# 157. How We Launched Our First Airbnb for Tax Savings, Passive Income & Long-Term Wealth

Page: https://stenobird.com/podcast/plenty-with-kate-northrup-6618641/157-how-we-launched-our-first-airbnb-for-tax-savings-passive-income-long-term-wealth
Text version: https://stenobird.com/podcast/plenty-with-kate-northrup-6618641/157-how-we-launched-our-first-airbnb-for-tax-savings-passive-income-long-term-wealth.md
Podcast: [Plenty with Kate Northrup](https://stenobird.com/podcast/plenty-with-kate-northrup-6618641)
Published: 2026-05-05T06:00:00+00:00
Episode link: https://share.transistor.fm/s/43cef273
Audio file: https://media.transistor.fm/43cef273/7fbf3cda.mp3
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JSON: https://stenobird.com/v1/public/podcasts/plenty-with-kate-northrup-6618641/episodes/157-how-we-launched-our-first-airbnb-for-tax-savings-passive-income-long-term-wealth
Duration seconds: 2492

## Resource

What if building a new stream of income didn't require perfection — just a willingness to learn as you go? And what might open up if you let yourself experiment with money in a way that feels creative instead of rigid? In this episode, I'm taking you behind the scenes with Mike as we share the real story of launching our first short-term rental property — what worked, what surprised us, and what we'd do differently. We originally explored this path as a tax strategy, but it turned into something more: an opportunity to diversify our income, build an asset, and step into a completely new kind of learning curve. And it was a learning curve. We went in thinking renovations would cost about half of what they actually did. Once we opened up the walls, we uncovered things we couldn't have anticipated — outdated systems, deeper structural work that needed to happen. But even with those surprises, the property is now live and generating income, which has been rewarding to see. We talk about how we chose the location (and why familiarity with a market matters), how we thought about increasing the property's value, and the importance of understanding local regulations before you invest. We also share something I care about: the idea of "shipping" before everything is perfect. Whether it's business or investing, waiting until you feel fully ready can keep you stuck indefinitely. This episode is an invitation to approach money with more curiosity, more flexibility, and more willingness to learn through action — rather than waiting for certainty. “We went into it thinking it was gonna cost about half as much as it did to renovate.” –Kate Northrup “The hardest part is getting it started and getting things set up.”--Mike Watts 🎤 Let’s Dive into the Good Stuff on Plenty 🎤 01:32 Announ…

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## Transcript

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