Short Term Rental
Management

Surge offers local full service vacation rental management for busy vacation rental owners and Airbnb hosts in Dana Point, California

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Dana Point, California Short Term Rental Overview

Airbnb Market
Dana Point presents exceptional short-term rental investment opportunities driven by its prime coastal location, consistent year-round tourism demand, and premium nightly rates that significantly outperform traditional long-term rental yields. Properties in this market command average daily rates of $300-500+ during peak seasons, with oceanview units achieving occupancy rates exceeding 75% annually, translating to gross rental yields of 8-12% compared to 3-4% for conventional rentals. The city's strategic position between Los Angeles and San Diego, combined with attractions like Dana Point Harbor, Salt Creek Beach, and the Ritz-Carlton resort, ensures steady demand from both leisure travelers and business visitors throughout all seasons. Current market data indicates that well-positioned short-term rental properties in Dana Point generate 2-3x the monthly revenue of comparable long-term rentals, while the area's limited inventory of vacation rental properties and strict permitting requirements create a supply-constrained environment that supports premium pricing and high occupancy rates, making this an optimal time to capitalize on the substantial revenue potential of your Dana Point property asset.
Short Term Rental Regulations
Short-term rental regulations in Dana Point are governed by a complex web of city ordinances, coastal commission requirements, and county regulations that can change frequently, with violations potentially resulting in hefty fines, legal action, and forced closure of your rental operation. Property owners must navigate intricate permitting processes, obtain proper business licenses, comply with specific zoning restrictions, maintain detailed guest records, collect and remit transient occupancy taxes, and adhere to strict operational standards including noise ordinances, parking limitations, and occupancy caps—all while staying current with evolving regulations that can shift without warning. However, partnering with a professional short-term rental management service eliminates these compliance risks entirely, as experienced managers handle all licensing requirements, tax collection and remittance, permit renewals, regulatory updates, and legal compliance issues, allowing you to enjoy the income benefits of your investment property while maintaining complete peace of mind that your operation remains fully compliant with all local, state, and federal requirements.
Occupancy Rates
Dana Point's Airbnb market experiences distinct seasonal patterns with peak occupancy rates typically occurring during summer months (June through August) when families flock to the coastal destination for beach vacations, and again during spring break periods in March and April when the weather is ideal for outdoor activities and whale watching season attracts visitors. The shoulder seasons of late fall (November-December) and winter months (January-February) see significantly lower occupancy rates as cooler temperatures and occasional rain deter beach-focused tourism, though the area still attracts some visitors for its mild climate compared to other regions. Professional revenue management becomes crucial during these fluctuations, as property managers must implement dynamic pricing strategies that maximize rates during high-demand periods while strategically lowering prices during slower months to maintain competitive occupancy levels. Effective revenue management in Dana Point requires real-time market analysis, competitor monitoring, and automated pricing adjustments that respond to local events like the Festival of Whales, surf competitions, and holiday weekends, ensuring properties remain profitable year-round despite the inherent seasonality of this coastal vacation rental market.
Vacation Rental Management
Managing a vacation rental in Dana Point presents unique operational challenges that can quickly overwhelm property owners, particularly during peak summer months when guest turnover occurs every 2-3 days and requires precise coordination of housekeeping, maintenance, and guest communications within tight windows. The coastal environment creates additional maintenance burdens with salt air accelerating wear on HVAC systems, outdoor furniture, and fixtures, while guests expect immediate responses to issues like broken air conditioning during 90-degree heat waves or plumbing problems that can't wait until business hours. The 24/7 nature of guest communication demands constant availability for everything from Wi-Fi troubleshooting to emergency lockouts, often interrupting personal time and vacations, while the competitive Dana Point market means even minor delays in response time or maintenance issues can result in devastating reviews that immediately impact booking rates and revenue. Without professional property management handling these complex logistics, coordinating reliable local vendors, and maintaining the rapid response times essential for 5-star ratings, owners frequently find themselves working harder than traditional landlords while watching their passive income goals slip away due to operational inefficiencies and guest satisfaction issues that compound over time.
Attractions and Amenities
Dana Point's tourism centers around four primary attractions: the iconic Dana Point Harbor with its world-class sportfishing and whale watching excursions, the pristine Salt Creek Beach renowned for surfing and tide pooling, the dramatic bluffs and trails of Dana Point Headlands Conservation Area perfect for hiking and photography, and the upscale shops and waterfront dining at Dana Point Harbor Village. To maximize revenue from guests visiting these specific destinations, properties must offer targeted amenities including secure storage for surfboards, fishing gear, and beach equipment, outdoor shower facilities and gear-washing stations for post-beach cleanup, early morning coffee service and grab-and-go breakfast options for dawn fishing charters and whale watching tours, high-quality beach chairs, umbrellas, and coolers available for checkout, hiking gear such as walking sticks and trail maps, covered parking to protect vehicles from salt air, and flexible check-in/check-out times to accommodate varying charter schedules and optimal tide conditions. Additionally, properties should provide detailed local activity guides, partnerships with harbor tour operators for discounted bookings, and evening amenities like fire pits or outdoor seating areas where guests can unwind after full days of ocean and outdoor activities, ensuring the accommodation experience directly supports and enhances each visitor's specific Dana Point adventure.

Why choose Surge?

Surge is local Airbnb management that’s reliable, affordable and the best for your property.
Cost
Guest communications
Host Communications
Insurance
Contract
Cost
Starting at 15% fee
Guest communications
Guest response within 10 minutes, 24 hours a day
Host Communications
Designated host call in phone line
Insurance
Full damage protection for every reservation
Contract
No annual agreements
Other Property Mangers
Cost
25-40% fee
Guest communications
Sporadic guest communications
Host Communications
Bot response assistants
Insurance
Unreliable insurance coverage
Contract
Contract lock-ins

Understand Your STR Income

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Surge is geared towards maximizing potential

Be at ease with the knowledge that your vacation rental is being optimized to its fullest potential.
30%
In gross revenue
150 M
Potential guests
4.9
Superhost status
7+
Booking platforms
1
Property manager
The house was great. It accommodated our large group nicely. The owner was responsive and checked in on us throughout the trip. The gate around the home added privacy and security. The beds were comfortable as well. Extra linen, towels and washcloths. We are looking to book this home in the future!
Airbnb Guest Hosted by Surge
Head of Design, Layers
We really appreciated Surge. He was responsive, attentive, and went above to make sure our stay was seamless. You can tell he takes pride in providing a clean/organized place. Everyone loved the pool table and shuffleboard. This place is also very close to great restaurants. The place we went to had the best catfish. Would definitely rent from Surge again!!
Airbnb Guest Hosted by Surge
Head of Design, Layers
Our group really enjoyed our long weekend stay here! The property was very clean and spacious but also provided some privacy to accommodate our large family. Surge was responsive when we reached out to them and also accommodated an early check-in. We felt secure given that the property was gated and had smart locks on both entry doors. We strongly recommend this property and would love to stay here again!
Airbnb Guest Hosted by Surge
Head of Design, Layers
My family and I were here for my daughter’s graduation from UofH. Surge was very upfront, kept us informed and accommodating. The place was clean and fit my entire family comfortably. We have already made plans to come back. Great location, private and safe environment. Would highly recommend! Thank you Surge for making this stay memorable and stress free for our family!
Airbnb Guest Hosted by Surge
Head of Design, Layers
Great stay that accommodated all our needs for a successful for trip to Houston, i hope to Book in the coming future.
Airbnb Guest Hosted by Surge
Head of Design, Layers
The host was great, he responded quickly when needed and checked in on us from time to time throughout the whole day. He was awesome and the place was great for my family of 16. Definitely will book with him in the future.
Airbnb Guest Hosted by Surge
Head of Design, Layers

Frequently asked questions

Everything you need to know about the product and billing.
Does Surge Property Management allow pets in its short term rentals?
Surge Property Management leaves that decision to the property owner. While allowing pets can be a big perk for some guests, Surge does not have any requirements for the property owner to allow it. Service animals are a different case. Surge is prohibited to refuse a reservation, charge pet fees, hold guests to different rules, apply differential treatment or use discriminatory language if a guest is accompanied by a service animal. A guests service animal must not be out of control, un-housebroken, left alone at the listing without prior approval, allowed into areas that are considered unauthorized by the guest and allowed in a public space without being harnessed, leashed, or tethered and not under the guests control.
Do I get access to an owner portal?
Surge Property Management has a tech leading owner portal to keep its property owners in the loop, instead of on the outside looking in. In the owner portal you can reserve days for personal use, see pending reservations, nightly pricing rates, owner statements, expense receipts, guest messaging and more!
Do you screen the guests that are staying in my property?
Our intelligent Guest Screening technology allows us to screen vacation rental guests before they enter your property, making it easier to keep bad guests out. We proactively assess the risk posed by each guest, through legal, non-discriminatory checks. Guests will be asked to submit some personal details including their name, date of birth, physical home address and contact details. We then verify by having the guest take a live selfie and submit a photo of their ID(either a drivers license or passport). This information will then be processed to determine the true identity of your guest, including whether the ID is fraudulent and if the provided details match those on the ID. This process will generate a risk report for us to review before the guest arrives.
Do you provide insurance for guest damages?
We partner with the premier provider of short term rental protection also offering guest screening and comprehensive insurance coverage. Our partner brings confidence and peace of mind to both Surge Property Management and its clients(homeowners). Our third party partner has protected over 60 billion in homeowner liability coverage and 1 million guest nights. Ask your Surge sales representative for more details.
What happens if there is guest damage to my property?
Each guest is required to make a $500 security deposit. Any damage above $500 we are able to document, submit, and follow a claim through on your behalf with our short term rental insurance partner covering up to $5,000,000.
How does Surge compare to a national provider like Vacasa?
While both Surge and Vacasa both have a full service model designed to be hands off from the property owner, Surge stands out above the rest by being more intentional and selective with the properties we decide to accept into our management portfolio. This allows us to give the required attention to the properties we manage instead of just "setting it and forgetting it" like the other property managers do. Once you go onboard with them you just become another number.
Does Surge handle the maintenance of the vacation rental?
Yes, Surge is able to handle any property maintenance(including hot tub & pool) for your property. We have a large network of service providers, additionally, if you have a preferred vendor we can assign and coordinate maintenance with them as well.
What services does Surge Property Management offer?

Surge is a full-service property manager and provides the following service to property owners:

  • Listing creating and management across multiple channels
  • Calendar management
  • Cleaning
  • Laundry
  • Restocking
  • Maintenance
  • Dynamic Pricing
  • Lock automation
  • Guest Portal
  • Owners Portal
  • Listing optimization
  • Photography
  • 24/7 guest communication
  • Check-in/out support
  • and more!
Is Surge Property Management a Superhost on Airbnb?
Yes, Surge Property Management is a Superhost on AirBNB. Airbnb defines a Superhost as a Host who goes above and beyond to provide excellent hospitality. Guests can easily identify a Superhost from the badge that appears on their Airbnb listing and profile. Superhosts have more visibility and earning potential.
How and when do I get paid?
Surge Property Management initiates ACH payment to its property owners once a month by the 10th day of the next month. Along with the ACH deposit sent to you, you also receive a highly detailed statement for review.
Are there any hidden fees?
Surge Property Management has the most transparent pricing in the industry. Our property owners are our Partners in business which is why we hold transparency at a very high standard. With your monthly statements you will be able to trace every dollar from when the guest paid for their reservation to when it was deposited into your bank account. Contact your Surge sales rep for a personal walk through of our statement structure.
Can I still use my property?
Yes of course. The biggest perk of a vacation rental is still retaining personal use of the property for your personal use. Inside of our Owner’s Portal you can reserve days for personal use.
How do you market my property?

We list your property on the major platforms like Airbnb, VRBO, Booking.com, Google Vacation rentals and more! We also allow direct bookings very popular among returning guests. Our integration technology is second to none and was awarded the following:

  • Airbnb Preferred + Software Partner
  • VRBO Elite Partner
  • Booking.com Premier Connectivity Partner
How do you handle complaints or disputes?
We aim to resolve issues quickly and fairly, protecting both the guests and the property owner’s interests. We mediate disputes and ensure a smooth resolution process.
How do I get started with your service?
Contact us to schedule a consultation. We'll discuss your property, our services, and how we can help you achieve your rental goals.
How do you handle waste management?
We coordinate with local services to ensure proper waste disposal and recycling, maintaining cleanliness and environmental responsibility.
What safety measures do you implement?
We ensure the property has functional smoke detectors, carbon monoxide detectors, fire extinguishers, and complies with all local safety regulations.
What does Surge’s full service property management mean?
Surge's comprehensive property management service allows property owners to be completely hands-off with the daily operations of their Airbnb properties. Surge takes care of all the daily tasks, including listings, guest interactions, cleanings, restocking, and maintenance, ensuring a stress-free experience for the property owner.

Still have questions?

Can’t find the answer you’re looking for? Please chat to our friendly team.
Get in touch
(713) 853-9573