Short-Term vs. Long-Term Rentals: Which Is Better for Your OKC Property?

If you own a property in Oklahoma City, one of the first big decisions you’ll face is whether to lease it out as a short-term rental (like an Airbnb) or commit to a long-term tenant. Each option has its perks and challenges—especially in a market like OKC that’s growing fast and drawing in both tourists and transplants. At Upventures, we manage both sides of the rental game, so we know exactly what to weigh when helping you decide what's best for your property and goals.

Let’s break it all down:

Income Potential: Fast Cash vs. Steady Paychecks

Short-term rentals often bring in more money per night than long-term leases. Especially in areas like Midtown, the Paseo, or near OU Health, nightly rates can be lucrative—think game days, festivals, and business travelers.

But while long-term rentals won’t bring in those big weekend spikes, they provide reliable monthly income and fewer gaps between bookings. If you’re more interested in stability than hustle, this option may be better.

Our Take: If your property is in a high-demand, walkable area, short-term might earn you more—if you’re up for the active management it requires. For properties further from the action or for hands-off investors, long-term is a win.

Maintenance & Wear and Tear

Short-term guests come and go often, which means more cleaning, inspections, and general upkeep. Yes, it can mean more wear—but it also means more chances to catch small issues before they become big ones.

Long-term tenants, on the other hand, may be lower maintenance week to week, but if a tenant neglects small problems, they can snowball over a 12-month lease.

Our Take:With Upventures, our routine inspections and responsive maintenance teams keep both property types in great shape—so this one’s a tie, depending on how proactive you want to be.

Legal & Logistical Considerations

Oklahoma City is fairly friendly to Airbnb hosts, but short-term rentals often require permits, occupancy tax compliance, and noise monitoring systems depending on location.

Long-term rentals are more straightforward legally, but require strong leases and consistent enforcement of lease terms.

Our Take:We handle the compliance side of both models so you don’t have to. If you’re nervous about city ordinances, we can walk you through the steps or recommend the more hassle-free route.

Time Commitment

Let’s be honest—short-term rentals are a job. Guest communication, calendar syncing, pricing adjustments, and turnovers are constant. But that’s why Upventures exists. We offer full Airbnb co-hosting services so you don’t have to manage any of it.

Long-term rentals need less hands-on time, but still require lease management, rent collection, and periodic maintenance.

Our Take:Whichever path you choose, we offer full-service management to keep your time free and your ROI strong.

At the end of the day, there’s no one-size-fits-all answer. What works for one OKC property owner might not work for another. It all depends on your location, financial goals, and how involved you want to be. Short-term rentals can bring in more income, but they require more hands-on management. Long-term leases offer steady cash flow and less daily upkeep.

The good news?

Upventures offers expert property management and Airbnb co-hosting so you can succeed with either strategy—without the stress. We handle the details so you can focus on the returns.