JULY 01, 2025
#139 How Anja Schaer Built a Life of Freedom Through Her Airbnb Business
What if the key to building a profitable and fulfilling Airbnb business wasn’t in playing it safe—but in saying yes to risk?
On a recent episode of The STR Sisterhood podcast, I sat down with powerhouse investor Anja Schaer, whose journey from East Germany to thriving Airbnb and mid-term rental host in Atlanta is anything but typical. Her story is one of transformation, bold decisions, and a belief that freedom is always worth fighting for.
From Berlin Wall to Airbnb Business Owner
Anja grew up behind the Berlin Wall, where limitations were the norm and freedom was only a dream. But once that wall came down, she never looked back. After years of running a lighting store, she took a leap that would change everything: she said yes to a $35,000 coaching program—because of a single Facebook ad. That moment sparked the beginning of her Airbnb business, and it was the turning point that launched her into the world of property investing.
Why Risk Was the Best Investment
In our conversation, Anja shares how taking a risk on herself unlocked opportunities she never thought possible. She didn’t come from a background in real estate. But she leaned into her instincts, surrounded herself with mentors, and shifted her mindset from “what if I fail” to “what if this works?” And it did. Big time.
Anja now owns and manages a growing portfolio of short-term and mid-term rental properties in Atlanta—and she’s helping other women do the same. Her hybrid rental strategy (a mix of Airbnb and 30+ day stays) is helping her scale her business smart, sustainably, and profitably.
Lessons to Grow Your Airbnb Business with Confidence
Here are just a few of the takeaways Anja dropped in the episode:
- Your past doesn’t define your future. You can pivot, even when it feels scary.
- Mentorship matters. Surrounding yourself with the right people can shorten your learning curve and help you make powerful moves faster.
- Risk is a requirement. Building a successful Airbnb business means being willing to invest—in yourself, your education, and your future.
Reinventing Yourself Through Real Estate
Anja’s journey is more than a business success story—it’s a reminder that you’re allowed to rewrite your narrative at any time. You can say yes to something bigger. You can bet on yourself. And you can create a business and life that aligns with the freedom you crave.
Whether you’re just starting your Airbnb business or looking to scale to the next level, this episode will leave you fired up to take action. Because sometimes, the biggest breakthroughs begin with one bold decision.
That single yes?
It became the catalyst for her entire Airbnb business success story.
💬 “I took the leap even though it scared me—and it completely changed my life.”
🎧 Listen to Episode #139 to hear the full story and get inspired to take your first step.
Resources Mentioned:
Live Big Book : https://tinyurl.com/mvdvetb6
The Hybrid Rental Strategy : https://tinyurl.com/48hskfrs
HIGHLIGHTS AND KEY POINTS:
[01:30] A short introduction about our guest Anja Schaer and a glimpse on her short-term rental portfolio
[02:47] How Anja’s journey from East Germany to the U.S. shaped her mindset around risk, freedom, and money
[09:22] How the fall of the Berlin Wall and reunification of Germany impacted her emotionally and shaped her worldview
[13:44] Anja shares how her early life experiences influence her entrepreneurial mindset
[17:38] Anja and her husband’s transition from a lighting business to real estate investing
[24:06] Anja’s view on balancing education and action when taking a leap into something new
[29:10] Anja’s talks about how success comes from taking action despite fear, trusting the process, and being willing to pivot as circumstances change
[35:52] How building and being part of communities provided Anja with emotional support, strategic feedback, and validation during pivots in her business journey
[39:04] Anja reflects on how the STR Success Accelerator and similar women-led groups offer a safe, collaborative space where women can freely ask questions, learn from each other’s real-world experiences, and find mentorship
[41:32] Anja shares how her coaching journey began organically, as women started reaching out to her after seeing her success with short-term rentals.
[45:41] Anja talks about her book, The Hybrid Rental Strategy —based entirely on her real-life experiences and experiments
[50:32] The lightning round
Golden Nuggets:
- “We just have to be open to new things, to be ready to adapt, not holding onto old structures for too long, keeping our eyes open for opportunities.”
- “There’s always good things and bad things. It’s just weighing your options and making a decision that aligns with your goals, that aligns with your values.”
- “Jump and grow your wings on the way down.”
- “Learning to get comfortable with the uncomfortable is a skill. It’s simply a muscle that can be built and just because you may not feel like you have that skill right now doesn’t mean that that’s not a skill that you can start building today.”
- “It might feel hard and uncomfortable for now, but there is light at the end of the tunnel. Just keep on going, push through.”
- “The power of a community is not only having the ability to ask questions and get plugged into formalized education, but also learning from other people’s challenges before it ever occurs in our own businesses.”
Let’s Connect!
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/anja_invests/
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