Airbnb Investment Properties for Sale

San Antonio Airbnb Market
Trends & Insights

Seasonality, demand drivers, supply growth, and amenity performance for San Antonio short-term rentals.

Surge Take

San Antonio Is a Strong STR Market — Here's Why

A

Market Grade

82/100

Surge Score™

Our data-driven market assessment — updated with the latest metrics

Strong Buy
Surge Market
Assessment

San Antonio's short-term rental market earns an overall Surge Score of 82/100, driven by an average monthly revenue of $3,078 across 9,601 active listings with 55.3% average occupancy and a $196 nightly rate.

Over the past year, revenue has grown 2.2% while occupancy is up 3.3%. The market is holding steady — a healthy signal where growing demand is supporting higher rates.

Seasonality plays a significant role — peak revenue in July is 122% higher than the January trough. Investors should plan cash reserves for slower months and price aggressively during peak periods.

The sweet spot for San Antonio is 4-bedroom properties at $4,226/month. Larger properties command premium nightly rates and attract families and groups, though they require more investment in furnishing and upkeep.

The highest-performing neighborhoods are Castle Hill, SAT Airport, Hill Country Village. These areas consistently outperform the market average — if you're choosing where to buy, these zip codes deserve first consideration.

This analysis is generated from proprietary market data, Census demographics, and economic indicators. Not financial advice — always perform your own due diligence before investing.

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San Antonio Airbnb market insights

San Antonio is the Alamo, the River Walk, Fiesta, and the largest military presence of any Texas metro. Demand comes from four segments: tourism, military, medical and conventions, hill country and theme parks. That mix is why the market holds 55% occupancy across 9,601 listings and why revenue per listing is up 2.2% year over year.

Tourism. The Alamo, the River Walk, the Pearl, and Fiesta each April make San Antonio one of the most visited cities in Texas, with strong weekend and holiday demand year-round.

Military. Joint Base San Antonio (Lackland, Fort Sam Houston, Randolph) produces a constant stream of basic-training graduation families, temporary-duty stays, and relocations that do not follow the leisure calendar.

Medical and conventions. The South Texas Medical Center and the Henry B. Gonzalez Convention Center bring midweek stays from patients, families, and conference travelers.

Hill Country and theme parks. Six Flags Fiesta Texas, SeaWorld, Schlitterbahn in New Braunfels, and the Comal and Guadalupe rivers drive a summer family and group segment in the northern suburbs and Canyon Lake.

July is the peak month as theme-park, river, and summer family travel stack on top of graduation traffic at Lackland; January is the slowest. The charts below break down seasonality, supply against demand, amenity performance, and our saturation signal month by month. For the neighborhood view, see the San Antonio neighborhoods page; for rules, the San Antonio regulations page.

Revenue Seasonality

When Does San Antonio Make Money?

Average monthly revenue & occupancy across 5 years of data

Peak Month

Jul

$4,567/mo · 66.1% occ

Trough Month

Jan

$2,060/mo · 43.2% occ

Revenue Swing

122%

Peak vs trough variance

Monthly Revenue
Occupancy Rate
$2.1k$2.7k$3.3k$3.9k$4.6kJanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec

Why This Matters for STR Investors

Seasonality is one of the most important factors in underwriting an STR investment. It tells you how much of your annual income is concentrated in a few peak months versus spread evenly throughout the year. In San Antonio, Jul generates 122% more revenue than Jan — that's a significant swing. Markets with high seasonality can deliver exceptional peak-month returns, but you need to plan for slower months when revenue drops. Smart investors budget with the trough months in mind, not the peaks. Dynamic pricing tools become essential here — they help you capture maximum revenue during high demand while keeping occupancy up during off-season by adjusting rates downward. If your mortgage payment is based on annual averages, make sure you have 3-4 months of reserves to cover the gap.

Market Trends

Revenue & Occupancy Trends

36-month performance trajectory — is this market growing or saturating?

Avg Revenue (Last 12mo)

$3,078

+2.2% YoY

Avg Occupancy (Last 12mo)

55.3%

Current Revenue

$3,300

Latest month

Market Signal

Growing

Revenue & occ trending up

Monthly Revenue
Occupancy Rate
$1.6k$2.4k$3.2k$4.0k$4.9kSep '23Mar '24Sep '24Mar '25Sep '25Mar '26Aug '26

Why This Matters for STR Investors

Revenue and occupancy trends over time reveal whether a market is gaining momentum or losing steam — and that directly impacts your investment thesis. In San Antonio, revenue is up 2.2% year-over-year while occupancy remains stable. That combination is the strongest signal in STR investing: it means traveler demand is growing faster than new listings are entering the market. When demand outpaces supply, existing operators have pricing power — you can raise rates without losing bookings. This is the ideal window to enter a market because your property will benefit from the rising tide rather than fighting for scraps in an oversaturated space.

STR Investor Insight

Which Amenities Drive the Most Revenue?

How each amenity impacts revenue, rates, and occupancy in San Antonio

Highest Revenue Lift

Hot Tub

+58.1% vs market avg

Highest ADR Lift

Beach Access

+91.3% vs market avg

Best for Occupancy

Gym

+19.3% vs market avg

Market Avg: $36,942Hot Tub$58,395 (+58.1%)Beach Access$49,523 (+34.1%)Pool$49,428 (+33.8%)Indoor Fireplace$46,777 (+26.6%)EV Charger$46,636 (+26.2%)Waterfront$46,457 (+25.8%)Washer$39,848 (+7.9%)Gym$39,211 (+6.1%)

Why This Matters for STR Investors

In San Antonio, listings with a hot tub earn 58% more revenue than the market average — the single biggest amenity driver. Pool access adds +34% to monthly revenue. These premiums compound with bedroom count: larger properties with premium amenities see the widest gap versus comparable listings without them. Use this data to prioritize renovation spending and amenity investments that directly lift your bottom line.

Market Saturation

How Crowded Is San Antonio?

STR density, competitive landscape, and market concentration

Saturation Level

Low Saturation

4.0 STRs per 1K households

Active Listings

9,601

Competing for guests

Market-Wide Occupancy

55.3%

Average across all STRs

Saturation Indicators

STR Density

4.0 per 1K

Below average density — less competition per household

Market Occupancy

55.3%

Lower demand signal — pricing and positioning are key

Annual Revenue per STR

$36,941.52

Strong revenue per listing — market supports good ADRs

Market Concentration

16%

Revenue is spread evenly — more neighborhoods can perform well

Why This Matters for STR Investors

Market saturation tells you how crowded the playing field is — and it's one of the biggest risks new investors overlook. San Antonio has 9,601 active short-term rentals across approximately 2400K households, which works out to 4.0 STRs per 1,000 households. For context, heavily saturated resort markets like Kissimmee or Panama City Beach run 15-20+ STRs per 1,000 households. At 4.0, San Antonio still has room for new operators to enter without being drowned out by competition. Lower saturation generally means less price pressure, higher occupancy rates, and more forgiving margins if your listing isn't perfect from day one. This is especially important for first-time investors who are still learning the operational side. Revenue is relatively well-distributed across neighborhoods, which gives you more flexibility in where you invest without being locked into a small number of 'must-buy' zones.

News & Alerts

Market News & STR Alerts

San Antonio Airbnb Market Insights FAQ

Not on current data. San Antonio has 9,601 active entire-home listings, and revenue per listing over the last twelve months is up 2.2% year over year. A saturating market shows falling revenue per listing as supply outruns demand. San Antonio suits investors looking for lower entry prices than Austin or Dallas with a demand base that is unusually resilient because military and medical travel does not fluctuate with the economy. The key underwriting item for non-owner-occupied units is confirming the blockface density cap has room before you close. The saturation signal on this page tracks the ratio of listing growth to demand growth each month.

Over the trailing twelve months San Antonio averaged $196 per night and 55% occupancy, with July the strongest month ($4,869 per listing) and January the weakest ($2,087). July is the peak month as theme-park, river, and summer family travel stack on top of graduation traffic at Lackland; January is the slowest. Listings with a hot tub earned about 58% more than the market baseline. The five-year charts on this page show how rate and occupancy have moved month by month.

San Antonio short-term rental demand comes from four segments. (1) Tourism: The Alamo, the River Walk, the Pearl, and Fiesta each April make San Antonio one of the most visited cities in Texas, with strong weekend and holiday demand year-round. (2) Military: Joint Base San Antonio (Lackland, Fort Sam Houston, Randolph) produces a constant stream of basic-training graduation families, temporary-duty stays, and relocations that do not follow the leisure calendar. (3) Medical and conventions: The South Texas Medical Center and the Henry B. Gonzalez Convention Center bring midweek stays from patients, families, and conference travelers. (4) Hill Country and theme parks: Six Flags Fiesta Texas, SeaWorld, Schlitterbahn in New Braunfels, and the Comal and Guadalupe rivers drive a summer family and group segment in the northern suburbs and Canyon Lake.

When new listings grow faster than booked nights, occupancy and nightly rates compress and per-listing revenue falls. San Antonio's advantage is demand diversification: tourism, military, medical and conventions, hill country and theme parks do not all move together, which puts a floor under occupancy. The supply and demand chart on this page tracks active listings, available nights, and booked nights over time; treat supply growth above 20% with demand growth under 10% as a signal to be more selective on neighborhood and property type.

Three things: (1) supply growth in your target neighborhood, since above 15% a year competition intensifies; (2) nightly-rate direction, because falling rates signal oversupply while stable or rising rates (currently $196 in San Antonio) indicate pricing power; and (3) regulatory changes. San Antonio permits STRs citywide under a two-type permit system: Type 1 for owner-occupied ($300) and Type 2 for non-owner-occupied ($450), each valid three years, with Type 2 units in residential districts capped at 12.5% of a blockface. Hotel Occupancy Tax is 9% city plus 1.75% Bexar County plus 6% state.

In San Antonio, listings with a hot tub earned roughly 58% more per year than the market baseline of $36,942. The amenity performance section on this page ranks every tracked amenity by revenue, rate, and occupancy lift so you can prioritize the upgrades that pay back fastest.

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Deep Market Analytics

Granular STR performance data, competitive landscape, and demand forecasts

Surge Market Intelligence

Monthly Revenue Seasonality

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec

19,468

Total Active STR Listings

14 days

Avg Booking Lead Time

3.2 nights

Avg Length of Stay

+12.3%

Supply Growth (YoY)

Revenue Distribution

Top 10%$72,000+
Top 25%$48,000+
Median$34,200
Bottom 25%$18,000

Competitive Landscape

Entire Home/Apt68%
Private Room28%
Shared Room4%
Superhost %24%

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