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Second Home First

Second Home First

By: Second Home First
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 What if your 401(k) came with a fire pit and a lake view? Hosted by hospitality veteran and short-term rental expert, Katie Cline, Second Home First is a brand new podcast that explores an unconventional path to homeownership. For Katie, living in New York City made buying a home feel impossible, so she decided to flip the script and buy her ‘second home’ first. With renting now more affordable than owning in all 50 of the largest U.S. metros, buying any home–let alone a ‘second’ one–has never felt more out of reach. But Second Home First shows listeners how to make homeownership not only possible, but profitable by purchasing a vacation home that can double as a short-term rental—building wealth for tomorrow while providing a place to vacation for free today! What 401(k) can do that? As a 3x vacation home owner, Katie breaks down her proven strategy step by step, sharing actionable lessons each week so listeners can do it too. In addition to tactical solo episodes, the show will feature exclusive interviews with experts, real stories from people who’ve done it too, and Q&A coaching sessions with aspiring second home owners. Second Home First gives listeners the tools, insights, and inspiration to make their dream vacation home a reality.© 2025 Second Home First Economics Leadership Management & Leadership Personal Finance
Episodes
  • You Don't Need to Be Rich: The Real Numbers Behind Our Vacation Homes

    You Don't Need to Be Rich: The Real Numbers Behind Our Vacation Homes
    Apr 14 2026
    What if I told you that you don’t need to be rich to buy a second home? And that actually, buying that very home could be the thing that MAKES you rich!? On this episode, I’m pulling back the curtain on the real numbers behind our second homes. What they cost. What we invested. What they make. And why this strategy has completely changed the way we think about wealth. Tune in to learn: -How much you need for a down payment on a second home (hint: it’s not 20%) -The full cost breakdown—from purchase to furnishing to getting your first guest in the door -Negotiation strategies to reduce upfront cash -How much my vacation homes actually earn -The exact mindset shift that took us from “must be nice” to owning 3 homes in under 3 years Key links: –Set-Up Cost Calculator: BuyYourSecondHomeFirst.com/set-up-cost-calc –Subscribe to the free weekly newsletter: BuyYourSecondHomeFirst.com/#subscribe –Visit the website: BuyYourSecondHomeFirst.com –Follow on Instagram and TikTok: @BuyYourSecondHomeFirst –Find us on Substack: SecondHomeFirst.Substack.com –Say Hi! Hello@BuyYourSecondHomeFirst.com A Special Thank You To Our Sponsors: Lodgify: https://lodgify.com/?afmc=28y For a limited time, use code SHF60 for 60% off their yearly and bi-yearly plans (*until April 30, 2026). Minoan: https://www.Minoan.com/SecondHome Use the link provided to sign up and receive a free $25 in credit. Turno: https://go.turno.com/second_home_first Use the link provided to get $25 off your first clean. Flytographer: https://www.Flytographer.com/SHF Use code SHF25 for $25 off your first shoot PriceLabs: https://hello.pricelabs.co/signup/?referral=secondhomefirst Use code SecondHomeFirst (all one word) for a 30-day free trial, plus $10 off your first invoice
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    24 mins
  • [EXPERT] How to Buy a Vacation Home with Family or Friends

    [EXPERT] How to Buy a Vacation Home with Family or Friends
    Apr 7 2026
    What if the fastest way to afford your dream vacation home was to buy it with someone else? On this week’s expert episode, we’re unpacking exactly how to buy your second home with family or friends, and how to structure the partnership to protect both your finances and your relationship. This Week’s Expert Guest: I’m joined by Natalie Palmer, the host of the No Vacancy podcast, a seasoned short-term rental operator, a co-host, and most importantly for today’s discussion, someone who’s fundraised thousands of dollars for vacation home projects. She’s seen every version of partnership: couples who bought together and thrived; friends who had a falling out after 20 years; people who’ve built a real estate portfolio with millions without ever investing a dollar of their own money. Tune in to learn: -How to buy a second home with someone else, whether that’s a sibling, a best friend, or another family you love traveling with. -How to split equity, responsibilities, and usage so no one feels resentful down the line -What to include in your agreement to protect both the investment and the relationship -The biggest mistakes Natalie has seen in long-term partnerships—and how to avoid them -How to plan for the “what ifs” before they happen Are you looking for more income, options and freedom in your life? Do you like the idea of owning a vacation home that pays for itself? If so, I hope you’ll join us in the inaugural class of the Second Home First Academy. We’re kicking off on April 8th, and in just five weeks I’ll teach you the exact four-step framework I used to find, finance, and furnish my three vacation homes so you can do it too. There are only a few spots remaining, so be sure to visit BuyYourSecondHomeFirst.com/Academy to sign up today. Key links: –Subscribe to the free weekly newsletter: BuyYourSecondHomeFirst.com/#subscribe –Visit the website: BuyYourSecondHomeFirst.com –Follow on Instagram and TikTok: @BuyYourSecondHomeFirst –Find us on Substack: SecondHomeFirst.Substack.com –Say Hi! Hello@BuyYourSecondHomeFirst.com A Special Thank You To Our Sponsors: Lodgify: https://lodgify.com/?afmc=28y For a limited time, use code SHF60 for 60% off their yearly and bi-yearly plans (*until April 30, 2026). Minoan: https://www.Minoan.com/SecondHome Use the link provided to sign up and receive a free $25 in credit. Turno: https://go.turno.com/second_home_first Use the link provided to get $25 off your first clean. Flytographer: https://www.Flytographer.com/SHF Use code SHF25 for $25 off your first shoot PriceLabs: https://hello.pricelabs.co/signup/?referral=secondhomefirst Use code SecondHomeFirst (all one word) for a 30-day free trial, plus $10 off your first invoice
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    32 mins
  • [REAL STORIES] He Turned His Home Into a Rental That Paid Him While Abroad

    [REAL STORIES] He Turned His Home Into a Rental That Paid Him While Abroad
    Mar 31 2026
    What if your primary home didn’t tie you down but actually gave you the freedom to leave? Today’s guest didn’t buy his second home first, but when an unexpected job opportunity took him to Buenos Aires, he turned his primary home into a short-term rental, covering his mortgage and more. This Week’s Guest: Taylor Smith’s story is a little bit of a departure from what we usually talk about. He didn’t buy his second home first. Instead, he bought a primary home in Denver, with the intention of eventually turning it into a short-term rental. When an unexpected work opportunity in Buenos Aires arose, he was able to hop on a flight knowing his mortgage would be covered by his rental income. Taylor also works at Turno, a marketplace that connects short-term rental owners with cleaners and service providers, so he’s bringing an insider perspective on one of the most overlooked—but most important—parts of running a successful rental. Tune in to learn: -How growing up with parents in real estate shaped his path early on -The systems he put in place to manage his short-term rental from abroad -The conversation that changed how he thought about buying a home and why it’s simpler than we think Are you looking for more income, options and freedom in your life? Do you like the idea of owning a vacation home that pays for itself? If so, I hope you’ll join us in the inaugural class of the Second Home First Academy. We’re kicking off on April 8th, and in just five weeks I’ll teach you the exact four-step framework I used to find, finance, and furnish my three vacation homes so you can do it too. There are only a few spots remaining, so be sure to visit BuyYourSecondHomeFirst.com/Academy to sign up today. Key links: –Subscribe to the free weekly newsletter: BuyYourSecondHomeFirst.com/#subscribe –Visit the website: BuyYourSecondHomeFirst.com –Follow on Instagram and TikTok: @BuyYourSecondHomeFirst –Find us on Substack: SecondHomeFirst.Substack.com –Say Hi! Hello@BuyYourSecondHomeFirst.com (mailto:Hello@BuyYourSecondHomeFirst.com) A Special Thank You To Our Sponsors: Lodgify: https://lodgify.com/?afmc=28y Use code SHF20 for an ADDITIONAL (!) 20% their yearly and bi-yearly plans Minoan: https://www.Minoan.com/SecondHome Use the link provided to sign up and receive a free $25 in credit. Turno: https://go.turno.com/second_home_first Use the link provided to get $25 off your first clean. Flytographer: https://www.Flytographer.com/SHF Use code SHF25 for $25 off your first shoot PriceLabs: https://hello.pricelabs.co/signup/?referral=secondhomefirst Use code SecondHomeFirst (all one word) for a 30-day free trial, plus $10 off your first invoice
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    44 mins
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