Joining us on this episode of Living Off Rentals is someone who helps investors take control of their retirement investments.

Nick Sahagun is an expert in self-directed retirement investing and alternative assets. He works closely with investors who want more control over their retirement funds and the ability to invest in opportunities outside the traditional stock market, including real estate.

Listen as he shares how self-directed IRAs and 401(k)s allow investors to deploy retirement capital into alternative investments, along with the rules, advantages, and key considerations investors should understand before using retirement funds for real estate.

He also breaks down some of the most common mistakes investors make when setting up and using self-directed retirement accounts.

Enjoy the show!

Key Takeaways:

[00:00] Introducing Nick Sahagun and his background

[03:06] How Nick first discovered the self-directed IRA space

[06:37] The difference between conventional retirement accounts and self-directed accounts

[11:08] Question before doing self-directed 401k

[13:25] Roth IRA vs Traditional IRA

[17:16] Setting up a brokerage within your self-directed IRA

[20:46] Self-directed IRA as a vehicle for diversification

[26:14] Understanding prohibited transactions and common mistakes

[32:27] Investing in a real estate deal using money in an IRA

[37:28] Lending and using leverage in an IRA

[39:35] About unrelated business income tax

[41:00] About unrelated debt, finance, and income tax

[46:44] Investing in short-term rentals with your self-directed IRA

[51:06] On the administrative side of work

[52:07] The role of Safeguard Advisors

[57:21] Price structure in the self-directed IRA landscape

[01:01:52] Connect with Nick Sahagun

[01:03:25] Outro

Guest Links:

Website: https://www.ira123.com/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nick-sahagun/

Scheduling Link: https://calendly.com/nsahagun-9cf2/living-off-rentals-safeguard-self-directed-intro

Coupon Code: LOR25 for 25% off

Show Links:

Living Off Rentals YouTube Channel – youtube.com/c/LivingOffRentals

Living Off Rentals YouTube Podcast Channel - youtube.com/c/LivingOffRentalsPodcast

Living Off Rentals Facebook Group – facebook.com/groups/livingoffrentals

Living Off Rentals Website – https://www.livingoffrentals.com/

Living Off Rentals Instagram – instagram.com/livingoffrentals

Living Off Rentals TikTok – tiktok.com/@livingoffrentals

Joining us in this episode of Living Off Rentals is Ryan Barone, CEO and co-founder of RentRedi, an all-in-one, data-powered rental management platform built specifically for independent landlords.

Ryan shares how RentRedi evolved from a simple rental application tool that he designed for personal use, to a full-service platform.

He explains why execution matters, how small operational habits can dramatically improve cash flow, and why systems are what allow landlords to scale.

He also dives into practical strategies for reducing turnover, improving tenant satisfaction, pre-qualifying applicants to cut vacancy time, and using data to make better decisions.

Listen and enjoy the show!

Key Takeaways:

[00:00] Introducing Ryan Barone and his background

[02:39] What he do before RentRedi

[07:35] Building RentRedi while working full-time at PwC

[10:27] Execution beats having the "first" idea

[12:19] Adapting features based on landlord feedback and real data

[16:43] Core features: rent collection, screening, maintenance, and automation

[20:27] Things that landlords should avoid

[22:50] Reducing tenant turnover through fast maintenance responses

[26:23] Pre-screening to reduce vacancy time

[28:36] RentRedi allows you to set up screening questions

[31:39] How systems allow landlords to scale

[34:34] Leveraging community scale to access enterprise-level services

[37:07] The future of RentRedi and rental management

[38:44] Using AI for rental management nowadays

[40:31] Connect with Ryan Barone

[42:21] Outro

Guest Links:

Website: https://rentredi.com/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ryanebarone/

Show Links:

Living Off Rentals YouTube Channel – youtube.com/c/LivingOffRentals

Living Off Rentals YouTube Podcast Channel - youtube.com/c/LivingOffRentalsPodcast

Living Off Rentals Facebook Group – facebook.com/groups/livingoffrentals

Living Off Rentals Website – https://www.livingoffrentals.com/

Living Off Rentals Instagram – instagram.com/livingoffrentals

Living Off Rentals TikTok – tiktok.com/@livingoffrentals

Joining us in this episode of Living Off Rentals is Kaitlyn Rowsey Aronis, CEO and founder of CoHo House, a nationwide design and co-hosting firm helping investors maximize short-term rental returns.

Before launching her company, Kaitlyn worked at Airbnb on the Airbnb Plus program, where she helped define what high-performing, design-forward listings really look like.

In this conversation, Kaitlyn breaks down why there is no one-size-fits-all strategy in short-term rentals. She also shares how your goals should shape everything from acquisitions to renovation budgets to design decisions.

In addition, Kaitlyn explains how scaling sustainably requires strong systems, clear roles, and heart-centered hosting without sacrificing profitability.

Enjoy the show!

Key Takeaways:

[00:00] Introducing Kaitlyn Rowsey Aronis and her background

[03:08] Getting into short-term rental space

[08:20] Bridging the gap between tech and real-life hosting at Airbnb

[11:39] Cash flow vs. equity growth: designing around your real goals

[16:42] The importance of defining your ideal guest avatar

[21:18] How Coho House grew from co-hosting to nationwide installs

[26:05] What does cash flow really mean to Kaitlyn

[29:06] Case study: West Virginia and emerging travel markets

[36:58] Think about your buying schedule and seasonality

[41:25] Don't overspend on the property and underspend on design

[45:00] Multiple ways to work with a designer

[51:32] Scaling sustainably with systems and clear roles

[56:32] Heart-centered guest communication and the "Oh No" rule

[01:04:17] Connect with Kaitlyn Rowsey Aronis

[01:05:59] Outro

Guest Links:

Website: https://www.cohohouse.com/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kaitlyn-rowsey-aronis/

Link to schedule a free listing audit: https://calendly.com/kaitlyn-opw/introductory-call

Text code - LOR2025 - to 818-208-7034 for 15% off our Design Services!

Show Links:

Living Off Rentals YouTube Channel – youtube.com/c/LivingOffRentals

Living Off Rentals YouTube Podcast Channel - youtube.com/c/LivingOffRentalsPodcast

Living Off Rentals Facebook Group – facebook.com/groups/livingoffrentals

Living Off Rentals Website – https://www.livingoffrentals.com/

Living Off Rentals Instagram – instagram.com/livingoffrentals

Living Off Rentals TikTok – tiktok.com/@livingoffrentals