Finger Lakes, NY
New York wine country - lakefront and winery STR market
The Finger Lakes region is New York's premier wine country, anchored by Seneca, Cayuga, and Keuka lakes and over 130 wineries. The market draws visitors from NYC, Boston, and Toronto for wine weekends, fall foliage, and summer lakefront recreation. Lakefront properties command significant premiums and the Cornell University/Ithaca feeder market provides year-round non-seasonal demand.
Estimated Annual Performance
* Estimates based on market averages. Individual property performance varies. Always run a full underwriting analysis.
Why Investors Choose Finger Lakes
Finger Lakes STR investing, answered
Is Finger Lakes, NY a good short-term rental market?
Finger Lakes is a Northeast STR market averaging a 9.2% cap rate, 61% annual occupancy, and $265/night across STR-viable listings. The Finger Lakes region is New York's premier wine country, anchored by Seneca, Cayuga, and Keuka lakes and over 130 wineries. The market draws visitors from NYC, Boston, and Toronto for wine weekends, fall foliage, and summer lakefront recreation. Lakefront properties command significant premiums and the Cornell University/Ithaca feeder market provides year-round non-seasonal demand.
What is the average Airbnb occupancy rate in Finger Lakes?
STR-viable properties in Finger Lakes average about 61% occupancy across the year. Peak season is June - Oct (wine harvest: Sept-Oct). 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 Finger Lakes?
At $265/night and 61% occupancy, a typical Finger Lakes STR grosses roughly $59,002 per year before expenses, leaving an estimated $35,401 in net operating income against a $385K average price, an implied 9.2% cap rate. Individual results depend on property, amenities, and management.
What types of properties work best for STR in Finger Lakes?
The strongest-performing STR property types in Finger Lakes are Lakefront Home, Farmhouse, Cottage, Single Family. 130+ wineries - comparable wine tourism to Napa at a fraction of the price. Matching the local guest profile and the amenities that drive bookings in this market matters more than raw square footage.
What is the median STR-viable home price in Finger Lakes?
STR-viable listings in Finger Lakes average around $385K. Primary STR ZIP codes include 14891, 14456, 14871. Combined with the market's 9.2% average cap rate, that price level sets the return baseline you'd underwrite against.
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.
Run a live analysis in Finger Lakes
Search active MLS listings in Finger Lakes and instantly see cap rates, cash flow projections, and STR comp-backed nightly rates - all in one underwriting report.