Karen Chenaille - From W2 to Glamping Resorts in the Smokeys!

Trade your W2 job for passive income, life-long financial security and a life of complete freedom! Sound like a dream? Today's guest proves it is possible. In this episode, Marta talks with Karen Chenaille, an EXP ICON real estate agent and private investor specializing in short-term rentals.  She has been investing in and operating short-term rental accommodations since 2015. Her cash-flowing portfolio includes smoky mountain cabins, glamping resorts, and Emerald Coast condominiums. She is a general partner in the Accelerate Capital Partners short-term rental syndication. Prior to becoming a full-time real estate agent and investor, Karen served over 20 years in corporate America as a W-2 employee and five years in the US Army as a Chinese linguist. Karen is a smoky mountain resident with a deep knowledge of the smoky mountain market. In addition to owning a multitude of cabins (www.stargazerstays.com), she also owns and operates a coffee shop (www.theheavenlyroast.com) and glamping resort (www.stargazerstaysglamping.com). As a smoky mountain local and business owner, she has exceptional insight into the dynamics and intricacies of the smoky mountain economy. She has developed an extensive network of local resources to assist out-of-state investors with all aspects of cabin setup. Karen explains how she overcame her fears and transitioned out of her W2 job into real estate investing. She discusses her process for managing a glamping resort in the smoky's, how it is different from her short term rental properties, and what she has learned along the way. Karen also shares her exciting upcoming projects and how you can get involved as well as advice on how you can transition out of your W2 job, turning your dreams into reality! HIGHLIGHTS FROM THE EPISODE 00:00 - Coming up 00:12 - Intro  00:52 - Welcome Karen to the show 01:26 - She shares her background 03:00 - How she made her first real estate purchase  08:25 - What made her get into real estate 10:45 - The timeline from leaving her job to doing full time real estate 12:44 - She talks about how to get over fear  14:30 - How the glamping resort project transpired  20:00 - What the occupancy is like  21:41 - The competition  24:16 - The automations inside of her glamping business  28:50 - Changes she made from feedback 30:00 - Her experience of setting up the glamping resort 37:46 - She shares her new upcoming project  41:08 - Ideas for projects  43:22 - Closing advice 46:45 - How to get in touch with Karen LINKS FROM THE EPISODE Black Sheep realty: https://blacksheeprealty.co/meet-karen/ Stargazer stays: https://www.stargazerstays.com/ The Best BNB Host: https://thebestbnbhost.com/ Stargazer Glamping: https://stargazerstaysglamping.com/ The Heavenly Roast: https://theheavenlyroast.com/ CONNECT WITH THE GUEST Karen's Email: [email protected] Karen's Phone: 865-770-0743 CONNECT WITH THE HOST Marta is a mom of two boys, healthcare strategist by day, and real estate investor by night. Connect on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/marta-cieslak-mph-317a5611/ Follow on IG: @polipinoinvestor --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Follow us on social media @the.gentle.art.of.crushing.it Listen, like, subscribe, comment: http://thegentleartofcrushingit.com/