Why We Started STR Like The Best (And Why We're Teaching You Everything We Know)

Most people ask us: "Why would you teach this? Why not just keep it to yourself and do more deals?"Fair question.In this episode, Michael and Liz sit down to answer that question and share the real story behind STR Like The Best, the core values that drive everything they do, and why they've helped hundreds of high-income professionals build STR portfolios from scratch.We break down:The $10K/month origin story. How one apartment in Queens making $5,000/month in cashflow while they were both working in investment banking showed them there was a different path than the 9-to-5 grindWhy they started teaching. Friends and family kept asking "how do you do that?" They started sharing online. The community response surprised them. Seeing student success became more rewarding than doing deals themselvesThe transformation stories. From stay-at-home moms launching their first property remotely (Philadelphia to Dallas) to couples quitting their jobs to run 18+ units. The self-confidence people develop is the real winThe four core values that guide every decision: (1) Family first, (2) Long-term thinking, (3) Numbers not feelings, (4) Responsibility to their communityLiz's immigration story. Coming to the US at 16, working in fashion for 9 years, feeling stuck in paycheck-to-paycheck cycles, and only seeing family once a year for one week. The lack of time freedom drove her to real estate meetups every weekMichael's "brainwashed" moment. Investment banking taught him nothing about tax strategy, cost segregation, or building wealth outside of a W2. "We're brainwashed to think we have to work a job till 65 and pay our taxes. But no, there's a different way."The 6 weeks in Taiwan. How they achieved the level of freedom to spend July and August abroad with their kids, something impossible when working in banking, proving location independence is realThe vision for the community. It's not just about buying one property and saving on taxes. It's holistic financial planning: estate planning, insurance, tax-efficient investing for your kids, building generational wealth. Real estate is one piece of the puzzleWhy abundance mindset works. "There's so much opportunity out there. We don't have enough money or time to hit it all. We want to teach you so you can have this for yourself." When you share knowledge, it comes back in unexpected ways (deal flow, partnerships, connections)If you've ever wondered why high-income professionals are leaving stable careers to build STR portfolios, or why hundreds of people trust Michael and Liz to guide them through this strategy, this episode gives you the unfiltered answer.LEARN MY STR INVESTING & STRATEGIES 🔥 https://strlikethebest.com/wealthpodApply to work with Michael: https://strlikethebest.com/applypodFollow Michael on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/michaelchangbnbTrack your STR hours the right way. STR Tax Loophole is our time tracking app built specifically for short-term rental investors. Document your qualifying activities, maintain clean records, and simplify your STR tax qualification. Start your free trial at https://www.thestrtaxloophole.com/