Vacation rental properties are rarely big moneymakers for their owners; more often than not, they're a money pit.  So when Christine Karpinski discovered you really could make money with vacation homes, she knew she had to share her knowledge with others.  For nearly ten years, she has done just that at her seminars with hundreds of owners.  From helping an individual purchase their very first property to training a whole team of employees for an owner of nearly 200 properties to anyone in between, Christine's seminars have transformed vacation property ownership into a lucrative investment.

Shortly after moving to Atlanta in 1996, Christine went to Destin, Florida where she fell in love with the beaches and dreamed of owning a vacation property.  But there was one problem: the little one- and two-bedroom condos were pricier than her family could afford, costing more than their home in Atlanta.  Christine even considered rental income, but just couldn’t seem to make the numbers work.  For most people, this is where the dream ends.

Being determined, Christine didn’t give up and realized the only factor that could make a vacation property on the beach possible was eliminating property management commissions (which are generally 20-50% of the rental income).  From there she started researching "renting by owner".  And yes, she did end up buying that dream home on the beach and had positive cash flow from day one.

Hearing of Christine's success, other owners wanted to know why she had so many more bookings than they did.  Fellow owners were also intrigued that she never had damage by guests and she wasn't paying commission to the management company.

Clearly, Christine had figured out how to profitably manage vacation rentals, so she started setting up seminars to teach other owners.  Now Christine has become one of the most respected voices in vacation property ownership. Today, she can be found speaking all over the country at seminars, on radio, trade shows and she is a regular contributor to industry magazines and many online newsletters. 

In March of 2004, Christine completed her first two books, How To Rent Vacation Properties By Owner –The Complete Guide to Buy, Manage, Furnish, Rent, Maintain and Advertise Your Vacation Rental Investment and The Vacation Rental Organizer, which are both on the best-sellers list and have sold thousands of copies .

In July, 2005 Christine's second book was released, Profit from Your Vacation Home Dream, The Complete Guide to a Savvy Financial and Emotional Investment.

Christine has  taught sold-out seminars throughout the country including The Real Estate Expo in NYC with Donald Trump, Suze Orman and Robert Kiyosaki.  She is a frequent guest on television and radio shows such as CNN’s “Open House,” Bloomberg’s “Personal Finance,” CBS MarketWatch Radio, and HGTV Radio and is often interviewed on real estate topics for Realty Times, The Wall Street Journal, Kiplinger’s Personal Finance and daily newspapers. Her books, combined with her seminars and media appearances, have helped thousands of people manage and profit from their second homes.

Today Christine and her family reside in Austin, Texas.  She owns multiple vacation rental properties and is often referred to as “The Most Respected Voice in the Vacation Rental Industry.”  She serves vacation home owners through her position as Director, Owner community for HomeAway, Inc. through the HomeAway.com  Owner Community (http://Ownercommunity.HomeAway.com/)

About HomeAway.com:
HomeAway.com is the world's most complete vacation rental marketplace, offering the easiest way to find vacation properties online. With real-time calendars and multiple photos, HomeAway connects travelers with the perfect rental, from condos to castles and bungalows to villas. More owners and managers list their properties directly with HomeAway than any vacation rental site in the world, resulting in listings in more than 90 countries across six continents. HomeAway gives vacationers privacy, space and prices unmatched by hotels. Live the destination.

About HomeAway, Inc.:
HomeAway, Inc., formerly WVR Group, Inc., is a global network of vacation rental sites which includes CyberRentals.com, A1Vacations.com, GreatRentals.com, Holiday-Rentals.co.uk (UK), HolidayRentals.fr (France), Fewo-Direkt.de (Germany), TripHomes.com and the U.S. flagship site, HomeAway.com. Led by an experienced team of online and travel industry experts, HomeAway is based in Austin, Texas and funded by leading venture capital firms, Austin Ventures and Redpoint Ventures.

For an Interview with Christine Karpinski, Please Contact:
Dottie DeHart
DeHart & Company
The Piedmont Center
1375 Lenoir Rhyne Blvd. SE, Suite 109
Hickory, NC 28602
Direct Phone: 828-325-4966
Direct Fax: 828-325-4968
E-mail: DSDeHart@aol.com
www.dehartandcompany.com

Last modified: 7/5/2007