Should You Turn Your Mt. Hood Cabin into a Vacation Rental? A Step-by-Step Guide for 2025
If you own a cabin or second home in Mt. Hood, chances are you’ve wondered whether short-term renting (like on Airbnb or VRBO) is worth it. The answer? For the right property, it absolutely can be. In fact, vacation rentals in Mt. Hood are earning anywhere from $40,000 to over $100,000 per year, depending on their setup and how they’re managed.
But not every home is ready to become a top-performing rental and not every owner wants the hassle of figuring it all out alone. In this guide, we’ll walk you through the 5 steps to determine if short-term renting is a good fit for your Mt. Hood property and how to do it the right way.
1. Make Sure Your Property Qualifies
Not every Mt. Hood property is legally allowed to operate as a short-term rental. Before anything else, you need to make sure you’re zoned and eligible.
Here’s what to check:
✅ Is your home located in a county-approved STR zone? (Clackamas, Hood River, and Wasco counties all have different rules.)
✅ Does it meet local requirements for septic, parking, and fire safety?
✅ If you're in an HOA, do they allow rentals under 30 days?
📍 At Silver Oak Retreats, we verify all this for free as part of our onboarding process.
2. Understand the Start-Up Costs
Even if your home is eligible, it needs to be guest-ready and that often means a few key upgrades before launch.
Typical pre-launch costs include:
STR permit and registration fees
Fire extinguishers, carbon monoxide detectors, etc.
Furniture, bedding, and kitchen stock
Deep cleaning + professional photography
💡 We help owners build a smart, phased setup budget to avoid overspending and we handle the entire prep process.
3. Estimate Your Earning Potential
Every home is different, but here are some realistic revenue ranges we’ve seen in the Mt. Hood area:
2BR rustic cabin: $35,000–$55,000 | 3BR modern home: $55,000–$80,000 | 4–5BR with hot tub/firepit: $80,000–$120,000+
But remember: that’s gross, not net. You'll need to factor in:
Cleaning costs (typically passed to guests)
Platform fees (Airbnb, VRBO)
Repairs/maintenance
Property management (if you hire one)
4. Decide How Hands-On You Want to Be
You have two options:
🧹 Option 1: Self-Manage
You handle all bookings, guest communication, cleaners, maintenance, taxes, and emergencies.
More control — but way more time, stress, and risk.
🛎️ Option 2: Hire a Professional Manager
They handle everything: guest messaging, pricing, turnovers, reviews, taxes, and more.
You get passive income and someone local to call if things go sideways.
💼 At Silver Oak Retreats, we manage Mt. Hood vacation homes end-to-end for 20% of income so you don’t have to lift a finger.
5. See What Your Home Could Actually Earn
Wondering what your specific home could bring in per year and how much you’d take home?
That’s exactly what we do. We offer a free income projection and readiness checklist, based on your home’s address, layout, and features. You’ll get:
A revenue range based on local 2025 data
A checklist of what to upgrade (and what not to waste money on)
Our fee breakdown and management process
Ready to Explore the Possibility?
→ Contact us today to schedule a walk-through or get a free income estimate!
