✅ 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? Bill and Brea Faeth went $1,000,000 over budget on their Whitefish, Montana property — and they'd do it again without hesitation. In this episode, they break down every dollar spent and exactly why each one was an investment in marketability, not just aesthetics. We get into the property's $2.7M-to-$5.2M value jump, how clearing a chain link fence and a row of maple trees unlocked the direct view of Glacier National Park that led Patryk Swietek to call it the #1 Airbnb in Montana, and the renovation decisions behind the $1.1M spend — from $35,000 in hand-painted murals to $150,000 in electrical to $95,000 in tile. We also talk about Brea's "one piece of jewelry per room" design rule, how she sourced a chandelier from the Kalispell Airport ceiling and tracked it down on Amazon for $200, why they designed every inch of this property for resale and not just STR income, and the 5-year appreciation math on a $5M property that could turn a $3.8M total investment into an $8–9M exit. If you're building an STR business and want to understand how to design and renovate for marketability, long-term wealth, and multiple exit strategies, this one's worth your time. Chapters 00:00 – Bill Faeth Unfiltered with Brea Faeth 00:04 – Yes, They'd Do It Again: How a $1M Over-Budget Reno Created $2.5M in Value 01:36 – What Made Patryk Swietek Call This the #1 Airbnb in Montana 03:28 – "We're Buying Marketability": The Mindset That Justifies Every Big Spend 06:47 – The "One Piece of Jewelry Per Room" Rule That Separates Good STR Design from Great 09:00 – From Kalispell Airport to Amazon: How Brea Found a $5,000 Chandelier for $200 11:13 – Chevron Fireplaces, Plaid Wallpaper, and Using Design to Bring the Sky Inside 13:29 – $35K in Hand-Painted Murals, $150K in Electrical: When to Say Yes to the Big Numbers 17:06 – Three Exit Strategies, Not Just STR: How This Property Is Built to Sell 19:00 – The 5-Year Appreciation Play: Could a $3.8M Investment Become $8–9M? 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

✅ 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

✨ Learn how to create show-stopping STR designs - without the expensive designer fees: https://www.buildstrwealth.com/strdesignschool

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

Ever wonder how a $300K renovation budget turns into a $600K one — and still makes sense? This project in Whitefish, Montana started as a simple house flip and evolved into three businesses in one property: a luxury wedding venue, a private pickleball club, and a high-end STR. Along the way, we’ve added value in ways most investors overlook — from buying extra land and regrading the ceremony space to designing for exit resale at $4M+ instead of just nightly revenue.

In this episode, I’m pulling back the curtain on the decisions behind those numbers — the stress, the design upgrades, and the strategic thinking that turns big budgets into even bigger returns. Whether you’re renovating a small condo or scaling into luxury, these principles apply at every level.

📍Chapters📍

00:00 – How a $300K Renovation Became a $600K Power Play

01:42 – From Simple STR to Three Businesses in One Property

04:15 – Why I’d Rather Buy Big Than Play It Safe With Condos

07:08 – Turning a Dirt Patch Into a $40K Wedding Venue

10:50 – Creating a 55% Cash-on-Cash Return With Smart Add-Ons

13:35 – The Secret to $90K Passive Income: A Private Pickleball Club

17:22 – Designing for Exit: Why Resale Strategy Matters More Than You Think

20:45 – How to Manage Chaos: Contractors, Start-Stops, and Tight Timelines

24:10 – The “Two Extra Steps” That Eliminate Costly Renovation Mistakes

27:35 – Small Design Decisions That Create Million-Dollar Perceived Value

Connect with Bill

🔸 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

✅ Get your copy of Super Properties: https://www.amazon.com/Super-Properties-Step-Step-Investment/dp/B0FH31LQJR/?utm_source=Youtube&utm_medium=description&utm_campaign=Super%2520Properties&utm_term=super%2520properties%252C%2520book

✅ 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?

Airbnb as most people know it is dead. Average properties in average markets just don’t work anymore. But that doesn’t mean you can’t win—if you know how to position yourself, design for multiple exits, and build for the right buyer persona.

In this video, I’ll break down what Ryan Pineda, Pace Morby, and I all agree on… and why Super Properties are the only way forward. If you want to stop playing small and actually scale with confidence, this is where to start.

Chapters

00:00 – Why “Average” Airbnb Properties Are Officially Dead

02:15 – What Ryan Pineda & Pace Morby Get Right About STRs

04:05 – The Truth About Boutique Hotels (and Why Most Fail)

06:40 – My Real Exit Strategy: How I Avoid Getting Stuck

09:10 – The $2.8M Whitefish Retreat Story (and $600K Exit)

12:25 – Designing for Multiple Exits Without Boxing Yourself In

15:00 – Picking Markets That Actually Appreciate Long-Term

17:20 – Super Properties vs. Average STRs: The Wealthy Wendy Test

20:05 – Why Your Buy Box Has to Fit the Market (or You’ll Lose)

22:30 – Practicing Every Day So You’re Ready for the Next Deal

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

✅ FREE tool and training to find your own Super Property: 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?

Airbnb isn’t “dead”… but the middle is. The 3-bed/2-bath cabins, the average condos, the stuff that crushed in 2020–2021? They’re getting wiped out. Meanwhile, the operators who know how to reposition, renovate, and separate their properties are thriving. In this video, I’ll break down why the market is splitting in two, what happens if you stay stuck in the middle, and how to build super properties that win no matter what the economy does. Don’t panic—pivot. Watch now and learn how to out-execute the 99%.

Chapters

00:00 – “Airbnb is collapsing? Here’s the real story”

01:10 – Why the middle always gets crushed

02:25 – Turning a $395K condo into a luxury diamond

03:30 – The power of the Super Property Grader

04:40 – When to cut your losses and reposition your cash

05:20 – Why 3-bed/2-bath cabins are the WORST buy in STR

07:50 – Why outdoor spaces create separation you can’t replicate

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.

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

✅ FREE Proforma - know exactly how much a property will make before you buy: https://buildstrwealth.com/proforma

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

If I had to start my Airbnb business from zero with just $125,000, here’s exactly what I’d do differently today. I’ll break down how I’d flip a property to grow my budget, launch a co-hosting business for immediate cash flow, and use the right tools and experts to avoid rookie mistakes. You’ll see how I think about fast, medium, and slow money—and why most investors get this wrong.

Chapters

00:00 – Starting from zero: what I’d do differently today

01:07 – What I'd do first

02:06 – Building cash flow in month one

04:00 – Avoiding rookie mistakes with short-term rental cash flow

05:22 – The “JICYFU” underwriting rule

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