Living Off Rentals

Don't learn about insurance the hard way… after you need it!

Joining us on this episode of Living Off Rentals is someone who has spent 20 years helping property owners make sure they're actually covered when something goes wrong.

Matt Nance has worked in insurance since 2006, helping homeowners and real estate investors understand what their policies do and don't cover. He's also an investor himself, so he knows what's at stake when a property takes a hit.

Listen as Matt shares why the wrong policy could leave you with no coverage during a renovation an...

Joining us on this episode of Living Off Rentals is a husband-and-wife team who turned a "no" from the bank into a whole new way to invest.

Joe and Jen Delle Fave are a husband and wife real estate investing team and the founders of Creative Finance Playbook. Joe worked at a car dealership and Jen was a teacher when the bank cut them off after they hit the 10 mortgage limit. Today they teach investors how to buy real estate without banks, big down payments, or perfect credit.

Listen as they share how they bought...

Joining us on this episode of Living Off Rentals is someone who found a profitable niche right next to college campuses.

Ryan Chaw is a real estate investor who specializes in student housing and renting by the room. He started buying properties on the side while working full time as a pharmacist, inspired by the rentals his grandfather used to build generational wealth for their family. Today he helps busy professionals buy their first cash-flowing student rental.

Listen as he shares the $30,000 lesson from his first property and how one duplex rented to 12 college baseball...

Joining us on this episode of Living Off Rentals is someone who went from missing his kids' childhood overseas as an active-duty Marine to building a real estate empire that lets him be home with his family every day.

Keith Gillispie is a Marine Corps veteran and the founder of REI Automated. He served eight years on active duty, deploying overseas 13 times, before leaving in 2020 to build his business full time. He is a serial entrepreneur who has invested in 34 states and raised over $10 million in private capital.

Listen as he shares the moments that...

Joining us on this episode of Living Off Rentals is Bryan Driscoll, owner of Motivated Leads, a company that helps real estate investors connect with motivated off-market sellers through various marketing strategies.

Bryan shares his own experience as a real estate investor, from buying his first $33,000 property to building a rental portfolio.

Listen as Bryan explains how to find motivated sellers, when to start paying for leads, why having multiple ways to help sellers matters, and how staying focused can simplify the real estate investing process. Enjoy the show!

Key Takeaways:

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Joining us on this episode of Living Off Rentals is Maria Laoang, our Airbnb Manager who's been overseeing the day-to-day operations for my short-term rental business, Dune Dwellings, for the past two years.

Maria is a virtual assistant (VA) from the Philippines who manages our team of 3 full-time customer service team members. Together, they run the day-to-day operations of our Airbnb business. 

Listen as she shares how her background in customer service led her to Airbnb management, her responsibilities, and what it means to hire for ownership rather than tasks.

She also gets i...

Joining us in this episode of Living Off Rentals is Dustin Heiner, a real estate investor behind several podcasts, including Master Passive Income, and the man behind Income Builder - a new tool that lets investors manage all their real estate tools in one place.

Dustin started investing in long-term rentals in 2006 after a wake-up call at his government job. Since then, he has built systems around his portfolio and created Income Builder, a business system designed to help investors analyze properties, manage their portfolio, organize documents, and track their progress toward financial freedom.

Listen...

In this episode of Living Off Rentals, Mike and Caroline Neubauer of the Our Family Invests podcast join us to share how they built financial freedom through real estate investing and short-term rentals in Maui.

Starting with an ADU on their primary home, they eventually built a short-term rental business that allowed Mike to leave the fire department. Along the way, they learned some hard lessons about financing, renovations, cash flow, and building systems.

Listen as Mike and Caroline share how they got started, the challenges they faced with their first short-term rental, the impacts...

On this very special episode of the Living Off Rentals podcast, I am joined by my wife Taryn Atwell, who is also my business partner and the designer behind all our short-term rental properties. 

In this episode, we talk about how we started with a short-term rental in our basement and gradually grew the business by leaning into their different strengths. I focus more on the numbers and property decisions, while Taryn handles design, guest experience, and communication.

We also talk about tips on how to get your spouse on board with real estate investing, d...

Joining us on this episode of Living Off Rentals is someone who went from one duplex to 38 rental units in just two years — and retired from her full-time job before turning 30.

Rachel Richards is a real estate investor and author of Money Honey and Passive Income, Aggressive Retirement. She built her portfolio using a rent-by-the-room strategy that generated far more cash flow than traditional rentals, and by 2022 had grown her passive income to $20,000 a month.

Listen as she shares how she scaled from one duplex to 38 units, why she focused on cash flow instead of co...

Joining us on this episode of Living Off Rentals is a real estate investor and private-money expert who has taught hundreds of investors how to raise millions of dollars for their deals.

Amy Mahjoory started raising private money when she was a new investor flipping houses in Chicago. Listen as she breaks down how new investors can overcome the fear of raising private capital, build relationships with potential lenders, and create a simple process to get deals funded.

She also shares what to do when a deal doesn't go as planned and why communication with...

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...