Can Family and Airbnb Mix? How Annchen Knodt Built an Airbnb Business With Her Parents

Are you worried that partnering with family in real estate will strain your relationships?

In this episode, I sit down with Annchen Knodt, a neuroscience researcher who joined my STR Accelerator program during its very first beta launch. Annchen’s story is a powerful example of how building an Airbnb business with family can work—even when things get messy.

She opens up about the reality of partnering with her parents: the disagreements that got heated, what it felt like to be outvoted, and the boundaries they created to protect family dinners from turning into business meetings.

Annchen also faced another challenge—having a spouse who wasn’t sold on the time and energy she was putting into real estate investing. She shares the loneliness of being the only one in her circle excited about Airbnb and short-term rentals, and how finding a community of like-minded women gave her the courage to keep moving forward.

From waking up early to analyze deals before heading into the lab, to answering Airbnb guest messages between experiments, Annchen’s dedication shows what’s possible when you refuse to let excuses hold you back. She even reveals the breakthrough moment she realized she was much closer to financial freedom than she thought.

Her journey proves that success in Airbnb and real estate isn’t always about scaling fast or building an empire—it’s about creating a business that supports the life you truly want. With the right systems, boundaries, and support, both family and business can thrive side by side.

HIGHLIGHTS AND KEY POINTS:

[01:06] A short introduction about our guest Annchen Knodt and what she does outside the short-term rental space

[05:38] Annchen shares how she overcame the common fear of partnerships especially when working with her parents

[08:59] Annchen recounts the process of deciding to sell one of the long-term properties she co-owned with her parents in Texas

[11:11] How a major challenge tested Annchen’s family partnership and revealed the importance of balancing values with business decisions

[14:45] Annchen shares how blending business with family creates harmony rather than conflict

[17:30] Annchen opens up about the challenges of pursuing real estate when her spouse shows little interest and how she found strength through community and mindset 

[21:44] How accountability pods provided the structure, support, and community Annchen needed to set goals, stay consistent, and feel less alone in her real estate journey

[26:20] How redefining success beyond rapid portfolio growth allowed Annchen to embrace financial independence more holistically and prioritize family, passive investing, and a fuller life 

[30:05] Annchen shares how embracing pivots and diversification clarified her dream life, strengthened harmony at home, and renewed her joy in the process

[35:59] How finding and building community has been essential for overcoming isolation in real estate investing and hosting

[38:02] The lightning round 

Golden Nuggets:

• “Life is way too short not to enjoy what you're doing.”

• “If you really want to achieve something that's beyond your comfort zone, that's pushing the boundaries of what you've done in the past.”

• “At the end of the day, living your best life is knowing what you want.”

• “Look for a coaching program. Join a coaching program. It's always worth the investment. Talk to other people who are already in the program to get some feedback. From them, you can learn pretty quickly whether it's worth the investment.”

• “Live below your means, something that I had been taught growing up, basically, but it's what's put me in the position, to be able to invest fairly early in life, and then to be able to...