Jonathan Greene sits down with Steph Weber, CEO of The Weber Co., to break down why short-term rental owners can't rely solely on Airbnb if they want long-term control and growth. Steph explains how direct branding protects your business from platform changes, helps guests connect emotionally to what you offer, and creates a clearer path to repeat stays and referrals.

They also dig into what it actually takes to build a brand guests remember, beyond pretty photos and a few amenities. Steph shares how to define a real target audience (often starting with yourself or a past/future version of yourself), how to turn amenities into guided experiences, and why collecting guest emails is one of the simplest, most overlooked moves STR operators can make.

The biggest takeaway: today's STR world isn't a side hobby—it's a hospitality business. And the operators who win are the ones who design intentionally, market consistently, and build a brand they own.

• Why direct branding matters when you don't control the platform that drives bookings

• How Airbnb changes can impact hosts—and why brand autonomy is the hedge

• What it means to create a "branded guest experience" (not just a place to sleep)

• How to define your avatar and design for a specific audience (not the masses)

• Why email lists are "low-hanging fruit" and how they power direct bookings

• Turning amenities into intentional rituals and guided experiences guests remember

If you enjoy the show, please follow Zen and the Art of Real Estate Investing on Apple Podcasts and leave a rating and review. It helps other listeners discover these conversations and supports the show's growth.

Connect with Steph:

Website: http://theweberco.com/

Instagram: http://instagram.com/theweberco

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/stephweberbrandcoach/

Connect with Jonathan:

Website - www.streamlined.properties

YouTube - www.youtube.com/c/JonathanGreeneRE/videos

Instagram - www.instagram.com/trustgreene

Instagram - www.instagram.com/streamlinedproperties

Zillow - www.zillow.com/profile/streamlinen​j

Bigger Pockets - www.biggerpockets.com/users/jonathangreene

Facebook - www.facebook.com/streamlinedproperties

Email - info@streamlined.properties

This episode was produced by Outlier Audio.

Jonathan Greene sits down with Joe Rinderknecht, multifamily investor and co-founder of Cowboy Capital, to explore how he built a real estate portfolio by staying curious, solving problems, and building long-term relationships with owners. Joe shares how he broke into multifamily with seller financing, how he used subject-to strategies to help owners avoid foreclosure, and why empathy has become foundational to his investing style. Jonathan and Joe also explore the lessons learned from managing smaller properties, scaling into larger ones, and developing the operational discipline needed to create durable performance.

Throughout the conversation, Joe explains how he approached deal structure early in his career, the importance of understanding seller pain points, and how his "word is bond" philosophy continues to shape the way he raises capital and works with investors now. He also reflects on partnership dynamics, risk tolerance, and the evolution from doing everything yourself to delegating, documenting, and building systems that allow a team to grow.

Listeners will walk away with a grounded reminder that momentum in real estate often comes from doing the right thing—helping people, thinking long-term, and being willing to learn from every deal, no matter the size.

• How Joe got into multifamily through seller financing and why creative structures helped him get started without traditional barriers.

• The subject-to foreclosure story that shaped Joe's understanding of empathy, negotiation, and long-term relationship building.

• Why smaller properties became Joe's training ground for learning asset management, communication, and systems.

• How Joe's risk tolerance shifted over time and how partnership dynamics supported that growth.

• The importance of documentation, checklists, and processes as a business scales.

• Why Joe believes relationships—not deals—are the real foundation of a sustainable real estate career.

If you enjoy the show, please follow Zen and the Art of Real Estate Investing on Apple Podcasts and leave a rating and review. It helps other listeners discover these conversations and supports the show's growth.

Connect with Joe:

Website: https://cowboycapital.us/

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@cowboycapital.us2025

Facebook: http://facebook.com/joe.rinderknecht

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/joe_rinder

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/joerinderknecht/

Connect with Jonathan:

Website - www.streamlined.properties

YouTube - www.youtube.com/c/JonathanGreeneRE/videos

Instagram - www.instagram.com/trustgreene

Instagram - www.instagram.com/streamlinedproperties

Zillow - www.zillow.com/profile/streamlinen​j

Bigger Pockets - www.biggerpockets.com/users/jonathangreene

Facebook - www.facebook.com/streamlinedproperties

Email - info@streamlined.properties

This episode was produced by Outlier Audio.

On this week's episode of Zen and the Art of Real Estate Investing, Jonathan Greene sits down with interior designer Marcy Sagel, founder and principal of MSA Interiors, a nationally recognized commercial design firm specializing in multifamily, senior housing, healthcare, and large-scale developments. They explore how smart design decisions can dramatically impact renter experience, tenant retention, and net operating income—often without blowing up the budget. Marcy shares the story of how a single project with a supportive architect-mentor evolved into a portfolio of large-scale multifamily and healthcare work across the country.

From there, Jonathan and Marcy dive into the details that operators often overlook: how lobby art and amenities shape first impressions, why designers insist on holding the spec once materials are chosen, and how transparency around product pricing can protect both developers and residents. Marcy explains why functionality is just as important as aesthetics—things like where the sofa and TV actually fit, whether you can get a couch down the hallway, and how closet space, bathrooms, lighting, and unit layouts influence who wants to live in a building and how much they're willing to pay.

They also talk about how COVID changed amenity expectations, from coworking and Zoom rooms to package rooms, cold storage for grocery delivery, pet wash stations, and creative vending concepts for residents. Marcy highlights the unique demands of healthcare and senior living design, including memory care safety, assisted living functionality, and the importance of natural light and outdoor access in driving wellness. Throughout the conversation, she comes back to one central idea: if owners think about residents first and involve a design team early, they can future-proof their properties, reduce turnover, and outcompete newer projects for years to come.

• How Marcy transitioned from residential design into large-scale multifamily, healthcare, and senior living projects with the help of an architect-mentor.

• Why involving an interior designer early in a project can save money, prevent costly change orders, and create a cohesive, long-lasting design.

• Practical ways to upgrade B-class and affordable communities—on a HUD-constrained or tight construction budget—without sacrificing aesthetics.

• The design details that residents care about most: closet size, bathroom finishes, in-unit laundry, lighting, circulation, and furniture-friendly layouts.

• How COVID reshaped amenity programming with coworking areas, Zoom rooms, package rooms, cold storage, pet amenities, and flexible vendor spaces.

• The role of design in building community, reducing turnover, and making residents—and their families in senior living—feel safe, connected, and at home.

If you enjoy the show, please follow Zen and the Art of Real Estate Investing on Apple Podcasts and leave a rating and review. It helps other listeners discover these conversations and supports the show's growth.

Connect with Marcy:

Website: https://msainteriors.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/MSAInteriors

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/MarcySagel/

Connect with Jonathan:

Website - www.streamlined.properties

YouTube - www.youtube.com/c/JonathanGreeneRE/videos

Instagram - www.instagram.com/trustgreene

Instagram - www.instagram.com/streamlinedproperties

Zillow - www.zillow.com/profile/streamlinen​j

Bigger Pockets - www.biggerpockets.com/users/jonathangreene

Facebook - www.facebook.com/streamlinedproperties

Email - info@streamlined.properties

This episode was produced by Outlier Audio.