Professional Bullfighter turning into a Rookie Real Estate Investor

[Weston Rutkowski]

Hey y’all!

I’m Weston Rutkowski and I’ve been rodeoing full-time for the past 12 years as a professional bullfighter and I am a 4X World Champion. It’s been an incredible journey, and I’ve loved every second of the chaos. This is still currently my full time occupation but I am ready to get into Real Estate.

I’m stepping into a world of alot of unknown around Real Estate. I have been reading books for several years and I am tired of sitting on the sideline and ready to dive in.

My wife and I are getting ready to turn our primary home into a long-term rental, and I'm exploring a HELOC to help fund our first investment property, a short-term rental. My goal is self manage our soon to be long term rental and then eventually build a brand around unique STR's, I waant to create freedom for our family, and eventually replace our active income with something that scales and gives us peace of mind.

I’m here learn first and foremost but i am also looking to build a team. People I can grow with, lean on, and eventually partner with if the fit is right. I know how important community and trust are in both the rodeo world and business.

 If you have any advice or strategies you think would serve us best please reach out!

[Melissa Justice]

@Weston Rutkowski,

Hey Weston – welcome to the community, and huge respect for your incredible career! A 4X World Champion bullfighter stepping into real estate is about as badass as it gets. That grit, discipline, and ability to thrive under pressure are going to serve you extremely well in this space.

It sounds like you've already laid some smart groundwork, turning your primary into a long-term rental and exploring a HELOC to fund your first STR is a solid move. That first property will teach you a ton, and self-managing it early on will give you insight and control you can't buy.

As you start building your STR brand, keep in mind that unique properties in the right locations + great guest experience is a winning combo. Whether you go for themed stays, experiential design, or underserved markets with strong tourism demand, there's a lot of room to carve out a niche.

If you’re open to it, exploring turnkey rentals in strong cash-flowing markets like the Midwest and Southeast could be a great way to diversify, especially as you scale. Those markets can give you more reliable income and let you focus on brand-building for your STRs without having all your eggs in one high-maintenance basket.

You’ve got the mindset and motivation! Now it’s just about surrounding yourself with the right people. You’re in the right place for that. Welcome again, and if I can help with anything along the way-market analysis, financing ideas, team-building-don’t hesitate to reach out.

Best of luck,

Melissa