Short Term Rental
Management

Surge offers local full service vacation rental management for busy vacation rental owners and Airbnb hosts in Florida City, Florida

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Florida City, Florida Short Term Rental Overview

Airbnb Market
Florida City presents exceptional short-term rental investment opportunities due to its strategic position as the gateway to Everglades National Park and proximity to the Florida Keys, generating consistent year-round demand from eco-tourists, fishing enthusiasts, and travelers seeking affordable alternatives to expensive Key Largo accommodations. Properties in this market typically achieve 65-75% occupancy rates with average daily rates ranging from $120-180, significantly outperforming traditional long-term rental yields by 40-60% annually. The location's unique value proposition lies in capturing overflow demand from Miami-Dade's saturated vacation rental market while offering guests authentic Florida experiences at competitive price points, with properties within 10 miles of Everglades National Park commanding premium rates during peak season months of December through April. Recent market data indicates Florida City vacation rentals generate average gross revenues of $35,000-55,000 annually for well-positioned 2-3 bedroom properties, while benefiting from lower acquisition costs compared to coastal markets, creating optimal cash-on-cash returns for investors who recognize this emerging market's potential before institutional capital drives up property values.
Short Term Rental Regulations
Florida City's short-term rental regulations involve a complex web of local zoning ordinances, business licensing requirements, and permit applications that can change without notice, leaving property owners vulnerable to hefty fines, legal action, and forced closure of their rental operations if they fail to maintain proper compliance with evolving municipal codes and state tax obligations. The intricate nature of these regulations, combined with frequent updates to zoning restrictions and the potential for neighbors to file complaints that trigger enforcement actions, creates significant financial and legal risks for owners who attempt to navigate the permitting process independently. However, when you partner with a professional short-term rental management service, you can rest assured that experienced compliance specialists will handle all aspects of licensing, permit renewals, tax collection and remittance, and ongoing regulatory monitoring, ensuring your property remains fully compliant while you enjoy the income benefits without the stress of legal complications.
Occupancy Rates
Florida City experiences distinct seasonal patterns in Airbnb occupancy rates, with peak tourist seasons occurring from December through April when visitors escape colder northern climates and take advantage of optimal weather conditions, as well as during summer months from June through August when families travel during school breaks and seek proximity to Everglades National Park and the Florida Keys. The shoulder seasons of May, September, October, and November typically see reduced demand and lower occupancy rates as temperatures become less favorable and tourist activity naturally declines. Professional revenue management and dynamic pricing strategies are crucial for maintaining high year-round occupancy in this market, as they allow hosts to maximize rates during peak periods while strategically lowering prices during slower months to attract budget-conscious travelers and maintain competitive positioning. These automated pricing adjustments, combined with seasonal marketing tactics and flexible booking policies, help property owners capture demand fluctuations effectively, ensuring that units remain occupied even during traditionally slower periods while optimizing revenue per available night throughout the year.
Vacation Rental Management
Self-managing a vacation rental in Florida City presents overwhelming operational challenges that can quickly destroy profitability and guest satisfaction in this highly competitive South Florida market. The relentless guest turnover, often occurring multiple times per week during peak season, requires precise coordination of cleaning crews, maintenance teams, and supply restocking between tight checkout and check-in windows, while Florida City's limited local service provider network makes last-minute arrangements nearly impossible. The 24/7 communication demands are particularly brutal, as guests expect immediate responses to everything from Wi-Fi issues to hurricane evacuation procedures, and the time zone differences with international visitors mean emergency calls at 3 AM are routine, leaving owners exhausted and unable to maintain professional response times. Maintenance challenges are amplified by Florida City's harsh coastal environment, where salt air accelerates wear on HVAC systems, pool equipment fails frequently due to heavy usage and weather, and hurricane season requires constant property monitoring and rapid storm preparation that can't wait for owner availability. Without full-service property management handling these complex, time-sensitive operations with local expertise and 24/7 staffing, even minor delays in guest communication or maintenance response times will generate negative reviews that permanently damage your property's ranking on booking platforms, ultimately transforming what should be passive income into a demanding second job that delivers subpar returns in Florida City's unforgiving vacation rental market.
Attractions and Amenities
Florida City serves as the primary gateway to Everglades National Park and is strategically positioned just minutes from Biscayne National Park, Homestead-Miami Speedway, and the historic downtown Homestead district, making it essential for rental properties to offer specific amenities that cater to these diverse attractions. Properties must provide early check-in and late check-out options to accommodate visitors exploring the vast Everglades wilderness, along with outdoor gear storage for hiking equipment, binoculars, and camping supplies, while also offering insect repellent, sunscreen, and coolers for day-long park excursions. For guests attending NASCAR races and other events at Homestead-Miami Speedway, properties need ample parking for multiple vehicles, outdoor grilling areas for pre-race gatherings, and flexible booking policies to handle race weekend demand surges. Water sports enthusiasts visiting Biscayne National Park require dedicated areas to rinse and store snorkeling gear, diving equipment, and fishing tackle, plus outdoor shower facilities to remove saltwater and sand. Additionally, all properties should feature high-speed Wi-Fi for guests sharing their outdoor adventures on social media, air conditioning powerful enough to provide relief from South Florida's intense heat and humidity, and detailed local information about park entry requirements, tour operators, and seasonal wildlife viewing opportunities to help guests maximize their unique South Florida experience.

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