Destin, FL
Florida Panhandle's Emerald Coast gem
Destin's emerald-green Gulf waters and sugar-white sand beaches consistently rank among the most beautiful in the US. The Emerald Coast draws affluent Southern families, particularly from Atlanta, Birmingham, and Nashville. Gulf-front and gulf-view properties command significant premiums, and strong average nightly rates reflect the upscale buyer profile.
Across 123 active STR-viable listings analyzed this month, Destin shows a 2.4% median cap rate at a $515K median list price, 38% occupancy, and $206/night. That ranks #40 of 57 markets in STRROI's live ranking. At typical prices, cash flow is tight: most listings only pencil out with a large down payment, a below-list purchase, or above-market nightly rates.
Destin real estate market right now
As of October 15, 2026, STRROI is tracking 123 homes for sale in Destin that could run as short-term rentals, at a median list price of $515,000. The middle half are priced between $353K and $792K. That works out to a median of $325 per square foot for a typical 1,560 square foot home. Homes here have been on the market 103 days on average, close to the 101 days typical across the 56 markets in STRROI's ranking. 35 of them were listed in the last 30 days.
These numbers cover the homes for sale STRROI analyzes as potential short-term rentals in Destin, mainly ZIP 32541. They are not every home sale in the area, so they can differ from MLS-wide figures. Month-by-month price history starts Oct 2026 and fills in as the market is re-checked each month.
What's for sale in Destin right now
Of the 123 homes for sale we analyzed in Destin, none project positive monthly cash flow with 20% down at a 7.5% rate, and none rate Buy or better on STRROI's 1-10 scale. 3-bedroom homes are the most common (58 for sale, median $517K). They also post the best median cap rate of any bedroom count, 2.6%, against 1.1% for 5+ bedroom homes. By property type, townhouses lead at a 2.7% median cap rate across 41 listings.
- Weak: 14
- Avoid: 109
| Beds | For sale | Median price | Cap rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 6 | $257K | 1.6% |
| 2 | 32 | $350K | 2.3% |
| 3 | 58 | $517K | 2.6% |
| 4 | 19 | $679K | 2.4% |
| 5+ | 8 | $4.5M | 1.1% |
| Type | For sale | Median price | Cap rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| Single-family homes | 41 | $679K | 2.2% |
| Townhouses | 41 | $405K | 2.7% |
| Condos | 41 | $499K | 2.2% |
Top-ranked homes for sale in Destin this month
Scored 1-10 against real Airbnb comps. Addresses, photos and the full underwriting are in the app.
- #1Weak · 4/103 bd · 3 ba condoZIP 32541 · listed at $245K
- Cap rate
- 4.7%
- Cash flow
- -$418/mo
- Nightly
- $202 at 38%
- #2Weak · 4/104 bd · 4 ba townhouseZIP 32541 · listed at $405K
- Cap rate
- 4.1%
- Cash flow
- -$880/mo
- Nightly
- $260 at 38%
- #3Weak · 3/103 bd · 3 ba townhouseZIP 32541 · listed at $285K
- Cap rate
- 4.0%
- Cash flow
- -$639/mo
- Nightly
- $192 at 38%
How Destin compares
Destin ranks #13 of 21 Southeast markets in STRROI's live ranking; St. Augustine leads the region with a median cap rate of 5.7%. Its 2.4% cap rate is 0.5 points below the 2.9% median across all 57 ranked markets, and its $515K typical list price is cheaper than the Southeast median of $633K.
| Rank | Market | Cap rate | Typical price |
|---|---|---|---|
| #29 | Nashville, TN | 2.9% | $900K |
| #30 | Gatlinburg, TN | 2.7% | $575K |
| #33 | Pigeon Forge, TN | 2.6% | $450K |
| #40 | Destin, FL | 2.4% | $515K |
| #42 | Asheville, NC | 2.3% | $750K |
| #43 | Anna Maria Island, FL | 2.2% | $3.5M |
| #46 | Hilton Head Island, SC | 2.2% | $950K |
Rank is national, by median cap rate across active STR-viable listings. Cash flow uses STRROI's default financing assumptions. See the full ranking
Estimated Annual Performance
* Estimates based on market averages. Individual property performance varies. Always run a full underwriting analysis.
Why Investors Choose Destin
Destin STR investing, answered
Is Destin, FL a good short-term rental market?
Destin is a Southeast STR market with a 2.4% median cap rate, 38% annual occupancy, and $206/night across STR-viable listings, based on 123 active listings. It ranks #40 of 57 markets by median cap rate in STRROI's live ranking. This month none of its 123 homes for sale rate Buy or better.
What is the average Airbnb occupancy rate in Destin?
STR-viable properties in Destin average about 38% occupancy across the year. Peak season is Memorial Day - Labor Day. Occupancy here reflects availability-adjusted booking performance, not raw calendar occupancy, so it represents what a full-time operated rental can realistically achieve.
How much do short-term rentals earn in Destin?
At $206/night and 38% occupancy, a typical Destin STR grosses roughly $28,723 per year before expenses, leaving an estimated $17,234 in net operating income. Across analyzed listings the median cap rate is 2.4%. Individual results depend on property, amenities, and management.
What types of properties work best for STR in Destin?
Among homes for sale right now, 3-bedroom homes post the strongest median cap rate by size (2.6%), and townhouses lead by property type (2.7%). With guests, the best-performing STR types here are Condo, Gulf-front Home, Townhouse. Matching the local guest profile and the amenities that drive bookings matters more than raw square footage.
How many homes for sale in Destin cash flow as an Airbnb?
0 of 123 STR-viable listings (0%) project positive monthly cash flow after the mortgage, assuming 20% down at a 7.5% rate on a 30-year loan. The top-ranked listing this month is a 3-bedroom condo in ZIP 32541 listed at $245K, projecting a 4.7% cap rate and -$418 a month.
What is the median home price in Destin, FL right now?
The median list price of the 123 homes for sale STRROI tracks in Destin is $515,000, and the middle half are priced between $353K and $792K. The median price per square foot is $325. These are homes that could run as short-term rentals, mainly ZIP 32541, not every sale in the area. Against a 2.4% median cap rate, that price level sets the return baseline you'd underwrite against.
How long do homes stay on the market in Destin?
Homes for sale in Destin have been listed 103 days on average, close to the 101 days typical across the 56 markets in STRROI's ranking. 35 of them were listed in the last 30 days.
Market averages, not guarantees. Cap rates, occupancy, and nightly rates are market-wide averages based on active STR listings and historical data. Individual property performance depends on location, amenities, management, and listing quality. Always run a full underwriting analysis before purchasing.Stats sourced from 123 active listings · last updated Oct 15, 2026
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