Living Off Rentals

Kirby Atwell
  • 4.9 (83)
  • INVESTING
  • UPDATED WEEKLY

We believe that a high quality rental property is the best investment a person can make. This podcast equips listeners to build a rental portfolio of their own. Each week host, Kirby Atwell, interviews someone who is living off rentals and identifies best practices, advice, and potential investing pitfalls to avoid!

  1. 2D AGO

    #317 - How Smart Design Creates Big Short-Term Rental Returns - Kaitlyn Rowsey Aronis

    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 sustainably requires strong systems, clear roles, and heart-centered hosting without sacrificing profitability. Enjoy the show! Key Takeaways: [00:00] Introducing Kaitlyn Rowsey Aronis and her background [03:08] Getting into short-term rental space [08:20] Bridging the gap between tech and real-life hosting at Airbnb [11:39] Cash flow vs. equity growth: designing around your real goals [16:42] The importance of defining your ideal guest avatar [21:18] How Coho House grew from co-hosting to nationwide installs [26:05] What does cash flow really mean to Kaitlyn [29:06] Case study: West Virginia and emerging travel markets [36:58] Think about your buying schedule and seasonality [41:25] Don't overspend on the property and underspend on design [45:00] Multiple ways to work with a designer [51:32] Scaling sustainably with systems and clear roles [56:32] Heart-centered guest communication and the "Oh No" rule [01:04:17] Connect with Kaitlyn Rowsey Aronis [01:05:59] Outro Guest Links: Website: https://www.cohohouse.com/  LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kaitlyn-rowsey-aronis/  Link to schedule a free listing audit: https://calendly.com/kaitlyn-opw/introductory-call Text code - LOR2025 - to 818-208-7034 for 15% off our Design Services! Show Links: Living Off Rentals YouTube Channel – youtube.com/c/LivingOffRentals  Living Off Rentals YouTube Podcast Channel - youtube.com/c/LivingOffRentalsPodcast  Living Off Rentals Facebook Group – facebook.com/groups/livingoffrentals  Living Off Rentals Website – https://www.livingoffrentals.com/  Living Off Rentals Instagram – instagram.com/livingoffrentals  Living Off Rentals TikTok – tiktok.com/@livingoffrentals

    1h 6m

  2. MAR 4

    #316 - Keeping Your Portfolio Profitable Year-Round with Mid-Term Rentals - Katie Lyon

    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 practices, and how to utilize platforms like Furnished Finder to reduce vacancies and maintain control over your bookings. Listen and enjoy! Key Takeaways: [00:00] Introducing Katie Lyon and her background [02:25] How Katie discovered mid-term rentals and why they stood out [04:28] Scaling to 12 properties in two and a half years [05:45] Rental arbitrage defined and how it works with mid-term rentals [06:57] What makes a good arbitrage deal [09:20] How Katie selects markets and identifies real demand drivers [14:43] Mid-term vs. short-term vs. long-term [19:28] Financing owned properties with DSCR loans and local banks [20:56] How Furnished Finder differs from Airbnb and Vrbo [23:15] Screening mid-term tenants is critical [24:28] How to reduce vacancy and fill calendar gaps [27:45] Listing on multiple platforms and staying in control [29:13] Pricing mid-term rentals using comps and amenities [30:05] Amenities that justify higher rent (pets, laundry, parking) [33:28] Real-world tenant stories and unique use cases [37:47] Markets where mid-term rentals may not work [40:17] Connect with Katie Lyon [42:43] Outro Guest Links: Website: https://www.furnishedfinder.com/  Podcast: https://www.furnishedfinder.com/Resources/podcast  Show Links: Living Off Rentals YouTube Channel – youtube.com/c/LivingOffRentals  Living Off Rentals YouTube Podcast Channel - youtube.com/c/LivingOffRentalsPodcast  Living Off Rentals Facebook Group – facebook.com/groups/livingoffrentals  Living Off Rentals Website – https://www.livingoffrentals.com/  Living Off Rentals Instagram – instagram.com/livingoffrentals  Living Off Rentals TikTok – tiktok.com/@livingoffrentals

    43 min

  3. FEB 25

    #315 - Leaving a 30-Year Career for High-Cash-Flowing Short-Term Rentals - Carlos Vazquez

    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 reshaped his definition of success. Listen as he opens up about overcoming fear, leveraging equity to scale, and why cash flow is what truly buys freedom.  Enjoy the show! Key Takeaways: [00:00] Introducing Carlos Vazquez and his background [04:01] From Cuba to corporate America: finding his path [07:34] A cancer diagnosis that changed his perspective on life and work [13:04] The impact of the book Die With Zero on his financial philosophy [18:28] Three things that define Carlos [19:17] The decision to resign and "burn the boats." [21:14] His wife's support and building a plan to leave both jobs [23:39] Retirement vs redirection [25:53] Expanding beyond North Carolina into new markets [27:38] Investing in Michigan City and trusting the numbers [29:25] Adding properties in Savannah, GA, and Columbus, GA [31:46] Turning lazy equity into higher monthly cash flow [33:30] Why conservative underwriting and operational excellence matter [36:07] Setting evolving portfolio goals [37:05] Quantifying freedom and the ability to do what you want every day [41:39] Advice for anyone thinking about leaving their W-2 job [44:50] Connect with Carlos Vazquez   Guest Links: Website: https://cabinvistas.com/    Show Links: Living Off Rentals YouTube Channel – youtube.com/c/LivingOffRentals  Living Off Rentals YouTube Podcast Channel - youtube.com/c/LivingOffRentalsPodcast  Living Off Rentals Facebook Group – facebook.com/groups/livingoffrentals  Living Off Rentals Website – https://www.livingoffrentals.com/  Living Off Rentals Instagram – instagram.com/livingoffrentals  Living Off Rentals TikTok – tiktok.com/@livingoffrentals

    46 min

  4. FEB 18

    #314 - Why Buying a Second Home First Can Be a Smarter Path to Wealth - Katie Cline

    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 allowed her to build wealth, create meaningful family experiences, and run profitable short-term rentals without sacrificing lifestyle. She also breaks down how hospitality, thoughtful design, and smart market selection can make all the difference. Enjoy the show! Key Takeaways: [00:00] Introducing Katie Cline and her background [02:55] Moving from global hotel brands to owning short-term rentals [05:23] Buying a second home first instead of a primary residence [07:12] The beauty of buying your second home first [10:01] How short-term rentals compare to traditional investing and 401Ks [10:59] Financing strategies for second homes and creative renovations [13:06] Evaluating deals and understanding worst-case scenarios [18:16] Lessons learned from furnishing and renovating remotely [26:14] Managing fear and doubt when pulling the trigger on deals [27:24] Shifting from investor mindset to hospitality mindset [30:54] Hotel principles that improve short-term rental performance [35:27] Designing arrival experiences that shape guest perception [38:18] Why quality beats rapid scaling in short-term rentals [41:28] The philosophy behind Buy Your Second Home First [47:44] Aligning real estate decisions with lifestyle goals [48:40] Outro Guest Links: Website: https://www.buyyoursecondhomefirst.com/  Show Links: Living Off Rentals YouTube Channel – youtube.com/c/LivingOffRentals  Living Off Rentals YouTube Podcast Channel - youtube.com/c/LivingOffRentalsPodcast  Living Off Rentals Facebook Group – facebook.com/groups/livingoffrentals  Living Off Rentals Website – https://www.livingoffrentals.com/  Living Off Rentals Instagram – instagram.com/livingoffrentals  Living Off Rentals TikTok – tiktok.com/@livingoffrentals

    49 min

  5. FEB 11

    #313 - How an Air Force Veteran Turned Remote Duplexes Into a STR Freedom Plan - Stephanie Bacue

    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, and how military discipline helped her create systems, remove emotion from decisions, and manage STRs with confidence from afar. She also talks candidly about leaning into community, building the right team on the ground, and what it really takes to move from W-2 work toward more control over your time through real estate. Enjoy the show! Key Takeaways: [00:00] Stephanie Bacue and her background [03:03] Getting into real estate investing and wanting to own time [05:44] Setting a simple first goal: buying one property within six months [06:45] Closing on her first duplex and evaluating long-term vs. short-term rentals [08:10] How military training helped Stephanie in her real estate investing journey [11:10] Buying and managing short-term rentals remotely for the first time [15:02] Choosing Greenville based on population growth, jobs, and fundamentals [17:10] Biggest lessons after purchasing short-term rental properties [19:53] Running conservative numbers and preparing for worst-case scenarios [23:48] Visiting the property and deciding to self-manage instead of paying 25% fees [25:00] Interviewing cleaners and handymen in person to build a reliable bench [28:45] Lessons learned from owning property with a partner [29:48] Why joint ventures can be simpler than LLC partnerships [32:42] How coaching and community reduced costly mistakes [35:42] Stephanie's advice: surround yourself with active investors and take action [39:26] Connect with Stephanie Bacue [39:57] Outro Guest Link: Website: https://www.simplywelcomestays.com/  Show Links: Living Off Rentals YouTube Channel – youtube.com/c/LivingOffRentals  Living Off Rentals YouTube Podcast Channel - youtube.com/c/LivingOffRentalsPodcast  Living Off Rentals Facebook Group – facebook.com/groups/livingoffrentals  Living Off Rentals Website – https://www.livingoffrentals.com/  Living Off Rentals Instagram – instagram.com/livingoffrentals  Living Off Rentals TikTok – tiktok.com/@livingoffrentals

    40 min

  6. FEB 4

    #312 - Turning Vacant Retail Buildings Into High Cash-Flow Self-Storage - David Pelusio Sr.

    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 the most compelling opportunities in today's market.  Enjoy the show! Key Takeaways: [00:00] Introducing David Pelusio Sr. and his real estate background [03:00] How David got started in real estate at just 16 years old [04:26] The economics of buying vacant big-box retail versus ground-up construction [07:14] Using existing tenants to create cash flow from day one [08:14] Subdividing properties attracts institutional buyers [09:35] The approval process to convert vacant properties to storage [11:24] Renovation costs, pricing strategy, and competitive advantages [13:48] The four key criteria David uses to select winning markets [16:01] The risks involved in self-storage [23:21] Financing strategies and minimizing downside risk [25:00] Leaving "meat on the bone" to ensure strong exits [28:43] How investors can get involved or learn more [29:29] Connect with David Pelusio Sr. [31:04] Final thoughts on risk, returns, and long-term demand for self-storage [34:08] Outro Guest Links: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/david-pelusio-sr/  Website: https://davidrealestatehomes.com/  Show Links: Living Off Rentals YouTube Channel – youtube.com/c/LivingOffRentals  Living Off Rentals YouTube Podcast Channel - youtube.com/c/LivingOffRentalsPodcast  Living Off Rentals Facebook Group – facebook.com/groups/livingoffrentals  Living Off Rentals Website – https://www.livingoffrentals.com/  Living Off Rentals Instagram – instagram.com/livingoffrentals  Living Off Rentals TikTok – tiktok.com/@livingoffrentals

    35 min

  7. JAN 28

    #311 - Why Building Income Matters More Than Building Wealth - Dustin Heiner

    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 freedom.  He breaks down how delayed gratification, intentional use of time, and serving others helped him build a life centered on faith, family, and impact.  Listen and enjoy the show! Key Takeaways: [00:00] Introducing Dustin Heiner and his real estate background [04:47] Getting laid off and realizing a job isn't true security [06:42] Why helping others became more fulfilling than buying more properties [09:50] The shift from competition to abundance in real estate [13:17] Time freedom matters more than money alone [14:50] The progression from money freedom to time, relationships, and service [17:08] How delayed gratification accelerated Dustin's freedom [22:42] Changing perspective from "I have to" to "I get to" [26:22] Gratitude, mindset, and focusing on what truly matters [32:07] How positive self-talk separates top performers from everyone else [35:40] Why building income must come before building wealth [37:03] How focusing on individuals, not crowds, creates real results [39:30] Who Income Builder Live is designed for [41:20] Why buy-and-hold income beats flipping and transactional strategies [46:15] The connection between humility, service, and long-term success [47:14] Why taking the focus off yourself improves business and relationships [54:48] Connect with Dustin Heiner [55:23] Outro Guest Links: Website: https://masterpassiveincome.com/    Register for the 2026 Income Building Live Conference: https://www.incomebuildinglive.com/ Show Links: Living Off Rentals YouTube Channel – youtube.com/c/LivingOffRentals  Living Off Rentals YouTube Podcast Channel - youtube.com/c/LivingOffRentalsPodcast  Living Off Rentals Facebook Group – facebook.com/groups/livingoffrentals  Living Off Rentals Website – https://www.livingoffrentals.com/  Living Off Rentals Instagram – instagram.com/livingoffrentals  Living Off Rentals TikTok – tiktok.com/@livingoffrentals

    56 min

  8. JAN 21

    #310 - Just Buy a House Already Using Subject-To Deals - William Tingle

    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 beginners can get started by focusing on simple, repeatable actions instead of overcomplicated strategies. Enjoy the show! Key Takeaways: [00:00] Introducing William Tingle and his background [03:55] Why misery pushed William to finally take action [07:21] Leaving his full-time job [10:29] The hidden cost of lifestyle inflation when chasing financial freedom [13:27] Most people don't fail in real estate; they just never start [15:19] The easiest, lowest-risk way to get started: bird-dogging deals [18:03] How subject-to deals work and why sellers say yes [19:59] Common mistakes investors make with sub-to deals [22:48] A real example of turning one subject-to deal into nearly $90K [27:10] The "12 House Blueprint" and how one deal per month replaces a W-2 [29:22] Why owning notes, not rentals, creates more freedom and fewer headaches [31:07] Price point and condition for a property to buy [33:52] Exploring advanced deals like title issues, probate, and adverse possession [40:42] Connect with William Tingle [42:16] Outro Guest Links: Website: https://williamtingle.com/  Podcasts, Resources, Videos: https://www.youtube.com/@sub2deals  Just Buy a House Book: https://justbuyahouse.com/  Show Links: Living Off Rentals YouTube Channel – youtube.com/c/LivingOffRentals  Living Off Rentals YouTube Podcast Channel - youtube.com/c/LivingOffRentalsPodcast  Living Off Rentals Facebook Group – facebook.com/groups/livingoffrentals  Living Off Rentals Website – https://www.livingoffrentals.com/  Living Off Rentals Instagram – instagram.com/livingoffrentals  Living Off Rentals TikTok – tiktok.com/@livingoffrentals

    43 min
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4.9
out of 5
83 Ratings

About

We believe that a high quality rental property is the best investment a person can make. This podcast equips listeners to build a rental portfolio of their own. Each week host, Kirby Atwell, interviews someone who is living off rentals and identifies best practices, advice, and potential investing pitfalls to avoid!

Information

  • Creator
    Kirby Atwell
  • Years Active
    2020 - 2026
  • Episodes
    100
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2025 Living Off Rentals | Kirby Atwell
  • Show Website
    Living Off Rentals

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