Ep 244 - From Banking to 96 STRs: Why Fouad Built a Bankable Airbnb Empire

Fouad spent 20 years in banking and 11 more consulting banks before walking away from corporate life when his wife’s income surpassed his.What happened next?A wild ride through the world of short-term rentals, driven by family, strategy, and a long-term vision few operators ever reach.In this episode, Fouad breaks down:How a personal medical emergency forced him to buy his first AirbnbWhy most operators price listings wrong—and how he uses math insteadThe real difference between luxury and comfort STRs (and why he runs both)His custom tech stack using Go High LevelAnd the real reason he’s scaling to $12M/year before exitingThis one’s for the operators who want to scale smart, stay profitable, and build something sellable.What you’ll learn:How to scale with dual verticals (luxury + comfort)Why you must reverse-engineer around your exitHow banking lessons apply directly to STRsWhy pricing = math, not emotionHow Fouad thinks about purpose and legacyReady to build a business that banks would beg to fund?Fouad shows you how.03:30 – Breaking the Golden Handcuffs: Why He Left Corporate07:00 – First STR Deal: Starting Small With Big Vision10:00 – Smart Risk: Learning to Bet on Yourself13:00 – From 1 to 10+ Units: Scaling With Confidence17:00 – Wealth Mindset: Thinking Like an Owner, Not an Operator20:00 – Cash Flow vs Time: Redefining Success Metrics24:00 – Building a Business, Not a Job: Systems and Team Growth27:00 – Lessons From the Field: What He’d Do Differently30:00 – Purpose-Driven Investing: Time, Family, and FreedomGuest Bio:Fouad Bazzi is a professional in the short-term rental (STR) industry. His activities include owning, managing, and building new build-to-rent properties, as well as consulting and educating others in the STR space. He also owns a pool servicing company that specializes in serving STR properties.Guest Link:https://www.instagram.com/fouad_airbnbGet FREE Access to our Community and Weekly Trainings:https://group.strsecrets.com