Vacation Rental Prices Are Getting Better … Or Are They?
Good news: Vacation rental prices are coming down.
Oops! That was last year. In fact, vacation rental prices are going up.
Oops! That was globally. In selected regions, like Martha’s Vineyard, for instance, rental prices are down from their pre-pandemic and pandemic highs.
The real truth is that vacation rental prices are dynamic, and by dynamic, we mean that it’s hard to generalize where prices are going, even in a specific market.
In addition, there are multiple ways to consider pricing when it comes to short-term rentals.
The most obvious way to a renter is the price you pay. However, while the rental cost may decrease, in some cases the total cost goes up because the cost of cleaning has increased 25% since 2021, according to Doorloop.
On the landlord side, this affects the net revenue per rental, the most important number in the rental equation. If a rental’s not making net revenue, it’s probably not going to stay a short-term rental.
If that becomes a trend, the number of rentable properties in a market can decrease, driving up costs for the remaining properties until most are making net revenue again, leading to more properties entering the market.
Enough Econ 101. So how do you identify pricing trends in the vacation rental market and take advantage of them? Here are some tips.
Also read: How travel protection can help your vacation
Study
If you didn’t take econ in college because the book about railway development in the Ottoman Empire didn’t catch your interest, this is much more pertinent.
If you’re looking to rent a property in 2026, start studying rentals. Find a few you like and stay on top of their costs. Watch like a hawk.
If you’re looking to rent a property in 2025, go macro instead of micro. Understand what the going rate is for properties meeting your criteria. Expand your search to include lookalike markets and surrounding areas.
Realize that demand for rentals in coastal areas can be up to 40% greater than demand for rentals in surrounding areas, with prices tracking right along.
The only way you can accurately understand price trends for the properties you want to rent is for you to be your own market analyst. Fortunately, the raw data is out there.
Also read: How to avoid vacation rental scams
Be flexible
Turns out pricing rigidity isn’t all that rigid. If you want to rent on the Outer Banks during Spring Break or Memorial Day, yeah, you’ll find uniformly high prices for properties. But check those same properties in mid-October and you may find a spectrum of prices.
It comes down to whether or not you want to play the landlords’ game. If you’re locked into high-demand dates, don’t expect deals. If you can break out of that in any way – even if it’s something as simple as a midweek rental – the power may shift to you.
Go multiplatform
There are so many sites where you can rent vacation properties, and they’re almost all great. However, the power is in using all these sites and many others to help you find a rental.
On the Outer Banks, for instance, there are local rental agencies in addition to the powerhouse sites, and sometimes it helps to have experienced legs on the ground to help you find the best price on the best property.
In addition, if you’re renting a site for your RV, most of these sites will be of little help. Instead, you may have to use other sites to secure a spot.
Even if all you do is comparison-shop across platforms, you’re probably going to find better bargains than if you stick to one site.
Also read: Hotel or Vacation Rental - which is right for your trip?
Come back
It’s far from a guarantee, but if you return to a rental year after year at the same time, eventually you may get a price break.
Some people love the predictability of the perfect rental on a perfect lake on the perfect weekend. Friends and family can put it on the calendar and everyone will be happy.
If your one-time vacation rental is becoming more of a de facto second home for the same week each year, see if you can’t get a frequent-shopper price break. The worst they can say is no.
At the very least, if you like a place, start a dialogue with the landlord. Tell them how much you enjoyed your stay, and ask them to let you know if they ever have a last-minute opening. You might be able to get the place of your dreams for a song.
Other benefits of lower prices
You should help protect your rental vacation with something like the Travel Secure Plan from Generali Global Assistance. But did you know that lower rental costs mean lower trip costs which mean lower premiums for travel protection?
All true – and there’s never a downside when one of the essentials of your travel experience is more affordable.
When it comes to the price for a vacation rental, trends are sometimes hard to decipher. But if the lowest price is what you’re after, studying, networking, and broadening your search can all produce tangible results.
7834532408