Corpus Christi's 2,062-listing STR market peaks at 66% occupancy in summer but averages 47% annually with rising ADR offsetting softer demand.
Market Overview
Corpus Christi is one of the larger short-term rental markets on the Texas Gulf Coast, with 2,062 active listings as of February 2026. The market sits in a transitional period: occupancy has declined steadily from a 2021 average of 61.2% down to 40.9% in 2025, while average daily rates have climbed from $189 in 2021 to $224 in 2025. That ADR growth has partially offset occupancy losses, but average annual revenue per listing has fallen from $4,168 in 2021 to $2,791 in 2025.
Supply growth is a central factor. Active listings expanded from 1,463 in 2021 to a high of 2,124 in 2025, a 45% increase. More inventory competing for roughly the same pool of visitors has compressed per-property performance. The market is not contracting in dollar terms at the top end, but median performers are earning materially less than they did three years ago.
The coastal location drives clear seasonality. Summer (June and July) is the dominant window, with July averaging 66.6% occupancy and $5,348 in monthly revenue across all listings. The winter months (December through February) are the softest, averaging 35-45% occupancy and monthly revenues of $2,100-$2,400. Corpus Christi draws an estimated 10.6 million visitors annually, with the bulk concentrated in the warm-weather window. Proximity to major Texas metros (San Antonio is roughly 2.5 hours, Houston 3.5 hours) gives the market a large day-trip and weekend-trip addressable audience.
Seasonal Patterns
| Month | Occupancy | ADR | Revenue | Active Listings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 38% | $180 | $2,145 | 1,878 |
| Feb | 45% | $173 | $2,444 | 1,882 |
| Mar | 54% | $202 | $3,653 | 1,732 |
| Apr | 48% | $187 | $2,977 | 1,750 |
| May | 50% | $209 | $3,426 | 1,666 |
| Jun | 65% | $232 | $4,835 | 1,799 |
| Jul | 67% | $235 | $5,348 | 1,944 |
| Aug | 53% | $217 | $3,779 | 1,920 |
| Sep | 44% | $196 | $2,752 | 1,907 |
| Oct | 42% | $192 | $2,517 | 1,837 |
| Nov | 38% | $193 | $2,199 | 1,847 |
| Dec | 36% | $192 | $2,200 | 1,868 |
Corpus Christi operates on a pronounced two-speed calendar. The summer window, June and July, delivers the strongest performance in the market. July is the peak month: 66.6% average occupancy, $235 average daily rate, and $5,348 in average monthly revenue. June is close behind at 65.2% occupancy, $232 ADR, and $4,835 revenue.
Spring shows meaningful demand. March is the third-strongest month at 54.2% occupancy and $3,653 average revenue, driven partly by spring break traffic. May follows at 49.8% occupancy and $3,426 revenue. April is slightly softer at 48.0% and $2,977.
August begins the descent: occupancy drops to 52.8% and revenue falls to $3,779 as families return to school schedules. September and October hold in the low-to-mid 40% occupancy range ($2,752 and $2,517 average revenue respectively). These months still generate meaningful income but require realistic pricing expectations.
The slow season runs November through February. Occupancy in this window ranges from 31.0% (February 2026 snapshot) to 45.0% (February historical average, which tends to see a Valentine’s/Presidents Day bump). December and January average 36-38% occupancy with revenues around $2,145-$2,200. Operators who price aggressively and accept shorter stays can reduce vacancy in slow months, but strong performers in Corpus Christi earn disproportionately in the 10-12 week summer window.
Implication for underwriting: roughly 40-50% of annual gross revenue is generated in the June-August window. A lost summer week is more costly here than in a year-round market.
Revenue Breakdown
| Metric | 25th Pctile | Median | 75th Pctile | 90th Pctile |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Revenue/mo | $612 | $1,363 | $2,531 | $3,918 |
| ADR | $121 | $182 | $259 | $378 |
| Occupancy | 11% | 27% | 47% | 64% |
Revenue distribution in Corpus Christi is wide, meaning property quality, location, and management practice create large differences in outcomes.
In February 2026 (a slow month), the revenue spread was: bottom 25% earned $612 or less; median performer earned $1,363; top 25% earned $2,531 or more; top 10% earned $3,918 or more. The average of $1,838 is skewed above the median by high earners.
ADR tells a similar story. Bottom quartile ADRs ran $121, median $182, top quartile $259, top 10% $378. Properties achieving the upper-quartile ADR of $259 or more are typically larger beachfront or bayfront units, professionally managed, with strong review profiles.
For context, the market-wide average ADR for full-year 2025 was $224, up from $189 in 2021. ADR growth has been consistent even as occupancy slipped, suggesting that demand for quality listings is holding even as lower-quality inventory struggles.
Annualizing from seasonal averages: a top-quartile property can reasonably target $55,000-$70,000 in gross annual revenue in the current market. A median performer should target $30,000-$40,000. Bottom-quartile properties in this market, particularly those far from the water with weak review scores, may struggle to cover operating costs at current occupancy levels.
Investment Analysis
Revenue Trend
RevPAR & ADR Trend
| Date | Revenue | RevPAR | ADR |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mar 2021 | $4,438 | $143 | $183 |
| Apr 2021 | $4,140 | $138 | $186 |
| May 2021 | $4,478 | $145 | $192 |
| Jun 2021 | $5,531 | $184 | $205 |
| Jul 2021 | $5,928 | $191 | $208 |
| Aug 2021 | $4,876 | $157 | $199 |
| Sep 2021 | $3,635 | $121 | $186 |
| Oct 2021 | $3,267 | $105 | $186 |
| Nov 2021 | $2,781 | $93 | $176 |
| Dec 2021 | $2,609 | $84 | $168 |
| Jan 2022 | $2,589 | $84 | $165 |
| Feb 2022 | $2,960 | $106 | $168 |
| Mar 2022 | $4,208 | $136 | $205 |
| Apr 2022 | $3,616 | $121 | $194 |
| May 2022 | $3,910 | $126 | $206 |
| Jun 2022 | $5,502 | $183 | $219 |
| Jul 2022 | $6,174 | $199 | $227 |
| Aug 2022 | $4,038 | $130 | $204 |
| Sep 2022 | $3,321 | $111 | $193 |
| Oct 2022 | $2,993 | $97 | $189 |
| Nov 2022 | $2,556 | $85 | $184 |
| Dec 2022 | $2,343 | $76 | $155 |
| Jan 2023 | $2,425 | $78 | $156 |
| Feb 2023 | $2,929 | $105 | $155 |
| Mar 2023 | $3,988 | $129 | $206 |
| Apr 2023 | $3,242 | $108 | $179 |
| May 2023 | $3,689 | $119 | $192 |
| Jun 2023 | $5,152 | $172 | $211 |
| Jul 2023 | $6,007 | $194 | $229 |
| Aug 2023 | $4,027 | $130 | $201 |
| Sep 2023 | $2,725 | $91 | $187 |
| Oct 2023 | $1,949 | $63 | $172 |
| Nov 2023 | $1,573 | $52 | $186 |
| Dec 2023 | $1,699 | $55 | $209 |
| Jan 2024 | $1,749 | $56 | $184 |
| Feb 2024 | $2,219 | $77 | $158 |
| Mar 2024 | $2,586 | $83 | $203 |
| Apr 2024 | $1,797 | $60 | $180 |
| May 2024 | $2,402 | $78 | $221 |
| Jun 2024 | $3,631 | $121 | $257 |
| Jul 2024 | $3,969 | $128 | $243 |
| Aug 2024 | $2,801 | $90 | $230 |
| Sep 2024 | $1,887 | $63 | $203 |
| Oct 2024 | $1,911 | $62 | $187 |
| Nov 2024 | $1,740 | $58 | $184 |
| Dec 2024 | $1,940 | $63 | $188 |
| Jan 2025 | $1,846 | $60 | $172 |
| Feb 2025 | $2,275 | $81 | $170 |
| Mar 2025 | $3,046 | $98 | $213 |
| Apr 2025 | $2,088 | $70 | $194 |
| May 2025 | $2,652 | $86 | $236 |
| Jun 2025 | $4,361 | $145 | $269 |
| Jul 2025 | $4,665 | $151 | $269 |
| Aug 2025 | $3,153 | $102 | $249 |
| Sep 2025 | $2,195 | $73 | $213 |
| Oct 2025 | $2,464 | $80 | $228 |
| Nov 2025 | $2,346 | $78 | $234 |
| Dec 2025 | $2,408 | $78 | $238 |
| Jan 2026 | $2,115 | $68 | $224 |
| Feb 2026 | $1,838 | $66 | $217 |
Occupancy vs Supply
| Date | Occupancy | Active Listings |
|---|---|---|
| Mar 2021 | 64% | 1,280 |
| Jun 2021 | 78% | 1,461 |
| Sep 2021 | 58% | 1,499 |
| Dec 2021 | 44% | 1,552 |
| Mar 2022 | 62% | 1,574 |
| Jun 2022 | 74% | 2,030 |
| Sep 2022 | 47% | 2,031 |
| Dec 2022 | 39% | 2,013 |
| Mar 2023 | 56% | 2,012 |
| Jun 2023 | 73% | 2,008 |
| Sep 2023 | 45% | 1,918 |
| Dec 2023 | 30% | 1,670 |
| Mar 2024 | 42% | 1,621 |
| Jun 2024 | 48% | 1,240 |
| Sep 2024 | 33% | 1,977 |
| Dec 2024 | 34% | 2,052 |
| Mar 2025 | 47% | 2,173 |
| Jun 2025 | 53% | 2,256 |
| Sep 2025 | 35% | 2,112 |
| Dec 2025 | 34% | 2,055 |
At a typical home value of $217,910 and a median sale price of $255,416, Corpus Christi is one of the more accessible coastal STR markets in Texas. Entry costs are below the statewide coastal average, which lowers the revenue hurdle needed to achieve acceptable returns.
The current market-wide average revenue is $2,791 per month annually (2025 average), but that number hides wide spread. In February 2026, the bottom quartile of listings earned $612 or less, the median earned $1,363, the 75th percentile earned $2,531, and the top 10% earned $3,918 or more. A well-positioned listing in the upper half of the market can generate $2,500 to $5,000 per month in peak season.
Running a rough calculation: a property purchased at the median sale price of $255,416 with 20% down ($51,083) carries a mortgage payment of roughly $1,400-$1,500 per month at current rates. A median-performing listing ($1,363/month in a soft month, $4,000+ in peak months) produces uneven cash flow. Annual gross revenue for a median performer, based on current seasonal averages, runs approximately $30,000-$35,000. After platform fees (typically 3%), cleaning, maintenance, and occupancy taxes, net operating income before mortgage is in the $22,000-$26,000 range for a well-managed mid-tier property.
Key risks: supply saturation (listings up 45% since 2021), occupancy trending down, and the market’s high dependence on a short summer window. Investors should underwrite to 2024-2025 actuals, not 2021-2022 peak performance.
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Start Free TrialHome Value Trends
| Date | Typical Home Value |
|---|---|
| Mar 2021 | $203,120 |
| Dec 2021 | $215,328 |
| Sep 2022 | $227,438 |
| Jun 2023 | $226,389 |
| Mar 2024 | $225,924 |
| Dec 2024 | $224,538 |
| Sep 2025 | $218,868 |
Booking Insights
Booking behavior in Corpus Christi reflects the coastal leisure travel profile. The average booking lead time is 28.2 days, with a median of 11 days. The gap between mean and median indicates a bimodal distribution: most guests book within two weeks of arrival (last-minute leisure travelers, local weekend visitors), but a meaningful segment of bookings, particularly for peak summer weeks, are made 4-8 weeks or more in advance.
Average length of stay is 7.0 nights, but the median is 3 nights. Again, the wide spread signals two guest types: short weekend visitors making up the volume, and longer-stay guests (7-14 nights) making up a smaller share of bookings but a larger share of total revenue. July and June likely skew toward longer stays as out-of-state travelers book week-long or two-week vacations.
Practical implications for pricing strategy: open your calendar at least 90 days out to capture early summer bookers. Use dynamic pricing that holds rates firm for peak dates (Fourth of July week, spring break, Memorial Day weekend) rather than discounting early. For the slow season (November-February), consider minimum stay reductions to 2 nights to improve occupancy, since weekend demand exists but multi-night demand is thin. The 11-day median lead time means last-minute discounting in the off-season is a viable tool to reduce vacancy without meaningfully cannibalizing advance bookings.
Short-Term Rental Regulations
Corpus Christi adopted updated short-term rental regulations effective January 1, 2026. All STR operators must register through the city’s online portal, which opened for applications on October 1, 2025.
Key registration requirements: each unit requires a separate certificate of registration with a non-refundable application fee of $275 plus an administrative fee of $33.10. Operators must provide a 24-hour emergency contact who can physically respond to the property within one hour. Proof of hotel occupancy tax registration is required at the time of registration. Operators must complete human trafficking awareness training, provide proof of ownership or written authorization from the property owner, and list all platforms on which the property is advertised.
The city’s Unified Development Code was updated alongside the registration requirement to address zoning compliance. Operators should verify their specific parcel is permitted for short-term rental use under current zoning before purchasing with STR intent.
Hotel occupancy tax in Corpus Christi applies to STR stays of 29 nights or fewer. The combined state and local rate totals 17% (6% state hotel tax plus up to 9% in city and county taxes, plus applicable special purpose district taxes for some areas). Platforms like Airbnb and Vrbo collect and remit occupancy taxes automatically in most cases, but operators using direct booking channels must remit independently.
For new investors: budget the $308.10 per-unit registration cost into acquisition underwriting, factor in the one-hour emergency response requirement (which may necessitate a local property manager), and verify zoning before closing.
Market Comparison
Comparing Corpus Christi to broader benchmarks helps calibrate expectations. The US short-term rental market averaged approximately 55-58% occupancy in 2023-2024 for active listings according to industry data. Corpus Christi’s 2025 average of 40.9% and 2024 average of 39.0% are materially below the national average, reflecting both the market’s heavy seasonality and the supply growth that has diluted occupancy.
On ADR, Corpus Christi’s 2025 average of $224 is competitive for a mid-tier coastal Texas market. It is below premium Gulf Coast markets (South Padre Island, 30A in Florida), which commonly average $250-$350+ ADR, but above many inland Texas STR markets. The ADR trajectory is positive: up 19% from 2021 to 2025.
RevPAR (revenue per available rental night) as of February 2026 was $65.60 average, with a median of $48.70. This compares unfavorably to peak-market years but reflects the current occupancy environment rather than a structural problem with the market’s pricing power.
Entry cost is a relative advantage. The typical Corpus Christi home at $217,910 is roughly 30-40% below comparable coastal properties in the Florida Panhandle or South Carolina. Investors with capital constraints who want coastal exposure may find the ROI profile more accessible here than in higher-priced coastal alternatives, provided they underwrite to current occupancy (39-41%) rather than historical peaks.
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