Hey, STR Sisterhood! 🌟

Welcome back to another episode of the STR Sisterhood Podcast! I’m your host, Stacy St. John, and as always, I’m thrilled to spend a few minutes with you today. Before we dive into our exciting guest interview, I wanted to share a quote that has been resonating with me lately:

“I am not intimidated by anyone. Everyone is made with two arms, two legs, a stomach, and a head.”

These inspiring words come from the legendary Josephine Baker, a French dancer and singer. Just think about that for a moment. It’s a powerful reminder that no matter who you are or where you come from, we all have the same basic tools at our disposal to achieve greatness. 💪✨

This week, I had the absolute pleasure of chatting with an incredible real estate investor, Becky Nova. She’s a powerhouse who has completely transformed her life through smart real estate investments and is now living the dream—spending multiple months each year soaking up the sun on the beaches of the Dominican Republic. 🏝️

In this episode, you’ll hear about Becky’s journey, from her humble beginnings to her savvy real estate moves that allow her to live life on her own terms. Plus, we dive into some of the challenges she faced along the way. Trust me, this is one story you won’t want to miss!

Meet Becky Nova: The Lady Landlord

So, who is Becky Nova? Becky is the founder of Lady Landlords and an accomplished real estate investor. But she didn’t start out in real estate. Becky’s background is in cancer research, where she worked for over 15 years. However, after becoming disillusioned with the industry, she decided to make a big change.

Becky packed her bags and moved to Europe, where she started a tour company in Spain, expanded into Portugal, and even bought a restaurant. But as life often does, it threw her a curveball. After a bad business decision in Portugal, Becky found herself with a $100,000 loss and no choice but to return to the U.S. with nothing but pennies to her name.

But here’s where the story gets interesting…

From Setbacks to Comebacks

Back in the States, Becky returned to the medical field temporarily to rebuild her finances. It was during this time that she met her now-husband, an immigrant from the Dominican Republic. While Becky was recovering from her financial losses, her husband was working hard to save every dollar he could, with the dream of owning a home in the U.S.

It was his idea to buy real estate, but Becky had a twist. She proposed buying a multifamily property, living in one unit, and renting out the other. Little did she know, this was a well-known strategy called “house hacking.”

In 2018, they bought their first duplex, and from that moment on, Becky was hooked on real estate. She began reading books, attending meetups, and immersing herself in the world of real estate investing. Within a year, Becky had purchased another property—a four-family home with a parking lot in New York.

Building a Diverse Portfolio

Today, Becky’s real estate portfolio includes multifamily properties across New York and even properties in the Dominican Republic. She has both long-term and midterm rentals, and her investments have given her the financial freedom to live abroad for part of the year.

One of her proudest achievements? Purchasing her dream home in the Dominican Republic, where she now spends several months each year. And she’s not done yet! Becky is planning to expand her portfolio even further, with her sights set on buying another short-term rental property in Europe this fall. 🇪🇸

The Importance of Community and Goal Setting

Throughout our conversation, one theme kept coming up: the power of community and goal setting. Becky emphasized how important it is to surround yourself with like-minded people who can support you on your journey. She also highlighted the need to set clear goals and take intentional steps toward achieving them.

Becky’s journey is a testament to the fact that you can achieve your dream life if you’re willing to take risks, learn from your failures, and stay committed to your goals.

Lightning Round with Becky Nova

Before wrapping up, I put Becky through a quick lightning round! Here are some fun tidbits we learned:

• Favorite Vacation Spot: Any beach! 🏖️
• Bucket List Destination: Russia—because it’s so different and full of history.
• Best Advice Ever Received: Just do it! Don’t overthink, just take action.

Becky’s story is not only inspiring but also a powerful reminder that it’s never too late to start chasing your dreams. Whether you’re interested in real estate investing or just looking for a way to live life on your own terms, Becky’s journey offers valuable lessons for us all.

Thank you so much for joining us, Becky! If you want to connect with her, you can find her on Facebook at Lady Landlords or on Instagram at @TheBeckyNova.

A Shoutout to Our STR Sisterhood

Before we wrap up, I want to give a quick shoutout to all the amazing women inside the Female Short-Term Rental Investors Facebook group! 🌟 We have more than 55,000 women who eat, sleep, and breathe short-term rentals every day. If you’re not already part of this incredible community, I highly recommend joining us!

That’s it for this week, my friends! I hope you found Becky’s story as inspiring as I did. Until next time, keep dreaming big and taking action toward your goals. 💖

Stay fabulous, Stacy