Looking for my first vacation rental in Washington

[David Chang]

Hey BP community!

I am thrilled to join this incredible forum of real estate enthusiasts and investors. My name is David, and my partner and I are on a journey to find our very first vacation rental property in Washington state.

We currently reside in North Seattle, and own a SFH (30 year mortgage @ 2.75%). We are looking for our vacation home that we can personally use a few times a year, and to rent out as a STR for the remaining times we're not there. Our investment horizon is longterm, and somewhat conservative as we're learning the ropes. Given today's interest rates, we're looking at paying > 50% down to minimize interest costs. Some areas that have peaked our interest include:

Packwood - Mount Rainier / Lax Regulations / Year Round, High Demand / 3 HR commute

Ashford - Mount Rainier / Year Round, High Demand / 2.5 HR commute

Goldbar - Stevens Pass / Hikes / Demand ? / 1.5 HR commute

Mason County (Brinnon/Shelton) -  Waterfront/Beach Cabins < 500k / Oyster Fishing / Seasonal Demand / 1.5 HR commute

Whidbey Island - ? / 1 HR commute

Port Angeles - Olympic National Forest / Year Round, High Demand / 3 HR commute

If you've ventured into the vacation rental market in Washington and have valuable insights to any of these areas or any general tips, I would be incredibly grateful for your input.

Looking forward to connecting with all of you!