Buying a house is one of the biggest financial decisions most of us will ever make. So why does it feel like no one has ever taught us how to actually do it?
There's no class in school that explains mortgages, offers, inspections, appraisals, or closing costs. Most of us are just piecing it together from Google searches, conversations with ChatGPT, and advice from our parents that's probably 30 years out of date—all while hoping we're not making an incredibly expensive mistake.
So in this episode, we’re answering one simple question: how do you buy a house?

This Week’s Expert Guests:
Kacia Ghetmiri is a real estate agent, an investor, an entrepreneur and the host of the EmpowerHER podcast.
Jessica Khani is a mortgage lender, who’s also an investor and an entrepreneur.

Tune in to learn:
–Every single step of the home-buying process, from getting pre-approved all the way to closing day
–The #1 question you should ask before selecting a real estate agent
–How much money you actually need to buy a house (hint: it may be far less than you think)
–What you can negotiate beyond just the purchase price
–The biggest mistakes first-time homebuyers make (and how to avoid them)

Key links:
–FREE How to Buy a House guide! Download it here: https://www.BuyYourSecondHomeFirst.com/buyahouse
–Second Home First Academy: BuyYourSecondHomeFirst.com/academy
*Use code PODCAST for 40% off
–Subscribe to the free weekly newsletter: BuyYourSecondHomeFirst.com/#subscribe 
–Visit the website: BuyYourSecondHomeFirst.com
–Follow on Instagram and TikTok: @BuyYourSecondHomeFirst
–Find us on Substack: SecondHomeFirst.Substack.com 
–Say Hi! [email protected] (mailto:[email protected]) 

A Special Thank You To Our Sponsors:
Lodgify: https://lodgify.com/?afmc=28y
Click the link and enter code SHF-60 for an 60% off their yearly and bi-yearly plans. *Only until June 30, 2026.

Minoan: https://www.Minoan.com/SecondHome  
Use the link provided to sign up and receive a free $25 in credit.

Turno: https://go.turno.com/second_home_first 
Use the link provided to get $25 off your first clean.

Flytographer: https://www.Flytographer.com/SHF  
Use code SHF25 for $25 off your first shoot

PriceLabs: https://hello.pricelabs.co/signup/?referral=secondhomefirst 
Use code SecondHomeFirst (all one word) for a 30-day free trial, plus $10 off your first invoice

After years of hustling, climbing, achieving, and building, many of us are looking around at our lives and thinking: is this really it? Our guest today felt exactly that, and she shares how buying her second home first in Lake Tahoe became the catalyst not just for financial change, but for reevaluating her life, career, and her definition of success.

This Week’s Guest:
Janel Gallucci is a short term rental owner, investor and co-founder of the Seven Summers Host Academy. Janel was living in San Francisco when she made a decision that completely changed the trajectory of her life: buying her second home first — a cabin in Lake Tahoe.

Tune in to learn:
–Why Janel looked around at the life she built (the big tech job, the city, the routine) and asked herself: Is this it?
–How buying a property that could cover its own costs felt like she cracked the code to life
–Why Janel felt shame and guilt for being a renter in her 30s
–What happens when one unconventional decision gives you permission to reevaluate everything else

Key links:
–Second Home First Academy: https://www.BuyYourSecondHomeFirst.com/academy
Use code PODCAST for 40% off
–Subscribe to the free weekly newsletter: BuyYourSecondHomeFirst.com/#subscribe
–Visit the website: https://www.BuyYourSecondHomeFirst.com
–Follow on Instagram and TikTok: @BuyYourSecondHomeFirst
–Find us on Substack: https://www.SecondHomeFirst.Substack.com
–Say Hi! [email protected]

A Special Thank You To Our Sponsors:
Lodgify: https://lodgify.com/?afmc=28y
Click the link and enter code SHF-60 for 60% off their yearly and bi-yearly plans. *Offer good from June 17-30, 2026.

Minoan: https://www.Minoan.com/SecondHome
Use the link provided to sign up and receive a free $25 in credit.

Turno: https://go.turno.com/second_home_first
Use the link provided to get $25 off your first clean.

Flytographer: https://www.Flytographer.com/SHF
Use code SHF25 for $25 off your first shoot.

PriceLabs: https://hello.pricelabs.co/signup/?referral=secondhomefirst
Use code SecondHomeFirst (all one word) for a 30-day free trial, plus $10 off your first invoice.

What happens when a forgotten property becomes the beginning of something much bigger?

In this deeply personal episode, host Katie Cline shares the story behind the abandoned Irish farmhouse her mother inherited—a home her grandmother grew up in that has sat empty for more than twenty years.

What began as a trip to reconnect with her family's roots quickly turned into something she never expected. After posting videos from the property online, hundreds of thousands of people began following the journey, proving that this story resonated far beyond one family or one farmhouse.

Katie takes listeners inside the house for the first time, shares the history of how it ended up in her family's hands, reflects on the losses that nearly caused the dream of restoring it to fade away, and explores why so many people seem drawn to stories about heritage, belonging, and preserving something for future generations.

Tune in to learn:
–How Katie became an Irish citizen and why that passport changed the trajectory of her life
–The history of the farmhouse and the family members who called it home
–What it was like opening the door to a house that had been untouched for twenty years
–The surprising discoveries found inside the property
–How a few social media videos unexpectedly reached millions of people
–The power of hospitality, community, and feeling like you belong
–The next steps in bringing the property back to life

Key links:
–Second Home First Academy: https://www.BuyYourSecondHomeFirst.com/academy
Use code PODCAST for 40% off
–Subscribe to the free weekly newsletter: BuyYourSecondHomeFirst.com/#subscribe
–Visit the website: https://www.BuyYourSecondHomeFirst.com
–Follow on Instagram and TikTok: @BuyYourSecondHomeFirst
–Find us on Substack: https://www.SecondHomeFirst.Substack.com
–Say Hi! [email protected]

A Special Thank You To Our Sponsors:
Lodgify: https://lodgify.com/?afmc=28y
Click the link and enter code SHF-60 for 60% off their yearly and bi-yearly plans. *Offer good from June 17-30, 2026.

Minoan: https://www.Minoan.com/SecondHome
Use the link provided to sign up and receive a free $25 in credit.

Turno: https://go.turno.com/second_home_first
Use the link provided to get $25 off your first clean.

Flytographer: https://www.Flytographer.com/SHF
Use code SHF25 for $25 off your first shoot

PriceLabs: https://hello.pricelabs.co/signup/?referral=secondhomefirst
Use code SecondHomeFirst (all one word) for a 30-day free trial, plus $10 off your first invoice

Want to own a vacation home that pays for itself but don’t want to become a landlord? Today’s expert episode introduces us to the world of co-hosts — property managers who let you avoid those dreaded middle of the night phone calls while still enjoying the income.

This Week’s Expert Guest:
Natalie Palmer is the host of the No Vacancy podcast and co-founder of Level Up Your Listing Summit. She’s been a co-host for as many as ten properties at one time, and she knows a thing or two about how to spot a great co-host and how to steer clear of the ones who will become a headache.

Tune in to learn:
–What is a co-host?
–The key questions you should ask when interviewing prospective co-hosts
–Why management companies with the lowest fees often cost you the most money in the long run
–The non-negotiables that must be in your contract before you hand over the keys
–How hiring the right co-host can make this a much more passive investment

Key links:
–Second Home First Academy: https://www.BuyYourSecondHomeFirst.com/academy
*Use code PODCAST for 40% off
–Subscribe to the free weekly newsletter: BuyYourSecondHomeFirst.com/#subscribe
–Visit the website: https://www.BuyYourSecondHomeFirst.com
–Follow on Instagram and TikTok: @BuyYourSecondHomeFirst
–Find us on Substack: https://www.SecondHomeFirst.Substack.com
–Say Hi! [email protected]

A Special Thank You To Our Sponsors:
Lodgify: https://lodgify.com/?afmc=28y
Click the link and enter code HOME20 for an additional 20% off their yearly and bi-yearly plans.

Minoan: https://www.Minoan.com/SecondHome
Use the link provided to sign up and receive a free $25 in credit.

Turno: https://go.turno.com/second_home_first
Use the link provided to get $25 off your first clean.

Flytographer: https://www.Flytographer.com/SHF
Use code SHF25 for $25 off your first shoot

PriceLabs: https://hello.pricelabs.co/signup/?referral=secondhomefirst
Use code SecondHomeFirst (all one word) for a 30-day free trial, plus $10 off your first invoice

If I told you someone was $1.7 million dollars in debt, you’d probably think: that sounds really bad. But today’s guest is all about leverage — using debt strategically to generate income, build equity, and create optionality. That debt is attached to properties worth roughly $4 million dollars, which make about $50,000 a month and have allowed her and her husband to leave their W2 jobs to stay home full-time with their young daughter.

This Week’s Guest:
Zoey Berghoff, a short-term rental enthusiast, investor, coach, and speaker with a passion for turning ordinary properties into unforgettable retreats. Zoey shares something that would probably sound terrifying to most people: she’s currently 1.7 million dollars in debt. But that debt is attached to properties worth roughly 4 million dollars — assets being paid down with other people’s money. In fact, today, her portfolio generates around $50,000 a month in revenue.

Tune in to learn:
–The life-changing magic of a HELOC (home equity line of credit)
–How a property earning $24,000 a year as a long-term rental started making $120,000 as a short-term rental
–How to think differently about leverage, debt, and building long-term wealth
–Why certain real estate principles are timeless

Key links:
–Second Home First Academy: https://www.BuyYourSecondHomeFirst.com/academy
*Use code PODCAST for 40% off
–Subscribe to the free weekly newsletter: BuyYourSecondHomeFirst.com/#subscribe
–Visit the website: https://www.BuyYourSecondHomeFirst.com
–Follow on Instagram and TikTok: @BuyYourSecondHomeFirst
–Find us on Substack: https://www.SecondHomeFirst.Substack.com
–Say Hi! [email protected]

A Special Thank You To Our Sponsors:
Lodgify: https://lodgify.com/?afmc=28y
Click the link and enter code HOME20 for an additional 20% off their yearly and bi-yearly plans.

Minoan: https://www.Minoan.com/SecondHome
Use the link provided to sign up and receive a free $25 in credit.

Turno: https://go.turno.com/second_home_first
Use the link provided to get $25 off your first clean.

Flytographer: https://www.Flytographer.com/SHF
Use code SHF25 for $25 off your first shoot

PriceLabs: https://hello.pricelabs.co/signup/?referral=secondhomefirst
Use code SecondHomeFirst (all one word) for a 30-day free trial, plus $10 off your first invoice

For a lot of people (myself included), the “dream” isn’t just owning a vacation home that pays for itself—it’s owning a place that your family genuinely loves to visit. But that creates an interesting challenge: how do you furnish and design a home in a way that works beautifully for you and your family while also appealing to other traveling families as guests? That’s exactly what we’re, ahem, unpacking today.

This Week’s Expert Guest:
Sarah Huff is a baby gear & family travel expert, host of the Tiny Travelers podcast, and the Senior Manager of Customer and Community at BabyQuip.

*Check out BabyQuip: https://www.babyquip.com?a=e1afd34 and get $20 off using code SUITESUCCESS20

Tune in to learn:
–Why designing around the rhythms of a child’s day can completely transform the guest experience
–What creates the most stress for families while traveling and how thoughtful hosts can eliminate friction before guests even arrive
–The biggest mistakes hosts make when trying to cater to kids
–How to create spaces that feel functional for families without feeling cluttered or chaotic
–Why family-friendly design can lead to better reviews, repeat bookings, and more memorable stays

Key links:
–Second Home First Academy: https://www.BuyYourSecondHomeFirst.com/academy
*Use code PODCAST for 40% off
–Subscribe to the free weekly newsletter: BuyYourSecondHomeFirst.com/#subscribe
–Visit the website: https://www.BuyYourSecondHomeFirst.com
–Follow on Instagram and TikTok: @BuyYourSecondHomeFirst
–Find us on Substack: https://www.SecondHomeFirst.Substack.com
–Say Hi! [email protected]

A Special Thank You To Our Sponsors:
Lodgify: https://lodgify.com/?afmc=28y
Click the link and enter code HOME20 for an additional 20% off their yearly and bi-yearly plans.

Minoan: https://www.Minoan.com/SecondHome
Use the link provided to sign up and receive a free $25 in credit.

Turno: https://go.turno.com/second_home_first
Use the link provided to get $25 off your first clean.

Flytographer: https://www.Flytographer.com/SHF
Use code SHF25 for $25 off your first shoot

PriceLabs: https://hello.pricelabs.co/signup/?referral=secondhomefirst
Use code SecondHomeFirst (all one word) for a 30-day free trial, plus $10 off your first invoice

How many of us are currently putting something off for the hypothetical “someday?” This guest realized he didn’t want to wait around to enjoy his life. So instead of buying a primary home in New York City, he and his family bought a cottage in the Poconos—and in the process, completely changed the way they think about home, family life, and the pursuit of “more.”

This Week’s Guest:
Tyler Moore is a NYC school teacher, but you might know him as “Tidy Dad”. Through his bestselling book, Tidy Up Your Life; his podcast, Tidy Tidbits; his Instagram, @TidyDad; and his newsletter, Tyler is known for sharing thoughtful reflections on parenting, routines, organization and intentional living.

Tune in to learn:
–How a simple question from a yoga teacher changed his approach homeownership
–Why they intentionally searched for the cheapest homes in the nicest neighborhoods
–How they bought a cottage in the Poconos for less than $170,000
–The hidden costs Tyler considers before making any big decision
–Why Tyler believes learning to say “no” is just as important as knowing when to say “yes”

Key links:
-Tyler’s Book: Tidy Up Your Life - https://amzn.to/49ds3FM
-Tyler’s Podcast: Tidy Tidbits - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/tidy-tidbits/id1816271318

–Second Home First Academy: https://www.BuyYourSecondHomeFirst.com/academy
*Use code PODCAST for 40% off
–Subscribe to the free weekly newsletter: https://www.BuyYourSecondHomeFirst.com/#subscribe
–Visit the website: https://www.BuyYourSecondHomeFirst.com
–Follow on Instagram and TikTok: @BuyYourSecondHomeFirst
–Find us on Substack: https://www.SecondHomeFirst.Substack.com
–Say Hi! [email protected]

A Special Thank You To Our Sponsors:
Lodgify: https://lodgify.com/?afmc=28y
Click the link and enter code HOME20 for an additional 20% off their yearly and bi-yearly plans.

Minoan: https://www.Minoan.com/SecondHome
Use the link provided to sign up and receive a free $25 in credit.

Turno: https://go.turno.com/second_home_first
Use the link provided to get $25 off your first clean.

Flytographer: https://www.Flytographer.com/SHF
Use code SHF25 for $25 off your first shoot

PriceLabs: https://hello.pricelabs.co/signup/?referral=secondhomefirst
Use code SecondHomeFirst (all one word) for a 30-day free trial, plus $10 off your first invoice

What if attaining your “dream life” didn’t require quitting your job, becoming a millionaire, or even moving someplace else? Today’s guest, a native Texan, bought her second home first in coastal Maine after falling in love with east coast summers. Now, she’s building a life around flexibility, optionality and of course, seasonality.

This Week’s Guest:
Texas native Taylor Summer is a digital nomad who fell in love with east coast summers. After falling in love with New England’s slower pace, cooler weather and historic charm, Taylor and her husband bought a home in Midcoast Maine with the goal of creating a seasonal lifestyle: east coast summers, Texas winters. Today, Taylor balances personal use of the home with mid-term rental income.

Tune in to learn:
–Why Taylor has no regrets buying at nearly an 8% interest rate
–How Taylor manages to offset most of her expenses, even while enjoying the property herself in the peak summer months
–Why buying in a completely different part of the country comes with brand new considerations, from basements and sump pumps to the realities of winter in Maine
–The difference between short-term and mid-term rentals
–The mindset shift that helped her ignore outside opinions

Key links:
–Second Home First Academy: BuyYourSecondHomeFirst.com/academy
*Use code PODCAST for 40% off
–Subscribe to the free weekly newsletter: BuyYourSecondHomeFirst.com/#subscribe
–Visit the website: BuyYourSecondHomeFirst.com
–Follow on Instagram and TikTok: @BuyYourSecondHomeFirst
–Find us on Substack: SecondHomeFirst.Substack.com
–Say Hi! [email protected]

A Special Thank You To Our Sponsors:
Lodgify: https://lodgify.com/?afmc=28y
Click the link and enter code HOME20 for an additional 20% off their yearly and bi-yearly plans.

Minoan: https://www.Minoan.com/SecondHome
Use the link provided to sign up and receive a free $25 in credit.

Turno: https://go.turno.com/second_home_first
Use the link provided to get $25 off your first clean.

Flytographer: https://www.Flytographer.com/SHF
Use code SHF25 for $25 off your first shoot

PriceLabs: https://hello.pricelabs.co/signup/?referral=secondhomefirst
Use code SecondHomeFirst (all one word) for a 30-day free trial, plus $10 off your first invoice

On this episode of Second Home First, I’m taking you behind the scenes of something I never could have predicted: my very first vacation home, Trout Landing, being featured on an Emmy Award-winning TV show!

But this episode isn’t really about TV. It’s about what happens when you put yourself in the game. When we bought this home, I thought I was making one decision—buying a place to make family memories. Along the way, I also realized what a smart financial decision it was. But what I didn’t realize is it was also opening doors to opportunities I couldn’t even see yet.

In this episode, I share:
–How Trout Landing was discovered by a TV producer
–The behind-the-scenes process of getting selected
–What it actually takes to prepare a vacation rental for filming
–The last-minute chaos (and perfectionism spiral) before the shoot
–And the bigger lesson: why the ROI of a second home goes far beyond income

Key links:
–Second Home First Academy: BuyYourSecondHomeFirst.com/academy
*Use code PODCAST for 40% off
–Subscribe to the free weekly newsletter: BuyYourSecondHomeFirst.com/#subscribe
–Visit the website: BuyYourSecondHomeFirst.com
–Follow on Instagram and TikTok: @BuyYourSecondHomeFirst
–Find us on Substack: SecondHomeFirst.Substack.com
–Say Hi! [email protected]

A Special Thank You To Our Sponsors:
Lodgify: https://lodgify.com/?afmc=28y
Click the link and enter code HOME20 for an additional 20% off their yearly and bi-yearly plans.

Minoan: https://www.Minoan.com/SecondHome
Use the link provided to sign up and receive a free $25 in credit.

Turno: https://go.turno.com/second_home_first
Use the link provided to get $25 off your first clean.

Flytographer: https://www.Flytographer.com/SHF
Use code SHF25 for $25 off your first shoot

PriceLabs: https://hello.pricelabs.co/signup/?referral=secondhomefirst
Use code SecondHomeFirst (all one word) for a 30-day free trial, plus $10 off your first invoice

When COVID hit, I made three budgets: what would happen if I lost my job, what would happen if my husband lost his job, and what would happen if we both did. It was the first time I really understood how fragile a single stream of income can be—and how important it is to build something beyond it.

This week’s expert guests, Grace Gudenkauf and Amelia McGee, are the co-founders of Women Invest in Real Estate (WIIRE), a community, podcast and series of retreats. They teach women how to become W2 optional so others can avoid feeling the same way I did.

Tune in to learn:
-Why the traditional path we’ve been taught (think 9-to-5 job, 401k investments) isn’t the only way to approach life
-How certain beliefs are quietly holding us back
-How growing up in the Midwest shaped their mindset around money, work, and doing everything themselves
-Some tips and tricks on how to start thinking and operating like the CEO of your own business

Key links:
–Second Home First Academy: https://www.BuyYourSecondHomeFirst.com/academy
*Use code PODCAST for 40% off

–Use code KATIE for $200 off WIIRE Summer Camp, taking place this September in the Poconos: https://www.wiire.com/summercamp
—Check out the Women Invest in Real Estate podcast: https://wiire.com/thewiirepodcast

–Subscribe to the free weekly newsletter: BuyYourSecondHomeFirst.com/#subscribe
–Visit the website: BuyYourSecondHomeFirst.com
–Follow on Instagram and TikTok: @BuyYourSecondHomeFirst
–Find us on Substack: SecondHomeFirst.Substack.com
–Say Hi! [email protected]

A Special Thank You To Our Sponsors:
Lodgify: https://lodgify.com/?afmc=28y
For a limited time, use code SHF60 for 60% off their yearly and bi-yearly plans (*until April 30, 2026).

Minoan: https://www.Minoan.com/SecondHome
Use the link provided to sign up and receive a free $25 in credit.

Turno: https://go.turno.com/second_home_first
Use the link provided to get $25 off your first clean.

Flytographer: https://www.Flytographer.com/SHF
Use code SHF25 for $25 off your first shoot

PriceLabs: https://hello.pricelabs.co/signup/?referral=secondhomefirst
Use code SecondHomeFirst (all one word) for a 30-day free trial, plus $10 off your first invoice