Lake Lure, North Carolina Short-Term Rental Market
Lake Lure's Western NC Mountains STR market hit $240 ADR, 48.3% occupancy, $3,198 monthly revenue in September 2026.
Quick Answer: Lake Lure, North Carolina is an active short-term rental market. average occupancy in the North Carolina Mtns market area is 48%. average monthly revenue in the North Carolina Mtns market area is $3,198. average daily rate in the North Carolina Mtns market area is $240. the top operator in the North Carolina Mtns market area is Evolve with 723 listings. market score is 70/100 (grade B).
Market data reflects the North Carolina Mtns regional market, which includes Lake Lure. Regulations, taxes, and permit details below are specific to Lake Lure.
Market Score Breakdown
Five dimensions StaySTRA evaluates per market.
Market Overview
Lake Lure is a small resort town of 1,543 residents in Rutherford County, anchored by a lake of about 720 acres and the nearby Chimney Rock State Park, roughly 27 miles southeast of Asheville. STR performance in this profile is measured for the Western North Carolina Mountains region, a shared regional market that includes the surrounding mountain communities. Every performance number below describes the Western North Carolina Mountains STR market, not Lake Lure alone.
In September 2026 the regional market posted an average daily rate of $240 and occupancy of 48.3%, which produced average monthly revenue of $3,198 per listing. Compared with September 2025, occupancy is up 11.3%, ADR is up 3.4% and revenue is up 15.2%. Entire places earned $3,234 a month on average, houses earned $3,372 and apartments earned $2,341. Booking lead time averaged 62 days and the average stay ran 3.7 nights.
Year to date, 2026 averages 47.6% occupancy, a $226 ADR and $2,991 in monthly revenue across nine months of data. That compares with 48.4% occupancy, a $221 ADR and $3,039 in monthly revenue for full year 2025. Occupancy peaked near 60% in 2020 and 2021 and has settled in the high 40s since 2024, while ADR has climbed from $187 in 2020 to $226 this year.
Lake Lure’s own recent history matters when reading the data. Hurricane Helene on September 27, 2024 drained and damaged the lake, and after roughly 20 months of restoration it reopened to the public in spring 2026. Local leaders expect tourism to rebound through the 2026 summer season, and the 11.3% year over year occupancy gain in September points in that direction, though a single month is not a trend.
Bedroom, channel and listing-type counts are tracked at a shared regional level rather than uniquely for Lake Lure, so this profile omits them.
Seasonal Patterns
| Month | Occupancy |
|---|---|
| Jan | 32% |
| Feb | 41% |
| Mar | 47% |
| Apr | 47% |
| May | 49% |
| Jun | 61% |
| Jul | 68% |
| Aug | 56% |
| Sep | 49% |
| Oct | 61% |
| Nov | 49% |
| Dec | 46% |
Month-by-month nightly rates and revenue figures for Lake Lure are available to StaySTRA Pro members. Unlock with StaySTRA Pro or analyze a specific address free.
Top Short-Term Rental Operators in North Carolina Mtns market area
Ranked by total active listings. Useful for understanding the competitive landscape. Operator data is published for the North Carolina Mtns market as a whole, which includes Lake Lure, so these counts are not Lake Lure-only figures.
| # | Operator | Listings | Reviews | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Evolve | 723 | 35,109 | ★ 4.76 |
| 2 | Vacasa | 454 | 17,037 | ★ 4.47 |
| 3 | Yonder | 119 | 3,777 | ★ 4.71 |
| 4 | Rumbling Bald Resort | 112 | 415 | ★ 4.35 |
| 5 | Bryson City Cabin Rentals | 112 | 1,400 | ★ 4.65 |
What Kind of STR Should I Buy in Lake Lure?
Revenue and nightly-rate breakdowns by bedroom count, property tier, and dwelling type for Lake Lure 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 | 27.2% |
| vrbo | 11.8% |
| both | 61% |
Home Value Trends (Lake Lure)
Typical home values, median sale prices, and the 10-year price trend for Lake Lure 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 Lake Lure — 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 permitted in Lake Lure with a permit. The Town requires a Vacation Rental Operating Permit (Residential Vacation Rental) for any rental of a detached dwelling, or in some districts a duplex, for periods under 30 days. A narrow exemption applies if the home is rented no more than twice per calendar year for a combined total of under two weeks.
Since January 1, 2010, residential vacation rentals have been a permitted use subject to special requirements in most zoning districts. Detached homes are broadly eligible, while duplex rentals are restricted and generally not allowed in the R-1, R-2 and M-1 districts. There is no owner-occupancy requirement, no primary-residence requirement and no stated annual night cap.
Applications go to the Code Enforcement Coordinator and need a site plan showing off-street parking and the number of bedrooms for occupancy, sewer certification where applicable, and a standard rental agreement with the Town’s RVR addendum. Processing typically takes 3 to 4 days and can run to about two weeks. The permit fee and renewal period are not published in the source data.
Operating standards include contact information posted on the building exterior, animal-resistant enclosed trash receptacles and parking only in designated areas. Overnight occupancy is limited to two persons per bedroom plus four, or twelve people total, whichever is less. Lodging carries a 6% occupancy tax, plus North Carolina’s 4.75% state sales tax and any applicable local sales tax. Enforcement severity is rated moderate. Confirm current rules with the Town before buying or listing.
Market Comparison
Measured against its own annual record, the Western North Carolina Mountains STR market shows a split result. Occupancy of 48.3% in September 2026 sits close to the 48.4% recorded for full year 2025, while the $240 ADR is above the $221 full-year 2025 figure. The market earns on rate rather than volume.
The seasonal profile shows when the market is strongest. July occupancy of 67.5% and June and October occupancy of 60.6% are the highs, and July also holds a $230 ADR. From January through May, ADR of $181 to $205 sits below the $221 recorded for full year 2025. Luxury listings at $403 and professionally managed listings at $281 sit well above the $240 all-listings ADR.
Growth is a point in the region’s favor. Year over year, occupancy is up 11.3%, ADR is up 3.4% and revenue is up 15.2%, and the 2026 year-to-date ADR of $226 already exceeds the $221 recorded for all of 2025. Top operator rankings are tracked at a shared regional level rather than uniquely for Lake Lure, so this profile omits them.
Frequently Asked Questions About Lake Lure, North Carolina
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