Gulf Shores, AL Rental Investment Market: DSCR & STR Numbers (June 2026)
Where Gulf Shores stands for short-term-rental investors: nightly rates, occupancy, yield, and the financing math behind its #11 STR rank.
Short-Term Rental Numbers
ADR
$248
avg daily rate
Occupancy
57%
RevPAR
$141
rev / available night
Median Price
$485,000
Gross Yield
10.6%
annual gross / price
Regulation Risk
LOW
STR score 69/100 · #11 of 15
Does It Pencil?
The median Gulf Shores deal, run through DSCR math
- Purchase price (median)
- $485,000
- Down payment (20%)
- −$97,000
- Loan amount
- $388,000
- P&I @ 7.91% / 30yr
- $2,823/mo
- Property taxes (1.00%/yr, assumed)
- $404/mo
- Insurance (~0.5%/yr of price)
- $202/mo
- PITIA (full payment)
- $3,429/mo
- Est. STR gross (ADR × occ.)
- $4,300/mo
Illustrative DSCR
1.25
Above the 1.25 threshold most lenders want for their best pricing tiers.
Illustrative only, not a quote or pre-qualification. Uses the median price and ADR × occupancy revenue estimate from our June 2026 dataset, an indicative rate of 7.91% (10-year Treasury + a typical STR spread — see the live data dashboard), estimated insurance, and an assumed national-average tax rate. Actual rents, taxes, insurance, and pricing vary by property and borrower.
The Read
What the numbers say about investing in Gulf Shores
Gulf Shores, AL earns its spot on revenue per night, not cheap entry: a $248 ADR at 57% occupancy produces about $4,300 a month gross, but against a $485,000 median price the gross yield is 10.6% — the kind of market where furnishing quality, photos, and pricing strategy decide whether the deal actually carries itself.
On financing: STR-friendly DSCR lenders will qualify a Gulf Shores purchase on projected short-term-rental income (typically via an AirDNA-style projection or 12 months of actuals) rather than lease rent. Using the market's RevPAR of $141 and an indicative STR loan rate, the median deal pencils to roughly a 1.25 DSCR at 20% down — comfortable coverage by STR underwriting standards. Remember most lenders haircut projected STR income, so your underwritten number will be lower than the gross.
Regulation risk in Gulf Shores currently grades low on our board — no permit caps or moratorium fights threatening the model as of this data refresh. That's a real underwriting advantage: lenders and insurers price STR risk too, and a stable regulatory backdrop keeps the projected-income financing path open. Still verify permits, zoning, and HOA covenants at the specific address before you offer; rules are hyper-local and change faster than monthly data.
Data as of June 2026 — refreshed monthly. Metro-level estimates for screening, not underwriting.
Next Step
Get a quote from a DSCR expert who lends in Alabama
Real pricing on your actual deal — no hard credit pull to see numbers, and the property's income does the qualifying, not your W2.
Gulf Shores investor FAQ
Is Gulf Shores good for DSCR loans?
Gulf Shores, AL is primarily a short-term-rental market on our boards (STR score 69/100). DSCR loans work here through STR-friendly programs that qualify on projected short-term-rental income — a $248 ADR at 57% occupancy, roughly $4,300/month gross, as of June 2026 data.
What is the average rent in Gulf Shores?
We track Gulf Shores, AL as a short-term-rental market rather than a lease market: a typical STR there runs a $248 average daily rate at 57% occupancy — roughly $4,300 per month in gross revenue (June 2026 estimate).
Can I get an STR loan in Gulf Shores?
Yes — STR-friendly DSCR lenders finance short-term rentals in Gulf Shores, AL, qualifying on projected or actual Airbnb/VRBO income instead of lease rent. Regulation risk currently grades low, which keeps projected-income underwriting straightforward. Market gross yield is 10.6% with $141 RevPAR (June 2026 data).
Run the numbers yourself
Calculator
STR calculator — pre-filled for Gulf Shores
ADR, occupancy, and price loaded. Adjust to your deal.
Live Data
Market data dashboard
10Y Treasury, indicative rate ranges, and both full leaderboards.
Browse
All 30 market profiles
Every metro on our DSCR and STR leaderboards, profiled.
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