I work in both Southwest Florida and Cleveland, and I get a lot of "why Cleveland?" from people who only look at nightly rates. Here's what the data looks like right now (AirDNA, data through Sep 2026):

• About 3,948 active listings, down 8.7% year over year

• Average daily rate around $149, up 2.1%

• Occupancy 61%, up 8.3%

• RevPAR about $90, up 19%

• Average revenue per listing about $29.8K a year

• AirDNA Market Score 96/100

$149 a night looks small next to a Gulf beach house. But the market scores high because home prices are low compared to what rentals earn here. And fewer listings with higher occupancy is a good sign.

The biggest mistake I see is running Cleveland like a beach market. The guests here are different: traveling nurses, families visiting the hospitals, sports fans, work crews. A lot of them want 30+ nights. So a few things I'd check:

1. Does your listing allow monthly stays with a monthly discount?

2. Does your title and first photo speak to who actually books Cleveland, not generic vacation language?

3. Have you run the deal as STR, mid-term and long-term side by side? In Cleveland the mid-term number often wins on less work.

4. Check your local registration and tax rules before you buy.

For first-time investors and people with a spare unit or a duplex, I think it's one of the more forgiving STR markets out there. Not a get-rich play, a steady one.

Anyone else running mid-term in Cleveland? Curious what neighborhoods are working for you.