Owning Real Estate is My Security Blanket

Real estate investing has definitely taught me the value of thinking long-term when it comes to strategy and the importance of staying flexible. 

In my city, everything has changed around Airbnb’s. They are shutting them down. You literally can’t even get a short-term rental permit anymore.

Thankfully after having Airbnb regulation changes affect my plans a few years ago, I moved my focus away from short-term rentals toward a more sustainable real estate business asset class–boutique hotels. 

When I’m looking at any type of real estate deal, I think about worst case scenarios. I ask things like...

• What if interest rates go up? 
• Can I switch this property to long-term rental if I need to?
• If a third-party is involved, what if they switch things up?

Next, I pick a strategy that gives me the most control. I ask…

What can I do to give myself options if rules or other factors change overnight?

Though the shift around Airbnb’s in my area is not ideal, it’s reminded me how much I really LOVE real estate!

Owning real estate is my security blanket. I have properties that I know will continue to support me no matter what. 

I’m so grateful for my core real estate investments. My apartment buildings, my single and multi-family homes, and my self-storage deals give me stability.

If everything else in my world disappeared tomorrow (social media reach, businesses, whatever), I know I’d still be okay because of those properties.

They ensure cash flow. They build equity. They are stable…even in worst case scenarios.

One story that always sticks out to me is about my Self-Storage Income partner AJ Osborne. 

Years ago, before COVID, AJ had a rare reaction to a vaccine that left him completely paralyzed. It was terrifying.

He and his wife had kids, including a brand new baby, and he was stuck in the hospital unable to walk or even talk. And since he was unable to work, he lost his job.

But even in the middle of that nightmare, he was able to support his family because of his self-storage investments. That income kept flowing and was their safety net.

That story is one of the reasons I got into storage in the first place.

Do you have properties, investments, or income streams that are your "security blanket”?

If not, maybe it’s time to explore strategies that can help create long-term stability for when things change overnight.