Finding a vacation rental to buy can be a time-consuming process, as there are so many things you need to consider beforehand. However, we can all agree that it essentially all comes down to one thing – location.
Lots of people dream of having a property under the sun, right in the Sunshine state. Florida has always been one of the top locations for vacations and vacation home investments – mostly due to the year-round warm weather, many tourist attractions, and beautiful vistas.
But if you’re looking for a vacation home to buy and use as a short-term rental, there are other things you must consider apart from the location – things such as the number of rentals, county regulations, median prices, and so on.
That is precisely why we’ve done the legwork for you and found the 10 best places for buying a vacation home in Florida in 2022. All you need to do is continue scrolling to see the hottest locations for a short-term rental strategy this year!
10 Best Places For Buying A Vacation Home In Florida In 2022
After extensive research of the Florida housing market, we’ve found the most enticing locations for generating Airbnb income.
Continue scrolling to see our top choices for buying a vacation rental property in Florida!
#1: Clearwater, Alachua County
- Airbnb Listings: 861
- Airbnb Rental Revenue: $2,438
- Airbnb Cash-On-Cash: 2.1%
- Median Price: $602,581
- Airbnb Price to Rent Score: 20.6
Clearwater is located in the Tampa Bay area – famous for the very sunny weather and beautiful gulf beaches. The beach in the city is three miles long, and thanks to its beautiful white sand, it certainly makes visiting this city worthwhile.
What’s more, Clearwater is relatively affordable, making it a great place to go vacationing as a family. The entire city is family-friendly – and most of the 100,000 full-time residents are families with children.
There are plenty of restaurants to visit in Clearwater, too, with various cuisines from all over the globe. Moreover, the kids will undoubtedly appreciate the Clearwater Marine Aquarium, and the city caters to tourists with boat tours and dolphin shows.
#2: Davenport, Polk County
- Airbnb Listings: 1,062
- Airbnb Rental Revenue: $1,931
- Airbnb Cash-On-Cash: 2.2%
- Median Price: $340,915
- Airbnb Price to Rent Score: 14.7
Davenport’s a small city in Polk County, Florida. Despite the size, this town has a lot to offer – besides pretty affordable living, renting prices are still high enough to make this worth your while as an investor.
Davenport is another city that caters to families with children, offering plenty of activities families on vacation can do. In the area, there are a few regional and state parks to go hiking, picnicking – or simply enjoying the beautiful view of the forest.
The waterfront park on Lake Toho is just a couple of minutes away – and so is the Universal Studios Orlando.
The city offers hot air balloon rides, fabulous restaurants, and so much more!
#3: Lakeland, Polk County
- Airbnb Listings: 116
- Airbnb Rental Revenue: $2,488
- Airbnb Cash-On-Cash: 4.5%
- Median Price: $358,295
- Airbnb Price to Rent Score: 12
Lakeland is another city located in Polk County, just east of Tampa. The downtown is a fantastic place to buy a rental in and visit since it’s home to the beautiful early 20th-century architecture – commonly called the Historic District.
Lakeland is appealing for tourists because it’s a fantastic place to go antiquing. Then, you have many lakes right in the city and around it – with a beautiful garden next to the Lake Mirror.
It’s one of the best places to buy a rental property in 2022, as it generates high revenue despite the generally low median property price.
Lakeland is also well-known for its Museum of Art – and the gardens and parks are a beautiful place for romantic couples and families with children!
#4: Jupiter, Palm Beach County
- Airbnb Listings: 125
- Airbnb Rental Revenue: $3,748
- Airbnb Cash-On-Cash: 2.3%
- Median Price: $713,538
- Airbnb Price to Rent Score: 15.9
Jupiter is a town in the southeast, facing the Atlantic Ocean. It offers beautiful, long beaches, making it one of the best places to visit in the Sunshine State.
Jupiter has plenty of museums of local history and art, as well. One of the best places that make Jupiter so attractive is the Inlet Lighthouse; you’ll get to see one of the best panoramic views in Florida from there.
The beach caters to families with kids’ playgrounds and several tennis courts to let every family member have the time of their life.
Yes, the price for acquiring a property in Jupiter is high – but it means you’ll likely be generating higher rental revenue as a result.
#5: Miami Gardens, Miami-Dade County
- Airbnb Listings: 142
- Airbnb Rental Revenue: $2,788
- Airbnb Cash-On-Cash: 4.2%
- Median Price: $342,107
- Airbnb Price to Rent Score: 10.2
Miami Gardens’s a city in Miami-Dade County, just a few miles away from Miami Downtown. It is a good place to buy a short-term rental property as it generates a lot of income, with relatively affordable prices for rental properties.
One of the most popular locations in Miami Gardens is the Hard Rock Stadium, home to the Miami Dolphins.
The city is mainly filled with suburban areas, making it a suitable place for families with children to visit. The city’s quiet, and it has lots of parks and lakes for picnicking and relaxing.
Hollywood Beach is nearby, and so is the Fort Lauderdale beach, one of the best beaches in the state! Koi ponds, the Zoo, and plenty of other activities will make the families want to visit again!
#6: Panama City, Bay County
- Airbnb Listings: 193
- Airbnb Rental Revenue: $2,696
- Airbnb Cash-On-Cash: 4.7%
- Median Price: $382,864
- Airbnb Price to Rent Score: 11.8
Panama City’s the county seat of Bay County, one of the best cities to live and visit in Florida. It is densely populated and part of Florida’s Metropolitan area.
Because of it, the city has a lot to offer – along with a beautiful state park right on the coast and miles-long beaches. The city provides terrific activities like catamaran rides, sailing, and visits to the nearby islands!
For many years, Panama City has been one of the best places to invest in real estate – and that is true to this day. Along with the ports, rustic wineries, restaurants, and parks, it’s a great place to invest in a short-term rental property!
#7: North Miami, Miami-Dade County
- Airbnb Listings: 193
- Airbnb Rental Revenue: $2,696
- Airbnb Cash-On-Cash: 2.7%
- Median Price: $475,112
- Airbnb Price to Rent Score: 11.8
North Miami is located a short ride away from Miami, on the east coast, with beautiful beaches on the Atlantic ocean. The white sand beaches in the Biscayne Bay are reason enough to visit North Miami.
The prices of rental property fall in the medium range here, but they generate great income on renting short-term.
It has some gorgeous state parks, the Museum of Contemporary Art, and for the kids – a thrilling Children’s Museum.
The Art Deco scene is hugely present in North Miami; that alone makes for a beautiful walk for tourists. The art is present in all neighborhoods, making North Miami one of the most beautiful places to visit in the US!
#8: Jacksonville, Duval County
- Airbnb Listings: 1095
- Airbnb Rental Revenue: $1,967
- Airbnb Cash-On-Cash: 3.1%
- Median Price: $327,662
- Airbnb Price to Rent Score: 13.8
Jacksonville, a city in Duval County, is the largest city in Florida population-wise. Jacksonville lies on the Atlantic coast, with miles-long beaches and charming islands to visit.
Town centers, the Art Market, Zoo, and the Plantation make Jacksonville a fantastic place for a family vacation with children of all ages. The Riverside’s one of the top locations to grab a coffee – tourists and locals agree on that.
The city is full of Airbnb rentals that generate lots of revenue, especially regarding the low prices on the real estate market right now. Indeed, the place to invest in is Florida!
#9: North Port, Sarasota County
- Airbnb Listings: 106
- Airbnb Rental Revenue: $2,079
- Airbnb Cash-On-Cash: 2.5%
- Median Price: $388,936
- Airbnb Price to Rent Score: 15
North Port is a city in Sarasota County and a part of the Sarasota Metropolitan Area. With the affordable housing situation, the rental revenue is astonishingly high – with a high price to rent score.
Visiting North Porth is affordable – but it still has plenty to offer short-term renters.
The city is exceptionally family-friendly, providing an array of activities for families – from many exciting playgrounds and nature parks to multiple sports leagues!
What’s even better, the city is bike-friendly. So, tourists can experience the city in an eco-friendly way.
And with high-quality restaurants, mineral springs, and children-friendly places, it’s suitable for everyone!
#10: Bradenton, Manatee County
- Airbnb Listings: 190
- Airbnb Rental Revenue: 1,846
- Airbnb Cash-On-Cash: 3.3%
- Median Price: $518,087
- Airbnb Price to Rent Score: 16.5
Bradenton’s a city located in Manatee County – and it lies on the river Manatee, near Tampa. The town is very nature-oriented – with many parks, the most famous one being the Riverwalk park. The Planetarium and the Aquarium are fun places to visit as a family.
The price of properties is somewhat medium, but the rental revenue more than makes up for it – with a high price to rent score.
Investing in real estate in Bradenton is a good idea because of various historical sites that add to the city’s beauty. The Village of the Arts, for example, is the top tourist location, with eclectic art and buildings all over the neighborhood!
A Quick Word Of Advice
Once you’ve found the ideal location for buying a vacation home in Florida, it’s time to locate attractive vacation rental properties. To get that Airbnb return on investment, you need to find a property that is just right for you.
There are plenty of ways to find something you like – going through the local newspapers, asking your contacts about the property for sale, and even hiring realtors to get your hands on a great rental property.
All that seems convenient – but the most suitable tool for the job is Mashvisor’s Property Finder. This search tool enables users to locate the hottest property that generates the highest Airbnb rental income out there.
Best of all, the Mashvisor Property Finder tool gets those properties to you in a matter of a few short minutes – all you have to do is set your expectations and preferences into it, and voila!
The days of searching through the Internet for hours – and days – on end are gone, as this tool gives you insight into the Florida real estate market right now, right there.
The tool allows you to search properties according to your strict budget, along with other factors such as:
- Type of property
- Size of property & number of bedrooms/full baths
- Short-term rental strategy (such as Airbnb)
- Location
Making money in real estate was never easier than with the Property Finder!
Best Places For Buying A Vacation Home In Florida In 2022 – Bottom Line
So, to conclude, real estate investors have always been interested in acquiring properties in Florida – and for a good reason, too. The endless summer of the Sunshine State makes it an excellent investment, year in and year out.
And out of the entire state, we have picked the 10 best places for buying a vacation home in Florida in 2022. All that’s left now is to use Mashvisor’s Property Finder – and find the one for you and your budget!
If you need assistance navigating the Florida real estate market, get in touch with our team!
