Facts.
We strive to only post information that is accurate. Our data committee relies on third party sources. Facts and figures are key to making educated decisions on how best to manage vacation homes and assist in planning for the future of our community.
There are no corporations owning property as STRs in South Haven
As of August 2022, over 92% of all STRs are owned by a single owner that only has one STR permit within the city limits.
# of STR permits held by a single owner
“74 STR Permit holders are also full-time residents of the city of South Haven.”
STRs may be held by a single-owner LLC for liability purposes. Behind the LLC, it is most often a single person or family that own the property - there are no ‘large conglomerates’ buying up ‘business’ STRs.
*Visit the FAQ page to learn more about a Business vs. Personal STR permit
COVID changed travel.
We’ve seen it all over the country - travel has changed since the Pandemic. Families are traveling more than ever, and when adults are able to work remotely anywhere, they choose wonderful places like South Haven. Self-contained, multi-generational accommodations are one of the most popular options.
Guest Accommodations
South Haven lacks hotels in town and near or on the beaches. This is a reason many South Haven visitors prefer to rent a home.
Vacation rentals also provide over half of the accommodations in South Haven. Because local hotels, B&Bs, and vacation rentals are near full capacity in the summer, reducing or eliminating vacation rentals would force vacationers to stay in other lakeshore towns.
STRs rarely go dark.
Of course, in a lake front community in West Michigan, summer is the highlight of the year. South Haven experiences near 100% occupancy between the months of June and August. Few homes completely shut down in the shoulder seasons (May, September) and winter months. In fact, we see consistent occupancy throughout holidays, SH specific events such as Ice Fest, and winter weekend retreats. Many homes change occupancy length to accommodate the families that just want a couple nights away to ice skate and drink cocoa.
Home Use Ratios
*The numbers utilized include totals for STRs as of the Jan. 2022 STR report by the City of South Haven and includes both exempt and non-exempt STRs. See the FAQ Page for more information about exempt vs. non-exempt STRs.
STRs make up the smallest quantity of home use within the city of South Haven. Primary Residences may also include homeowners that live elsewhere in the winter months.