Orange County

As of May 2026, Long Beach, Huntington Beach, Newport Beach have 5,220 active Airbnb and VRBO listings. This represents a 22% decrease from the previous year.

The average Airbnb or VRBO in Orange County generates $77K per year. High-performing properties earn $186K/year, while low-performing properties earn $22K/year. This wide income variance suggests that revenue potential is highly polarized, with top-tier assets capturing significantly more market share than the broader average.

Average home prices in Orange County vary by property size: 1-bedroom properties cost approximately $528K, 2-bedroom homes average $795K, 3-bedroom properties are around $1.2M, and 4+ bedroom homes average $1.7M. These prices reflect median home values across the Long Beach, Huntington Beach, Newport Beach area.

Airbnb and VRBO can be profitable in Orange County, with an average gross yield of 5% across all properties. High-performing properties achieve yields up to 12%, which is considered top for short-term rental investment. Such a spread indicates that yield performance is heavily dependent on specific asset-level execution rather than broad market trends.

The average occupancy rate for Airbnbs and VRBOs in Orange County is 41%. This occupancy level, combined with an average nightly rate of $459, results in a RevPAR (revenue per available room) of $146 per day.

2-bedroom properties demonstrate the strongest performance in Orange County, with an average gross yield of 7% and annual revenue of $67K. These properties balance purchase price ($795K), operating costs, and rental demand most effectively in the Orange County market.

Short-term rental regulations vary by jurisdiction in the Orange County area. Long Beach: Strict. Prohibited citywide except in specific downtown zones with conditional use permits. Active code enforcement with significant fines. Very few legal operations. Huntington Beach: Strict. Banned in residential zones since 2018. Requires conditional use permit in limited commercial areas only. Active enforcement with penalties up to $1000/day. Newport Beach: Strict. Residential STRs banned citywide since 2020. Only commercial zones allowed with permits. Aggressive enforcement, regular compliance sweeps, hosts fined heavily. Always verify current regulations with local authorities and obtain necessary permits before operating a short-term rental.

The Orange County Airbnb and VRBO market is currently showing balanced with strong demand conditions. Supply has declined 22% year-over-year, while RevPAR has increased 5%. This indicates healthy demand growth outpacing supply. The contraction in inventory suggests a tightening market where remaining hosts benefit from decreased competition and sustained interest.

Launch around December, 2-3 months before peak summer season (March peaks). This pre-peak timing lets you build reviews when competition is 36% lower than peak months. Avoid launching during peak season when established listings dominate, or slow months (February-January) when gaining traction is harder.

The most common amenities in Orange County listings include: Kitchen (96%), Washing Machine (86%), Tv (78%), Air Conditioning (67%), Heating (63%). Amenities that boost revenue the most include Washing Machine, Bbq, Hot Tub, with Washing Machine properties earning approximately 28% more ($113K/year vs $89K/year).

Monthly estimated revenue per listing in Orange County over the last 12 months: May: $3K, June: $5K, July: $5K, August: $5K, September: $4K, October: $4K, November: $4K, December: $4K, January: $3K, February: $3K, March: $7K, April: $6K. These figures are based on RevPAR (revenue per available room) multiplied by the number of days in each month.

The overall average nightly rate in Orange County is $459, up 20% year-over-year. By property size: 1-bedroom properties average $230/night, 2-bedroom properties average $393/night, 3-bedroom properties average $531/night, 4+ bedroom properties average $842/night. Rates peak in July and are lowest in January.

Guests in Orange County book an average of 35 days in advance, down 14% from last year. By property size: 1-bedroom: 28 days, 2-bedroom: 36 days, 3-bedroom: 40 days, 4+ bedroom: 41 days. Larger properties tend to have longer booking windows as guests plan group trips further ahead.

Over the past year, the Orange County Airbnb and VRBO market has seen the following changes: supply declined 22%, revenue per listing increased 5%, occupancy fell 1%, average nightly rates increased 20%, and lead time decreased 14%. These metrics reveal a shift toward higher-priced, shorter-booking windows, signaling that operators are successfully leveraging rate growth to offset lower utilization.

In Orange County, Saturday sees the highest booking demand while Monday has the lowest. Nightly rates peak on Saturday and are lowest on Wednesday. Weekends show 30% higher occupancy than weekdays.