✅ FREE tool and training to grade properties instantly & spot winners faster: https://go.buildstrwealth.com/superpropertygrader

💸Baselane: Get $100 when you sign up and put your rental finances on autopilot—no monthly fees, no stress: https://baselane.com/str-wealth?

Most people overcomplicate success. David Angotti breaks down why making money gets easier once you truly understand risk, build confidence through small wins, and stay consistent longer than everyone else.

We get into hiring, ownership mentality, scaling the right way, and why the last 5% of effort is what separates elite operators from average ones.

We also talk about Vacasa’s transition, fixing guest experience, and how discipline in fitness mirrors discipline in business.

If you’re building an STR business and want to sharpen your mindset, this one’s worth your time.

Chapters

00:00 – Bill Faeth Unfiltered with David Angotti

01:51 – The Small “Taste of Success” That Changes Someone’s Entire Mindset

03:34 – How to Spot True Ownership Mentality Before You Hire

05:40 – The Costco Sample Test: Stop Hiring Without Proof

08:19 – Vacasa’s Massive Shift: Localizing 44,000 Properties

10:37 – Removing Guest Apprehension: The Real Battle Against Hotels

14:58 – The Missed Fear: Guests Don’t Trust Check-In (Here’s How to Fix It)

18:24 – The SmokyMountains.com Playbook: Free Value First, Profit Second

22:05 – How Ultramarathons Built an Elite Business Mindset

32:31 – The 1-Second Decisions That Change Your Life and Your Business

Connect with Bill Faeth

🔸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/billfaeth73

🔸 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/284886002732508

🔸 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/billfaeth/

🔸 TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@bfaeth

Mentioned in this episode:

This episode is brought to you by StayFi — the easiest way to grow your direct bookings! ⁠ Visit stayfi.com/bill and use code "BILL" for an exclusive 50% off your first three months. Landing page: stayfi.com/bill

✅ Shop my favorite amenities for Airbnbs: https://www.amazon.com/shop/billfaeth73

(As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.)

✅ FREE masterclass - how to earn $250K+ NET per year from Airbnb:

https://buildstrwealth.com/550250masterclass

✅ FREE tool and training to grade properties instantly & spot winners faster: https://go.buildstrwealth.com/superpropertygrader

✅ FREE community: Join 33K+ hosts growing their wealth with STRs: https://www.facebook.com/groups/284886002732508/?mibextid=oMANbw

💸Baselane: Get $100 when you sign up and put your rental finances on autopilot—no monthly fees, no stress: https://baselane.com/str-wealth?

I’ve never shown a project like this in so much detail. Soaring Eagle Lodge started as a dated 7,200+ sq ft Golden Girls time capsule and we turned it into a 10-bedroom, multi-revenue mega super property with an STR, luxury wedding venue, and private indoor pickleball club. In this full walkthrough, I break down the design decisions Brea and I made, how we sourced “Restoration Hardware” looks on a HomeGoods budget, how we protected multiple exit strategies, and how we pushed the valuation into the $5M+ range. If you’re trying to understand what intentional design, layout, amenities, and underwriting actually look like in the real world—not theory—you’re going to want to watch this one start to finish.

Chapters

00:00 – Welcome to Soaring Eagle Lodge: From Golden Girls to $5M Mega Property

02:36 – Why Every Design Decision Starts With an Exit Strategy

04:42 – The “Fifth Surface” Rule: How Ceilings Transform a Room

07:13 – Designing With Intention: Views, Value, and Resale Strategy

10:55 – Restoration Hardware on a HomeGoods Budget (Bria’s Sourcing Secrets)

15:18 – The $68K Lesson in Landscaping and Wedding Venue Design

17:10 – Glow-in-the-Dark Game Room: Turning Nostalgia Into Marketing Power

19:09 – How to Build a Movie Theater Without Boxing In Your Exit

22:33 – Designing for Emotion: The Bridal Suite and Ghost Tree Aesthetic

28:39 – How We Added Bedrooms, Bathrooms, and $1.5M in Value

38:52 – Three Revenue Streams, One Property: STR + Venue + Pickleball Club

45:32 – Inside the Super Factory: Building the Ultimate Event and Education Space

Connect with Bill Faeth

🔸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/billfaeth73

🔸 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/284886002732508

🔸 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/billfaeth/

🔸 TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@bfaeth

Mentioned in this episode:

This episode is brought to you by StayFi — the easiest way to grow your direct bookings! ⁠ Visit stayfi.com/bill and use code "BILL" for an exclusive 50% off your first three months.

👇 Get the free tools mentioned:

✅ Super Property Grader: https://go.buildstrwealth.com/superpropertygrader

✅ Proforma: https://buildstrwealth.com/proforma

✅ Bella Vista Case Study: https://buildstrwealth.com/bellavistacasestudy

💸Baselane: Get $100 when you sign up and put your rental finances on autopilot—no monthly fees, no stress: https://baselane.com/str-wealth?

I lost $126,000 on my second short-term rental — and it was the best lesson I’ve ever learned.

In this episode of Bill Faeth Unfiltered, I’m unpacking exactly what went wrong… and how it forced me to start running my STRs like a real business.

You’ll learn the systems I built after that failure — including why I never buy a property without seeing it in person, how I use the Super Grader to analyze deals, and the design decisions that make a property super.

If you’re ready to stop guessing and start running your STR portfolio like a pro, this one’s for you.

Chapters

00:00 – The $126K Lesson That Changed How I Invest Forever

01:48 – How a Beach House in Gulf Shores Sparked It All

03:22 – The Marketing Hack That Turned “Average” Into Profitable

05:40 – The Game-Day Decision That Cost Me Everything

07:18 – The Contractor Scam I Never Saw Coming

09:05 – What Losing It All Taught Me About Process

11:10 – Why I’ll Never Buy Another Property Sight-Unseen

13:00 – The Super Grader: How I Analyze Every STR Deal

15:05 – The Design Mistake 3,000+ Hosts Are Still Making

17:40 – The Mindset Shift That Turns “Normal” Properties Into Super Properties

Connect with Bill Faeth

🔸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/billfaeth73

🔸 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/284886002732508

🔸 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/billfaeth/

🔸 TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@bfaeth

Mentioned in this episode:

This episode is brought to you by StayFi — the easiest way to grow your direct bookings! ⁠ Visit stayfi.com/bill and use code "BILL" for an exclusive 50% off your first three months. Landing page: stayfi.com/bill