Airbnb isn’t “easy money” anymore — competition is real, and standing out takes an actual system.

In this episode of the REalized Gains Podcast, Steven Tran and Jordan Lee sit down with Don Luong (Portland native; lending professional turned short-term rental operator) to break down what it really takes to build and manage a profitable Airbnb portfolio in the Portland metro.

Don shares his playbook for evaluating a new Airbnb market (including how he studies comparable listings, upgrades the guest experience, and validates demand with tools like AirDNA), plus the operational reality of running 6–7 listings across Beaverton, Hillsboro, and beyond. You’ll hear how he scaled from using a 25% property manager to self-managing with systems, cleaners, and dynamic pricing (PriceLabs), why interior design + pro photos matter more than most hosts admit, and how minimum-night rules + pricing strategy can reduce party risk while improving guest quality.

We also get into Portland’s STR regulations vs. Washington County flexibility (one reason Don focused on Beaverton), the types of guests that actually book suburban Airbnbs (family visits, remodel displacement, insurance stays, visiting colleges), and the difference between short-term rentals vs. mid-term rentals for steady cashflow.

If you’re thinking about buying your first Airbnb, turning a primary residence into a short-term rental, or hiring a co-host/property manager — this episode will save you months of trial and error.

Guest: Don Luong — Stumptown Rental Homes

Website: StumptownRentalHomes.com

Topics covered: Airbnb strategy, Beaverton & Hillsboro short-term rentals, pricing, cleaning ops, reviews, risk management, and scaling a co-hosting business.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode of the REalized Gains Podcast, Steven & Jordan sit down with Jayselle Poblete to talk about her journey from working in real estate development in Washington, D.C. to relocating to Portland and ultimately starting her own HVAC company, Stellar HVAC.

Jayselle shares what it was like transitioning between markets, continuing her career in development, and making the pivotal decision to build a business that gave her more flexibility and time with her daughter. She walks through the realities of starting an HVAC company, from learning the technical side of the industry to managing operations, hiring, and growth.

This conversation dives into the intricacies of the HVAC business, the challenges of entrepreneurship, and the mindset required to step away from a traditional career path to build something of your own. Jayselle’s story offers valuable insight for anyone considering starting a service-based business or balancing career ambition with family priorities.

Whether you’re an entrepreneur, real estate professional, or someone curious about building a business from the ground up, this episode is packed with real-world lessons and honest perspective you won’t want to miss.

#REalizedGainsPodcast #Entrepreneurship #HVACBusiness #SmallBusinessOwner #WomenInBusiness #PortlandOregon #BusinessOwnership

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode of the REalized Gains Podcast, Steven & Jordan sit down with Portland-area real estate agent Tiana Javier of eXp Realty. Tiana shares her journey from starting in Beaverton to now building a thriving business in Ridgefield, WA. As a mom and full-time Realtor, she talks about being the “school bus agent” for local families, helping clients through life transitions like divorce, and guiding new agents as a mentor.

Whether you’re a parent balancing career and family, a new agent finding your footing, or just curious about what it takes to build a meaningful real estate business, Tiana’s story is full of inspiration and practical wisdom.

#REalizedGainsPodcast #PortlandRealEstate #RealtorLife #eXpRealty #RealEstateTips #WashingtonRealEstate #WomenInRealEstate #RealEstateMentor

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode of the REalized Gains Podcast, Steven & Jordan sit down with Ian Murdock, mortgage broker at Mortgage Trust. Ian shares his unique journey from pursuing a career in music to becoming a trusted mortgage professional. He opens up about navigating the 2008 housing crisis, the lessons he learned from that turbulent time, and how those experiences shaped his approach to helping clients today. Ian also dives into the topic of reverse mortgages—clearing up common misconceptions and explaining when they can be a smart financial tool.

Whether you’re a first-time homebuyer, real estate investor, or just curious about the lending side of the business, Ian’s story offers valuable insights into resilience, reinvention, and the power of financial education.

#REalizedGainsPodcast #MortgageBroker #MortgageTrust #ReverseMortgage #MortgageTips #RealEstateFinance #HomeLoans #MortgageAdvice

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode of the REalized Gains Podcast, Steven & Jordan sit down with Washington real estate agent Jasmine Yamamoto of eXp Realty. Jasmine shares her inspiring journey from working as a server to buying her first home, getting her license, and building a thriving real estate career. She dives into how long-form YouTube videos became her most powerful marketing tool and offers practical tips for agents who want to grow their business through content creation.

Whether you’re a new agent, an investor, or just curious about how YouTube can transform a real estate business, Jasmine’s story is full of insights you won’t want to miss.

#REalizedGainsPodcast #RealEstateAgent #YouTubeMarketing #RealEstateTips #WashingtonRealEstate #eXpRealty #RealEstateMarketing

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode, Steven & Jordan sit down with Jenelle Etzel, founder of Living Room Realty, to explore how she built one of Portland’s most recognizable real estate brands. Jenelle shares her journey from launching a boutique brokerage to expanding into property management and house flipping—all while staying rooted in Portland’s culture and values. She talks about the lessons learned in branding, community-building, and creating spaces that truly feel like home.

🎧 Listen now on YouTube, Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts!

📩 Connect with us:

Jenelle Etzel | jenelle@|livingroomre.com | @jenelleetzel

Jordan Lee | [email protected] | @jordanleemortgage

Steven Tran | [email protected] | @stevenanquan

#RealizedGainsPodcast #RealEstateInvesting #RealEstatePodcast #PortlandRealEstate #EntrepreneurJourney

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

From House Hacker to Cottage Cluster Developer! | Realized Gains Podcast

In this episode of REalized Gains, we sit down with investor Kelsey LPJ, who shares how she got started in real estate at just 19 years old, and walks us through her journey to developing a 15-unit cottage cluster project. We dive into the challenges, mindset shifts, and wins she’s had along the way—and what she’s planning next.

🎧 Listen now on YouTube, Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts!

📩 Connect with us:

Kelsey LPJ | [email protected] | @rei.odyssey

Jordan Lee | [email protected] | @jordanleemortgage

Steven Tran | [email protected] | @stevenanquan

#RealizedGainsPodcast #RealEstateInvesting #CottageCluster #YoungInvestors #RealEstatePodcast

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On this episode, Dave Jaber, founder of  @bendteardrop  talks about how he started his teardrop trailer business by selling surfboards, and how he has scaled this business into over 100 teardrop trailers a year, and now including mobile saunas.

Stream now on YouTube, Spotify, Apple Podcasts or anywhere you listen to podcasts!

Contact:

Dave Jaber | [email protected] | @bendteardrop

Jordan Lee | [email protected] | @jordanleemortgage

Steven Tran | [email protected] | @stevenanquan

#realizedgainspodcast #smallbusiness #realestatepodcast #podcast

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On this episode, Seth Loveland talks about purchasing his first duplex and his learnings from that, as well as starting his portfolio out of state and getting his masters in real estate to scale up!

Stream now on YouTube, Spotify, Apple Podcasts or anywhere you listen to podcasts!

Contact:

Seth Loveland | [email protected]

Jordan Lee | [email protected] | @jordanleemortgage

Steven Tran | [email protected] | @stevenanquan

#realizedgainspodcast #oregonrealestate #realestateinvesting #realestatebusiness #realestatepodcast #podcast

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On this episode, Cindy Thackery of John L Scott talks about her journey of becoming the managing principal broker for multiple brokerages in the Beaverton area, along with taking on multiple leadership roles, while raising 6 kids, and running a winery!

Stream now on YouTube, Spotify, Apple Podcasts or anywhere you listen to podcasts!

Contact:

Cindy Thackery | [email protected] | @realtor_cindy_pnw

Jordan Lee | [email protected] | @jordanleemortgage

Steven Tran | [email protected] | @stevenanquan

#realizedgainspodcast #oregonrealestate #realestateinvesting #realestatebusiness #realestatepodcast #podcast

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.