
STR Investing, The Podcast Scaling 50+ Airbnbs In Ohio
Dec 26, 2025
Nate Klatt, a CPA turned real estate entrepreneur and co-founder of HomeHop, shares his journey from flipping houses to managing over 50 short-term rentals. He addresses the importance of conservative underwriting and how they transitioned to larger properties with high-end amenities for better ROI. Nate discusses early mistakes, the power of design in boosting performance, and the structure of their investment fund. He highlights the essential tools for effective property management and the strategies driving HomeHop's future expansion.
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From Football And CPA To Real Estate
- Nate played football at Michigan State, earned a CPA and master's in taxation, then worked in public accounting before moving into real estate flips in 2020.
- That background helped him structure processes and later scale into Airbnbs, property management, and funds.
First Flip Taught Tough Budget Lessons
- Their first flip in Cleveland closed February 2020 and they underbudgeted renovations, creating stress and thin margins.
- Most flips returned $10–15K, one hit $120K due to buying a mispriced deal and adding a standout balcony feature.
Budget For Overruns And Buy Differentiation
- Always assume renovations will go over budget and plan buffers into your pro formas.
- Focus on differentiated, higher-end work because buyers and guests pay premium for properties they fall in love with.
