What if you could invest in short-term rentals without owning the property? On this episode of Zen and the Art of Real Estate Investing, Jonathan interviews Michael Chang, co-founder and partner at TrustBNB Vacation Rentals and TrustBNB Capital. Based in New York, Michael operates a portfolio of short-term rentals in Philadelphia and the Tennessee Smoky Mountains and is an expert in using arbitrage for short-term rental properties. He shares his insights on non-traditional investing methods and how to match location with experience level for optimal results.
Jonathan and Michael start their discussion by delving into Michael Chang’s story as an immigrant to the U.S. and his early exposure to real estate through his family’s first home purchase. Michael recounts how he and his wife began investing in short-term rentals in Queens, New York, using arbitrage, emphasizing how he dove into the investing world and learned through trial and error. He outlines his buy box criteria for arbitrage, his competitive edge in Philadelphia, and the need to be flexible as an investor. They also explore the specifics of his properties in the Smoky Mountains, the influence of HOAs, market shifts, and his advice for new investors interested in using arbitrage in their portfolios.
You’ll hear Jonathan and Michael further discuss:
- Michael and his wife used various strategies to start their short-term rental portfolio, including using arbitrage to generate cash flow from the beginning.
- Michael used larger multifamily properties in Philadelphia to scale without creating excessive overhead.
- While his properties in the Smoky Mountains have HOAs, they aren’t intrusive and offer a lot of collaboration among the owners.
Thinking out of the box helped Michael Chang succeed, and he’s sharing how you can get there, too.
If you want to learn more about Zen and the Art of Real Estate Investing Podcast, check out https://zenandtheartofrealestateinvesting.com/podcast/162/.