This as-told-to essay is based on a conversation with Vanessa Banh, 28, a former accountant turned entrepreneur who bought a four-bedroom house with a garage in Modesto, California, and turned it into four separate Airbnb properties. The following has been edited for length and clarity.

My generation seems split on the idea of homeownership. I see it as quite costly compared to what our parents faced. Housing prices and living expenses far outpace wages these days.

I have always sought ways to build income. After listening to real estate experts, I decided owning property was a solid path to long-term wealth. I wanted to begin as soon as possible.

In 2022 I purchased a fixer-upper house for $347,000. The sale required cash or a hard-money loan. A friend who lends in that space reviewed the home and agreed to finance it. We closed the deal that way and refinanced into a conventional loan within a month, since the property needed only updates rather than major repairs.

I planned from the start to convert the house into a rental. Conventional loans require living in the home for a year before renting it out. The renovation timeline of a year and a half satisfied that rule. We closed in May 2022, began work in August, and finished in July 2023.

At first I considered a long-term rental. During construction, subcontractors suggested ideas, and I listened to podcasts on real estate strategies. The thought of trying Airbnb grew stronger. About six to eight months in, I decided to test short-term rentals.

My first two Airbnbs were successes, so I turned my garage into two more

Renovation costs reached about $60,000. Major expenses included a new roof and air-conditioning system. The rest covered flooring, a bathroom, and tile work.

One subcontractor noted that part of the house could become a separate unit because a door already existed. We added a small stove, sink, and double lock. This created two units inside the main house.

One unit attracted traveling nurses who stayed three months at a time, resulting in almost no vacancy. I learned about mid-term rentals and averaged $3,500 to $4,500 in monthly revenue. After the $2,000 mortgage and $500 in utilities, cash flow reached $1,000 to $1,500.

The unused garage offered another opportunity. I had considered turning it into an accessory dwelling unit but needed funds. With the first units performing well and demand from traveling professionals high, I aimed to add two studios. Each one-bedroom unit already rented for $1,800, so two studios could exceed that amount.

I spent several years saving while learning to wholesale and flip homes. Once I had enough cash, I obtained three contractor bids and began work in November 2025. The project finished in January 2026. The main bid was $100,000, with another $8,500 for permits, fees, and design.

The construction debt will be paid off in a few years, but it felt like the right move

After finishing the garage units in January, I furnished them and opened for bookings by late February. March brought the first guests. Early months included a new-listing discount, yielding $1,600 to $1,800 per unit. Rates later reached $2,000 each, doubling prior revenue.

Costs were higher due to two separate permits. I expect to clear the debt in about two years, after which the units will generate full cash flow.

Real estate helps me build financial stability. I could live in one unit, yet earning an extra $2,000 monthly feels more valuable now. I focused on maximizing the property I already owned to improve my position without a traditional job.