Short-term rental (STR) arbitrage has emerged as an agile and high-yield strategy in today’s real estate landscape, when done correctly. Investor Mike Swenson has become a recognized voice in this space—building a scalable model that transforms traditional rentals into high-performing assets through data-driven decisions, operational discipline, and strategic market positioning.

His journey—from navigating challenging regulations in the Twin Cities to building a profitable STR portfolio across the Twin Cities MN metro —provides a clear blueprint for investors seeking stronger margins and faster cash flow.

Key Insights from Mike Swenson’s STR Framework

1. Strategic Market Shifts Unlock New Opportunity

Mike emphasizes that not all markets are created equal.
He pivoted away from the heavily regulated Minneapolis/St. Paul environment and tapped into the growth corridor surrounding those cities.

This shift allowed him to accelerate results without navigating as restrictive of pol...

From studying tax law at just 14 years old to landing her dream job inside the IRS, Carlotta Thompson seemed destined for a lifelong career in government. But once she stepped behind the curtain as an IRS auditor, she discovered something shocking: countless business owners were leaving hundreds of thousands of dollars on the table in missed deductions — and the system wasn’t built to help them. 

Realizing she was “on the wrong side,” Carlotta walked away from the IRS to pursue a bigger mission: help entrepreneurs pay the least amount of tax legally possible. Today, as the Founder & CEO of Tax Strategists of America, she leads business owners through her signature Pathway to Zero™ program — a proven framework that uncovers hidden deductions, maximizes tax strategy, and empowers owners to keep more of what they earn. 

In this episode, Carlotta reveals the truths she learned inside the IRS, the most common (and costly) mistakes business owners make, and the practical steps entrepr...