Company comparison
The best vacation rental management companies in San Diego.
San Diego has more than a dozen short-term rental management companies serving property owners, from small local operators to national platforms. This guide compares nine of them on three questions: what is included in the fee, what the fee is, and who does the work locally. A disclosure before you read: the guide is written and maintained by Cardo Vacation Rentals, which appears on the list. Information about each company comes from its own published materials as of September 2026, and every entry links to the company's site so you can verify the details.
Get a free Cardo earning estimateUpdated September 2026. Fees and claims re-checked against each company's public site.
Sources: public short-term rental market data and City of San Diego STRO and TOT schedules, as of September 2026.
Hands-off, premium home
A local full-service company runs everything. Start with entries 1 through 6.
Hands-on, fee-sensitive
A half-service platform keeps the fee low and the work with you. See Evolve, and the fee guide for the trade-offs.
Large estate, national brand
The national platforms carry the biggest group-travel homes. See AvantStay and Vacasa.
The comparison
Nine companies, compared.
The right choice depends on the property and on how involved the owner wants to remain. Each entry lists the company's advertised fee where one is published and the type of owner the model fits best.
- 1
Cardo Vacation Rentals
Best for: Design-led luxury homes on the San Diego coast
Local, San DiegoFull service
20% all-inCardo publishes this guide. The company has operated as a San Diego 5-star Airbnb Superhost since 2013, reports more than 3,500 five-star Airbnb reviews, and runs interior design and cleaning in-house, with pricing adjusted daily by an analyst. It charges a flat 20% of booking revenue with no setup fees or monthly minimums, and it concentrates on design-led homes positioned for the top of their market.
Get your free earning estimate - 2Quoted per property
Among the longest-running Airbnb management companies in San Diego, serving coastal properties from Carlsbad to Coronado, with advertised partnerships alongside major hospitality brands. The company fits owners who prioritize an established, larger local operator.
- 3Quoted per property
Bluewater has managed upscale San Diego coastal homes since 2009, distributes across the major booking channels, and concentrates its portfolio in the beach communities. It is among the most established luxury-positioned managers in the county.
- 4Quoted per property
A North County specialist that advertises a curated portfolio of more than $100 million in home value along the coastline. Its coverage is strongest from Carlsbad through Oceanside, with a presence in La Jolla as well.
- 5Quoted per property
A full-service manager reporting 80+ San Diego rentals that publishes more owner education than any other local company: fee guides, regulation explainers, and neighborhood revenue benchmarks. Owners who research the market thoroughly will find its library useful.
- 618% advertised
A small boutique operation that publishes its management percentage and emphasizes personalized attention: listing optimization, photography, guest communication, and cleaning coordination across a compact portfolio.
- 7Quoted per property
A tech-enabled national manager with a meaningful San Diego footprint in large, high-end group-travel homes. Owners get national-brand marketing and technology; the trade-off of any national platform is how much of the operation is local.
- 8From 10%, half-service
A national half-service model: Evolve markets the listing across the major platforms for a low percentage, while on-the-ground work (guest issues during stays, turnovers, compliance) remains with the owner or vendors the owner arranges. The model suits hands-on owners and is a mismatch for owners who want operations handled.
- 9Quoted per property, typically 25%+
The largest vacation rental manager in North America, with San Diego coverage that includes the former SeaBreeze portfolio. Full-service scope at national scale; owners weighing it should compare local staffing levels and total fees against local alternatives.
Fees marked "quoted per property" are companies that do not publish a rate; expect San Diego full-service management to run 18-35% of booking revenue. Our full fee guide explains every model. →
Fees in context
Where the published rates sit.
Most companies quote per property, but three on this list publish a rate. The chart shows where those published rates fall inside the market's two fee ranges; the table below carries every company's numbers.
Side by side
Every company, one table.
| Company | Advertised fee | Service model | Operations | Focus |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cardo Vacation Rentals | 20% all-in | Full service | Local, San Diego | Coastal luxury, design-led |
| Air Concierge | Quoted per property | Full service | Local, San Diego | Coastal, Carlsbad to Coronado |
| Bluewater Vacation Homes | Quoted per property | Full service | Local, San Diego | Beach communities, upscale homes |
| Haustay | Quoted per property | Full service | Local, North County | Carlsbad through Oceanside, La Jolla |
| West Coast Homestays | Quoted per property | Full service | Local, San Diego | Citywide, research-minded owners |
| Superstays | 18% advertised | Full service | Local, San Diego | Compact boutique portfolio |
| AvantStay | Quoted per property | Full service | National platform | Large group-travel estates |
| Evolve | From 10%, half-service | Half service | National platform | Marketing only, owner operates |
| Vacasa | Quoted per property, typically 25%+ | Full service | National platform | Broad coverage, former SeaBreeze portfolio |
All values from each company's published materials, September 2026.
Evaluation criteria
How to evaluate the companies on this list.
Three questions separate the companies on this list quickly.
- Match the model to your involvement. Full-service means everything is handled and costs more. Half-service means a lower fee and real work left on your plate. Decide which owner you are before comparing percentages.
- Ask who is actually local. Guest care and turnovers are physical work. Ask how many people the company employs in San Diego, and whether cleaning is in-house or subcontracted.
- Read the fee structure closely. Setup fees, technology fees, maintenance markups, and exit terms determine what an owner actually keeps.The six hidden fees to ask about are here.
Fair questions
About this list.
Cardo appears first and discloses that placement. Every other entry is ordered by how established the company is in San Diego and described using its own published claims: fees where the company advertises them, coverage areas, and service scope. The descriptions are factual rather than critical; these are the companies we would evaluate if we were shopping the market ourselves.
The practical test is who physically responds when something goes wrong during a stay. Local full-service companies staff their own market. National platforms vary by city, so ask how many local employees serve San Diego and whether guest care and turnovers are in-house or contracted.
Five things: the full fee structure including every add-on, who owns the listing and its reviews, the contract term and exit terms, who handles STRO licensing and TOT filings, and real statements from a comparable home. Our fee guide covers what the answers should look like.
A straight 20% of booking revenue, all-in: no setup fees, no monthly minimums, no charge until your home earns. San Diego full-service rates run 18-35%. The full breakdown, including the hidden fees to watch for anywhere, is on our management fees page.
Superhost since 2013
Compare every company against a real number.
A free Cardo earning estimate shows what your home should earn in today's San Diego market, and gives you a benchmark for every conversation on this list.
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