Blaine, Washington Short-Term Rental Market
Blaine STRs averaged $167/night at 57.7% occupancy in April 2026, with strong summer peaks driven by Canadian border-cross and waterfront tourism.
Quick Answer: Blaine, Washington is an active short-term rental market. average occupancy is 58%. average monthly revenue is $2,648. average daily rate is $167. the top operator is Vacationville with 41 listings. market score is 49/100 (grade D).
Market Score Breakdown
Five dimensions Apivex evaluates per market.
Market Overview
Blaine, Washington sits at the US-Canada border in Whatcom County, drawing approximately 500,000 annual visitors including Canadian day-trippers, Semiahmoo Resort guests, and Pacific Northwest outdoor travelers. As of April 2026, the average daily rate is $167, occupancy is 57.7%, and RevPAR is $96. Year-over-year, occupancy declined 10.6 percentage points while ADR rose 4.1%, resulting in a net revenue decline of 3.6% versus April 2025.
Blaine’s population of approximately 6,100 supports a smaller STR market relative to resort-focused towns in this batch. Channel distribution and bedroom mix data show a market characterized by waterfront and border-adjacent properties. Listing type distribution is predominantly entire-place units, consistent with the vacation home market in this coastal border community.
The occupancy decline of 10.6 points year-over-year is the steepest in this batch and warrants attention. It may reflect Canadian travel demand softness, broader Pacific Northwest market normalization, or increased local supply.
Seasonal Patterns
| Month | Occupancy | ADR | Revenue |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 46% | $132 | $1,796 |
| Feb | 55% | $136 | $1,867 |
| Mar | 59% | $138 | $2,169 |
| Apr | 64% | $143 | $2,406 |
| May | 61% | $151 | $2,301 |
| Jun | 69% | $176 | $3,007 |
| Jul | 76% | $188 | $3,810 |
| Aug | 75% | $187 | $3,784 |
| Sep | 62% | $160 | $2,669 |
| Oct | 55% | $142 | $2,175 |
| Nov | 53% | $140 | $1,922 |
| Dec | 56% | $147 | $2,186 |
Top Short-Term Rental Operators in Blaine
Ranked by total active listings. Useful for understanding the competitive landscape.
| # | Operator | Listings | Reviews | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Vacationville | 41 | 958 | ★ 4.78 |
| 2 | Evolve | 30 | 1,206 | ★ 4.78 |
| 3 | Vacasa | 30 | 1,262 | ★ 4.50 |
| 4 | WorldMark | 28 | 194 | ★ 4.70 |
| 5 | Stay & Sea | 27 | 1,040 | ★ 4.93 |
What Kind of STR Should I Buy in Blaine?
Revenue and pricing by property type, tier, and bedroom count.
Revenue by Bedroom Count
| 1 bed | 599 |
| 2 bed | 421 |
| 3 bed | 292 |
| 4 bed | 115 |
| 5 bed | 37 |
ADR by Property Tier
| Entire Home | $179 |
| Luxury | $320 |
| Professionally Managed | $241 |
Revenue by Dwelling Type
| Apartment | $2,322 |
| Entire Place | $2,759 |
| House | $2,844 |
Booking Channel Mix
Distribution of bookings across major STR platforms.
| Channel | Share |
|---|---|
| airbnb | 53.2% |
| vrbo | 6.9% |
| both | 39.9% |
Investment Analysis
Blaine presents a moderate investment case with strong summer upside but concerning year-over-year occupancy trends. At a typical home value of $543,609 and April 2026 average monthly revenue of $2,648, annualized gross revenue is approximately $31,782, implying a gross revenue yield of roughly 5.9%.
The median list price of $693,142 is 27% above the typical Zillow value, indicating that listed inventory skews toward premium waterfront properties. Median days to pending is 20, reflecting active buyer demand. The 4.1% ADR growth suggests operators are capturing rate increases even as occupancy softens.
ADR tiers show meaningful upside for better-positioned properties: entire-home listings average $179 versus $167 overall, professionally managed properties average $241 (a 44% premium), and luxury-tier listings reach $320 per night. Houses generate $2,844 per month versus apartments at $2,322, a 22% gap. The high professional management premium (44%) mirrors the pattern seen in Black Mountain, suggesting that management quality strongly differentiates revenue outcomes in this market.
Revenue Trend (5 yr)
ADR & Occupancy Trends (5 yr)
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Booking Insights
Blaine bookings average a 37-day lead time, roughly five weeks in advance. This is the shortest lead time among the Pacific Northwest markets in this batch, reflecting the prevalence of spontaneous Canadian cross-border trips and regional Pacific Northwest visitors.
Average length of stay is 4.4 nights, the longest among the Washington State markets in this batch, reflecting the vacation home and resort character of Semiahmoo Peninsula and the broader Blaine waterfront corridor. Longer stays typically book further in advance in summer but shift to shorter notice in the shoulder season. Operators targeting the Canadian visitor segment should consider CAD-USD pricing awareness and may benefit from setting slightly longer minimum stays in July and August to reduce turnover costs during the peak demand window.
Short-Term Rental Regulations
Blaine permits short-term rentals in specific commercial and mixed-use zones under Title 17 of the Blaine Municipal Code. Operators must obtain a City of Blaine business license ($75 initial fee, $75 annual renewal) and submit a Home Occupation Application through Community Development Services. Pure residential zones restrict STR operation, so zone verification is required before purchase or launch.
At the state level, Washington RCW Chapter 64.37 governs all STR operators statewide. Key obligations include maintaining at least $1 million in primary liability insurance (or using a platform that provides it), posting conspicuous notices with street address, emergency contacts, egress floor plans, and occupancy limits, and ensuring smoke detectors and CO alarms are installed per state building code.
The total tax burden on lodging in Blaine is approximately 11% (9% combined sales tax: 6.5% state plus 2.5% city, plus a 2% hotel and motel tax under Blaine Municipal Code Chapter 3.22). Platforms such as Airbnb and VRBO typically collect and remit these taxes automatically. No maximum nights-per-year limit was identified. Enforcement is rated moderate. Whatcom County’s 2023 STR ordinance applies to unincorporated county areas only.
Market Comparison
Blaine’s April 2026 ADR of $167 runs below the US STR median of approximately $220, while occupancy at 57.7% is just above the national median of approximately 55%. The 3.6% year-over-year revenue decline is the steepest among Washington State markets in this batch.
Vacationville leads the local market with 41 listings and 958 reviews (4.78 average rating). Evolve follows with 30 listings and 1,206 reviews (4.78 rating). Vacasa holds 30 listings and 1,262 reviews (4.50 rating). WorldMark manages 28 listings (4.70 rating). Stay and Sea rounds out the top five with 27 listings and 1,040 reviews at a 4.93 rating, the highest in the group.
The top five operators collectively manage approximately 156 listings, a relatively modest concentration in a market with several hundred active units. This suggests a competitive mix of local independent operators and regional managers rather than national-chain dominance.
Frequently Asked Questions About Blaine, Washington
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