Joining us on this episode of Living Off Rentals is a Navy veteran and mom of three who went from a high-pressure military career to building a real estate business that allowed her family to take back their time.

Karin Ventresca is a Naval Academy graduate, former nuclear engineer, HR professional, and now a full-time real estate investor and short-term rental operator. After years of long commutes, daycare drop-offs, and COVID-era burnout, she and her husband built a short-term rental portfolio that gave them the freedom to reshape how they spend their days.

Listen as she shares how they made the shift from demanding military roles and corporate careers to creating a business that supports the life they want to live. She also opens up about the mindset shifts, goal-setting, and action steps that ultimately allowed her to quit her HR job and be fully present with her kids, without sacrificing financial stability.

Enjoy the show!

Key Takeaways:

[00:00] Introducing Karin Ventresca and her background

[03:21] Growing up in Alaska and why she chose the Naval Academy

[05:25] Becoming a nuclear engineer and the unconventional path to HR

[09:28] Another twist in career progression: From HR to real estate investing

[09:50] COVID, burnout, and the moment she and Andrew realized they needed a way out

[14:02] Their first big move: building a family cabin in West Virginia and turning it into an STR

[19:01] How they furnished an entire STR with creativity, thrifting, and smart systems

[22:10] The power of deadlines in STR setup and how it saved them thousands

[26:28] 2025 goal: reclaiming their family's time

[30:02] The mindset behind intentional living and goal setting

[34:26] Their newest move: a house hack with 7 acres, a furnished ADU, and a vision for a guest-friendly garden

[39:49] Goals must be written

[40:31] How a strong network reduces fear

[44:04] Connect with Karin Ventresca

[44:55] Outro

Guest Links:

Website: https://riversidehavenwv.com/

Show Links:

Living Off Rentals YouTube Channel – youtube.com/c/LivingOffRentals

Living Off Rentals YouTube Podcast Channel - youtube.com/c/LivingOffRentalsPodcast

Living Off Rentals Facebook Group – facebook.com/groups/livingoffrentals

Living Off Rentals Website – https://www.livingoffrentals.com/

Living Off Rentals Instagram – instagram.com/livingoffrentals

Living Off Rentals TikTok – tiktok.com/@livingoffrentals