Seaside Property Management
The deepest rental demand on the Peninsula, and the least served by local firms.
What owning here actually looks like.
Seaside has the highest renter share of any Peninsula city at 65 percent of occupied units, and 5,023 of its rentals sit in one to four unit buildings, which is the classic third party managed product. It is also the least defended market here. Several of the firms marketing hardest to Seaside owners are based in Salinas, Hollister and Santa Cruz, and a number of the Carmel firms do not list Seaside as a service area at all.
What governs a rental in Seaside.
Short term rental in Seaside splits into two categories. Hosted rentals, where the owner occupies the property as a principal residence and is present during all guest occupancy, are uncapped and applications are open. Non hosted whole home rentals are capped at 90 licenses city wide and currently closed to new applications, with a waiting list. A 55 foot exclusion zone applies between non hosted properties and only one license is permitted per parcel.
The original ordinance took effect in August 2018 and was significantly amended in November 2022. Licensing requires a contractor inspection against the city checklist, and renewal falls on 30 June.
For most Seaside owners the practical answer is an annual lease, which is where the demand is anyway.
Rules current as of August 2026 and subject to change. This is a summary for owners, not legal advice. We confirm the current position with the jurisdiction before advising on any specific property.
Where we work in Seaside.
Del Monte Heights, Ord Terrace, the Highlands, Bayview, Laguna Grande, and the neighborhoods bordering the former Fort Ord.
Who rents here.
California State University Monterey Bay draws roughly 7,700 students with about half living off campus, concentrated here and in Marina, which drives strong demand for three and four bedroom houses. Add military families whose housing waitlists push them into the private market, hospital staff, and local trades. Median gross rent is $2,409.
What we charge in Seaside.
10% of collected rent per month plus a 30% leasing fee for annual tenancies. Furnished and short term management is quoted separately. No setup fee, no renewal fee, and zero markup on any vendor invoice. The full schedule is published on our pricing page, which is more than almost any firm in this market will show you.
Seaside questions.
Is Seaside a good rental market to own in?
It has the deepest rental demand on the Peninsula and the highest renter share, with university and military driven tenant flow that does not depend on tourism. Rent per door is lower than Carmel or Pebble Beach, so the return profile is volume rather than premium, but vacancy risk is genuinely low.
Can I short term rent in Seaside?
Hosted rentals where you live at the property and are present during guest stays are uncapped and open. Non hosted whole home rentals are capped at 90 licenses and that category is currently closed, with a waiting list.
Do you actually work in Seaside, or just say you do?
We manage in Seaside. A number of Peninsula firms headquartered in Carmel do not list it as a service area, and several of the firms marketing hardest here are based over the hill.
What should your property actually earn?
A written rental analysis, delivered within one business day. Real leased comparables, the fee you would pay in dollars, and a straight recommendation.
- Recommended rent, supported by comparables rather than an online estimate
- What a furnished thirty day tenancy would produce at your address
- Current market value, using Sotheby's comparable sales
- An honest answer, including if the answer is that you should not hire us
Request your analysis
Free, and no sales sequence afterward.