# #331 - How to Build Systems to Scale to 16 Short Term Rentals - Michelle Norman

Page: https://stenobird.com/podcast/living-off-rentals-111328/331-how-to-build-systems-to-scale-to-16-short-term-rentals-michelle-norman
Text version: https://stenobird.com/podcast/living-off-rentals-111328/331-how-to-build-systems-to-scale-to-16-short-term-rentals-michelle-norman.md
Podcast: [Living Off Rentals](https://stenobird.com/podcast/living-off-rentals-111328)
Published: 2026-06-17T12:00:00+00:00
Episode link: https://livingoffrentals.libsyn.com/331-how-to-build-systems-to-scale-to-16-short-term-rentals-michelle-norman
Audio file: https://traffic.libsyn.com/secure/livingoffrentals/Living_Off_Rentals_331_v2.mp3?dest-id=1829519
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JSON: https://stenobird.com/v1/public/podcasts/living-off-rentals-111328/episodes/331-how-to-build-systems-to-scale-to-16-short-term-rentals-michelle-norman
Duration seconds: 2845

## Resource

Joining us in this episode of Living Off Rentals is a real estate broker and short-term rental investor who has built a 16-unit Airbnb portfolio across multiple states while keeping family and lifestyle a top priority. In her second appearance on the show, Michelle Norman shares how she and her husband went from purchasing their very first Airbnb five years ago, to a thriving multi-state portfolio without physically ever going to their properties. She opens up about the early mistakes, the growing pains, and the systems she put in place to finally make it feel manageable. She also gets into the numbers — how she chooses her markets, what she looks for in a deal, and how she finances properties using DSCR loans and private lenders. She also talks about her 18-year-old son buying his very first Airbnb — a full-circle moment for a family that has built a lifestyle by design from short-term rentals. Whether you're just getting started or looking to scale without sacrificing the things that matter most, Michelle's story is one you'll want to hear. Enjoy the show! Key Takeaways: [00:00] Michelle Norman and her background [03:25] Getting into real estate investing [04:07] Growing from 0 to 16 Airbnb units [07:27] Passive income became the goal [10:44] Lessons learned while scaling the business [13:28] Hiring a virtual assistant to run operations [15:57] Mistakes and growing pains in the early years [17:12] Using Turno to manage cleaners and maintenance [20:00] Choosing investment markets [22:40] Michelle's 18-year-old son buys his first Airbnb [29:14] Building confidence to invest remotely [32:45] What they look for in Airbnb deals [34:34] Financing properties with DSCR loans and private lenders [36:39] Michelle's advice for first-time investors [39:36] How she structures her…

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