We were lucky to catch up with Kazeem Lawal recently and have shared our conversation below.

Kazeem, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. Let’s jump right into the heart of things. Outsiders often think businesses or industries have much larger profit margins than they actually do – the reason is that outsiders are often unaware of the biggest challenges to profitability in various industries – what’s the biggest challenge to profitability in your industry?

The biggest challenge to profitability in the short-term rental business? Hands down, it’s the balancing act between overhead cost and revenue.

Take the property itself—maintenance, utilities, insurance—they all stack up fast. And then there’s taxes, which can really cut into margins. We maintain a consistent 90% occupancy every month, but getting there requires a serious upfront investment, followed by ongoing monthly expenses to keep everything in tip-top shape. After Hurricane Beryl rolled through the city of Houston, two of my properties suffered damage, and while insurance covered some, I still had to foot the bill for part of the repairs. It was a reminder that no matter how well you plan, unexpected challenges can hit your bottom line.

The profitability sweet spot comes from staying booked consistently, but also running a tight ship—anticipating and managing costs before they become unmanageable. That’s the real hustle.

Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.

I am a native Houstonian, husband, and father of two incredible children. My goals for financial freedom have pushed me into entrepreneurship and it’s been a rewarding journey. My recent venture has been in the short-term rental space and it has quickly become a passion. Back in 2020, I purchased a three-story single-family home in the Heights area of Houston. What started as a simple investment turned into a major success. Watching the freedom Airbnb brought into my life—both financially and personally—was a game-changer. The idea that an asset could essentially pay for itself through a business system opened my eyes to the potential of short-term rentals. That’s when I knew this would be my path to financial freedom and, ultimately, generational wealth.

After running my Airbnb business for two years, my Heights property appreciated so much that it made sense to sell it and free up capital to further invest in Houston. In early 2024, I purchased four previously abandoned tiny homes in the East End District, turning what many saw as rundown buildings into thriving, unique Airbnb spaces.

One of the most exciting parts of this new venture was commissioning a local artist to create hand-painted photorealistic murals of Texas icons—Selena Quintanilla, Paul Wall, and Beyoncé—on the front of each tiny home. We even have a World Cup trophy mural, which has become a hit with international guests.

What sets my brand apart is how I weave community into my short-term rental business. I feature ads from local small businesses inside each property, free of charge, to support local small businesses. I want to keep those travel dollars in the area where my business operates and foster a sense of community in the Airbnb space. It’s not just about turning a profit; it’s about making a meaningful impact in my community.

What am I most proud of? Honestly, it’s being able to turn a dream of real estate ownership into a reality. If there’s one thing I want people to know about my work, it’s that I’m building something that’s more than just a business—it’s about creating opportunities for myself, my family, and the community around me.

We’d love to hear a story of resilience from your journey.

Resilience is something I’ve had to learn firsthand, and one of the biggest tests came when COVID-19 hit. Before the pandemic, I was running a successful business, MBS Inspections, LLC, providing vehicle inspections for Lyft drivers in Northern California. For three years, I had a team of 10-15 inspectors working across multiple Northern California markets, and the contract with Lyft was worth between $400K to $700K annually. It was a real high point in my career, and I thought I had found my golden goose.

But when the pandemic changed the way people worked, demand for rideshare services plummeted. Almost overnight, my business took a hit I didn’t see coming. By 2023, my contract with Lyft ended, and MBS Inspections came to a close. Losing that business was a gut punch, but it forced me to think differently.

That’s when I pivoted to Airbnb.

What kept me going through that rough period was the belief that setbacks are just setups for new opportunities. The closure of my first business wasn’t the end—it was the beginning of something bigger. Resilience isn’t just about surviving the storm; it’s about using it to chart a new course.

Learning and unlearning are both critical parts of growth – can you share a story of a time when you had to unlearn a lesson?

One lesson I had to unlearn was that success in business means sticking to what’s working and riding it out until it doesn’t anymore. In the early days of my first business(MBS Inspections), I thought, “If it’s not broken, don’t fix it.” My focus was on scaling my system to create more revenue, rather than protecting my business through innovation, and building a stronger network of industry relationships. Early on my vehicle inspection business, was thriving with solid contracts from Lyft. For years, things were going great, and I figured, why change a winning formula? Just deepen your relationship with Lyft and go along for the ride.

But when COVID-19 hit, everything flipped. The demand for rideshare services tanked, and suddenly, my once-secure business wasn’t so secure anymore. I had put so much faith in one stream of revenue, and that’s when I realized that playing it safe wasn’t going to cut it in the long run.

The pandemic forced me to rethink everything. I learned that adapting—constantly—is key to staying ahead. Instead of doubling down on a fading opportunity, I shifted my focus to Airbnb, which turned out to be a great decision. I had to unlearn the idea that staying comfortable or avoiding change equals success. Now, I know that resilience and adaptability are what really keep you in the game.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: @kazeemairbnb

Image Credits

Matt Oloyede / Matt O. Photos