Real Estate Investing School Podcast

Episode 140: REAL DEAL — The Blueprint to Glamping Resort Success

Host: Brody Fawcett
Date: March 14, 2024

Episode Overview

In this solo "Real Deal" episode, host Brody Fawcett offers a transparent, in-the-moment breakdown of his latest real estate venture: launching a glamping resort near Zion National Park. Brody details his motivations, the step-by-step process of finding, funding, and designing the project, and candidly shares lessons learned and behind-the-scenes insights. The episode serves as both a case study and a motivational guide for aspiring lifestyle-focused investors interested in alternative hospitality, creative financing, and maximizing ROI through unique short-term rentals.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Lifestyle Investing and Vision

• Brody’s Philosophy: Brody's approach centers on investments that directly enhance his and his family's lifestyle—not just financial gains.

  • “I am a lifestyle investor, and all that means is I love doing things with my lifestyle in mind... I’m working with the intention of building my dream life.” (06:40)

• Tiny Home Resort Foundation: His proven success with a tiny home resort in Brian Head, Utah, is the experiential and economic foundation for this next glamping venture.

2. Why Glamping? Market and Personal Alignment

• Low Cost, High Reward: Glamping structures, specifically geodesic domes, offer a lower build cost but command high nightly rates due to their unique experience.
  • "If you design it and build it the right way... you can still charge the same amount per night [as a cabin]... but your build cost isn’t nearly as much." (14:27)
• Location Strategy: The chosen property is just outside Zion National Park, ensuring high demand from travelers.

3. Finding the Deal

• Network and Opportunity: Brody didn’t directly find the land. A contact who failed to close on the project sold Brody the deal, their research, and preliminary work for a finder’s/consulting fee.
  • “Somebody that I know had found this project, and I’d kind of been helping them out as far as consulting them... They weren’t able to execute on it... So, I made them an offer for all the work they’d done plus a fee.” (39:23–44:55)
• Deal Structure: Brody emphasizes only pursuing deals you truly want, even if it means paying for someone else’s groundwork.

4. Funding Strategy

• No Personal Capital: The $480K property was bought entirely with investor partners’ cash; Brody contributed expertise and leadership instead of money.

  • “I didn’t put any cash into this deal... I own 51% of it, and the other 49% is split up between two investors.” (52:00)

• Partnership Criteria: Brody partners only with individuals he knows, likes, and trusts, considering cultural fit as important as capital.

  • “If we have a business meeting and it’s in Mexico and we’re golfing... who do I actually want to spend time with?” (55:16)

• Money Follows the Deal: Securing excellent deals naturally attracts investors; finding the deal is primary.

  • “You don’t find the money. You find the deal, and the deal is what brings the money.” (57:00)

• Infinite Return Philosophy: By not putting in his own money, Brody achieves "infinite" cash on cash return.

  • “If I put no money into it—even if it’s a really, really good return—it’s now an infinite cash on cash return.” (54:26)

5. Projected Returns

• Strong Financials: Each investor partner should net over $10,000/month in profit; Brody projects $20,000+/month for himself, after expenses, once stabilized.
  • “On a very, very conservative level, we each should make over $10,000 a month... I should make over $20,000 a month profit after all the expenses.” (01:02:34)

6. Force Value: Design & Amenities

• Cost-Effective Luxury: The design leverages three sizes of geodesic domes. Only the largest six domes have private bathrooms; the rest use two high-end communal bathroom houses.
  • “Not every single unit has a bathroom/shower... plumbing is in one central location... from a development standpoint, it saves so much money.” (01:10:40)
• Unique Amenities: Plans include a sauna, pickleball court, communal fire pit, indoor gym, and large central dome for group events.
• Targeting Experiences: Designed for weddings, corporate retreats, and regular travelers.

7. Lessons and Takeaways

• Education ROI: Brody highlights the leverage of experience and education, drawing parallels between paying a finder’s fee and investing in mentorship.
  • “People are afraid to pay for education... they don’t understand that it’s not spending, it’s investing.” (01:05:13)
• The Power of Coaching: Learning from those who’ve done it accelerates success and minimizes mistakes.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• “If you have a good deal and it’s a good quality deal and it’s exciting and it’s a fun deal and it’s going to make people money, the money is very, very, very easy to then go and get—even if you don’t know a lot of people with a lot of money.” — Brody Fawcett (00:01, 57:00)

• “How many times in life do you have a chance to work really hard for a year and that turns into $20,000 a month plus equity for the rest of your life?” — Brody Fawcett (01:03:20)

• “It’s not spending it, it’s investing it. Sometimes the best investment you can ever make is in you and in yourself and be the person that truly bets on you.” — Brody Fawcett (01:06:05)

• “Not every single unit has a bathroom… there’s a reason… all that plumbing is in one central location… saves so much money because I don’t have to run plumbing to every single unit.” — Brody Fawcett (01:10:40)

Important Timestamps

• 00:01 — Opening principle: Good deals attract easy money
• 06:40 — Lifestyle investing defined
• 14:27 — Why glamping offers high ROI
• 39:23–44:55 — How Brody acquired the deal via a consultant/finder’s fee
• 52:00 — Funding breakdown and ownership structure
• 54:26 — Infinite cash-on-cash return philosophy
• 57:00 — The deal brings the money, not vice versa
• 01:02:34 — Projected profits and the massive impact of one deal
• 01:05:13 — Value of real estate education and coaching
• 01:10:40 — Cost-critical design: communal vs. private bathrooms

Episode Takeaways

• A strong deal, deep due diligence, and creative structuring with trusted partners unlock lucrative opportunities even without personal capital.
• Lifestyle investing frames deals as vehicles for life goals, not just financial ones.
• Heavy investment in planning and education—whether via consulting, mentorship, or hands-on experience—yields exponential rewards when launching innovative hospitality concepts.
• Smart design—such as centralized plumbing—can drastically reduce costs while sustaining high-end guest experiences.

Learn more, follow Brody’s process in real time, and reach out for mentorship or to follow the development journey on Instagram: @brodyfawcett or @realestateinvestingschool