Living Off Rentals

In this episode of Living Off Rentals, we are joined by Bri West, founder of Somerled Designs and a real estate investor with 36 short-term rental properties of her own.

Bri started investing in short-term rentals in 2020 and used her background in marketing to approach design from a different angle. Instead of designing a property based on personal preferences, she focuses on the target guest, the market, and the return on investment (ROI).

Listen as Bri explains how she uses data to choose amenities, set design budgets, and create short-term rentals that stand out. Enjoy the...

Joining us in this episode of Living Off Rentals is someone who is helping make travel easier for people with disabilities while showing short-term rental owners how accessibility can also be a smart business decision.

Lorraine Woodward is the CEO and founder of Becoming RentABLE, a platform that helps travelers find accessible short-term rentals across the United States.

Listen as she shares practical ways property owners can make their rentals more accessible without major renovations, simple improvements that can make a big difference for guests, and why accessible rentals are in high demand and very...

Joining us in this episode of Living Off Rentals is a real estate investor who scaled from zero to six short-term rental properties (very soon to be 7) in just 13 months by using nearly every financing strategy available, from DSCR loans, to HELOCs, to a self-directed IRA.

Joanna N is the co-owner of One Life Getaways and a member of my STR Blueprint program. 

Before real estate, she built a career as a chiropractor, then pivoted through sales, sales training, leadership development, and recruiting — a path she once saw as a string of failures, but now cre...

Joining us in this episode of Living Off Rentals is someone who has built an incredible real estate portfolio while serving as a Green Beret in the U.S. Army.

Sterling Seizert is a real estate investor, entrepreneur, and the author of Buy Your Freedom. From balancing military service, deployments, and training, he built a $60 million self-storage portfolio and created a path to financial freedom through disciplined investing.

Listen as Sterling shares how he got started in real estate, why self-storage became his investment of choice, and the mindset that helped him build wealth while...

In this episode of Living Off Rentals, we are joined by the CEO of Simple CFO and the author of "Profit First for Real Estate Investing."

David Richter returns to the show to explain why so many real estate investors struggle with cash flow, even as their businesses grow.

Listen as he explains how the Profit First system helps investors gain financial clarity, reduce stress, and build a business that supports the life they actually want. You'll also learn practical strategies for managing cash flow and making smarter financial decisions as your business grows.

In this episode of Living Off Rentals, we are joined by someone with nearly 30 years of experience in the engineering and construction industry.

Sandy Lee is a former engineer and construction professional who retired early by building a portfolio of just four short-term rental properties. She discovered short-term rentals, developed what she calls the "Path of Progress" strategy, and created enough passive income to leave her full-time job.

Listen as Sandy shares how she transitioned out of her corporate career, the lessons she's learned as a short-term rental investor, and why keeping your investing strategy...

Joining us in this episode of Living Off Rentals is Yiwei Cheng, a short-term rental investor and the founder of Pink Cash Cow Property Management.

Through plenty of trial and error, she built a portfolio and a successful property management company while proving that strong cash flow doesn't have to come from expensive vacation markets.

Listen as Yiwei talks about finding profitable deals in the Midwest, managing short-term rentals, avoiding common investing mistakes, and why she believes the best opportunities are still ahead. 

Enjoy the show!

Key Takeaways:

[00:00] Introducing Y...

In this episode of Living Off Rentals, Kirby Atwell sits down with Melissa Nash, a real estate investor, wealth strategist, and host of the Passively Rich with Rentals podcast.

After losing a multimillion-dollar clothing business during the 2008 financial crisis, Melissa rebuilt her financial future through real estate investing. Today, she has built a seven-figure rental portfolio using what she calls the "Lazy Investor Method."

Listen as Melissa shares how she got started, why she believes long-term rentals remain one of the best wealth-building tools available, how she evaluates deals, and the strategies she teaches busy...

Joining us for today's episode of Living Off Rentals is Anthony Lynn Miller, a young real estate investor with a unique background and an inspiring story.

Anthony shares what it was like growing up Amish without electricity, leaving school after eighth grade, and eventually stepping into the world of business and real estate investing. 

Despite having no traditional real estate background, he built momentum through short-term rentals, private money, and smart investing strategies.

In this episode, Anthony talked about buying his first properties, managing short-term and midterm rentals, and building a path toward f...

Joining us in this episode of Living Off Rentals is a real estate broker and short-term rental investor who has built a 16-unit Airbnb portfolio across multiple states while keeping family and lifestyle a top priority.

In her second appearance on the show, Michelle Norman shares how she and her husband went from purchasing their very first Airbnb five years ago, to a thriving multi-state portfolio without physically ever going to their properties.

She opens up about the early mistakes, the growing pains, and the systems she put in place to finally make it feel...

Joining us in this episode of Living Off Rentals is Bailey Kramer, a 25-year-old real estate investor who built a portfolio of 10 rental units by focusing on mid-term rentals.

Bailey shares how he got started in college, why he chose mid-term rentals over traditional Airbnb listings, and how he scaled his business by learning operations, networking with experienced investors, and taking action early.

Listen as he breaks down the lessons he learned from running 30 short-term rentals, buying properties remotely, and building a rental business that creates strong cash flow without the constant headaches of nightly...

For today's episode of Living Off Rentals, we are joined by someone who made an empowering transition from short-term rental arbitrage to building her own portfolio of cash-flowing properties.

Stephanie James spent 15 years serving veterans as a social worker with the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs before she discovered real estate investing. She is a member of my STR Blueprint program with properties in Indiana and Michigan.

Starting with rental arbitrage, she quickly scaled multiple units before realizing that true wealth-building comes from ownership.

That shift led her to learn how to...

Joining us in this episode of Living Off Rentals is a financial expert who challenges traditional investing and focuses on building safer, more predictable wealth strategies.

Mark Willis is a Certified Financial Planner, three-time #1 bestselling author, and the owner of Lake Growth Financial Services. 

He is also the co-host of the "Not Your Average Financial Podcast."

Listen as he shares his perspective on why most investors don't actually earn the returns they expect from the stock market, how volatility impacts your wealth, and how to build a more stable financial system that works a...

Joining us in this episode of Living Off Rentals is someone who has built a unique niche in real estate by turning overlooked land into consistent, long-term income.

Jack Bosch is a financial expert, a number one best-selling author, and the host of the Jack Bosch Podcast, which has over 300,000 followers on social media. He moved from Germany to the US, and from there, Jack and his wife became a successful real estate investor couple flipping thousands of land parcels and multi-family properties.

Listen as Kirby and Jack talk about the "Forever Cash" Model, turning...

What does it actually look like to walk away from a full-time medical career without giving up income?

Joining us in this week's episode of Living Off Rentals is a family medicine doctor and former Air Force physician who now practices medicine on his own terms, all while investing in real estate.

Dr. Alexander Schloe specializes in working with doctors to adopt real estate investing strategies that allow them to not only rely on their income as physicians, but to also have the flexibility to live life on their own terms.

Listen as...

What if building wealth wasn't tied to just one country?

This week's guest on the Living Off Rentals podcast is someone who travels the world full-time looking for the best investments.

Ladislas Maurice is the mind behind The Wandering Investor, a blog where he shares insights on global investing and how to diversify your portfolio across different countries. Instead of sticking to one market, Ladislas has spent years exploring opportunities across continents and building a portfolio that's as diversified as his passport stamps.

From buying property in unfamiliar markets, to unlocking residency and...

In this week's episode of Living Off Rentals, we are joined by a tax and credit advisor who has an incredible story of overcoming extreme poverty to become a millionaire and is now helping others understand how to keep more of what they earn.

Rondi Lambeth is also a bestselling author and international speaker who focuses on helping entrepreneurs reduce taxes, build business credit, and protect their assets through smart financial structures.

Listen as he shares how his upbringing shaped his mindset around money, the hard lessons he learned after his first big tax bill...

In this week's episode of Living Off Rentals, we are joined by an investor and author who turned a simple strategy into a powerful wealth-building machine.

Craig Curelop began his real estate journey as a house hacker in Denver and reached financial freedom in just two and a half years. He is the author of "The House Hacking Strategy," has completed multiple house hacks, and now helps investors across the country build wealth through real estate.

Listen as he shares how he went from struggling to find the right realtor to building a thriving investor-focused...

Joining us in this episode of Living Off Rentals is a founder who went from being an Airbnb host by accident to building one of the most recognized property management platforms in the short-term rental space.

Pierre-Camille Hamana is the co-founder of Hospitable, a software designed to help hosts automate operations, increase direct bookings, and run their rentals more like a real business.

Listen as he shares how a simple frustration with guest messaging turned into a powerful tool now used by hosts worldwide. 

He also unveils Hospitable's new $0 Essentials Plan - the f...

Joining us in this episode of Living Off Rentals is a real estate investor who built a portfolio of mobile home parks and land development projects in just a few years.

Robert Howell is the founder of Howell & Sons, a family-driven real estate company based in South Carolina. He specializes in mobile home park investing and creating affordable housing through land-home packages.

Listen as he shares how he got started during COVID, why he chose mobile home parks, and how he's scaling cash flow while helping provide affordable housing. 

Enjoy the show!

Joining us in this episode of Living Off Rentals is a former Marine turned successful real estate agent.

Tim Street is the founder of FoolProof FSBO (For Sale By Owner). After years in the industry, he realized that many homeowners were paying large commissions for processes they could handle themselves. 

By teaching sellers how the process works, Tim helps them keep more equity from their home sale, avoid paying large commissions, and take control over pricing, marketing, and negotiations.

Listen as he also explains the biggest mistakes homeowners make when trying to sell a...

Joining us on this episode of Living Off Rentals is someone who helps investors take control of their retirement investments.

Nick Sahagun is an expert in self-directed retirement investing and alternative assets. He works closely with investors who want more control over their retirement funds and the ability to invest in opportunities outside the traditional stock market, including real estate.

Listen as he shares how self-directed IRAs and 401(k)s allow investors to deploy retirement capital into alternative investments, along with the rules, advantages, and key considerations investors should understand before using retirement funds for...

Joining us in this episode of Living Off Rentals is Ryan Barone, CEO and co-founder of RentRedi, an all-in-one, data-powered rental management platform built specifically for independent landlords.

Ryan shares how RentRedi evolved from a simple rental application tool that he designed for personal use, to a full-service platform. 

He explains why execution matters, how small operational habits can dramatically improve cash flow, and why systems are what allow landlords to scale.

He also dives into practical strategies for reducing turnover, improving tenant satisfaction, pre-qualifying applicants to cut vacancy time, and using data t...

Joining us in this episode of Living Off Rentals is Kaitlyn Rowsey Aronis, CEO and founder of CoHo House, a nationwide design and co-hosting firm helping investors maximize short-term rental returns.

Before launching her company, Kaitlyn worked at Airbnb on the Airbnb Plus program, where she helped define what high-performing, design-forward listings really look like.

In this conversation, Kaitlyn breaks down why there is no one-size-fits-all strategy in short-term rentals. She also shares how your goals should shape everything from acquisitions to renovation budgets to design decisions.

In addition, Kaitlyn explains how scaling...

Joining us in this episode of Living Off Rentals is a mid-term rental investor and team member at Furnished Finder. With 12 mid-term rentals across multiple states, our guest for today has built a flexible portfolio designed to generate strong cash flow and offer long-term optionality.

Katie Lyon shares how she discovered mid-term rentals while working in commercial real estate, why she believes they offer the perfect middle ground between long-term and short-term rentals, and how arbitrage helped her scale quickly without waiting on down payments.

She also breaks down market selection, pricing strategies, screening best...

Joining us in this episode of Living Off Rentals is someone who walked away from a 30-year corporate career to build a short-term rental portfolio designed around freedom, family, and intentional living.

Born in Cuba and raised under communism before immigrating to the U.S., Carlos Vazquez is a former global talent acquisition executive, the founder of Cabin Vistas, and a member of my short-term rental Blueprint program. 

In this episode, Carlos shares how his upbringing, a cancer scare in his mid-40s, and a desire to be present for his wife, kids, and grandkids r...

Joining us in this episode of Living Off Rentals is an award-winning publicist, hospitality veteran, and short-term rental expert who has built a profitable portfolio by thinking differently about how and where to invest.

Katie Cline is the host of the Second Home First podcast and Suite Success: Masters of Hospitality. She has worked behind the scenes with global luxury hotel brands including Ritz-Carlton, St. Regis, and W Hotels, and now applies those hospitality principles to her own short-term rental properties across upstate New York.

Listen as Katie shares how buying her second home first...

Joining us on this episode of Living Off Rentals is someone who built confidence, systems, and time freedom by learning real estate from the ground up.

Stephanie Bacue is a U.S. Air Force veteran, short-term rental investor, and founder of Simply Welcome Stays. After transitioning from military service to corporate consulting, she began learning real estate as a complete beginner and went on to build a remote portfolio of short-term rental duplexes in Greenville, South Carolina.

Listen as she shares how she bought her first duplex remotely, why she chose Greenville as her market...

Joining us in this episode of Living Off Rentals is a seasoned real estate developer with more than five decades of hands-on experience across residential, commercial, and industrial properties.

David Pelusio Sr. has spent over 55 years building, owning, and operating assets ranging from warehouses and shopping centers to large-scale self-storage facilities. Today, his focus is on converting vacant big-box retail buildings into climate-controlled self-storage.

Listen as David breaks down why self-storage has remained resilient through economic cycles, how buying properties at the right price creates massive upside, and why underutilized retail spaces present one of...

Joining us in this episode of Living Off Rentals is returning guest Dustin Heiner, real estate investor, coach, and founder of Master Passive Income.

Dustin has been on the show more times than any other guest, and for good reason. 

After getting laid off from his government job, he began buying rental properties with a clear focus on cash flow. By his late 30s, his rental income had replaced his W-2, giving him full control over his time.

In this conversation, Dustin shares why income, not net worth, is the real path to f...

Joining us on this episode of Living Off Rentals is William Tingle, a creative real estate investor, coach, and author of the new book, Just Buy a House Already. William first appeared on the show in 2023, and our conversation picks up right where his story leaves off.

After leaving a demanding career in the restaurant industry, William built his business around subject-to and seller-financed deals that generate cash flow without tenants, heavy rehabs, or traditional rentals.

Listen as he shares how subject-to deals really work, why clear communication and transparency with sellers matters, and how...

Joining us in this episode of Living Off Rentals is a Naval Academy graduate, retired Navy pilot, and lifelong entrepreneur who quietly built real estate wealth while serving 20 years in the military.

Stu Grazier's journey started long before real estate podcasts were mainstream. From flipping raw land and house hacking in San Diego before the term even existed, to private lending during deployments, he shares how he built wealth by taking action, learning through failure, and staying disciplined while others partied away their paychecks.

This episode is packed with real-world perspective and hard-won wisdom. Listen...

What happens when a former cancer researcher and college professor applies a data-driven mindset to short-term rentals?

Joining us in this episode of Living Off Rentals is someone who spent 12 years teaching college biology and advising future doctors and pre-med students. Today, he's a short-term rental investor focused on building cash flow and flexibility through data-driven decisions.

Drew Ivey shares his journey from academia into real estate investing, and how one well-researched short-term rental deal reshaped his financial future. He breaks down how data, patience, and intentional design helped him land a high-performing duplex in...

In this episode of Living Off Rentals, host Kirby Atwell sits down with Stephen Arnaud, an engineer, W-2 employee, and father of three, who's intentionally building his path out of the 9-to-5 through short-term rentals.

Stephen shares why, even though he enjoys his career, the demands of a W-2 job started to conflict with family life and long-term freedom. Like many high-performing professionals, he realized that traditional investing alone wasn't going to give him the flexibility he wanted anytime soon. That realization led him to short-term rentals.

If you are still working a 9-to-5 but...

Joining us for today's episode of Living Off Rentals is someone who specializes in historic preservation projects that many investors overlook, but can be transformed into high-performing rental assets.

Kevin Kreger is Kirby Atwell's longtime friend and a construction expert. He is the founder of On Point Construction and Fiddle Leaf Development. He breaks down how he transitioned into design-build work and eventually into restoring historic downtown buildings with serious cash-flow potential.

Listen as they dive deep into why historic properties aren't as intimidating as they seem, how to uncover hidden square footage, and why...

Joining us on this episode of Living Off Rentals is someone who teaches people how to build income streams on their own terms.

Joey Mure is the co-founder of Wealth Without Wall Street, a platform dedicated to helping people rethink traditional money advice and create passive income that gives people more control over their lives. 

Once a high-earning corporate professional who felt constantly pulled away from his family, Joey now generates over $50,000 a month in passive income and guides others through the system for building passive income streams that helped him reclaim his time.

Joining us on this episode of Living Off Rentals is a Navy veteran and mom of three who went from a high-pressure military career to building a real estate business that allowed her family to take back their time.

Karin Ventresca is a Naval Academy graduate, former nuclear engineer, HR professional, and now a full-time real estate investor and short-term rental operator. After years of long commutes, daycare drop-offs, and COVID-era burnout, she and her husband built a short-term rental portfolio that gave them the freedom to reshape how they spend their days.

Listen as...

What does it take to go from dropping out of school in ninth grade to owning more than 150 rental units and retiring in your 40s?

Matt Hawkins, also known as the Lumberjack Landlord, is a self-taught investor who now manages over 50 buildings and 400 tenants with just one employee — all from his phone. He joins us on this episode of Living Off Rentals to unpack his incredible journey from humble beginnings to financial freedom.

Listen as he shares how early mistakes, creative deal-making (like buying a city-owned police station), and consistent systems helped him build a re...

Joining us on this episode of Living Off Rentals is someone who has spent more than four decades helping people build wealth through simple, long-term rental investing.

Adiel Gorel is an investor, educator, and the author of Remote Control Retirement Riches. He has helped thousands of people buy brand-new rental homes in strong U.S. markets, using the 30-year fixed loan as the foundation for building lasting wealth.

Listen as he shares how he went from an engineer in 1980s Silicon Valley to a global real estate investor, why he believes that the 30-year fixed...

Joining us on this episode of Living Off Rentals is someone who turned a simple idea—renting out spare rooms—into a thriving real estate empire.

Sam Wegert is the founder of Scale Your Co-Living Real Estate and leads the largest co-living mastermind in the world. He and his wife reached financial freedom by their early 20s and have since built a 2,500-door portfolio that blends strong cash flow with affordable housing.

Listen as he shares how he went from running a martial arts school at 16 to discovering the co-living model by accident, why shared hous...