Stop Waiting for "Someday"
Thought homeownership was out of reach? Think again. Learn how to buy a vacation home that pays for itself through short-term rentals. building equity, growing your wealth and giving you a place to vacation for FREE.
A Four-Step Plan
The Second Home First Academy teaches the exact four-step framework that Katie used to find, finance and furnish her three successful vacation homes.
Trout Landing
Bolton Landing, NY
Gallant Fox
Saratoga Springs, NY
The Lazy Oar
Lodi, NY
Repudiandae
What You'll Learn
Week One
Week one is all about envisioning your perfect vacation home and turning that into a clear, actionable plan. Through a combination of brainstorming exercises, worksheets, quizzes, and checklists, you’ll refine your vision, set priorities and lay the foundation to turn your dream into reality.
Live Community Call:
April 8, 6:00–7:30pm ET (90 minutes)
Week Two
Week two establishes the financial foundation of your vacation home search. Worksheets, calculators, and checklists equip you to navigate budgeting and financing with ease. Empowered with this knowledge, you’ll be ready to confidently purchase your dream vacation home.
Live Community Call:
April 15, 6:00–7:00pm ET (60 minutes)
Week Three
Week three focuses on preparing your vacation home to host both you and your family, as well as your paying guests. Helpful tools, worksheets and checklists make it easy to define your ideal guest, design your dream space and seamlessly welcome your first visitor. Pro tips ensure the property runs smoothly, making it a place you'll love to escape to and a home guests will never want to leave.
Live Community Call:
April 22, 6:00–7:00pm ET (60 minutes)
Week Four
Week four zooms in on the practicalities of managing your vacation home. This week includes quizzes, checklists and expert advice to help you select the best management option for your needs. It also highlights strategies for future-proofing your investment so you can enjoy a sustainable vacation home for years to come.
Live Community Call:
April 29, 6:00–7:00pm ET (60 minutes)
Week Five
Week five brings everything together into a cohesive, personalized roadmap. Through guided exercises, strategic prompts, and practical checklists, you’ll define your budget confirm your financing path, clarify your timeline, and identify potential blind spots. By the end of the course, you’ll have a clear, actionable plan tailored to your specific goals, giving you the confidence to move forward and turn your vision into reality.
Live Community Call:
May 6, 6:00–7:00pm ET (60 minutes)
Hi, I'm Katie
I decided to buy my 'second home' first when I moved back to New York City after 6+ years spent living abroad in London. My mom had been diagnosed with Alzheimer's a few years prior, when she was only 59 years old, so my husband and I decided to return to the US to help with her care.
We thought about buying a primary home in NYC, but the math didn't make sense: to get something comparable to the apartment we ended up renting would have been $2-4k more per month, plus a six-figure down payment. So instead, we decided to buy a vacation home upstate for a fraction of the price, hoping that renting it out on sites like Airbnb and Vrbo when we weren't there would allow us to offset some of our costs.
Well, not only did we cover all of our costs, but we also turned a profit. So a year later, we did it again. And when I saw that house get booked for every single weekend from May through November, I realized- this is not a fluke, it's a strategy.
Now, we own three vacation homes that all pay for themselves. I love that they're building my wealth for the future in a way that I get to enjoy with my family today.
Professionally, I'm award-winning publicist, hospitality veteran & short-term rental expert. I'm the host of two podcasts: Second Home First and Suite Success: Masters of Hospitality. Previously, I led global communications for iconic hotel brands, including The Ritz-Carlton, St. Regis, and W Hotels, and I bring those five-star insights to my own portfolio of vacation homes.
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Join the Inaugural Class of SHF Academy
Founding Member Pricing
As the inaugural class of the Second Home First Academy, we're offering 40% off for founding members. Use the code you received - or code KATIE - to unlock this special rate only available for this class.
1:1 Strategy Session
Every member of the inaugural class will receive a 60-minute one-on-one strategy session with Katie to review your goals and map out your personal Second Home First plan.
Limited Enrollment
Enrollment for the first class is intentionally limited so each member receiving personalized guidance and individualized feedback thrughout the program.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Who is SHF Academy for?
In general, people who want more income, optionality, and freedom in their lives. It's for those of us who want to financially plan for the future in a way that's still enjoyable today.
What does the SHF Academy include?
SHF Academy is a five-week, community-based program designed to guide you step-by-step through buying and launching your own second home first. Inside the Academy, you’ll receive:
- Five live weekly sessions (30 minutes of focused teaching + 30 minutes of live Q&A) with your instructor and other academy members
- On-demand lessons to deepen your understanding between sessions, completed on your own timeline
- Worksheets, quizzes, calculators, and checklists to turn ideas into action
- Proven frameworks to help you define your vision, confirm your budget, identify your target market, map your financing path, and select the right management model
- Expert guidance on designing a home you’ll love — and guests will love to book
- Real-world insights from my three vacation homes, including lessons learned and mistakes avoided
- Access to session replays so you can revisit key lessons
- A personalized roadmap that brings everything together into a clear, actionable plan
- A private, members-only whatsapp group to communicate with your instructor and other academy members
By the end of the program, you won’t just have inspiration — you’ll have clarity, strategy, and a defined path forward so you can buy a vacation home that pays for itself.
What can I expect from the SHF Academy?
In just five weeks, you’ll develop the knowledge, tools, and confidence to buy a vacation home that pays for itself — alongside a small group committed to doing the same.
When does SHF Academy begin?
SHF Academy’s inaugural class begins April 8, 2026. Enrollment is intentionally limited to ensure a high-touch experience and will close on April 7 at 8:00 PM ET, or once capacity is reached. Live sessions for the inaugural class will take place every Wednesday at 6:00pm ET, though all sessions will be recorded if you cannot attend. The last session will take place on May 6.
Is there a discount?
Why yes there is! As this is the very first class of the SHF Academy, I'm offering founding member pricing, as well as a free 1:1 strategy session included for every sign up. Use the code you received (or code KATIE) to get 40% off.
How do I join?
Sign up via the "Join now" button. We can't wait to meet you!
What if I have another question?
Set up a 15 minute phone chat with me or feel free to email me directly at Hello@BuyYourSecondHomeFirst.com. I look forward to connecting!