Outer Banks, NC
North Carolina's barrier island paradise
The Outer Banks stretches 100+ miles of undeveloped barrier islands off the NC coast, offering pristine beaches, wild horses, and the Wright Brothers National Memorial. The STR market here skews toward larger vacation homes - 3-5 BR cottages dominate, with strong family-group demand and multi-week summer bookings that drive exceptional gross revenue.
Estimated Annual Performance
* Estimates based on market averages. Individual property performance varies. Always run a full underwriting analysis.
Why Investors Choose Outer Banks
Outer Banks STR investing, answered
Is Outer Banks, NC a good short-term rental market?
Outer Banks is a Mid-Atlantic STR market averaging a 9.2% cap rate, 62% annual occupancy, and $420/night across STR-viable listings. The Outer Banks stretches 100+ miles of undeveloped barrier islands off the NC coast, offering pristine beaches, wild horses, and the Wright Brothers National Memorial. The STR market here skews toward larger vacation homes - 3-5 BR cottages dominate, with strong family-group demand and multi-week summer bookings that drive exceptional gross revenue.
What is the average Airbnb occupancy rate in Outer Banks?
STR-viable properties in Outer Banks average about 62% occupancy across the year. Peak season is June - August. 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 Outer Banks?
At $420/night and 62% occupancy, a typical Outer Banks STR grosses roughly $95,046 per year before expenses, leaving an estimated $57,028 in net operating income against a $620K 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 Outer Banks?
The strongest-performing STR property types in Outer Banks are Single Family, Cottage, Oceanfront Home. Larger homes = higher gross revenue per property. 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 Outer Banks?
STR-viable listings in Outer Banks average around $620K. Primary STR ZIP codes include 27959, 27954, 27949. 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.
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