How Our 8 STRs Let Us Live in Taiwan for 7 Weeks (And Why the Money Was Never the Point)

Most people building passive income are chasing a number. We were chasing something else entirely. In this episode, Michael and Liz sit down together from Taipei, Taiwan, where they're spending their third consecutive summer with their kids, to share the real reason they built their STR portfolio and what time freedom actually looks like in practice. This isn't a theory episode. It's a behind-the-scenes look at how two former investment banking and fashion professionals designed a life where the portfolio works while they're sleeping, the kids are in $45 swim lessons four days a week, and the whole family is under one roof for seven weeks straight. We break down: **How 8 short-term rentals generate $200K+ in July revenue while Michael and Liz are 12 time zones away** **The real cost breakdown of 7 weeks in Taiwan, including flights, summer camp, and personal training, and why it costs a fraction of what it would in New York** **The daily schedule that lets them work 8 to 12, spend afternoons with their kids, and still meet their 500-hour material participation requirement for the STR tax benefit** **How a team of nearly 10 specialists provides 24-hour client support across Slack so their mentorship program never misses a beat while they sleep** **Liz's golden handcuff story and why 10 vacation days a year was never going to be enough** **The immigrant parent story that became the North Star for everything Michael has built** The bottom line: The STR portfolio isn't the point. The time it buys you is. LEARN MY STR INVESTING & STRATEGIES 🔥  https://strlikethebest.com/wealthpod Apply to work with Michael: https://strlikethebest.com/applypod Follow Michael on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/michaelchangbnb Track your STR hours the right way. STR Tax Loophole is our time tracking app built specifically for short-term rental investors. Document your qualifying activities, maintain clean records, and simplify your STR tax qualification. Start your free trial at https://www.thestrtaxloophole.com/