Engineer to Fulltime Co-Host l Eric McCarty | E48

In this episode of The Austin Palacios Podcast, host Austin Palacios sits down with Geoffrey Still, an active co-host based in Orlando, to unpack why he walked away from Airbnb arbitrage in favor of co-hosting.Geoffrey shares the "glass cannon" analogy that changed how he thinks about arbitrage — high potential upside, but one bad month (a broken hot tub, a busted washer/dryer, a sky-high energy bill) can wipe out your margins fast. He breaks down the real math behind arbitrage risk, why most people getting into it don't have the cash reserves to weather it, and what shifted for him and his business partner when they moved to a co-hosting model instead.The conversation covers:Why the arbitrage model looks great on paper but rarely pencils out for the average personHow responsibilities, risk, and owner relationships differ between arbitrage and co-hostingThe 20%-of-revenue co-hosting structure and who covers what when something breaksHow offering a 30–60 day trial period actually makes owners more likely to sign — and stayUsing real occupancy data (80% vs. a 50–60% market average) as a sales toolThe value of sales role-play and peer feedback in building confidence on callsGeoffrey's closing advice: when you misspeak on a call, don't backtrack — keep goingWhether you're weighing arbitrage against co-hosting or just getting started in short-term rental management, this episode offers a candid, in-the-trenches look at what actually works.Instagram: Austin__Palacios

In this episode of the Airbnb co-hosting podcast series, host Austin Palacios sits down with John Racine, a Jacksonville-market co-host based in Orlando, Florida. John brings a hospitality background from Walt Disney World and four-star hotels, which he credits as a major edge in guest service and revenue management.John shares his path into short-term rentals: after selling off single-family rentals before the 2008 crash and finding the apartment market overpriced in 2025, he pivoted to Airbnb arbitrage, then transitioned to co-hosting after realizing arbitrage's capital requirements (furnishing costs, corporate credit limits, utility overages) were unsustainable for scaling.Key topics covered:Arbitrage vs. co-hosting: Why co-hosting lets you "learn on someone else's dime" with limited financial exposure and unlimited upside, versus arbitrage's heavy capital and expense burden (utilities, HOA restrictions, tourist development taxes).Day-to-day operations: How John runs five properties remotely — using Hospitable (PMS), PriceLabs (pricing), and Turno (cleaning coordination) — spending only a few hours a month on active management after initial setup.Building a reliable team: Lessons from firing an unreliable cleaner and rebuilding trust in his remote operations, plus how he sources maintenance help through referrals and Facebook groups.Pricing strategy: Beating the Jacksonville market average occupancy (62%) with his own 92% by leveraging PriceLabs data and a "highest last available" pricing tactic.Payment structure: An 80/20 owner-to-co-host split paid automatically through Airbnb, plus a separate technology fee billed directly to owners.Market outlook: Why he disagrees that Airbnb is "saturated," framing recent fee changes and industry doubt as opportunity rather than decline, and how he's blending a midterm/short-term hybrid model.Future goals: Ditching his W-2 job, then using co-hosting revenue to acquire around 50 owned short-term rental properties over five years.The episode closes with motivational advice for aspiring co-hosts — emphasizing action over hesitation, framing fear as "false evidence appearing real," and encouraging listeners to take small, concrete first steps (like buying a domain name) to build commitment.Instagram: austin__palacios

In this episode of the Austin Palacios Podcast, host Austin sits down with Preston Scandrett II, a co-hosting client who joined the program on July 1st and has already built a fully remote Airbnb management business spanning Atlanta and Las Vegas — all without ever investing in or arbitraging a single property himself.Preston shares his journey from running a shared-space Airbnb out of his father's home to becoming a full-time remote co-host, breaking down exactly how he lands new clients (averaging one per week through cold calling), the sales conversations that turn skeptical prospects into signed contracts, and the systems that let him manage multiple markets with as little as an hour of hands-on work per property per week.Whether you're stuck at a W2 job dreaming of remote income, curious about Airbnb co-hosting versus arbitrage or investing, or just want a real look at what it takes to build a location-independent service business from scratch, Preston's story — cold calls, mistaken identities, and all — is packed with practical insight into landing clients, onboarding properties, and scaling with quality over quantity.Topics covered:Preston's background and how he got into the Airbnb spaceWhat a co-host actually does day-to-dayLanding his first client (Latonya) through cold callingBuilding trust with a skeptical second client (Carrie)Navigating a competitive market for his third client in Las VegasHow much time it really takes to manage a property once systems are in placeWhy remote, location-independent business ownership is possible with the right structureinstagram: austin__palacios

Brad Peralta, a Bay Area native originally from Hawaii's Big Island, spent 25+ years in tech before getting laid off during COVID. Rather than returning to corporate life, he went all-in on real estate after reading Rich Dad Poor Dad, eventually focusing on short-term rentals in the Smoky Mountains. The stress of his W-2 job was bleeding into his family life, and he realized he was missing precious time with his kids — a graph Austin shared about how 80% of your time with your child happens before they turn 18 hit close to home, especially watching his oldest leave for college.He chose co-hosting over rental arbitrage because of the lower risk — no locked-in leases, no out-of-pocket exposure. Brad brings a systems-thinking mindset from his tech background to his co-hosting business, focusing heavily on proactive pricing strategy rather than just setting up Pricelabs and walking away. He also differentiates himself by treating owners the way he'd want his own properties treated — grouping maintenance calls, avoiding unnecessary costs, and building genuine long-term relationships.The episode closes on mindset, with Brad crediting The Gap and the Gain for helping him stop comparing himself to others and start appreciating his own progress. Real estate gave him the flexibility to be present for his youngest daughter before she heads off to college — something his W-2 never would have allowed.Instagram: austin__palacios

In this episode, Austin Palacios sits down with Adam Rohrer to break down the real truth about Airbnb in 2026—what’s working, what’s not, and where the biggest opportunities are right now.Adam shares how he went from working in hospitality to building a co-hosting business, why he moved away from arbitrage, and how he’s now scaling across multiple markets with systems in place.They dive into: Why Airbnb arbitrage is riskier than people think How co-hosting allows you to make $2K+/month per property with little capital The 3 core systems you actually need to run a co-hosting business  Why most Airbnb hosts are struggling—and how that creates opportunity  What separates the top 10% of hosts from everyone else  How to scale into multiple markets without owning property  Why boutique co-hosting companies are winning over large property managers The biggest takeaway: Airbnb isn’t dying—it’s evolving. And the people who focus on systems, service, and fundamentals are the ones winning.If you’ve been looking to get into Airbnb without buying property or risking tens of thousands of dollars, this episode breaks down exactly why co-hosting might be the smartest path forward.Connect with Austin on Instagram: austin__palacios

In this episode of the Austin Palacios Podcast, we sit down with Rachel Olivier, a Washington D.C.-based consultant and Airbnb entrepreneur, to dive into her journey from scrolling Instagram ads to building a thriving short-term rental business. Rachel shares her path into Airbnb investing, starting with rental arbitrage and transitioning into a successful co-hosting model. She talks about the lessons learned from her first two properties, the importance of having strong systems (especially cleaning teams), managing remotely, and building a business while working full-time. This is an inspiring and practical conversation for anyone looking to break into real estate, scale a hosting business, or overcome mindset barriers as an entrepreneur.Need help finding clients for your Airbnb Co-Hosting business? Book a call👉 https://www.cohostingacquisitions.com/FREE Co-Hosting Course👉   https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1EfApmDDTSQ&list=PLnO_3GYx9nIhGULeB3ygap7RbYFUP90zf✅ Connect with Austin on Instagram: austin__palacios Connect with Rachel:👉 Instagram: @restingpearl

In this episode of The Austin Palacios Podcast, we’re joined by Harold Lesure — a Las Vegas-based real estate agent, Airbnb cleaning business owner, and short-term rental property manager. Harold shares how he went from working as a behavioral therapist to running multiple businesses in the Airbnb ecosystem, scaling his property management company to over 26 properties in just three weeks.Harold delivers tactical insights on entrepreneurship, operations, and mindset — especially around involving family in business, handling stress, and thinking long-term.🔹 Topics CoveredHow Harold launched his cleaning business while still working a W2What pushed him to leave his job and go all in on himselfInvolving your spouse in your business: strategy & mindsetHow to charge more in Airbnb cleaning through premium services (fogging, spa draining, errands)Transitioning from cleaning to full-scale property managementScaling to 26+ properties in 3 weeks using virtual assistants and lead listsBuilding strong systems to grow sustainablyUsing aesthetics, reviews, and smart design to improve Airbnb performanceWhy every Airbnb operator should think about selling their company eventuallyManaging emotional stress while scaling a businessBook a call👉 https://www.cohostingacquisitions.com/FREE Co-Hosting Course👉   https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1EfApmDDTSQ&list=PLnO_3GYx9nIhGULeB3ygap7RbYFUP90zf✅ Connect with Austin on Instagram: austin__palacios✅ Connect with Harold:📸 Instagram: @lesuretherealtor

In this inspiring episode of the Austin Palacios Podcast, we sit down with Lourdes Dominguez — a former tech professional who transitioned into full-time Airbnb co-hosting and real estate investing. Lourdes shares her journey from product manager to entrepreneur, offering raw insight into the emotional and strategic highs and lows of building a business after being laid off from corporate America.📌 Topics covered:How getting laid off launched Lourdes into entrepreneurshipLaunching her first Airbnb and scaling from one to 11+ propertiesTransitioning into co-hosting and property managementLeveraging AI and automation to optimize operationsThe pros and cons of arbitrage vs. co-hostingUsing interior design and themed experiences to stand outNetworking, mentorship, and the role of support systems in successThe emotional challenges of starting a business and pushing throughLourdes' goals, mindset, and advice for new entrepreneursNeed help finding clients for your Airbnb Co-Hosting business? Book a call👉 https://www.cohostingacquisitions.com/FREE Co-Hosting Course👉   https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1EfApmDDTSQ&list=PLnO_3GYx9nIhGULeB3ygap7RbYFUP90zf✅ Connect with Austin on Instagram: austin__palacios✅ Connect with Lourdes:📸 Instagram: @cohostwithstars💼 LinkedIn: Lourdes Dominguez 📧 Email: [email protected]🌐 Website: enchantedstarcohosting.com

In this episode of The Austin Palacios Podcast, we sit down with Patricia Currid, a former corporate project manager turned real estate investor and short-term rental co-host. Based in New Hampshire with her husband and 7 kids, Patty shares how she built a 30+ property Airbnb management business in under a year — all while prioritizing lifestyle, freedom, and family.She breaks down her transition from nuclear power plant consulting to rural tiny-home hosting, and how discovering the co-hosting model changed everything. This episode is packed with personal insight, strategy, and lessons from scaling fast and learning on the fly.🔹 Major Topics DiscussedWhy Patty left her corporate project management firmHow she started with a tiny home on her farm — and it took offThe importance of creating a unique guest experience (not just lodging)How she built a 30+ property management portfolio in 7 monthsWhy she only takes on homes that meet her quality and design standardsManaging both guest expectations and high-maintenance ownersTransitioning from DIY host to team-based business modelHow she sets rates, plans onboarding fees, and qualifies clientsScaling smart: creating systems and setting boundaries to avoid burnoutLong-term vision: potentially selling the business and living peacefully off-gridNeed help finding clients for your Airbnb Co-Hosting business? Book a call👉 https://www.cohostingacquisitions.com/FREE Co-Hosting Course👉   https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1EfApmDDTSQ&list=PLnO_3GYx9nIhGULeB3ygap7RbYFUP90zf✅ Connect with Austin on Instagram: austin__palacios✅ Connect with Patty on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61570321378294

In this episode of The Austin Palacios Podcast, we’re joined by Eric McCarty, a former engineering director turned full-time short-term rental manager and co-host. Eric walks us through how he built a 15-property Airbnb portfolio—mostly managed remotely—while working a demanding W2 job and raising three young kids.He shares the tools, systems, mindset shifts, and sales strategies that helped him scale, quit his job, and step into full-time entrepreneurship.Topics discussed:Eric’s transition from engineering director to full-time Airbnb co-hostHow he built a 15-property STR portfolio while working a full-time jobThe systems he used early (PriceLabs, PMS, ops tracking) to scale efficientlyManaging properties remotely and building reliable on-the-ground teamsHis 6-month grind to land the first few clients—and what finally workedSales mindset shifts: how not needing the sale led to more conversionsCreating a financial roadmap to confidently leave his W2 jobHow he prices co-hosting services: 20–25% + onboarding feesConnect with Eric on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/3PuttPropertiesLLCNeed help finding clients for your Airbnb Co-Hosting business? Book a call👉 https://www.cohostingacquisitions.com/FREE Co-Hosting Course👉   https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1EfApmDDTSQ&list=PLnO_3GYx9nIhGULeB3ygap7RbYFUP90zf✅ Connect with Austin on Instagram: austin__palacios