When you invest in a rental property, you need to know that your investment is in the right location, attracting the right guests as many nights a year as possible. Here are six reasons why this area is a solid bet if you're looking at buying a vacation rental cabin in Gatlinburg.

This area has the longest rental season in the country for the short-term rental market. Gatlinburg attracts visitors year-round; it's home to the state's only ski resort and the gateway to America's most visited national park. And Gatlinburg features attractions ranging from a major aquarium to artisan workshops to distilleries and wineries.

Even as the pandemic wanes, travelers prefer driving–usually to destinations within a two- to five-hour drive of major metropolitan areas–over flying, according to investment site Fortunebuilders.

Gatlinburg's location is within a day's drive of half the country's population, and it's less than five hours by car from cities including Cincinnati, Atlanta, Charlotte, and Birmingham.

Short-term rental occupancy here has soared in recent years. Rentals see more guests over more nights, yielding more income for property owners.

The city gets love from investment specialists. A few examples:

Fortunebuilders ranked Gatlinburg No. 5 nationwide in 2020, thanks to the area's reliable popularity: On average, the national park draws 11 million visits annually.

Forbes magazine notes Gatlinburg was one of the top five best markets in America for investing in a vacation rental property in 2019.

Over the past decade, the average house appreciation rate has been 9.43 percent annually. That puts Gatlinburg in the top 10 percent of real estate appreciation nationwide. Your investment property here not only earns you a monthly income from guests, but it's also likely to increase in value over time.

Gatlinburg is owner-friendly, and permits and regulations around starting a short-term rental are straightforward. If you're looking to turn a cabin into a short-term vacation rental, Colonial Properties Cabin & Resort Rentals can help you make the change. Contact us today to find out how our team makes your rental investment start paying off.