Alex Funk
Founder, Dream Life Academy
Real estate investor, bestselling author of The Dreams List, and podcast host. Alex built DLA to help people buy their time back.
- 8
- rental properties owned
- 150+
- people in the DLA Accelerator
You make the decisions.
We do the work.
For busy professionals who have the capital to own a short-term rental, but not the hours to become a full-time investor. We find it, underwrite it, set it up, and run it.
You're not short on capital.
You're short on hours.
Most high earners who want a short-term rental never buy one because of the unknown between having the money and getting the first booking.
- 01Picking a market out of hundreds
- 02Underwriting revenue you can trust
- 03Checking local STR rules
- 04Finding a lender who understands STRs
- 05Setup, furnishing, photos, listing
- 06Guests, cleaning, pricing, repairs
DLA DFY takes the work off your plate. You make decisions from the work we do.
Built for a specific kind of investor.
This is for you if you…
- Have $200k+ liquid, ready to deploy, with proof of funds
- Can qualify for financing, or already have a capital partner
- Want to own the asset
- Are open to markets where numbers make sense
- Make decisions in days, not weeks or months
- Want a clear process and are patient on time to money
- Want the tax advantages real estate can offer, planned with your CPA
This is not for you if you…
- Need to raise the money first
- Have credit or debt issues to clean up first
- Only want one specific market
- Want to pick the furniture and run daily operations
- Are looking for validation on a property you already found
- Want guaranteed returns
How it works
-
01
Strategy call with Alex
-
02
Deep dive and buy box with Kuvaal
-
03
Sourcing and underwriting
-
04
You pick. You buy.
-
05
Launch call with C & T Dream Properties
-
06
Management and reporting
Hands on the wheel. Hands off the work.
You decide
- How much capital to deploy and your buy box
- Your play: launch, cash flow, or win
- Which deal to buy
- Design direction
- How involved you want to be
We handle
- Market research and deal sourcing
- Underwriting and revenue projections
- Local STR regulation checks
- Lender and agent introductions
- Furnishing, setup, and listing
- Guests, cleaning, pricing, and maintenance
Want the tax advantages? Plan them before you buy.
Short-term rentals can create real tax advantages for some owners, and whether you get them depends on how you participate.
Time to Money
- Week 1Strategy calls and launch
- Weeks 1–4Deal packets delivered
- ~30–45 daysUnder contract to closed
- ~30–60 daysSetup, furnishing, photos, launch
- AfterBookings ramp, reviews build, monthly reporting
Built & Run by Investors
Kuvaal Patel
Author, Zero-to-Ca$hflow
Real estate investor and leader of 50+ agents.
- 600+
- transactions
- 500+
- investors and families served
Case Study
A basic Airbnb listing
- Cash invested
- $59,000
- Annual free cash flow
- $9,960
- Cash-on-cash
- 16.9%
A small property placed on Airbnb after a modest $13K in set up and renovations, and it still averages $830 a month.
Built to compete
- Cash invested
- $145,000
- Annual free cash flow
- $18,250
- Cash-on-cash
- 12.6%
Interested in how we 3–4x this cash-on-cash return?
Plan to invest another $25K to push this listing to a top 1%. Annual cash flow after that investment:
- Projected$61,600 / yr36.2%
- Upside$78,600 / yr46.2%
Built to win
- Cash invested
- $205,000
- Annual free cash flow
- $36,870
- Cash-on-cash
- 18.0%
*Currently generating $35,000 per year as an arbitrage. Modeled above on a hypothetical $800,000 purchase price.
From the Sept. 2026 case study. Past results and projections don't guarantee future returns.
FAQs
How much does DFY cost?
It depends on the play you choose. Pricing is covered in the walkthrough video above and on your strategy call.
Do I get to pick the market?
You can share preferences, and we'll weigh them. But we go where your numbers work.
Can I finance the purchase?
Yes, most clients do. You'll confirm you can qualify with a lender before sourcing starts, and we'll make an introduction if you need one.
How involved do I need to be?
As involved as your goals require. Most clients make the key calls and let us run the rest. If tax advantages matter to you, we'll want to confirm level of involvement with your CPA before we start.
What if you can't find a deal that fits?
There's no risk for you.
Are returns guaranteed?
No. Nobody can guarantee short-term rental returns, and we won't pretend to.
Can I invest with a partner or spouse?
Yes.
DFY Calculator
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Assumptions
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Cash to close$0
Initial repairs$0
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Reserves$0
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Estimates only, based on the assumptions shown. Your actual rate, taxes, insurance, and costs will vary. Not a loan offer or investment advice.