ChooseFI | Financial Independence Podcast

How To Get Started Making Money With Airbnb with Zeona McIntyre

Jun 23, 2019

Ask episode

AI Snips

Chapters

Transcript

Episode notes

ANECDOTE

Starting With A Sublet Experiment

Zeona started Airbnb by subletting a spare room in her two-bedroom rental after her roommate moved out.
She treated it as a low-risk experiment and quickly covered more of her rent than a traditional roommate would.

ANECDOTE

First Purchase Funded By Private Loan

Zeona financed her first purchased apartment with a private loan from an investor-landlord friend at 5% interest, interest-only for three years.
She presented income and payment numbers and relied on his trust and market timing rather than traditional bank financing.

INSIGHT

Choose Locations With Built-In Demand

Choosing neighborhoods near large universities or attractions creates steady demand and tolerant neighbors.
Student areas work because transient populations rarely police short-term rentals.

Get the Snipd Podcast app to discover more snips from this episode

Get the app

A simple house hack turned into a 25-property empire—with zero real estate experience and no bank loans. Zianna McIntyre started by subletting a spare bedroom on Airbnb to cover her rent. Within a few years, she'd bootstrapped her way to financial independence, managing two dozen properties remotely and living life on her own terms.

Brad and Jonathan bring Zianna on to break down exactly how she did it. She walks through her first property purchase (financed by an old landlord friend), the systems she built to manage multiple listings without burning out, and the mindset shifts that helped her go from nervous renter to confident real estate entrepreneur.

Key Topics Discussed:

Introduction of Zianna McIntyre [00:02:23]
Zianna shares her interest in homes and how it drove her to explore real estate.
Early Experiences with Airbnb [00:04:13]
She started by subletting a room in her apartment to defray housing costs, enjoying the hosting experience and connection with guests.
Financial Benefits of Airbnb [00:09:01]
Covering housing expenses gave her freedom to pursue other interests and reduced her need for a full-time job.
Path to First Property Purchase [00:20:21]
Zianna financed her first property through a private loan from a former landlord friend instead of traditional bank loans.
Managing Multiple Properties [00:39:01]
An overview of her growth from one property to managing around 25.

Key Takeaways:

Research Local Laws: Ensure compliance with local regulations related to Airbnb and short-term rentals. [00:50:34]
Build a Trustworthy Team: Assemble a reliable network of cleaners and handymen for efficient property management. [00:45:25]
Explore Your Local Real Estate Market: Understand the dynamics of the market where you wish to invest. [00:30:16]

Notable Quotes:

"Interest in homes transforms into successful Airbnb ventures." [00:03:09]
"Covering housing costs unlocks financial freedom." [00:09:01]
"The worst that could happen is someone says no." [00:22:05]
"Mastering house hacking allows you to live for free." [00:12:28]

Related Resources:

Mr. Money Mustache Blog: mrmoneymustache.com [00:12:28]

Related Episodes:

Episode 100: Starting Your Journey to Financial Independence [00:53:21]

Terminology:

House Hacking: A strategy where an individual rents out a portion of their home or property to cover mortgage costs. [00:12:28]
Airbnb: An online marketplace that allows individuals to rent out their properties or spare rooms to travelers. [00:02:23]

Support the Show
We work hard to keep ChooseFI ad-free for a clean listening experience. The easiest way to support us is to use our Top Recommended Cards page when signing up for your next travel rewards credit card.