SECOND HOME FIRST ACADEMY
A five-week, guided, community-based program for people who want more income, optionality, and freedom in their lives.
Join the Academy
Does this sound familiar?
✓ You’re tired of feeling stuck in a job or lifestyle that doesn’t allow you to live life on your own terms.
✓ You dream of a life where money works for you, not the other way around.
✓ You want the flexibility to travel, spend time with loved ones, and create experiences that matter.
✓ You want to feel financially secure now, while building long-term wealth.
If you’re nodding along, Second Home First Academy is for you. You’re ready to think differently, take smart risks, and create a path that gives you control, choice, and the lifestyle you’ve always imagined.
In just five weeks, you’ll gain the knowledge, tools, and confidence to buy a vacation home that pays for itself alongside a small group committed to doing the same. By the end of the program, you won’t just have inspiration, you’ll have clarity, strategy, and a defined path forward.
Stop waiting for "someday."
WHAT’S INCLUDED
Inside the Academy, you’ll receive:
Five live weekly sessions (30 minutes of focused teaching + 30 minutes of live Q&A)
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 that 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
INSIDE THE ACADEMY
A week-by-week overview
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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, 6:00–7:30 pm ET (90 minutes)
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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, 6:00–7:00 pm ET (60 minutes)
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Week three focuses on getting your vacation home ready for both your family and paying guests. With practical tools, worksheets, and checklists, you’ll define your ideal guest, design your dream space, and smoothly welcome your first visitor. Pro tips help your property run effortlessly, creating a home you’ll love to escape to and a stay your guests will never forget.
Live Community Call: April 22, 6:00–7:00 pm ET (60 minutes)
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Week four focuses on managing your vacation home with confidence. Quizzes, checklists, and expert guidance help you choose the right management approach and implement strategies to future-proof your investment so you can enjoy a sustainable, worry-free vacation home for years to come.
Live Community Call: April 29, 6:00–7:00 p.m. ET (60 minutes)
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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, 6:00–7:00 pm ET (60 minutes)
Hi, I’m Katie, a hospitality veteran and short-term rental expert passionate about helping people turn vacation homes into wealth-building opportunities.
When I moved back to New York City to help care for my mom, buying a primary home didn’t make sense financially. So my husband and I bought a vacation home upstate, hoping short-term rentals could offset the costs. Not only did it cover expenses, it turned a profit, and a year later, we did it again. Seeing the houses booked every weekend from May through November made me realize this was not a fluke but a strategy. Today, we own three vacation homes that pay for themselves, building long-term wealth while letting us create memories and enjoy life with our family today.
Professionally, I’m an award-winning publicist, hospitality veteran, and short-term rental expert. I host two podcasts, Second Home First and Suite Success: Masters of Hospitality, and previously led global communications for iconic hotel brands including The Ritz-Carlton, St. Regis, and W Hotels. I bring those five-star insights to my own portfolio of vacation homes and love showing others that with the right approach, their dream vacation home can do the same for them.
Join the Inaugural Class of SHF Academy
Founding Member Pricing
As the inaugural class of the SHF 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 their goals and map out their personal Second Home First plan.
Limited Enrollment
Enrollment for the first class is intentionally limited so each member receives personalized guidance and individualized feedback throughout the program.
Frequently Asked Questions
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For people who want more income, optionality, and freedom in their lives.
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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.
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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.
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Five live weekly sessions (30 minutes of focused teaching + 30 minutes of live Q&A)
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
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.
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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 6:00 PM ET, though all sessions will be recorded if you cannot attend. The last session will take place on May 6.
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If you have any questions before getting started, book a free 15-minute discovery call with me or email me directly at Hello@BuyYourSecondHomeFirst.com.
DISCOVERY CALL