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The Short Term Show with Robert Abosolo
In this episode of the Short-Term Show, host Avery interviews Robert Abosolo, a real estate entrepreneur specializing in tiny homes and short-term rentals. Robert shares his journey from Texas to Los Angeles, house-hacking his way to success, and building a portfolio of unique properties in Joshua Tree, Arizona, and the Smoky Mountains.
Avery: Hey guys, welcome back to the Short-Term Show. Today, we have Robert Abosolo of the Raw Built YouTube channel. He is an expert in something that I run across fairly often, but I’ve never actually seen anyone successfully execute it.
Robert: And that is?
Avery: The tiny home movement of short-term rentals.
Robert: Oh yeah, that’s right.
Avery: Robert, how are you doing today?
Robert: I’m doing well! I have to say, I’m very proud of you. You said my name perfectly, Robert Abasolo.
Avery: I did my research!
Robert: You did. You even said my YouTube name, Raw Built, correctly, which most people don’t get right.
Avery: That’s what I’m here for, doing my homework, learning from the best, like Howard Stern.
Robert: [Laughter] Yeah, exactly. So, will you tell us a little bit about yourself and how you ended up where you are now?
Avery: How did you get into the real estate investing world and how did you make your mark?
Robert: Yeah, so I’m from Texas originally, then I moved to Kansas City. After living there for about three years, my wife and I decided to move to L.A. We always talked about moving to the West Coast even though the houses were four times the cost of our current home. But we figured, what could go wrong? So, we made the move.
Avery: Bold move!
Robert: [Laughs] Yeah, we started renting an apartment there. It was like $1,800 for 600 square feet! After paying that for about six months, I thought, “I can’t keep paying this much. Let’s buy a house.”
Avery: So, what happened next?
Robert: My wife and I were debating if we could afford it, but we took the plunge and bought a house. That’s where my house-hacking journey began. There was a studio apartment underneath our house that we decided to Airbnb. That’s when the wheels started turning, and it became my entry point into real estate.
Avery: That’s how you started, huh?
Robert: Yeah, that was the moment it all clicked for me. The house hack is something I preach a lot because it really kickstarted my career in real estate.
Avery: So what happened after that?
Robert: After that, I built a tiny house in my backyard. Then, I built another tiny house in Joshua Tree, California. Later, I added a small home in Joshua Tree and a glam site in Arizona with a tiny A-frame and an Airstream. I even have a Mongolian yurt out there and a couple of safari tents. Now, I live in the Smoky Mountains and have a chalet there as well.
Avery: Wow, you’ve really grown your portfolio!
Robert: Yeah, and most of it is short-term rentals. Eight out of the ten are tiny homes or glam sites.
Avery: That’s amazing. I love Austin—I lived there for six years myself.
Robert: Yeah, Austin’s great. I’ve got a condo there, too, on Airbnb. Most of the places are these quirky, tiny homes that really stand out.
Avery: And you went to UT, right?
Robert: Yup, I did. Majored in corporate communication, but left that behind a week ago to go full-time into real estate.
