How to Turn $0 Into an Airbnb Portfolio

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In this episode of the Rent To Retirement Podcast, hosts Adam Schroeder and Zach Lemaster sit down with real-estate investor and full-time firefighter Karl, who shares a remarkable journey shaped by life-changing events, disciplined action, and the pursuit of financial freedom. His story is a powerful roadmap for anyone balancing a W-2 job while building a real estate portfolio.

Karl reveals how he:

• Turned a triplex into a profitable mid-term rental
• Scaled into Airbnb using systems, cleaners, and automation
• Leveraged bonus depreciation to offset W-2 income
• Built a deal pipeline through consistent networking
• Navigated a difficult syndication loss—and what every investor must learn from it
• Closed a fix-and-flip using none of his own money
• Plans to grow into boutique hotel investing

Whether you’re a new investor, a W-2 earner seeking financial independence, or someone considering short- or mid-term rentals, Karl provides actionable insight, transparency, and motivation to take the next step.

⏱️ TIMESTAMPS
00:00 – Introduction to Karl & his investing journey
00:39 – Karl's first deal: Triplex → MTR opportunity
01:57 – The life-changing event that shaped his “why”
03:34 – Becoming a firefighter & treating real estate as a side hustle
05:16 – Closing multiple deals & using real estate as a safety net
07:15 – How STR owners can deduct against W-2 income with bonus depreciation
08:31 – Mid-term vs short-term rentals & building systems for automation
10:06 – Cleaners, maintenance teams & messaging automation tips
11:49 – Pivoting into Airbnb & how professional design doubled bookings
13:56 – Increasing ADR & turning $1,000–$1,200 rents into $2,300–$3,000/mo
18:33 – Karl’s syndication experience: vacancies, management issues & loss
22:20 – Risks of syndications vs owning real estate directly
27:17 – How to analyze deals without paralysis
30:22 – Advice for W-2 workers getting started
31:43 – Building skills, using mornings, and finding mentors
33:21 – The value of networking & how it led to funding a deal overnight
38:02 – Karl’s 2025–2026 market outlook
39:31 – What’s next: Boutique hotels & scaling STR operations
40:55 – Closing thoughts & how to share your story on the podcast

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