Belton, Texas Short-Term Rental Market
Belton, TX short-term rentals averaged $123/night at 59.4% occupancy in April 2026, with a permit required and 15% total lodging tax.
Quick Answer: Belton, Texas is an active short-term rental market. average occupancy is 59%. average monthly revenue is $2,010. average daily rate is $123. the top operator is Second Home Hosting with 44 listings. market score is 60/100 (grade C).
Market Score Breakdown
Five dimensions Apivex evaluates per market.
Market Overview
Belton is a small city in Bell County, Central Texas, situated midway between Austin and Waco along Interstate 35. With a population of approximately 24,000, it serves as an event, recreation, and military-adjacent lodging market. The Bell County Expo Center, Belton Lake, and proximity to Fort Cavazos (formerly Fort Hood) and the University of Mary Hardin-Baylor generate consistent demand from event attendees, outdoor recreation visitors, and people visiting military personnel.
As of April 2026, the short-term rental market averaged a $123 daily rate and 59.4% occupancy, generating $2,010 in average monthly revenue per listing. RevPAR stood at $73. Year-over-year, occupancy rose 0.9%, ADR rose 1.0%, and revenue declined slightly by 0.4%.
The listing mix is predominantly entire-place properties: of 1,757 categorized listings, 1,464 (83.3%) are entire-place rentals, 292 are private rooms, and 1 is a shared room. Bedroom distribution is nearly even between one-bedroom (553) and three-bedroom (560) properties, followed by two-bedroom (336), four-bedroom (242), and five-bedroom (65). Airbnb is the dominant platform with 1,081 listings, VRBO has 51, and 625 listings appear on both platforms. The market’s overall score of 59.9 out of 100 reflects moderate total opportunity, with an investability score of 77.0 and a high seasonality score of 92.7.
Seasonal Patterns
| Month | Occupancy | ADR | Revenue |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 50% | $89 | $1,331 |
| Feb | 60% | $89 | $1,373 |
| Mar | 64% | $104 | $1,799 |
| Apr | 60% | $104 | $1,692 |
| May | 63% | $105 | $1,817 |
| Jun | 66% | $110 | $1,981 |
| Jul | 66% | $105 | $1,990 |
| Aug | 62% | $99 | $1,751 |
| Sep | 60% | $96 | $1,620 |
| Oct | 59% | $102 | $1,710 |
| Nov | 59% | $105 | $1,672 |
| Dec | 56% | $103 | $1,667 |
Top Short-Term Rental Operators in Belton
Ranked by total active listings. Useful for understanding the competitive landscape.
| # | Operator | Listings | Reviews | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Second Home Hosting | 44 | 243 | ★ 4.52 |
| 2 | Evolve | 36 | 893 | ★ 4.54 |
| 3 | Baird Rental Management | 30 | 1,121 | ★ 4.92 |
| 4 | Meyers Adventures | 11 | 376 | ★ 4.86 |
| 5 | CRIBS | 6 | 25 | ★ 4.89 |
What Kind of STR Should I Buy in Belton?
Revenue and pricing by property type, tier, and bedroom count.
Revenue by Bedroom Count
| 1 bed | 553 |
| 2 bed | 336 |
| 3 bed | 560 |
| 4 bed | 242 |
| 5 bed | 65 |
ADR by Property Tier
| Entire Home | $143 |
| Luxury | $227 |
| Professionally Managed | $180 |
Revenue by Dwelling Type
| Apartment | $1,620 |
| Entire Place | $2,276 |
| House | $2,115 |
Booking Channel Mix
Distribution of bookings across major STR platforms.
| Channel | Share |
|---|---|
| airbnb | 61.5% |
| vrbo | 2.9% |
| both | 35.6% |
Investment Analysis
Belton’s investment case is built on consistent year-round demand across multiple driver categories: event venue traffic at the Bell County Expo Center, lake recreation at Belton Lake, military-related travel near Fort Cavazos, and University of Mary Hardin-Baylor activity. This multi-driver demand base contributes to the market’s relatively stable occupancy throughout the year.
ADR by tier shows a notable professional management premium. The market-wide April 2026 ADR of $123 compares to $143 for entire-home listings, $180 for professionally managed properties (a 46% premium over the market average), and $227 for luxury-tier units (an 85% premium). This is a meaningful tier spread for a small-town market.
Annualized revenue at the April 2026 pace works out to approximately $24,120 per listing. Revenue by property type shows entire-place listings at $2,276/month and houses at $2,115/month, both above the market average of $2,010. Apartments averaged $1,620/month. No housing price data was available for this area at time of publication, so gross yield calculations are not possible.
The long-term revenue trend has been positive: from $972/month average in 2017 to $2,060 in 2025, more than doubling in eight years. The 2021-2022 peak at approximately $2,013-$2,016/month was followed by a moderate correction and has since stabilized.
Revenue Trend (5 yr)
ADR & Occupancy Trends (5 yr)
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As of April 2026, Belton STR guests book an average of 21.1 days in advance and stay an average of 5.39 nights per booking. The 21-day lead time is notably short, suggesting a significant share of travelers making decisions on relatively short notice, consistent with event-driven bookings (expo center concerts, rodeos) and military-related visits where schedules are known but lodging decisions come late.
The 5.39-night average stay is long for a mid-sized Texas market, suggesting extended stays from contractors, military visitors, and university-related guests rather than purely weekend leisure travelers. Operators benefit from lower turnover costs per dollar of revenue. For pricing strategy, the short lead time means calendar holds for major expo center events should be priced early, as the booking window for those weekends may open and close rapidly.
Short-Term Rental Regulations
Belton adopted its first short-term rental ordinance effective March 13, 2023. Every Airbnb or VRBO-style rental within city limits must obtain a Short-Term Rental Permit from the Planning Department. Permits are valid for one year and must be renewed within 30 days of expiration; the renewal fee is $50. Permit renewal is withheld until local hotel/motel occupancy tax has been paid.
In 2024 the City Council amended the original ordinance. Key changes: the owner-occupied versus non-owner-occupied distinction was eliminated; the city now allows up to two STR units per lot, or 10% of units in duplex and multifamily properties; and the 500-foot separation requirement between STRs was removed in Imagine Belton form-based zoning districts, though it remains in effect in the Neighborhood Zone. There is no cap on nights per year and no primary-residence requirement.
On taxes, operators must collect and remit hotel occupancy tax: 7% to the City of Belton, 6% to the State of Texas, and 2% to Bell County, for a total of approximately 15% in combined lodging taxes. Enforcement is permit- and tax-driven rather than aggressive, classified as moderate.
Market Comparison
Belton’s April 2026 occupancy of 59.4% is above the US STR median of approximately 55%, reflecting the market’s multi-driver demand base providing consistent year-round bookings. Its ADR of $123 is substantially below the US median of roughly $220, consistent with a small Central Texas city rather than a major tourist destination.
The market scores investability at 77.0 out of 100, above average, while rental demand of 57.8 and revenue growth of 56.6 are at approximately median levels. The regulation score of 54.6 is below average, reflecting the permit requirement and 15% total lodging tax.
The professional management landscape is fragmented among local specialists. Second Home Hosting leads with 44 listings and a 4.52 average rating. Evolve manages 36 listings (4.54 rating, 893 reviews). Baird Rental Management holds 30 listings with the highest rating of the group at 4.92 across 1,121 reviews. Meyers Adventures manages 11 listings (4.86 rating), and CRIBS holds 6 listings (4.89 rating). No large national operator dominates this market, leaving room for independent operators.
Frequently Asked Questions About Belton, Texas
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