Gulf Shores, Alabama Short Term Rental Analytics
You should consider various analytics when evaluating the potential for investing in a short-term rental, such as a vacation rental or Airbnb, in a particular city. Factoring in the local tourist demand, competition, pricing, and seasonality can help you evaluate the opportunity. Review our rental analytics to begin your journey.
Reviewed by Derick Hargrave
Last updated August 23, 2023
Analyze the Short Term Rental Market in Gulf Shores, Alabama
If you're considering investing in a short-term rental property, there are a few things you'll need to consider. One of the most important factors in achieving this is understanding the data and analytics associated with short-term rentals. Of course, it's not all about price. You also need to ensure your property is well-maintained and clean, so guests have a positive experience. Paying attention to the details, you can ensure that your vacation rental is a successful investment.
Pricing: When pricing your rental, it's important to consider the going rates in your area. This will give you a good starting point for setting a competitive price. In Gulf Shores, properties rent for about the same as the national average, at $242 per night for a 2 bedroom. Weekends rent for about 17% more than the week, so adjust pricing to maximize revenue.
Seasons: Generally, the summer months are the most expensive, while the winter months are the least expensive. However, this can also depend on the location of the rental property. For this city, June has the highest average nightly rent, while January has the lowest.
Regulations: Each city have their own rules regarding what types of properties are allowed to rent for periods less than 30 days. Review our Gulf Shores short-term rental regulations guide to learn more about the local property market.
Is something not quite right? Registered users can suggest changes to this guide.
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Short Term City Rating4.7
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Competition
4.2 -
Real Estate Cost
6.1 -
STR Regulations
4.0 -
Seasonality
2.6 -
Rental Rates
6.6
Listed Short-Term Properties
What is the average short-term property size in Gulf Shores?
A host can list the entire home/apartment, a private room, a shared room, and, more recently, a hotel room on Airbnb. VRBO, however, only allows entire properties to be listed. In Gulf Shores, there are more entire units listed than in other cities. Most short-term rentals have between 1 and 3 bedrooms, although some have more or less. In this city, roughly 81% of properties are this size.
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Number of Bedrooms
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Property Types
Average Rates
How much do short-term rentals in Gulf Shores rent for?
The average rent for a 2 bedroom short-term rental in Gulf Shores is $243 per night. However, prices can vary greatly depending on the specific property and location. For example, a luxury home in a prime location will likely cost more than a basic apartment in a less desirable area. Also, peak times such as summer and holiday weekends may increase prices. Use the chart below to see rates based on the number of bedrooms and the time of the year to gauge the market rate.
Note: Pricing based on public and private pricing data for some cities and bedroom combinations data is less accurate, so compare to other sources.
Other Listing Fees in Gulf Shores
Find out what the average amounts for cleaning, guest, and pet fees that hosts charge on listing platforms.
Pet Fees
Hosts typically charge a fee if guests want to bring a pet on their vacation. In Gulf Shores, this averages $120 per stay. The fee varies by property size and can reach as high as $200. Some hosts prefer to charge a nightly fee instead, averaging $20 in this city.
Additional Guest Fees
Guest fees are charged by a rental host to bring an additional guest. The price may depend on the length of stay and the number of people in the house. The average fee is $3 per stay and can reach as high as $3. Some hosts prefer to charge a nightly fee instead, averaging $18 in this city.
Cleaning Fees
Depending on the property, the cleaning fee charged by short-term rental hosts can range significantly. We break down the average cleaning fee based on property size below to help guide what a reasonable rate is for your city.
| Bedrooms | Low Fee | Average Fee | High Fee |
|---|---|---|---|
| 0 | $85 | $98 | $138 |
| 1 | $106 | $128 | $175 |
| 2 | $145 | $169 | $205 |
| 3 | $185 | $225 | $316 |
| 4 | $258 | $300 | $400 |
| 5 | $350 | $389 | $475 |
Interested in other Alabama cities?
Check out the Alabama short term rental regulations directory
Property Amenities
What are the most common amenities in Gulf Shores short-term rental properties?
To help short-term rental property owners know what they are getting into by surveying the amenities they provided to guests. We've compiled a list of the most common amenities that hosts provide in Gulf Shores and included rankings to help you decipher the most popular items.
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Check-in
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Self check-in
Lockbox
Keypad
Smart lock
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Entertainment
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TV
Gym
Board games
Sauna
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Essentials
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Air conditioning
Wifi
Heating
Bed linens
Towels, sheets, soap and toilet paper
Hot water
Shampoo
Bathtub
Hair dryer
Extra pillows and blankets
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Kitchen
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Kitchen
Refrigerator
Microwave
Coffee maker
Dishes and silverware - Bowls
Dishwasher
Oven
Stove
Cooking basics - Pots and pans
Toaster
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Laundry
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Washer
Dryer
Iron
Hangers
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Location
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Beach access
Private entrance
Waterfront - Right next to a body of water
Elevator
Beach view
Ocean view
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Misc
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Long term stays allowed
Dedicated workspace
Dining table
Clothing storage
Single level home - No stairs in home
Pets allowed
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Outdoor
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Pool
Patio or balcony
BBQ grill
Hot tub
Outdoor furniture
Outdoor dining area
Barbecue utensils - Grill
Outdoor shower
Backyard
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Parking
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Free parking on premises
Paid parking on premises
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Safety
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Smoke alarm
Fire extinguisher
Carbon monoxide alarm
First aid kit
Security cameras on property
Gulf Shores Listing Statistics
- Listings by SuperHosts This is lower than in other cities. A lower superhost number means less experienced hosts run many properties.
- 37%
- Reviews per Listing This is lower than in other cities. A lower superhost number means less experienced hosts run many properties.
- 22
- Photos per Listing This is more than other cities. Additional photos help potential guests get a better perspective of your property.
- 30
How do guests rate properties in Gulf Shores?
The stars on an Airbnb or Vrbo listing indicate the overall rating given by previous guests. This is a helpful metric to provide a general sense of what to expect from a property, but it's important to remember that everyone has different standards. A five-star rating doesn't necessarily mean that a property is perfect. It just means that most guests who have stayed there have had a positive experience. Gulf Shores has an overall rating of 4.64. This is lower than other cities, and a new host with excellent hosting skills can make an impact.
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Average Property Ratings
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Listing Accuracy
4.72 -
Checkin / Checkout
4.79 -
Cleanliness
4.61 -
Communication
4.72 -
Location
4.88 -
Value
4.59 -
Overall Rating
4.64
Rental Cancellation Types
When you list your rental on Airbnb, you can choose from 3 different cancellation policies for your guests: Flexible, Moderate, or Strict. Each policy has different rules and implications for you and your guests, so choosing the one that makes the most sense for your property and the rental situation is important. Guests prefer to book rentals with more lenient cancellation policies, so you can choose the appropriate policy by reviewing your market and risk tolerance.
Short-Term Listings per Host
There are plenty of short-term rental hosts with multiple listings. A host may list different rooms in the same apartment or multiple apartments or homes listed in their entirety. Hosts with multiple listings are more likely to be running a business or using a property management company and are unlikely to live in the property themselves. Roughly 72% of listings in Gulf Shores are owned by hosts with 5 or more properties. This is higher than in other cities and represents a high concentration of businesses with short-term rentals in this market.
Cities Near Gulf Shores
Gulf Shores, Alabama, is located in Baldwin County. Some cities that are located nearby include:
