Short Term Rental
Management

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

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Pahokee, Florida Short Term Rental Overview

Airbnb Market
Pahokee, Florida presents an exceptional short-term rental investment opportunity driven by its strategic position on Lake Okeechobee's southeastern shore, where limited accommodation supply meets consistent demand from fishing enthusiasts, agricultural professionals, and seasonal visitors seeking affordable lakefront access. Property owners can capitalize on average daily rates 15-25% higher than comparable inland markets due to waterfront proximity, while maintaining occupancy rates of 65-75% annually through diverse revenue streams including bass fishing tournaments, agricultural conferences, and winter snowbird traffic. The market's undersaturation—with fewer than 50 active short-term rentals serving a catchment area of over 100,000 annual visitors—creates pricing power that enables property owners to achieve gross rental yields of 12-18%, significantly outperforming traditional long-term rental returns of 6-8% in the region. Additionally, Pahokee's proximity to major population centers like West Palm Beach (45 minutes) and growing agritourism initiatives position properties to benefit from expanding visitor demographics while maintaining lower acquisition costs compared to saturated coastal markets.
Short Term Rental Regulations
Short-term rental regulations in Pahokee, Florida can be intricate and subject to frequent changes, with property owners facing potential fines, legal action, or forced closure of their rental operations if they fail to comply with local zoning ordinances, permitting requirements, business licensing mandates, and tax obligations that may vary significantly from neighboring municipalities. The complexity of navigating Palm Beach County regulations alongside Pahokee's specific municipal codes creates a challenging landscape where even well-intentioned property owners can inadvertently violate ordinances related to occupancy limits, parking requirements, noise restrictions, or registration deadlines, putting their investment and rental income at serious risk. However, partnering with a professional short-term rental management service eliminates these compliance concerns entirely, as experienced managers stay current with all evolving local laws, handle the complete permitting and licensing process, ensure proper tax collection and remittance, and maintain ongoing regulatory compliance so property owners can focus on maximizing their returns while having complete peace of mind that their operation meets all legal requirements.
Occupancy Rates
Airbnb occupancy rates in Pahokee, Florida experience significant seasonal fluctuations, with peak tourist seasons occurring during the winter months from December through March when northern visitors escape colder climates, and again during spring break periods in March and April when families and college students visit the area's lakes and outdoor attractions. The slower shoulder seasons typically fall during the hot, humid summer months of June through August and the hurricane-prone period of September through November, when occupancy rates can drop by 30-40% compared to peak periods. Professional revenue management becomes essential during these cycles, requiring hosts to implement dynamic pricing strategies that maximize revenue during high-demand periods while maintaining competitive rates during slower months to attract price-sensitive travelers. Effective revenue management in Pahokee involves adjusting nightly rates based on local events, weather patterns, fishing seasons at Lake Okeechobee, and regional tourism trends, while also offering strategic discounts and extended-stay packages during shoulder seasons to maintain consistent occupancy levels and cash flow throughout the year.
Vacation Rental Management
Self-managing a vacation rental in Pahokee, Florida presents formidable operational challenges that can quickly overwhelm property owners and devastate their investment returns. The remote location near Lake Okeechobee means that coordinating guest turnover becomes a logistical nightmare, requiring either exhausting drives from urban areas or reliance on unreliable local cleaning services that may not meet luxury standards expected by today's discerning travelers. The 24/7 communication demands are particularly brutal in this market, as guests expect immediate responses to questions about fishing regulations, boat launches, and local amenities, while emergency situations like air conditioning failures in Florida's oppressive heat can escalate into costly disasters and scathing reviews within hours if not addressed immediately. Maintenance challenges are amplified by Pahokee's humid climate and limited pool of qualified contractors, making routine issues like HVAC problems, plumbing emergencies, or storm damage repairs both expensive and time-consuming to resolve, often forcing owners to accept subpar work or face extended vacancy periods. In this increasingly competitive vacation rental landscape where a single negative review can tank occupancy rates and revenue, full-service property management isn't merely a convenience—it's an absolute necessity for maintaining the consistent 5-star guest experience and reliable passive income stream that makes vacation rental investment worthwhile, as only professional management companies possess the local networks, 24/7 staffing, and operational systems required to deliver the seamless guest experience that drives repeat bookings and premium nightly rates.
Attractions and Amenities
Pahokee's primary attractions center around Lake Okeechobee fishing and boating activities, the annual Pahokee Blue Devil football games that draw regional visitors, agricultural tourism including sugar cane harvest tours, and the Pahokee Marina which serves as the gateway to America's largest freshwater lake. To maximize revenue from guests visiting these specific draws, properties must offer boat trailer parking and easy lake access for fishing enthusiasts, fish cleaning stations with running water and proper drainage, secure storage for expensive fishing equipment and tackle, early morning coffee service and grab-and-go breakfast options for anglers departing before dawn, freezer space for storing caught fish, and outdoor areas with grills for preparing fresh catches. Additionally, properties should provide high-speed Wi-Fi for guests sharing their fishing experiences on social media, laundry facilities for cleaning muddy or fishy clothing after lake activities, and flexible check-in/check-out times to accommodate varying fishing schedules and football game times, as these specific amenities directly address the practical needs of visitors drawn to Pahokee's unique lakeside and agricultural tourism offerings.

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