<p><strong>Click HERE to learn how to earn $10K/month in rental income &amp; access 50% discount on RTR Academy</strong></p><p><strong></strong><a href="https://landing.renttoretirement.com/evg-masterclass-replay"><u>https://landing.renttoretirement.com/evg-masterclass-replay</u></a></p><p><strong>This episode is sponsored by…</strong></p><p><strong>BLUPRINT HOME LOANS:</strong></p><p>Get pre-approved with one of RTR’s preferred lenders at</p><p><a href="https://bluprinthomeloans.com/renttoretirement/"><u>https://bluprinthomeloans.com/renttoretirement/</u></a></p><p><br></p><p><strong>BAM Capital:</strong></p><p>Get access to premium real estate assets with BAM Capital. Rent to Retirement’s preferred multifamily partner.</p><p><a href="https://bamcapital.com/rtr/"><u>https://bamcapital.com/rtr/</u></a></p><p>In this episode of the <strong>Rent To Retirement Podcast</strong>, hosts <strong>Adam Schroeder</strong> and <strong>Zach Lemaster</strong> sit down with real-estate investor and full-time firefighter <strong>Karl</strong>, who shares a remarkable journey shaped by life-changing events, disciplined action, and the pursuit of financial freedom. His story is a powerful roadmap for anyone balancing a W-2 job while building a real estate portfolio.</p><p><br></p><p>Karl reveals how he:<br>• Turned a triplex into a profitable <strong>mid-term rental</strong><br>• Scaled into <strong>Airbnb</strong> using systems, cleaners, and automation<br>• Leveraged <strong>bonus depreciation</strong> to offset W-2 income<br>• Built a deal pipeline through <strong>consistent networking</strong><br>• Navigated a difficult <strong>syndication loss</strong>—and what every investor must learn from it<br>• Closed a fix-and-flip using <strong>none of his own money</strong><br>• Plans to grow into <strong>boutique hotel investing</strong></p><p><br></p><p>Whether you’re a new investor, a W-2 earner seeking financial independence, or someone considering short- or mid-term rentals, Karl provides actionable insight, transparency, and motivation to take the next step.</p><p><strong>⏱️ TIMESTAMPS</strong></p><p>00:00 – Introduction to Karl &amp; his investing journey<br>00:39 – Karl&#39;s first deal: Triplex → MTR opportunity <br>01:57 – The life-changing event that shaped his “why” <br>03:34 – Becoming a firefighter &amp; treating real estate as a side hustle <br>05:16 – Closing multiple deals &amp; using real estate as a safety net<br>07:15 – How STR owners can deduct against W-2 income with bonus depreciation<br>08:31 – Mid-term vs short-term rentals &amp; building systems for automation<br>10:06 – Cleaners, maintenance teams &amp; messaging automation tips<br>11:49 – Pivoting into Airbnb &amp; how professional design doubled bookings<br>13:56 – Increasing ADR &amp; turning $1,000–$1,200 rents into $2,300–$3,000/mo<br>18:33 – Karl’s syndication experience: vacancies, management issues &amp; loss<br>22:20 – Risks of syndications vs owning real estate directly<br>27:17 – How to analyze deals without paralysis<br>30:22 – Advice for W-2 workers getting started<br>31:43 – Building skills, using mornings, and finding mentors<br>33:21 – The value of networking &amp; how it led to funding a deal overnight<br>38:02 – Karl’s 2025–2026 market outlook<br>39:31 – What’s next: Boutique hotels &amp; scaling STR operations<br>40:55 – Closing thoughts &amp; how to share your story on the podcast🗓️ Schedule a Free Consultation:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ <a href="https://www.youtube.com/redirect?event=video_description&redir_token=QUFFLUhqa1l4Y2RIUjNialhjb05zU01abFMtRlZOTmNFZ3xBQ3Jtc0trMHdBVWZlbV9FN0pIaTUwb01iSVI3c3hOc2tzMzFPWnlId09zZ2NvOHJwbEJPUjd6LW0teVRwYW02dWhoREM4S2Mtd1hJMjhRZ1pNV2hUVU80ZFRKdHJGRi11WTAzSWlueUxndFR3VjQ5SEYxWmcwaw&q=https%3A%2F%2Fbit.ly%2F3EE6KjZ&v=_E3ooErhXgg" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">https://bit.ly/3EE6KjZ</a>📺 Subscribe to the YouTube Channel:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠<a href="https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC_h1..%E2%81%A0" rel="nofollow">https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC_h1..⁠</a>.🎧 Listen to the Rent To Retirement Podcast on the Go:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠<a href="https://www.youtube.com/redirect?event=video_description&redir_token=QUFFLUhqbjhHemVSSkhxRHpuems1ODU1a0pVcXZqUkpTd3xBQ3Jtc0ttdHpGSlVlZ3VEdnd6eVl6VkNpTk1ERjU2VGlGSUFWNW5HX21NamNqbjRSWjd6bmFBbUZyUC0tRnhkT2g3QmhNVll5Z00waDhySVVvUnFtNm1xLU5VLXozU2JmV3dLNEg2MnRaZXVIUE50NHV5Z1ltdw&q=https%3A%2F%2Fpodcasters.spotify.com%2Fpod%2Fsh..%E2%81%A0&v=_E3ooErhXgg" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/sh..⁠</a>.📬 Join Our Newsletter Email List:Submit your info at the top right corner of the page:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠<a href="https://www.youtube.com/redirect?event=video_description&redir_token=QUFFLUhqbk9mTGpza0VndWhoZV9aSDBUWGQ4Vzl3TzMxZ3xBQ3Jtc0ttbDdnUW9FOWkzTUliTUdXcVJ2MVZGQjY0cmJabFktakthMFhZdWRLdVdLUXliNkdxTlRETkFBVUpVQ1hVb1dBQ2Vlb19LMXloaFYybDlhU1dmUUNLNDNHVEluZ3FMUUh5NDI1WjZhN1Y3UHVQX1JDQQ&q=https%3A%2F%2Frenttoretirement.com%2F&v=_E3ooErhXgg" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">https://renttoretirement.com</a>⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠📧 Questions? 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