BiggerPockets Real Estate Podcast

Turning One Property into an Entire Portfolio by Doubling Down on This Niche

Sep 23, 2024

Garrett Brown, a former music producer, is now a thriving glamping property investor. He shares how this luxurious camping trend has redefined short-term rentals, allowing him to leave the music industry behind. Garrett reveals his successful strategies, including leveraging social media for direct bookings and enhancing guest experiences with add-on packages. He also discusses the evolving real estate landscape, the importance of local knowledge, and the proactive mindset needed to turn a single property into a profitable portfolio.

45:28

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Episode guests

Garrett Brown

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Quick takeaways

Glamping has emerged as a lucrative niche in real estate, combining luxury with nature to attract modern travelers seeking comfort outdoors.

The guest's transition from music producer to successful glamping entrepreneur emphasizes the importance of aligning career choices with personal passions and financial goals.

Deep dives

The Concept of Glamping

Glamping combines the experience of being in nature with the comforts of modern living, offering a luxurious alternative to traditional camping. This concept creates a unique appeal for short-term rentals, allowing guests to enjoy the beauty of the outdoors while still benefiting from amenities such as solar power and internet access. The market for glamping is growing as more people seek experiences that connect them with nature without sacrificing comfort. This trend can lead to profitable business opportunities for investors who tap into the desire for memorable outdoor experiences paired with convenience.

Intro

2min

From Music to Real Estate: A Transformative Journey

9min

The Evolving Landscape of Real Estate Investing

5min

From Pandemic Challenges to Short-Term Rentals

14min

Embracing Challenges in Real Estate Investing

7min

Maximizing Short-Term Rental Success

8min

Finding Your Investor-Friendly Agent with Ease

2min

“Glamping” investments have slowly become massive money-makers in the real estate industry. What used to be someone setting up a tent and potentially a portable toilet for guests looking to get into nature has now become a full-blown luxury business that travelers will pay good money to get a taste of. One large glamping property allowed today’s investor, Garrett Brown, to replace his music producer job and reach levels of success most short-term rental investors can only dream of.

Garrett owns a ten-acre piece of land in a lake town outside Houston, Texas. Even though many non-Texans won’t be familiar with the area, local travelers flock to it to escape the big city. Since buying the property, Garrett has made some serious expansions, such as building cabins (and even geo-domes) with WiFi, running water, and the creature comforts many of us don’t want to live without.

Plus, Garrett is doing it all while getting most of his bookings directly from social media. That’s right, he has (mostly) cut out Airbnb and other middlemen booking platforms, so he keeps much more of the profit and even gets his guests to upgrade with “add-on packages” that make the deal even sweeter. You can do it, too, but you’ll need to hear how Garrett does it in this episode!

In This Episode We Cover:

Why “glamping” has become such a popular (and profitable) version of short-term rental investing

The “sixty-thirty-ten” rule that helps you identify the best areas for short-term rentals

Leaving your career to build income streams that don’t take up all of your time

How to get seventy to eighty percent of your guest bookings through direct booking

Why you should offer your guests “add-on packages” that help make YOU more revenue

The reason you should “start small” when building out your glamping sites

And So Much More!

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