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

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

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

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

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 and enjoy the show!

Key Takeaways:

[00:00] Introducing Stu Grazier and his background

[03:05] How a 14-month deployment to Iraq sparked Stu's deep dive into real estate investing

[06:42] How living below his means during deployments accelerated his investing journey

[07:54] Managing a full-time job and real estate at the same time

[09:05] Strategies, tactics, and niches in real estate that don't require a lot of time and effort

[10:34] How his financial goals evolved from "making money" to time freedom and family presence

[13:02] The personal motivation behind building passive income as a present father

[14:14] Why Stu stayed in the military and how to know when it's time to leave

[18:47] The failure that led to launching a turnkey business

[21:44] What a turnkey investment is supposed to look like

[25:40] The hidden stress and risks of scaling a real estate business too fast

[29:41] Growing through referral word-of-mouth marketing

[30:31] Why COVID forced a hard pivot away from flipping

[33:03] Evaluating deals today: relationships come before numbers

[35:48] Why values alignment matters more than contracts

[38:48] Why the Military Investor Network was built around trust and relationships

[40:20] Creating community by connecting high-integrity people

[43:59] Time-blocking, routines, and rebuilding daily structure post-military

[47:50] Why focused, shorter workdays often produce better results

[48:54] Outro

Guest Links:

Website: https://www.militaryinvestornetwork.com/

LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/stuartgrazier

Join Stu's monthly Free Community Call: https://www.militaryinvestornetwork.com/contact-us/

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

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 a secondary market, navigate major setbacks, and still come out ahead.

Listen and enjoy the show!

Key Takeaways:

[00:00] Introducing Drew Ivey and his background

[02:31] Going into the real estate direction

[03:33] Getting a taste of freedom during COVID

[06:49] How a scientific mindset translated perfectly into market research

[08:32] Education alone doesn't guarantee success in real estate

[10:29] Why Drew shifted away from Tennessee and Texas after running the numbers

[16:05] Recognizing a deal instantly once you truly understand a market

[18:08] Why a stacked duplex stood out as a rare value-add opportunity

[22:38] Renovation setbacks that turned a $28K rehab into a $92K project

[27:10] Competing in overlooked markets with intentional design and communication

[27:54] Over-communicating with guests to drive better reviews

[31:50] How Drew's vision and idea in real estate evolved over time

[35:55] Making a friend vs networking

[39:44] Finding off-market deals through relationships

[41:20] Why mistakes are part of the process, not the end of it

[43:42] Find the "why" that is worthy and sustainable through ups and downs

[47:03] Outro

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

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 thinking seriously about building income outside of it and a pathway to financial independence, this episode offers a realistic roadmap. Listen and enjoy!

Key Takeaways:

[00:00] Introducing Stephen Arnaud and his background

[02:21] Getting into the real estate through short-term rental

[06:33] The moment he realized short-term rentals could replace earned income

[09:45] How Stephen picked his market

[11:59] Deciding on the properties that he purchased

[13:43] Details on Stephen's first two STR properties and why he targeted larger homes

[16:25] Financing with conventional loans as a W-2 investor

[17:18] Using IRA funds strategically for down payments and furnishings

[18:12] Stephen's perspective on retirement accounts vs. building income today

[21:08] Building a reliable cleaning and support team

[23:36] The biggest challenge on the flip side: Neighbors

[25:30] Screening guests and avoiding party issues

[28:15] Balancing a W-2 job with managing STRs during the early stages

[31:38] How virtual assistants can outperform owner-operators with the right systems

[34:24] Stephen's advice for people wanting to exit their 9-5 and get into short-term rentals

[37:55] A real mistake with scheduling cleaners and how communication saved the situation

[39:52] Outro

Guest Links:

Website: https://www.airbnb.com/rooms/1389202306719070032

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

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 cities are often willing to offer grants and incentives to make these projects pencil. This episode will completely change how you see opportunity. Enjoy the show!

Key Takeaways:

[00:00] Introducing Kevin Kreger and his background

[03:22] From high school football to entrepreneurship

[05:18] Starting On Point Construction in 2016 and how it evolved from management into full design-build work

[08:55] How early exposure to historic homes sparked Kevin's interest in preservation

[10:17] How to make a historic property profitable?

[13:14] Ways to identify grants, incentives, and funding that a city is offering

[15:30] How reimbursement-based grants and TIF-style programs work

[18:32] Why walking downtown and looking up is one of the best deal-finding strategies

[20:07] Managing higher construction costs in older buildings

[23:34] A real-world breakdown of Kevin's Frankfurt redevelopment project

[25:52] Combining retail tenants with short-term rentals for stability and upside

[28:10] Real numbers: acquisition costs, rehab budgets, and performance

[34:00] Connect with Kevin Kreger

Guest Links:

Website: https://www.fiddleleafdevelopment.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

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.

Listen as he shares how he went from missing precious time with his five daughters to taking back his calendar through passive income. He opens up about the faith-driven philosophy behind his work, why "active income is not freedom," and how most people unknowingly follow Wall Street's script instead of building income streams that free their time.

Enjoy the show!

Key Takeaways:

[00:00] Introducing Joey Mure and his background

[02:31] Why financial freedom has to start with spiritual freedom

[03:36] The moment Joey realized high active income wasn't true freedom

[06:33] Passive income begins with knowing your "freedom number."

[09:07] Knowledge does not equal financial freedom

[12:34] Income streams vs. wealth building

[14:45] The Passive Income Operating System

[19:04] How to start trusting yourself instead of outsourcing everything to Wall Street

[20:05] Investor DNA

[23:40] Active vs. passive: What passive income really looks like in the real world

[27:00] Common passive income streams students are succeeding with today

[31:54] Market trends Joey is watching

[35:23] How much money do people really need to get started

[36:43] The "REDNECK M.O.T.E.R." framework

[38:43] Connect with Joey Mure

[39:39] Outro

Guest Links:

Website: https://www.wealthwithoutwallstreet.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

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 she shares how they made the shift from demanding military roles and corporate careers to creating a business that supports the life they want to live. She also opens up about the mindset shifts, goal-setting, and action steps that ultimately allowed her to quit her HR job and be fully present with her kids, without sacrificing financial stability.

Enjoy the show!

Key Takeaways:

[00:00] Introducing Karin Ventresca and her background

[03:21] Growing up in Alaska and why she chose the Naval Academy

[05:25] Becoming a nuclear engineer and the unconventional path to HR

[09:28] Another twist in career progression: From HR to real estate investing

[09:50] COVID, burnout, and the moment she and Andrew realized they needed a way out

[14:02] Their first big move: building a family cabin in West Virginia and turning it into an STR

[19:01] How they furnished an entire STR with creativity, thrifting, and smart systems

[22:10] The power of deadlines in STR setup and how it saved them thousands

[26:28] 2025 goal: reclaiming their family's time

[30:02] The mindset behind intentional living and goal setting

[34:26] Their newest move: a house hack with 7 acres, a furnished ADU, and a vision for a guest-friendly garden

[39:49] Goals must be written

[40:31] How a strong network reduces fear

[44:04] Connect with Karin Ventresca

[44:55] Outro

Guest Links:

Website: https://riversidehavenwv.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