The STR markets with the strongest occupancy growth in 2026

Stephen Geluz
New to Real Estate · Los Angeles, CA · Member since 2023 · 83 posts · 29 votes
6mo
Arizona standing out is interesting. Would love to know if this is mostly demand growth, weaker new supply, or just easier comps from a softer stretch before.
1 Reply
- David Totten
  OP
  Real Estate Consultant · Barstow, CA · Member since 2026 · 86 posts · 59 votes
  6mo
  Quote from @Stephen Geluz:
  
  Arizona standing out is interesting. Would love to know if this is mostly demand growth, weaker new supply, or just easier comps from a softer stretch before.
  All three factors at play Stephen but the biggest driver is demand growth outpacing supply. Arizona STR supply grew ~18% in 2024 which compressed returns, but strong demand from snowbirds, a stacked event calendar, and the bachelorette market kept booking pace resilient. The +10.2% occupancy YoY in Scottsdale per StaySTRA/PriceLabs 2026 data reflects that demand holding up the YoY comps from a softer stretch help, but the underlying demand drivers are structural and durable.
  0 Reply
John UnderwoodPro Member
Investor · Greer, SC · Member since 2014 · 13k+ posts · 17k+ votes
6mo
OK
3 Reply
Andrew SteffensBusiness Member
Tampa, FL · Member since 2022 · 4k+ posts · 3k+ votes
6mo
Good to see Florida representing!
[email protected]813-563-0877
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1 Reply
Mike GrudzienPro Member
Lender · Eugene, OR · Member since 2019 · 2k+ posts · 1k+ votes
6mo
OK
1 Reply
Grant SchroederPro Member
Lender · OR ID AZ CA WA CO NV TN MT · Member since 2018 · 599 posts · 312 votes
6mo
Great insight @David Totten! @Jeremy Holden and I are seeing this with our own STRs and and many of our clients STRs in Phoenix & Scottsdale! The demand is definitely picking up for the operators running their STRs the right way and staying the course the past several years.
[email protected]541-231-1256
1 Reply
- David Totten
  OP
  Real Estate Consultant · Barstow, CA · Member since 2026 · 86 posts · 59 votes
  6mo
  Quote from @Grant Schroeder:
  
  Great insight @David Totten! @Jeremy Holden and I are seeing this with our own STRs and and many of our clients STRs in Phoenix & Scottsdale! The demand is definitely picking up for the operators running their STRs the right way and staying the course the past several years.
  Appreciate that Grant. Phoenix and Scottsdale are interesting cases right now both showing positive YoY occupancy gains while several of the previously hot markets are correcting. That divergence is exactly what the supply constraint thesis predicts, and it's good to hear it lining up with what you're seeing on the ground. The lender perspective adds a layer most aggregate data misses you're seeing how deals are actually performing across multiple markets, not just listing-level metrics.
  
  0 Reply
Brijen Raval
Property Manager · US All States · Member since 2024 · 12 posts · 12 votes
6mo
Quote from @David Totten:

For anyone tracking where demand is actually moving right now:

Miami +17.2% occupancy year over year Phoenix +14.2% Tucson +24.2% Scottsdale +10.2% Jacksonville +5.4% Orlando +3.8%

Meanwhile Denver is down 31.5%, Nashville down 18.6%, Asheville down 25.3%.

Meanwhile Denver is down 31.5%, Nashville down 18.6%, Asheville down 25.3%. --> have we dug deeper on what kind of listings have occupancy lowered vs increased?

My hunch is old style listings are taking a hit due to better listings entering the market
0 Reply
- David Totten
  OP
  Real Estate Consultant · Barstow, CA · Member since 2026 · 86 posts · 59 votes
  6mo
  Quote from @Brijen Raval:
  
  Quote from @David Totten:
  
  For anyone tracking where demand is actually moving right now:
  
  Miami +17.2% occupancy year over year Phoenix +14.2% Tucson +24.2% Scottsdale +10.2% Jacksonville +5.4% Orlando +3.8%
  
  Meanwhile Denver is down 31.5%, Nashville down 18.6%, Asheville down 25.3%.
  
  Meanwhile Denver is down 31.5%, Nashville down 18.6%, Asheville down 25.3%. --> have we dug deeper on what kind of listings have occupancy lowered vs increased?
  
  My hunch is old style listings are taking a hit due to better listings entering the market
  Good question Brijen. The deeper segmentation doesn't show up cleanly in public data that's the kind of layer that takes real digging to surface. Your hunch is directionally on track though.
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