Coach James Short Podcast


From Maui Firefighter to Real Estate Freedom: Mike Neubauer on STRs, Mindset, and Building a Life You Don’t Retire From James Short hosts Leading and Growing Your Real Estate Business with guest Mike Neubauer, a former Maui firefighter, master photographer, and real estate investor behind Our Family Invests. Mike shares how he moved from creative work into firefighting for stability, then learned short-term rentals from a mentor, studied relentlessly, and replaced his fire department income within about two and a half years, retiring after 10 years to secure pension benefits.

 He explains his “scale of passivity,” starting with STRs for strong returns and transitioning toward more passive investing to protect family time, emphasizing “solve for Tuesday morning” and overcoming analysis paralysis by focusing on what could go right. He discusses joining mastermind rooms earlier, common success traits of taking action, and upcoming projects including a luxury glamping resort near Zion and building a home in Co