A live example is happening right now — here’s what the data says behind it.
Right now, Fall Bike Week has thousands of motorcyclists filling short term rentals across the Grand Strand. It’s a live example of why this market keeps drawing investors — and a good excuse to look at what the numbers actually say in 2026, not just the pitch.
📊 The Real Numbers on Short Term Rentals
Over 20 million visitors come to the Grand Strand every year — that’s the demand engine behind the whole market. Here’s what that translates to for an owner:
| The number | What it is |
|---|---|
| 20M+ | Annual visitors |
| $280 | Average daily rate (▲ 8.4% year over year) |
| $25,000–$50,000+ | Annual gross income |
| $150,000–$350,000 | Entry point |
That $25,000–$50,000+ range is for well-managed oceanfront condos specifically — the daily rate climbing even as occupancy softened slightly tells the real story: this is a market rewarding quality and management, not just ownership.
⚠ What Most First-Time Investors Get Wrong
These are the assumptions that turn a promising investment into a disappointing one:
- Assuming gross income equals profit. It never does — and treating a listing agent’s gross projection as take-home pay is the fastest way to underwater math.
- Forgetting the 45–60% expense ratio. HOA fees, property management, cleaning, utilities, insurance, and maintenance eat into gross income before debt service even enters the picture.
- Skipping zoning verification. Confirm a unit is actually zoned for short-term rental use before you buy — not after.
- Underestimating the winter off-season slowdown. November through February brings the lowest returns of the year — plan cash flow around the real seasonal curve, not a flat annual average.
📋 Know the Rules Before You Buy
Zoning matters more than any other single factor in whether an STR investment works:
- ✔ Zoning is the gatekeeper. Most STR activity happens in zoned resort and condo communities — verify before you offer, not after you close.
- ✔ North Myrtle Beach requires a permit and a local responsible agent. Factor that into your setup timeline and budget.
- ✔ Combined tax runs about 10% of gross rental income, self-remitted by the host — build it into your numbers from day one.
Thinking About a Short-Term Rental Investment?
Let’s run the real numbers together before you buy — zoning, expenses, seasonal cash flow, and all.
Want help running the real numbers on a specific property? Send me the address and we’ll follow up with the details — no obligation.
More on short term rentals: HOA rules and short-term rental regulations, are Myrtle Beach vacation rentals still profitable? and long-term vs. vacation rentals.
Speaking of Bike Week — here’s what’s happening on the Grand Strand this weekend.
🌊 This Weekend on the Grand Strand (October 1–4, 2026)
- 🏍 Myrtle Beach Bike Week Fall Rally (87th annual), through Sunday, Oct 4. Throughout the Grand Strand — thousands of motorcyclists riding the coast, filling local restaurants, and packing entertainment venues up and down the Strand. Expect heavier traffic and a lively atmosphere at bike-friendly hot spots all weekend. Free to attend — just show up.
- 🎵 Nights at Nance Fall Concert Series, Thursday, Oct 1 — free (every Thursday through Oct 30). Nance Plaza, Downtown Myrtle Beach — free live music from local and regional artists continuing weekly through October.
- 🍺 Crooktoberfest Stein Holding Competition, Saturday, Oct 3 at 5:00 PM, Crooked Hammock, Barefoot Landing NMB. Crooktoberfest runs through October 11 at Crooked Hammock Brewery — German-inspired food, seasonal brews, live music Fridays 5–8 PM, and backyard games all month. Saturday’s Stein Holding Competition offers a $100 gift card prize for the strongest arm in NMB.
- 🎃 Harvest Home Weekend at Brookgreen Gardens, Sat–Sun, Oct 3–4, 9:30 AM–4 PM (tickets required). Murrells Inlet — a beloved fall tradition with scarecrows, hayrides, pumpkin painting, and seasonal crafts set against the garden’s sculpture collection. A perfect laid-back family outing.
- 🎃 Save the date: Halloween on the MarshWalk, Saturday, October 31. Murrells Inlet MarshWalk — a costume contest, live entertainment, and candy stations along the waterfront boardwalk. A heads up for later this month.
Not financial, tax, or real estate advice. Consult a licensed professional for guidance specific to your situation.