Key facts
- Vanessa Banh bought a fixer-upper house in Modesto, California, for $347,000 in May 2022.
- She converted part of the house into two Airbnb units, generating $3,500-$4,500 monthly revenue.
- Banh then converted the property's garage into two additional Airbnb units (ADUs).
- The garage conversion cost approximately $108,500 and began generating bookings in March 2026.
- Each garage unit now brings in about $2,000 per month.
Vanessa Banh, a 28-year-old former accountant, has successfully transformed a fixer-upper property in Modesto, California, into multiple income-generating Airbnb units. She purchased the four-bedroom house with a garage in May 2022 for $347,000. After completing extensive renovations over a year and a half, which cost around $60,000, she initially converted a portion of the main house into two separate Airbnb units.
These initial units proved successful, particularly in attracting traveling professionals and nurses for mid-term rentals, generating between $3,500 and $4,500 in monthly revenue. This success inspired Banh to further leverage her property by converting the unused garage into two additional Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs).
After saving funds through other real estate ventures like wholesaling and flipping homes, Banh began the garage conversion in November 2025. The project, which involved obtaining permits and architectural designs, cost approximately $108,500 and was completed by January 2026. The two new studio units were ready for guests by late February 2026, with bookings commencing in March. Although she initially offered a new-listing discount, Banh is now achieving about $2,000 in monthly revenue per unit, effectively doubling the income potential compared to a single long-term rental.
Banh views real estate as a primary vehicle for wealth building and prefers to generate income from her properties rather than occupying them herself. She anticipates the debt from the garage conversion will be paid off within two years, after which the units will be fully cash-flowing.