Chalet, a data-first platform for short-term rentals (STR), released its year-end analysis of Airbnb search patterns in 2025, based on tens of thousands of searches across 3,080 U.S. cities. The data reveals that 32.5% of all Airbnb market searches on Chalet were concentrated in just three states: Florida, California, and Texas, underscoring the enduring pull of the Sun Belt. This trend carried through to actual purchases, as these three states accounted for 69% of Chalet-assisted acquisitions in 2025.
Regional markets outperformed major cities in search engagement. Secondary "drive-to" vacation destinations saw higher engagement rates per listing than traditional urban hotspots. For instance, Sevierville, Tennessee, a gateway to the Smoky Mountains, ranked as the most-searched city with 1.8% of total searches, surpassing any major city like Austin (1.2%) or San Diego (1.0%). Nearly 70% of the 30 most-searched markets were regional or destination-driven, and 73% of closed deals occurred in such markets, reflecting a shift away from big cities.
Chalet reported a 205% increase in closed STR property deals in 2025 compared to the prior year, indicating that users are actively converting analysis into transactions. However, while searches were widely distributed—no single market exceeded 1.8% of total searches—execution was more concentrated. Austin, Texas, led closed deals at just over 9%, followed by markets like San Diego, Fort Lauderdale, Dallas, Kissimmee, and Myrtle Beach, each accounting for roughly 6%.
Regulation-heavy metros like New York City and Los Angeles saw negligible interest, under 0.2% of searches, highlighting the dampening effect of strict short-term rental regulations. In contrast, markets with host-friendly policies attracted higher engagement. This pattern underscores the regulatory environment as a critical filter for STR viability.
“The overwhelming focus on Sun Belt states is both a warning and an opportunity,” said Ashley Durmo, CEO of Chalet. “It shows where momentum is strongest, but also where markets may be overheating. Our goal is to arm users with unbiased data so they can spot the next big market or avoid the next saturated hotspot.”
The full 2025 analysis and interactive market dashboard are available on Chalet's website.
