Today we’d like to introduce you to Kayla & Cameron Weeks.
Hi Kayla & Cameron, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today.
Since I was young, I was always fascinated with interior design and beach town real estate. I remember falling asleep with HGTV on in my bedroom at night watching Chip and Joanna Gaines on my television and subconsciously thinking what a cool job that is. Not only working with families to create a space that feels like a home but working as a team with your husband to accomplish that goal. At the time, that wasn’t a dream I took seriously. I always thought I was going to work in the medical field or have a job that required academic rigor to achieve, considering I have always been very type A and invested in my studies during my school years. However, I think the most important lesson I have learned is to actively tune in to the opportunities presenting themselves around you and lean into them, Rather than clinging on to the intangible plans you have created in your head. Plans are meant to be a fluid framework to guide our actions toward our goals. But sometimes, the universe steers us in the direction we are meant to go, and the only thing that can get in the way is our own resistance.
I met my husband when I was 15. Yep. At the time, I didn’t know he was going to be my forever person, but he filled this physical and emotional space in my life that was perfectly molded for only him to fill. It still blows my mind that we were so young, but we both just trusted that we were meant for one another and let our lives fall into place around that.
After high school, my husband–Cameron–joined the Coast Guard and became a Helicopter Rescue Swimmer. He probably aged me ten years with how much I worried about him, but it was a dream he had since he was young, and I supported every moment of it. The military was a huge part of our lives and the main reason we were able to become financially independent, travel, and how we ended up in Savannah, Ga. Originally, we both grew up in New York, in an area called the Hudson Valley, but we both always dreamed of living at the beach and raising little beach bums. When Cameron received orders to Air Station Savannah, we immediately had to go and scope out the closest beach town. That is one of the perks in the Coast Guard; you’re almost guaranteed to be stationed near the beach. And so, on July 4th, 2019, our love and fascination for the little beach town of Tybee Island was born. All it took was the drive over the Bull River Bridge for my heart to be stolen. I knew we had to live here and raise our babies here, but I just wasn’t sure how. I was 19 years old at the time, and my husband was 21. We definitely could not afford to live at the beach–he was active-duty military, and I was an unemployed college student–but remember how I mentioned earlier the universe steers you in the direction you’re meant to go, and you have to let go of the “how” it is going to happen? Well, this mantra was in full force. I started scouring Zillow for an affordable place to rent for our first year on the island. We were living in a hotel at the time until we found housing with our Basic Housing Allowance the government provides military families with. I had full faith that this was where we were meant to be, and within twenty minutes, I kid you not, a one-bed one bath apartment less than two blocks from the beach was posted less than four hours ago on rent.com! I immediately called the number, we drove over to see it, and we signed the lease that day.
Today, my husband is no longer active duty, and I am no longer a broke college student, but the plot definitely thickens as we take the leap of faith toward the life we have created out here. When our lease was up on Tybee, we decided to use our VA loan to buy our first home on the next island over. Our family was growing by one dog, and we wanted a space of our own with a yard. We closed on our house in 2020 and continued scouring Zillow each day for an investment opportunities out on Tybee, knowing we couldn’t stay away long-term. One year later, a turnkey income-producing duplex on Tybee popped up for sale. We were on it. But qualifying for the loan was not easy. We had to sell our house to free up our VA loan and use the equity for a down payment, but the closings did not line up and certainly were not guaranteed. So, we basically sold our house and lived in an Airbnb praying the closing would go through on our Tybee home and we wouldn’t be left homeless. Not stressful at all.
But by the grace of god, we closed and moved into the upstairs of our first investment property and Airbnb’s the downstairs. This is how our Airbnb business was originally born. We had no closets and were living in 550 sq ft with two 70lb dogs, but it was the best decision we had ever made. This property opened up opportunities we had never imagined. We became Airbnb Super Hosts and achieved over 100% return on our investment after the first year. We know Airbnb the Splash Inn units through our property management company Lighthouse Vacation Rentals–a company that is managing over 20 units on the island so far! Lighthouse has changed our lives. It allowed my husband to get out of the military, and it has given us the security to start a family. I am currently 6 months pregnant, and we are expecting a little girl in July.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way? Looking back, would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
I believe nothing rewarding in life comes easy. Lighthouse Vacation Rentals was born from my husband and I’s hard work and dedication to a better life for ourself and our future kids. My husband had to leave the financial security of his job in the military, leave behind the brotherhood he worked so hard to be a part of, we had to risk our home, move 3 times in a matter of 3 years, and I left my graduate studies program in mental health counseling to grow our company full time.
Looking back, all of the obstacles fill me with pride because the road was well worth it, and I would do it all over again in a heartbeat.
We have not only found our niche in Airbnb management, setups, and design, but we have created a life that we are proud to share with our daughter when she comes into the world. She will get her beach town childhood after all, And most importantly, with the presence of both her mommy and daddy.
Lighthouse provides our family with the ability to spend the workdays together.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know?
Lighthouse Vacation Rentals is a short-term vacation rental management company. We specialize in maximizing the rate of return on investment properties through interior design and artificial intelligence software. We are family-owned and operated, and pride ourself on a first-name basis with our clients. We offer property management services, interior design, and setup specifically tailored toward short-term rentals and five-star guest accommodations.
Lighthouse Vacation Rentals also works with local realtors to establish potential investment opportunities for clients, run projections, and help secure those who are interested with income-producing properties in Tybee Island and the surrounding areas.
What do you like best about our city? What do you like least?
Tybee Island and the surrounding areas provides so much opportunity for business owners. The year-round tourism allows for small businesses and pop-ups to have the opportunity to grow and create a living for themself. The increase in small businesses in the area also creates diverse experiences for visitors while preserving the small-town charm of the Savannah area. I am so thankful to be a part of this community.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.lhvrtybee.com
- Instagram: https://instagram.com/lighthousevacationrentals
Image Credits
Elevated Coastal Productions
Cassidy Cartwright Photography
