At Furnished Finder (opens in new tab), we don’t just support landlords, we employ landlords too. From renting out spare rooms to managing individual rental properties, our team brings firsthand experience to every decision we make. We understand the rewards, the surprises, and the day-to-day realities of being a landlord because we’ve lived it ourselves. In this behind-the-scenes look, we’re sharing our own stories, why we started, what we’ve learned, and how it’s helped us shape a platform that truly works for independent landlords like you.
Tania Shershin- Chief Growth Officer at Furnished Finder
I’ve been a landlord for about 15 years, with properties in Austin and Dripping Springs, Texas, as well as Durango, Colorado. We purchased and furnished these properties and rent them both as short-term rentals, and as monthly rentals through Furnished Finder.
My husband and I saw an opportunity to invest in real estate in growing markets with strong demand from both vacationers and monthly tenants seeking furnished accommodations.
Being a landlord has allowed our family to generate monthly cash flow while also benefiting from long-term property appreciation.
Bryan Campbell- Chief Architect at Furnished Finder
My wife and I have been landlords for four years, renting out a 1930s bungalow in Austin's Zilker neighborhood. We lived in that two-bedroom home for years - we completely remodeled, preserving its character while making it our own. When our second child arrived, we needed more space, but we couldn't imagine selling a house we'd poured so much of ourselves into it.
We'd invested years of sweat equity into that house, and selling felt like giving away a piece of ourselves. But we also saw an opportunity to share it. This was during COVID, and traveling nurses were being deployed across the country - often struggling to find quality housing. We had a beautiful home sitting empty. It felt like the right thing to do, hold onto something we loved while providing a real home base for healthcare workers doing incredibly important work.
We're building equity in Austin's strong real estate market and diversifying our investments beyond traditional retirement accounts. But what's surprised me most is the human side. We've met amazing people from all over the world and we're still in touch with several former tenants. We love playing local guide - sharing our favorite taco spots, the hidden gems that make South Austin special. Our goal is for every tenant to feel like they're living like a local, not just passing through. That connection has been fun and rewarding.
We view this as a long-term investment in Austin real estate rather than a monthly income play. Between property taxes, maintenance, and keeping the property in great shape, it can be difficult. But we're building wealth through appreciation and paying down the mortgage - and we still own a home we love in one of the best neighborhoods in Austin. For us, that's the win.
Katie Lyon- Marketing Director at Furnished Finder
We have been landlords since 2021. When we went under contract to build a new home, the builder required you to have your current home listed for sale within 14 days, even though the new build could take up to a year. We wanted to avoid that gap living situation, and found a loophole where we could keep the house if we intended to lease it. We knew the value of holding real estate long-term, so decided to keep our old home and rent it out, making us landlords. Currently, we own 4 rental properties and partner on 8 properties where we do not own the properties, but rent them out to monthly travelers through Furnished Finder.
Knowing we are building long-term equity and assets is a great feeling. I also love being able to help travelers as they are in the area to serve the community. Many of our properties are perfect for traveling nurses/medical professionals and I love knowing that we are giving them safe, reliable, and comfortable housing.
I didn't expect the different types of tenants we would have. We have had families, but also have had grandparents visiting their grandchildren for months at a time, professors coming into town for a semester or school year, people receiving medical treatments, and other unique cases.
It's given us some monthly cash flow, but more than anything, the long-term gains of properties that are rising in value over time while we are able to pay down the mortgage on them with our rental income.
Kelly Bailey- Host of Furnished Finder’s podcast, Landlord Diaries
My husband and I started our landlord journey two years after getting married. We traded experience for practicality and looking back have been very pleased with the decision. We were renting a 2 bedroom, 2 bath apartment in downtown Austin that was located on Town Lake (now called Lady Bird Lake). It was an incredible location. While we were losing money on rent, it was an experience that I wouldn’t change for the world, but we soon wanted to move for practical reasons. We found a duplex in North Austin that was convenient for work commutes and allowed tenants to cover the mortgage by renting out the other side of the duplex. At the end of the day, it was a smart decision that started our journey of generational wealth. Looking back, we would not change anything and since then have grown our real estate portfolio to 8 monthly rentals on Furnished Finder.
As a landlord, you are establishing generational wealth and hopefully solid cashflow, as well as creating a low risk investment option that grows over time through appreciation, especially with the buy and hold strategy. It’s a way to invest in others and create a home that help others thrive. Our model is to purchase homes in adventurous locations where you just walk out the front door to enjoy a nice trail, restaurant or relaxing view.
In general, we aim to cashflow $500-$1,000 per month on each of our properties and $1,500 on our multi-families. Monthly rentals are actually a great way to get started as a landlord. Tenants are working professionals such as travel nurses or relocating families that are gentle on your property, pay rent on time and are a strong addition to any community.
Closing thoughts
These stories shape the way we serve you. We know what it feels like to hand over the keys, the lessons learned through trial and error, and the satisfaction of creating a space someone can truly feel at home in. That’s why Furnished Finder is more than just a platform, it’s a community built by landlords, for landlords with your goals in mind. Get started today (opens in new tab), your story could be next.