How to find an existing rental property to purchase?

[John Williams]

I'm interested in buying a waterfront property at a nearby lake so I can stay there a few weeks a year and rent it out (short-term) for the rest of the year.

Lots of homes on this lake don't allow short-term rentals, so ideally, I'd like to find a home which is already being used as a vacation rental. But how can I go about making an offer on these properties when they're not on the market? Any suggestions? Should I just consider reaching out to the owner directly to inquire about whether they're interested in selling?