Kirby Atwell served six years as an officer in the U.S. Army, after graduating from the United States Military Academy at West Point. During his service, he developed a strong interest in real estate and purchased his first rental property in 2006.In 2011, Kirby left the military to pursue real estate full time. He launched a Chicago‑based investment company and went on to flip roughly 70 properties over five years. Although the business generated significant revenue, the highly transactional model left him with no passive income and a growing treadmill of stress, overhead, and marketing costs. That realization pushed him to pivot toward building assets that produced reliable monthly cash flow.Kirby eventually discovered the power of utilitarian short‑term rentals—affordable, practical properties near major population centers that serve everyday travelers such as workers, families, and medical guests. This strategy transformed his financial life. By 2021, after acquiring eight units producing about $1,000 per unit in net monthly cash flow, he was able to leave his corporate job. Today, he owns and operates 39 short‑term rental listings, supported by systems that keep his time commitment low while delivering high, stable returns.In addition to running his portfolio, Kirby teaches other investors how to replicate this model. Through his coaching program, he has helped hundreds of people select the right markets, secure financing, set up their rentals, and manage them efficiently without expensive property managers. Kirby is the host of the Living Off Rentals podcast and YouTube channel, where he shares strategies, interviews, and insights for building recession‑resistant rental income and achieving true financial freedom. Set up a call with Kirby Atwell at livingoffrentals.com/call.