#331 - How to Build Systems to Scale to 16 Short Term Rentals - Michelle Norman

#331 - How to Build Systems to Scale to 16 Short Term Rentals - Michelle Norman

June 17, 2026 · 47 min

About this episode

Michelle Norman shares her journey of building a 16-unit Airbnb portfolio while maintaining family priorities.

Joining us in this episode of Living Off Rentals is a real estate broker and short-term rental investor who has built a 16-unit Airbnb portfolio across multiple states while keeping family and lifestyle a top priority. In her second appearance on the show, Michelle Norman shares how she and her husband went from purchasing their very first Airbnb five years ago, to a thriving multi-state portfolio without physically ever going to their properties. She opens up about the early mistakes, the growing pains, and the systems she put in place to finally make it feel manageable. She also gets into the numbers — how she chooses her markets, what she looks for in a deal, and how she finances properties using DSCR loans and private lenders. She also talks about her 18-year-old son buying his very first Airbnb — a full-circle moment for a family that has built a lifestyle by design from short-term rentals. Whether you're just getting started or looking to scale without sacrificing the things that matter most, Michelle's story is one you'll want to hear. Enjoy the show! Key Takeaways: [00:00] Michelle Norman and her background [03:25] Getting into real estate investing [04:07] Growing from 0…

People in this episode

Host: Kirby Atwell

Guest: Michelle Norman

Topics covered

Keywords

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: Airbnb, Turno

More episodes of Living Off Rentals

Explore listener stats, chart rankings, contacts and more on the Living Off Rentals podcast page.