I’d look for feeder destinations near large growing cities that have a real reason people want to visit like a lake, beach, state park or national park. AirDNA can help you screen the market and check things like regulations, revenue and competition. Bonus points if it’s close to home and somewhere you already like going because if it doesn’t work out at least you’ve got a vacation spot.

I agree with Ryan on heated amenities. We have a heated pool and spa at our Galveston beach house on the Texas Gulf Coast, and it has been a big advantage because heated pools are limited in our market. I would also spend some time in AirDNA, a short term rental market research tool. Look at what your market as a whole is doing and how much of the inventory is on Airbnb, Vrbo, or multiple channels. I would strongly consider listing on both Airbnb and Vrbo rather than limiting a new property to one platform. More eyeballs on the property means more chances to get those first bookings and reviews. Then look at the top performing comparable properties, see what amenities and listing features seem to be working well, and replicate the ideas that make sense for your property.