Home | $285 |
| Luxury | $488 |
| Professionally Managed | $364 |
Revenue by Dwelling Type
| Apartment | $2,331 |
| Entire Place | $3,600 |
| House | $3,979 |
Booking Channel Mix
Distribution of bookings across major STR platforms.
| Channel | Share |
|---|---|
| airbnb | 25.4% |
| vrbo | 10.7% |
| both | 63.9% |
Investment Analysis
Burnsville’s STR investment profile is characterized by high ADR, broad seasonal demand across multiple visitor segments (summer hikers, fall foliage seekers, winter cabin guests), and a low-friction regulatory environment. Average monthly revenue of $2,517 in April 2026 annualizes to approximately $30,205. No Zillow home value data is currently published for Burnsville, so a standardized gross yield calculation is not available. House listings significantly outperform: house properties averaged $2,795 per month versus $2,543 for entire-place listings and $1,589 for apartments. Luxury-tier properties command $402 ADR versus the market average of $246. Professionally managed listings average $321 ADR, well above the market mean, indicating that PM operators in this market have concentrated on higher-end mountain cabins and homes rather than budget units. The multi-year revenue trend shows the market peaked in 2021 at $3,488/month average, declined through 2022-2024 ($3,208-$3,370), and recovered to $3,448/month in 2025. The occupancy softness in early 2026 (37.1% in April vs. 46.3% annual average in 2025) is partly seasonal. The market scored 87/100 on investability and 80/100 on revenue growth, reflecting continued ADR appreciation even as occupancy faced headwinds. The absence of an STR permit requirement and minimal enforcement posture in both the town and county reduces regulatory barriers to entry.
Revenue Trend (5 yr)
ADR & Occupancy Trends (5 yr)
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Booking Insights
Burnsville guests book an average of 47 days in advance, one of the longer planning horizons seen in mountain cabin markets, where multi-family and group travelers coordinate travel well ahead of peak dates. This lead window provides strong forward occupancy visibility and supports holding rates firm ahead of arrival. The average length of stay is 3.4 nights, reflecting a mix of extended-weekend getaways from Asheville and the Charlotte-Raleigh corridor and short mid-week fills during high season. A 3-4 night average is typical for mountain cabin destinations and still delivers meaningful revenue per booking with lower turnover than urban markets. The 47-day lead time combined with the multi-season demand pattern (summer, fall foliage, winter cabin) suggests operators should set distinct seasonal rate tiers well in advance rather than relying on reactive dynamic pricing. Holding rates firm through the 60-day mark and adjusting only within the 30-day window for shoulder periods is a reasonable baseline strategy.
Short-Term Rental Regulations
Short-term rentals are legal in Burnsville and throughout Yancey County, and the regulatory environment is among the lightest of any active mountain STR market. As of mid-2026, the Town of Burnsville has no dedicated STR ordinance, no permit or license requirement, no annual registration fee, and no cap on rental nights, owner-occupancy requirement, or primary-residence requirement. The town’s primary expectation is that operators designate a local contact for neighbor complaints. STR use remains subject to the town’s general zoning ordinance, so operators should confirm that the specific zoning district of their property allows commercial short-term rental activity. Yancey County also permits STRs and has no county-level STR permit requirement. The town has discussed developing a Unified Development Ordinance that could formalize STR rules in the future, but nothing specific has been adopted as of mid-2026. On taxes, the Yancey County room occupancy tax was authorized by the North Carolina General Assembly to increase from 3% to up to 6%, with county commissioners reported as adopting the increase. However, as of September 2025, state records still listed 3%. Investors should confirm the currently levied rate directly with the Yancey County Tourism Development Authority before relying on either figure. Airbnb and VRBO generally collect and remit occupancy taxes, but hosts remain legally responsible for compliance. Enforcement is characterized as minimal.
Market Comparison
Burnsville’s April 2026 ADR of $246 runs above the U.S. STR median of approximately $220, reflecting the premium that mountain cabin stays command over the national average. Occupancy at 37.1% in April falls below the national median of roughly 55%, though April is a genuine shoulder month for this market, and the full-year 2025 average of 46.3% is more representative of the market’s typical occupancy level. The overall market score of 89 out of 100 is among the higher readings in the western North Carolina region. Professional management is well-established and concentrated in larger portfolios. Blue Ridge Mountain Rentals leads with 753 listings and a 4.77 rating (16,672 reviews), making it the dominant regional specialist. Carolina Cabin Rentals holds 478 listings and a 4.65 rating (16,022 reviews). Evolve (315 listings, 4.74 rating, 16,846 reviews) and Vacasa (306 listings, 4.30 rating, 13,132 reviews) are national platforms also active here. Foscoe Rentals, a regional operator, holds 142 listings with a 4.85 rating (3,407 reviews). The top five operators together account for roughly 1,994 listings, approximately 26% of the estimated 7,743-listing inventory, indicating that professional managers hold a meaningful share of this market.
Frequently Asked Questions About Burnsville, North Carolina
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