Sauna, Game Room, and Beach Front on Houghton Lake Entire home · 4 bedrooms Rated 5.00 - Revenue
- $101,757
- Occupancy
- 44.4%
- Daily rate
- $558
Airbnb market data · 202612 months to September 2026
The average Airbnb in Houghton Lake brought in $21,044 over the 12 months through September 2026, about 38% less than the Michigan average of $34,144.
The short answer
Rates and bookings both trail the Michigan average. Listings averaged $224 a night and were booked on 36% of available nights, against $325 and 40% for the Michigan average.
Timing matters: in July, usually the best month, the average listing earns about 5.6 times as much as in March, usually the slowest.
With 78 active listings, Houghton Lake is the 54th-largest of 378 Michigan markets AirROI tracks.
Browse the live Houghton Lake Airbnb market See Every Houghton Lake ListingRevenue
Gross bookings per Houghton Lake listing averaged $21,044 over the 12 months to September 2026 (Michigan average: $34,144), before cleaning, platform and management costs and taxes.
In a typical year, the average Houghton Lake listing brings in $5,670 in July, its best month, and $1,020 in March, its slowest. The three strongest months bring in 54% of a full year's revenue, where an even calendar would give any three months 25%.
In a typical month, a top-quarter listing earns at least 3.6 times as much as a bottom-quarter one.
These are monthly figures for listings active in each month. The annual average above also counts listings that operated for only part of the year, so it runs below twelve times these figures.
July earns about 5.6 times what March does
Average revenue per active listing, by month, September 2024 to August 2026
Each point is one month as recorded, averaged over the listings active in it. The best and slowest months in the text average each calendar month over the past two years, so they can differ from the highest and lowest points here.
Latest 12 months in the September 2026 data. September's figures are still coming in, so the rows run to August.
July 2026 led on revenue, nightly rate and bookings alike.
| Month | Avg. Revenue | Occupancy | Avg. Nightly Rate | RevPAR | Booking Lead Time | Avg. Length of Stay |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sep 2025 | $1,539 | 25.8% | $208 | $51 | 47 days | 3.9 nights |
| Oct 2025 | $1,711 | 26.7% | $206 | $55 | 33 days | 3.2 nights |
| Nov 2025 | $1,377 | 25.1% | $201 | $46 | 28 days | 3.2 nights |
| Dec 2025 | $1,830 | 24.7% | $198 | $59 | 22 days | 3.3 nights |
| Jan 2026 | $1,206 | 18.6% | $199 | $39 | 44 days | 2.5 nights |
| Feb 2026 | $1,143 | 20.4% | $193 | $41 | 30 days | 3.1 nights |
| Mar 2026 | $939 | 20.0% | $187 | $30 | 14 days | 3.3 nights |
| Apr 2026 | $1,606 | 31.2% | $186 | $54 | 23 days | 5.7 nights |
| May 2026 | $2,207 | 31.1% | $214 | $71 | 49 days | 5.2 nights |
| Jun 2026 | $4,149 | 44.6% | $257 | $138 | 71 days | 3.6 nights |
| Jul 2026 | $7,185 | 70.4% | $277 | $232 | 111 days | 4.9 nights |
| Aug 2026 | $4,937 | 52.2% | $265 | $159 | 75 days | 3.8 nights |
Averages per active listing in each month. Highlighted: the highest-revenue month of the 12. RevPAR is the month's revenue spread over its nights, booked or not. Booking lead time is the days between booking and check-in, and length of stay the nights per booking, for stays in that month.
For a figure on one home rather than the whole Houghton Lake market, enter its address and size in the Airbnb profit calculator, which compares it with similar listings nearby.
Profit
Yes, when it's run well. The average Houghton Lake Airbnb took in $21,044 in the 12 months to September 2026, and run by its owner at everyday costs, about $1,020 a month of that is left after running costs, so a home that costs less than that to own or rent makes money. A listing in the top quarter leaves about $2,070 a month.
Cleaning it yourself keeps the $3,240 a year guests pay in cleaning fees, for about $1,290 a month. Handing the listing to a co-host at about 10% of nightly bookings still leaves about $880 a month.
These amounts come before housing costs. Where the mortgage or rent is less each month, the difference is profit; a home owned outright keeps it all after property tax, home insurance and any HOA or condo fees.
| Line | Average listing | Top-quarter listing |
|---|---|---|
| Money in | ||
| Nightly bookings | $17,804 | $35,550 |
| Cleaning fees guests pay15% of Houghton Lake bookings | $3,240 | $6,460 |
| Gross bookings | $21,044 | $42,010 |
| Running costs | ||
| Airbnb's feeAbout 15%: 15.5% for the 94% of Houghton Lake listings on Simplified Pricing, 3% for the rest | −$3,090 | −$6,170 |
| Cleaning and laundryPaid for by the cleaning fee; $0 if you clean yourself | −$3,240 | −$6,460 |
| Utilities and internetAbout 5% of bookings | −$1,050 | −$2,100 |
| Guest suppliesToiletries, coffee, paper goods: about 2% | −$420 | −$840 |
| Repairs and upkeepIncluding linens and small replacements: about 3% | −$630 | −$1,260 |
| Short-term rental insuranceOne policy, on top of Airbnb's free AirCover | −$210 | −$210 |
| Permit and registrationWhere one is required | −$110 | −$110 |
| Management$0 when you run it; co-hosts charge from about 10% of nightly bookings | $0 | $0 |
| Pricing and messaging toolsOptional; Airbnb's own tools are free | $0 | $0 |
| Lodging taxesAdded to the guest's bill and passed on | $0 | $0 |
| Total running costsAbout 26% of bookings, plus cleaning paid for by the cleaning fee | −$8,750 | −$17,150 |
| Left for housing costs, then profit | $12,294about $1,020 a month | $24,860about $2,070 a month |
| Housing costs | ||
| Mortgage or rent, property tax, home insurance, HOA or condo fees | Depend on the home | |
The estimate starts from Houghton Lake's average listing, run by its owner. Change how the listing performs, who runs it and who cleans to see what is left for the mortgage or rent.
To work out the profit on one Houghton Lake home, with its price, its mortgage or rent and your own costs, use the Airbnb income calculator. It starts from the comparable listings around the address.
What a listing keeps comes down to the figures this page measures: nightly rate, nights booked and the months it's open. A listing at the top-quarter mark takes in about $3,500 a month, against $1,750 for the average one.
Occupancy
Houghton Lake listings were booked on 36% of the nights they were open over the past year, 4 percentage points below the Michigan average (40%) and 5 points below the U.S. average (41%). In a typical year, occupancy swings from 21% in March to 64% in July.
The busiest tenth of listings are booked about 4.2 times as often as the bottom quarter.
July is usually the busiest month in Houghton Lake, March the quietest
Share of open nights booked, by month, September 2024 to August 2026
The 12-month rate of 36% averages each listing's whole year, slow months included; each month here counts only the listings booked in it.
Nightly rates
The average nightly rate in Houghton Lake, known as ADR (average daily rate), was $224 over the past year, about 31% below the Michigan and U.S. averages ($325 and $320). In a typical year, rates peak in July at about $250 and bottom out in November and December at about $175.
The top 10% charge about 2.7 times the rate of the bottom quarter.
July rates run 42% above December's
Average nightly rate (ADR), by month, September 2024 to August 2026
The 12-month ADR of $224 averages each listing's own rate across its whole year; the monthly points average listings month by month, so the two differ.
RevPAR, or revenue per available night, divides a listing's income by every night it was open to book, so it rises with both price and bookings. In Houghton Lake it averaged $96 over the past year, from about $33 in a typical March to about $183 in a typical July.
Per open night, by tier:
July RevPAR is about 5.6 times March's
Revenue per open night (RevPAR), by month, September 2024 to August 2026
The 12-month RevPAR of $96 averages each listing's whole year, slow months included; each month here counts only the listings booked in it.
Seasonality
Houghton Lake has one high season, June through August, which makes it a highly seasonal market. Business is slowest from September to May. A listing earns about 3.6 times as much a month in June through August as in December through February.
Average revenue by month in Houghton Lake
Average revenue per active listing, each calendar month averaged over the past two years
| Month | Season | Revenue per listing |
|---|---|---|
| January | Low season | $1,200 |
| February | Low season | $1,130 |
| March | Low season | $1,020 |
| April | Low season | $1,180 |
| May | Low season | $1,690 |
| June | High season | $3,280 |
| July | High season | $5,670 |
| August | High season | $4,590 |
| September | Low season | $1,390 |
| October | Low season | $1,360 |
| November | Low season | $1,350 |
| December | Low season | $1,440 |
| Season | Revenue per month | Occupancy | Nightly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| High seasonJune–August | $4,510 | 53% | $242 |
| Low seasonSeptember–May | $1,310 | 25% | $187 |
Guests book Houghton Lake stays 57 days ahead on average (about eight weeks). July stays are booked furthest out, about 101 days ahead, and March stays closest to arrival, about 14 days. A typical July booking is made in early April.
July stays are booked furthest ahead
Average days between booking and check-in, by month of stay, September 2024 to August 2026
The 12-month figure of 57 days averages each listing's year as a whole; each month here averages only the listings with stays in it.
Permits
None of the 78 active listings in Houghton Lake display a registration, permit or license number. That doesn't mean no rules apply: some places don't ask hosts to show a number on the listing, and listing data doesn't capture every scheme.
Registration, permit, zoning and occupancy-tax rules vary by address and change often, so confirm them with the city or county before buying or listing in Houghton Lake.
Neighborhoods
AirROI's area guide picks eight Houghton Lake neighborhoods that draw short-term rental guests, led by Houghton Lake Central, North Shore Drive and South Lake Drive. The picks reflect guest appeal, not earnings data or permit eligibility, so check local permit rules for a specific address before buying.
| Area | Who it suits | Landmarks nearby |
|---|---|---|
| Houghton Lake Central | The heart of Houghton Lake with access to shops, restaurants, and recreational activities. Ideal for tourists looking for convenience and proximity to local attractions. | Houghton Lake, Lil' Tots Park, Houghton Lake Playfield, Houghton Lake Plaza, Local dining options |
| North Shore Drive | A scenic area along the northern shoreline of Houghton Lake, popular for its stunning views and outdoor activities. Great for families and nature enthusiasts. | North Shore State Park, Houghton Lake Boat Launch, beach access, campgrounds, nature trails |
| South Lake Drive | This area offers a serene getaway with quiet beaches and relaxation opportunities. Perfect for those wanting a peaceful retreat. | South Shore Park, Lake-level fishing spots, Picnic areas, Local shops, Kayaking and water sports |
| East Houghton Lake | An area known for its accessibility to multiple outdoor activities like fishing and boating. Attracts visitors throughout the year, especially in summer. | East Houghton Lake Park, Fishing docks, Boat rentals, Nearby restaurants, Scenic views |
| West Houghton Lake | A community that caters to water sports and summer activities, making it appealing for those looking for a fun getaway. | Watersports rentals, Boat launch areas, Family campgrounds, Local eateries, Picnic spots |
| Trevor City Lane | A picturesque spot known for summer homes and lakefront properties. Ideal for vacationers looking for a relaxing experience. | Lakefront properties, Fishing spots, Access to bike trails, Scenic vistas, Quiet atmosphere |
| Northern Recreational Area | A dedicated recreational area for boating and fishing, popular with individuals and families who want to connect with nature. | Boat access, Fishing piers, Kayak rentals, Picnic areas, Camping sites |
| Downtown Houghton Lake | The cultural hub of Houghton Lake featuring local shops, cafes, and community events. A vibrant spot for tourists seeking local flavor. | Local shops, Cafes and eateries, Community events, Art galleries, Seasonal festivals |
Area descriptions are AI-assisted from public sources and are not checked against zoning.
Listings
More than nine in ten Airbnbs in Houghton Lake are entire homes (95%), with private rooms at 5%. Houses are the most common property type at 58%, about 1.9 times the share of cabins and other outdoor stays (31%).
Nearly all listings rent the whole place
Houghton Lake Airbnb listings by room type
| Room type | Share of listings | Listings |
|---|---|---|
| Entire home | 94.9% | 74 |
| Private room | 5.1% | 4 |
Listings by property type
Houghton Lake Airbnb listings by property type
| Property type | Share of listings | Listings |
|---|---|---|
| House | 57.7% | 45 |
| Cabin/Outdoor | 30.8% | 24 |
| Apartment/Condo | 5.1% | 4 |
| Hotel/Boutique | 5.1% | 4 |
| Unique stay | 1.3% | 1 |
Two-bedroom homes are the most common size in Houghton Lake (37% of entire homes), and 48% have three or more bedrooms. Shares are of the 73 entire homes that give a bedroom count; rented rooms are left out.
Houghton Lake entire homes by number of bedrooms
Entire homes with each number of bedrooms, of those with a bedroom count on file
| Bedrooms | Share of entire homes with a bedroom count | Entire homes |
|---|---|---|
| 1 bedroom | 15.1% | 11 |
| 2 bedrooms | 37.0% | 27 |
| 3 bedrooms | 28.8% | 21 |
| 4 bedrooms | 13.7% | 10 |
| 5+ bedrooms | 5.5% | 4 |
A typical one-bedroom home in Houghton Lake earned $8,230 over the past year, against $43,300 for a four-bedroom home.
| Home size | Listings | Typical annual revenue (median) | Average annual revenue | Avg. nightly rate | Occupancy |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 bedroom | 11 | $8,230 | $8,980 | $141 | 35% |
| 2 bedrooms | 27 | $15,300 | $19,700 | $191 | 39% |
| 3 bedrooms | 21 | $16,700 | $18,500 | $219 | 36% |
| 4 bedrooms | 10 | $43,300 | $45,900 | $367 | 38% |
Houghton Lake is a group-trip market: 38% of listings sleep eight or more guests, about 2.3 times the share of the next most common size, four guests (17%).
Houghton Lake listings by guest capacity
Share of listings by the number of guests they sleep
| Guest capacity | Share of listings | Listings |
|---|---|---|
| 2 guests | 6.4% | 5 |
| 3 guests | 1.3% | 1 |
| 4 guests | 16.7% | 13 |
| 5 guests | 10.3% | 8 |
| 6 guests | 16.7% | 13 |
| 7 guests | 10.3% | 8 |
| 8+ guests | 38.5% | 30 |
Houghton Lake hosts set up an average of 3.9 beds per listing. Only 46% of listings show their exact location on the listing map; the rest show an approximate area.
Fire pits are common in Houghton Lake: 74% of listings have one, and 72% offer lake access.
Share of Houghton Lake listings with each common amenity
Guests
Houghton Lake draws mostly domestic guests: 98% of those who left reviews live in the United States. No single city dominates: Grand Rapids is the largest source, at about 5% of reviews.
98% of Houghton Lake guests are domestic
Where guests who left reviews live
Where Houghton Lake guests come from: top cities
Share of guests who left reviews
| Origin city | Share of guests |
|---|---|
| Grand Rapids | 4.6% |
| Lansing | 2.4% |
| Sterling Heights | 2.4% |
| Saginaw | 2.1% |
| Michigan | 2.1% |
Where Houghton Lake guests come from: top countries
Share of guests who left reviews
| Origin country | Share of guests |
|---|---|
| United States | 98.2% |
| Canada | 0.9% |
| Singapore | 0.3% |
| France | 0.3% |
| Hungary | 0.3% |
Languages spoken by Houghton Lake guests
Share of guests who left reviews
| Language | Share of guests |
|---|---|
| English | 90.0% |
| Spanish | 5.0% |
| German | 1.7% |
| Italian | 0.8% |
| Sign Language | 0.8% |
Houghton Lake Airbnbs average 4.87 stars, and 51% of listings hold Airbnb's Guest Favorite badge. Guests are toughest on value for money: it scores 4.78, against 4.94 for check-in.
Check-in scores highest in Houghton Lake; value is lowest
Average guest rating out of 5 by category; the bars start at 4.0
| Category | Average rating (out of 5) |
|---|---|
| Accuracy | 4.88 |
| Cleanliness | 4.85 |
| Communication | 4.93 |
| Location | 4.86 |
| Check-in | 4.94 |
| Value | 4.78 |
Booking patterns
Nearly all Houghton Lake listings are open to guests more than 180 days a year, but only 1% are booked or blocked that many days. The most common booked-or-blocked total is 31 to 90 days a year, covering 53% of listings; blocked nights include any the host closes off.
Days a year Houghton Lake listings are open to guests
Share of listings by days a year
| Days a year | Share of listings | Listings |
|---|---|---|
| 271-366 days | 67.9% | 53 |
| 181-270 days | 30.8% | 24 |
| 91-180 days | 1.3% | 1 |
Days a year Houghton Lake listings are booked or blocked
Share of listings by days a year
| Days a year | Share of listings | Listings |
|---|---|---|
| 181-270 days | 1.3% | 1 |
| 91-180 days | 32.1% | 25 |
| 31-90 days | 52.6% | 41 |
| 1-30 days | 14.1% | 11 |
The average Houghton Lake booking lasts 4 nights, longest in April and shortest in October. Listings took about 19 bookings each over the year, some 1,480 in all. Check-in is split almost evenly between 3 p.m. and 4 p.m., with check-out usually at 11 a.m.
Average length of stay by month in Houghton Lake
Average nights per booking, by month of stay
Two-year average by calendar month.
85% of listings in Houghton Lake accept stays of one or two nights.
Minimum stay set by Houghton Lake listings
Share of listings by the shortest stay they accept, from one night to 30 or more
Firm is the most common cancellation policy in Houghton Lake, used by 50% of listings; it refunds guests in full only if they cancel at least 30 days before check-in. Hosts here lean strict: more than half of listings use Firm or stricter terms, against 41% on Flexible or Moderate.
Cancellation policies of Houghton Lake listings, from most to least flexible
Share of listings by the policy they use
More than eight in ten Houghton Lake listings charge a cleaning fee. The typical fee is about $150. Spread over the average stay of 4 nights, that adds roughly $40 a night to what guests pay. For listings that charge one, cleaning fees make up about 15% of gross revenue.
Top earners
The top-grossing Airbnb in Houghton Lake, a four-bedroom home, took in $102,000 over the past year, about 4.8 times the city's average of $21,000.
Sauna, Game Room, and Beach Front on Houghton Lake Entire home · 4 bedrooms Rated 5.00
Lakefront Houghton Lake Home w/ Dock & Fire Pit Entire home · 4 bedrooms Rated 4.98
Houghton Lake Sunrise & Sunset: Your Fall Escape Entire home · 4 bedrooms Rated 4.57
Family-Friendly Cottage on the Lake Entire home · 4 bedrooms Rated 4.98
Houghton Lake Waterfront Retreat Entire home · 2 bedrooms Rated 4.89
Dockside Dreams Lake House Entire home · 4 bedrooms Rated 5.00 Professional management companies run one in five Houghton Lake listings and owners run the rest, though 28% of listings have a co-host. Superhosts run 53% of listings. Airbnb's Simplified Pricing, where the host pays the whole service fee and guests see one price with no separate Airbnb charge, covers 94% of listings.
Nearby markets
Of the eight nearby markets in the table, all within 38 km, Lyon Township (17 km away, 31 listings) earned the most per listing, about 41% more than Houghton Lake. Roscommon was the busiest, booked on 40% of nights against 36% in Houghton Lake.
| Market | Listings | Avg. annual revenue | Avg. nightly rate | Occupancy |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Prudenville 4 km | 79 | $28,175 | $289 | 33% |
| Markey Township 8 km | 37 | $21,196 | $226 | 35% |
| Roscommon 16 km | 52 | $21,732 | $302 | 40% |
| Lyon Township 17 km | 31 | $29,584 | $283 | 39% |
| Gerrish Township 18 km | 59 | $19,333 | $238 | 31% |
| St. Helen 26 km | 38 | $15,374 | $186 | 32% |
| Harrison 32 km | 59 | $18,868 | $217 | 36% |
| Lake City 38 km | 35 | $14,757 | $178 | 32% |
See all 378 Michigan Airbnb markets
Markets elsewhere in the United States with a similar nightly rate and occupancy to Houghton Lake:
FAQ
An active Houghton Lake Airbnb grossed $21,044 on average in the 12 months to September 2026, according to AirROI's tracking of 78 active listings. That is before cleaning, management, taxes and financing. Busier, better-run listings do far better: the top quarter took in $3,350 or more in a typical month.
It depends most on the home's size, location and how it's run. The middle half of Houghton Lake listings earn between $918 and $3,350 in a typical month, and the top tenth $5,930 or more. For one home, enter its address and bedroom count in the Airbnb calculator: it compares the home with similar listings nearby.
Listings in Houghton Lake were booked on 36% of available nights over the past year. That compares with 40% for the Michigan average. July is usually the busiest month.
The average booked night in Houghton Lake cost $224 before fees. Half of listings charge between $140 and $235, so bedroom count and location move the price more than the average suggests.
None of the active Houghton Lake listings display a registration, permit or license number. That doesn't mean no rules apply, so confirm registration, permit and occupancy-tax rules with the city or county before buying.
Yes, when it's run well. The average Houghton Lake Airbnb grossed $21,044 in the 12 months to September 2026, 38% below the Michigan average of $34,144. Run by its owner, with the cleaning fee covering the cleaner and everyday costs for Airbnb's fee, utilities, supplies, upkeep and insurance, $12,294 a year (about $1,020 a month) is left before the mortgage or rent. A home that costs less than that to own or rent makes a profit, and a listing at the top-quarter mark leaves about $2,070 a month. Check a specific home in the Airbnb estimator.
July usually pays best, averaging $5,670 per active listing over the past two years, and March usually pays least. The month-by-month table above shows how the latest 12 months played out.
Each night a Houghton Lake listing was open to book earned $96 on average over the past year, booked or not. That figure, revenue per available night (RevPAR), folds price and occupancy into one number; the top 10% of listings made $201 or more.
Houghton Lake stays were booked 57 days (about eight weeks) before arrival on average over the past year, so most of a month is booked well before it starts.
The average Houghton Lake Airbnb stay lasted 4 nights over the past year. A listing took 19 reservations over the year on average.
Guests rate Houghton Lake Airbnbs 4.87 out of 5 on average. Guests score check-in highest and value lowest.
Houghton Lake Central, North Shore Drive and South Lake Drive draw the most short-term rental interest in Houghton Lake. The neighborhood guide explains what brings guests to each.
AirROI counted 78 active Airbnb listings in Houghton Lake as of September 2026. The closest tracked market is Prudenville, 4 km away.
In Houghton Lake, more than eight in ten listings add a cleaning fee, and the typical fee is about $150.
Method
Figures on this page cover 78 active Airbnb listings in Houghton Lake from October 2025 to September 2026 (trailing twelve months). AirROI refreshes them monthly from listing-level booking and calendar data covering 20+ million properties worldwide. Money figures are in U.S. dollars. Annual revenue averages every listing active during the period, including those listed for only part of it; monthly figures average the listings active in each month; the tier lists show the spread. Neighborhood descriptions are AI-assisted. See the methodology for definitions.
Need this programmatically? The same metrics are available through the AirROI Airbnb Data API and bulk downloads in the data portal.