Harlingen, Texas Short-Term Rental Market
Harlingen, TX STRs averaged $244/night at 45.8% occupancy in April 2026, in a Lower Rio Grande Valley market combining birding tourism with South Padre Island proximity.
Quick Answer: Harlingen, Texas is an active short-term rental market. average occupancy is 66%. average monthly revenue is $5,779. average daily rate is $329. the top operator is Vacasa with 381 listings. market score is 49/100 (grade D).
Market data reflects the South Padre Island regional market, which includes Harlingen. Regulations, taxes, and permit details below are specific to Harlingen.
Market Score Breakdown
Five dimensions Apivex evaluates per market.
Market Overview
Harlingen is a city of approximately 72,000 residents in the Lower Rio Grande Valley, approximately 40 minutes from South Padre Island. The area draws eco-tourism and birding visitors to the Harlingen Arroyo Colorado World Birding Center and nearby Laguna Atascosa National Wildlife Refuge, seasonal Winter Texans from northern states and Canada, golfers, and overflow leisure demand from South Padre Island.
In April 2026, listings in this market averaged $244 per night at 45.8% occupancy, generating average monthly revenue of $3,061. RevPAR stood at $112. Year over year, occupancy fell 3.1 percentage points and ADR declined 6.1%, while total revenue grew 3.2%, indicating volume gains from listing count growth or mix shifts offsetting per-unit rate softness.
Entire-place listings account for 5,541 of the 5,679 total listings, with 137 private rooms and 1 shared room. Bedroom mix is concentrated in 2-bedroom units (2,375), followed by 3-bedroom (1,515), 1-bedroom (1,198), 4-bedroom (349), and 5-bedroom (239) configurations. Channel distribution shows 3,099 listings on both Airbnb and VRBO, 2,043 Airbnb-exclusive, and 537 VRBO-exclusive. Market scores show investability of 88.4 and rental demand of 71.3, both above average, with a total score of 49.3.
Seasonal Patterns
| Month | Occupancy | ADR | Revenue |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 51% | $161 | $2,029 |
| Feb | 69% | $179 | $2,589 |
| Mar | 58% | $252 | $3,482 |
| Apr | 44% | $222 | $2,728 |
| May | 50% | $248 | $3,180 |
| Jun | 65% | $307 | $5,359 |
| Jul | 71% | $309 | $6,061 |
| Aug | 47% | $263 | $3,601 |
| Sep | 38% | $217 | $2,331 |
| Oct | 37% | $181 | $1,918 |
| Nov | 39% | $173 | $1,726 |
| Dec | 41% | $185 | $1,881 |
Top Short-Term Rental Operators in Harlingen
Ranked by total active listings. Useful for understanding the competitive landscape.
| # | Operator | Listings | Reviews | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Vacasa | 381 | 19,054 | ★ 4.41 |
| 2 | RedAwning | 253 | 2,069 | ★ 4.51 |
| 3 | SPI Rentals LLC | 213 | 8,264 | ★ 4.63 |
| 4 | Padre Island Rentals | 210 | 9,703 | ★ 4.55 |
| 5 | South Padre Trips | 159 | 3,494 | ★ 4.45 |
What Kind of STR Should I Buy in Harlingen?
Revenue and pricing by property type, tier, and bedroom count.
Revenue by Bedroom Count
| 1 bed | 1,198 |
| 2 bed | 2,375 |
| 3 bed | 1,515 |
| 4 bed | 349 |
| 5 bed | 239 |
ADR by Property Tier
| Entire Home | $334 |
| Luxury | $520 |
| Professionally Managed | $402 |
Revenue by Dwelling Type
| Apartment | $5,317 |
| Entire Place | $5,889 |
| House | $6,967 |
Booking Channel Mix
Distribution of bookings across major STR platforms.
| Channel | Share |
|---|---|
| airbnb | 36% |
| vrbo | 9.5% |
| both | 54.6% |
Investment Analysis
Harlingen’s STR investment case rests on low regulatory barriers and competitive entry costs relative to most coastal markets, combined with dual demand drivers: South Padre Island overflow and the Valley’s growing eco-tourism sector. The investability score of 88.4 out of 100 reflects this favorable combination.
Housing price data was not available for Harlingen in the current snapshot. Rio Grande Valley home prices are generally well below national medians, which supports favorable gross yield potential relative to revenue levels. Annualizing the April 2026 all-listings average of $3,061 per month implies approximately $36,700 in annual gross receipts, though April is a shoulder month. The 2025 full-year annual average monthly revenue was $3,403, implying approximately $40,800 per year in gross receipts.
House-type listings averaged $3,750 per month in April 2026, versus $3,121 for entire-place units and $2,782 for apartments. Professionally managed properties averaged $312 per night versus $244 across all listings, a 28% premium. Luxury-tier listings averaged $427 per night. The gap between professionally managed and all-listings ADR ($312 vs. $244) is one of the larger spreads in this batch, suggesting that management quality and property presentation carry meaningful pricing power in this market.
The regulatory framework is among the most permissive in the data set: a one-time $50 registration fee, no owner-occupancy or primary-residence requirement, and no night cap. This ease of entry is both an opportunity and a risk factor, as it makes supply growth relatively unconstrained.
Revenue Trend (5 yr)
ADR & Occupancy Trends (5 yr)
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Booking Insights
Harlingen STR guests book an average of 37 days in advance and stays average 4.1 nights. The 37-day lead time is moderate and consistent with a market serving both planned leisure travel and Winter Texan extended stays. The 4.1-night average length of stay is above average for a non-coastal market, likely reflecting the extended nature of some Winter Texan bookings pulling the average upward.
For operators, the 37-day booking window provides roughly five weeks to optimize pricing before a reservation finalizes. Markets serving Winter Texan demand often see a portion of bookings made much further in advance, as seasonal visitors from Canada and northern states plan their travel months ahead. Operators who maintain calendar availability well in advance and target early long-stay Winter Texan bookings can lock in base occupancy before the peak leisure summer season opens.
Short-Term Rental Regulations
Harlingen is one of the most permissive STR markets in Texas. Under Ordinance No. 2023-53 (passed on final reading October 18, 2023), STRs are permitted citywide regardless of original zoning, with no owner-occupancy or primary-residence requirement, no maximum nights cap, and no density or distance restrictions.
Operators must register each unit with the City of Harlingen Building Inspections, paying a one-time $50 registration fee per unit, which may be waived for properties already remitting hotel occupancy tax. Each registration requires owner and 24/7 local contact information, the property address, bedroom count and occupancy limits, and the Cameron County Appraisal District property ID. A registration number must appear in all advertising. Changes to registration information must be updated within 30 days.
The combined hotel occupancy tax burden is approximately 13%: 7% local City of Harlingen HOT plus 6% Texas state HOT, applied to stays under 30 consecutive days. Violations carry fines of up to $500 per offense per day. The ordinance does not override private deed restrictions, HOA rules, or CC&Rs. Investors should confirm whether any target property is subject to such private covenants before purchase.
Market Comparison
Against national STR benchmarks of approximately 55% median occupancy and $220 median ADR, Harlingen’s April 2026 occupancy of 45.8% is below the national median while its $244 ADR is slightly above, producing a RevPAR of $112 that is near the national median range.
The professional management landscape is dominated by operators serving the South Padre Island and Lower Rio Grande Valley corridor. Vacasa leads with 381 listings, 19,054 reviews, and a 4.410 average rating. RedAwning holds 253 listings with 2,069 reviews at a 4.506 rating. SPI Rentals LLC manages 213 listings with 8,264 reviews at 4.629. Padre Island Rentals holds 210 listings at 4.551 and South Padre Trips manages 159 listings at 4.454. Together the top five account for 1,216 listings, approximately 21% of the 5,679 total supply, a higher concentration than most markets in this batch, indicating that professional management has greater share here.
The city’s STR market at $244 ADR is well below the Hamptons or Harbor Springs price points, but the low regulatory barriers and competitive home prices in the Rio Grande Valley create a distinct investment profile where volume and occupancy matter more than rate premium.
Frequently Asked Questions About Harlingen, Texas
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