From a $347,000 Fixer-Upper to Four Separate Airbnb Rentals in Modesto

Vanessa Banh, a 28-year-old ex-accountant, acquired a four-bedroom fixer-upper in Modesto for $347,000 in 2022 using a hard-money loan that was quickly refinanced into a conventional mortgage. She and her father spent about a year and a half renovating the property, spending roughly $60,000 on major items like a new roof and air-conditioning, and finished in July 2023. Initially planning a long-term rental, she shifted to Airbnb after hearing advice from podcasts and subcontractors, launching two units that attracted mid-term renters such as traveling nurses, earning $3,500-$4,500 in revenue per month with cash flow of $1,000-$1,500 after expenses.

Seeing demand, she transformed the unused garage into two studio ADUs, a project that began in November 2025, cost about $100,000 plus $8,500 in permits and design fees, and was completed by January 2026. The garage units now bring roughly $2,000 each per month, effectively covering their construction debt and contributing to overall profitability.