Brief-term leases (STRs) have apparent upside: money move, appreciation, and the added perk of proudly owning a property in a spot you get pleasure from visiting. Nonetheless, as each skilled host is aware of, the postcard view doesn’t at all times translate to earnings.

Rules, seasonality, property taxes, and nightly charge caps can considerably influence your deal. That’s why we analyzed 31 of essentially the most stunning cities in America, a listing straight out of Condé Nast Traveler, and ran the numbers like an investor would.

We examined median dwelling costs from Zillow, estimated annual STR income with predicted averages utilizing Mashvisor, Rabbu, Airbtics, and PriceLabs, and calculated a easy yield (gross income divided by value). Then we added the essential layer most “greatest cities” lists pass over: native STR guidelines.

The outcomes present a mixture of attainable winners with double-digit yields and extra pleasant insurance policies, big-budget status cities the place returns are slim, and do-not-invest locations the place moratoriums or outright bans make STRs all however not possible.

The Numbers First

Right here’s the information on costs, yields, classifications, and regulatory notes for all 31 cities we examined:

Robust however attainable

Bar Harbor, ME: $677K houses, $97K income, 14% yield. VR-2 leases are capped at 9% and require a four-night minimal.
Ketchikan, AK: $399K houses, $44K income, 11% yield. Zoning allow and parking area required.
Lake Geneva, WI: $399K houses, $68K income, 17% yield. License wanted, 180-day cap, two-night min.
Lake Placid, NY: $358K houses, $53K income, 15% yield. New unhosted STRs are banned; hosted STRs are capped in neighborhoods.

Potential

Beaufort, SC: $410K houses, $44K income, 11% yield. 6% cap per neighborhood.
Camden, ME: $674K houses, $58K income, 9% yield. 150-license cap.
Deadwood, SD: $445K houses, $35K income, 8% yield. STRs are banned in residential areas besides in the course of the Sturgis Bike Rally.
Eureka Springs, AR: $311K houses, $23K income, 7% yield. New STRs are banned in residential areas.
Gatlinburg, TN: $411K houses, $54K income, 13% yield. STRs are banned in some zones, however allowed in most.
Harpers Ferry, WV: $396K houses, $38K income, 10% yield. Registration and taxes.
Hudson Valley, NY: $437K houses, $53K income, 12% yield. Have to be registered and pay charges.
Jekyll Island, GA: $875K houses, $77K income, Utility course of.
Lewes, DE: $605K houses, $52K income, 9% yield. License and native contact.
Mackinac Island, MI: $490K houses, $37K income, 7.6% yield. Leases <30 days handled as inns.
Montpelier, VT: $437K houses, $34K income, 8% yield. Rental registration and taxes.
Rockport, MA: $869K houses, $61K income, 7% yield. State STR registration and taxes.
St. Augustine, FL: $441K houses, $52K income, 12% yield. Strict zoning guidelines.
St. Michaels, MD: $730K houses, $79K income, 11% yield. License and inspections.
Sedona, AZ: $904K houses, $71K income, 8% yield. Registration and taxes.
Taos, NM: $449K houses, $45K income, 10% yield. 120-permit cap.
Whitefish, MT: $858K houses, $70K income, 8% yield. Solely sure zones are allowed.
Woodstock, VT: $712K houses, $54K annual STR income, 7.6% yield. City ordinance with caps.

Massive price range

Block Island, RI: $1.8M houses, $84K income, 5% yield. Annual registration, two ppl/bed room.
Carmel, CA: $2.36M houses, $125K income, 5% yield. STRs are banned in R-1 zones (the single-family district).
Jackson, WY: $1.9M houses, $79K income, 4% yield. STRs restricted to 3 stays/60 nights in residential.
Snowmass Village, CO: $2.1M houses, $130K income, 6% yield. Annual allow, four-night min.

Don’t make investments

Cannon Seaside, OR: $890K houses, $69K income, 8% yield. 14-day guidelines.
Friday Harbor, WA: $887K houses, $37K income, 4% yield. Registration and taxes.
Magnolia Springs, AL: $403K houses, $29K income, 7% yield. STR moratorium.
Paia, HI: $1.3M houses, $92K income, 7% yield. STR moratorium.
Portsmouth, NH: $776K houses, $50K income, 6.5% yield. STRs are unlawful in residential areas.

Breaking It Down Additional

Now that we’ve got the numbers in hand, let’s analyze these markets additional.

Robust however attainable

These are the markets that make buyers’ palms sweaty. On paper, the yields are unbelievable. We’re speaking 14% to 17% in locations like Lake Geneva, WI, and Bar Harbor, ME.

However right here’s the catch: You’re not simply shopping for a property; you’re shopping for right into a algorithm that pressure you to function otherwise.

Take Lake Geneva. Sure, a 17% yield seems like mailbox cash, however the metropolis caps you at 180 days and enforces spacing guidelines between stays. Meaning you don’t actually personal a year-round STR; you personal a seasonal machine. Nonetheless, if you’re priced out of the mountains or seaside markets, Lake Geneva is likely one of the few Midwest cities the place the money move rivals the large names.

Bar Harbor is one other one the place the foundations appear painful, however shortage is your good friend. Nonowner STRs are capped at 9% of parcels and require four-night minimums. Most buyers see that as a deal-breaker. I see it as a moat. When you’re in, there’s much less likelihood of a race to the underside on nightly charges.

Lake Placid, NY, additionally suits this mildew. The 15% yield is actual, however “unhosted” STRs are banned in most neighborhoods. That’s not a spreadsheet drawback; that’s a technique drawback. You both play the hosted recreation, discover a industrial space, or await a grandfathered allow to develop into accessible.

Backside line: If you happen to’re keen to work round restrictions, these markets repay. The principles weed out informal hosts, which may go away extra room for professionals.

Potential

This is essentially the most huge bucket—markets the place the numbers work, however the native guidelines are extra like guardrails than roadblocks.

Gatlinburg, TN, is the headline act right here. You get a 13% yield and a market that’s bulletproof due to the Smokies. The one catch is zoning. Purchase within the unsuitable district (like R-1A or R-2A), and also you’re sitting on a non-cash-flowing trip dwelling. Purchase in the suitable district, and also you’ve received a ceaselessly STR.

Then you definately’ve received markets like Taos, NM, and Beaufort, SC, the place caps restrict provide. Taos solely points 120 permits citywide, and Beaufort caps STRs at 6% per neighborhood. Each guidelines sound scary, however take into consideration the moat they create. Fewer permits imply much less competitors, which suggests greater occupancy and pricing energy if you have already got one.

The Northeast is a blended bag. Hudson Valley, NY, yields 12%, however provided that you comply with owner-occupancy guidelines and zoning. Camden, ME, limits licenses, and Rockport, MA, punts to statewide registration and taxes. In different phrases, you can also make cash in all three, however you’ve received to just accept the paperwork as a part of your underwriting.

Some locations on this tier are extra area of interest. Eureka Springs, AR, banned new STRs in residential zones, which caps development however protects present operators. Deadwood, SD, solely actually is sensible when you’re capitalizing on the Sturgis Bike Rally (which takes place in August) or outdoors metropolis limits. Whitefish, MT, requires you to purchase within the right zone. If you happen to can reside with these quirks, the numbers maintain.

Traders ought to view these cities in the identical means they’d a property with deferred upkeep. The bones are good, however it’s essential to handle the danger to unlock the worth.

Massive price range

This class is the place the numbers cease making sense from a pure money move perspective.

Jackson, WY, is the traditional instance. Properties common almost $2M, and even with robust nightly charges, your yield barely breaks 4%. Add within the three-stay/60-night cap in residential zones, and also you’re basically shopping for bragging rights, not money move.

Carmel-by-the-Sea, CA, tells an analogous story. Lovely city, insane demand, however STRs are banned in R-1 zones. Until you’re sitting on a authorized nonconforming unit, you’re a $2.3M dwelling that doesn’t money move.

Snowmass Village, CO, seems extra profitable when it comes to income, with $130K yearly, however once more, with $2M dwelling costs and heavy allowing, your yield is just 6%. Nice if you need a ski home that pays its payments. Not nice when you’re attempting to scale.

These aren’t money move performs. They’re trophy belongings. You purchase right here for appreciation, for legacy, or as a result of you may afford to. For many buyers, these are “look however don’t contact” markets.

Don’t make investments

After which there are the markets the place the maths may look OK, however the guidelines principally shut the door. Most will nonetheless enable STRs in particular industrial zones or outdoors metropolis limits, however you by no means know when they’ll crack down much more.

Portsmouth, NH, is the clearest: STRs are unlawful in residential zones, full cease.

Paia, HI, and Magnolia Springs, AL, each have moratoriums in place. That’s the federal government telling you they don’t need you of their market, for now.

Cannon Seaside, OR, is a case research in learn how to strangle a market: Limiting stays to as soon as each 14 days ends in a collapse of occupancy. On paper, the yield is 8%. In actuality, you’re operating half-empty.

Friday Harbor, WA, has a 337-permit cap and a moratorium on new purposes. That’s a closed store except another person offers theirs up.

This is the class the place you have a look at the numbers and suppose, “Too good to be true.” And generally, you’d be proper.

Ultimate Ideas

What this record actually exhibits is that you may’t make investments off yield alone. The 31 prettiest cities in America aren’t essentially the 31 greatest STR markets. Some will make you wealthy. Some will make you loopy. And a few gained’t allow you to in in any respect.

As an investor, you’ve received to underwrite not simply the property, however the politics. Guidelines change. Caps get enforced. Moratoriums pop up.

If you happen to’re already in one among these markets, you’ve in all probability received a moat. If you happen to’re attempting to get in, the perfect performs are within the “Robust however attainable” and “Potential” tiers—locations with demand, robust yields, and guidelines that create limitations to entry reasonably than brick partitions.