Shae Greidanus holds the keys to the new home she purchased in December. The 19-year-old sophomore is using the home as an Airbnb, but hopes to move into the house later this year.

Californian finds her new home in Stillwater

Monday, March 27, 2023

Shae Greidanus grew up on the family farm in Visalia, California, and was planning to attend Boise State University in Idaho after graduating from high school in 2021. But several former high school classmates already were attending Oklahoma State University and they encouraged her to make a trip to the Stillwater campus.

It didn’t take long for Greidanus to decide OSU was the place for her. Today, two years later, she could not be happier. An international business major in the Spears School of Business, Greidanus is also taking advantage of the new Property and Real Estate Management certificate offered through the Department of Finance and the School of Hospitality and Tourism Management.

She is also absorbing all she can in her current Real Estate Principles class. The 19-year-old sophomore has already started dabbling in real estate. In December, she purchased a home in Stillwater, renovating it to her tastes and it is now listed as the “Suitcase Rancher” on Airbnb. She plans to move into the home this fall.

Greidanus shared her thoughts with us in a recent interview.

How did you end up at Oklahoma State University from Visalia, California?
When I graduated high school, a lot of California schools were still closed due to Covid restrictions, and thankfully I was already looking out of state, so it wasn’t a question if I would stay close to home, it was always “where to now?” I visited OSU twice, and the second time I actually cried in Eskimo Joe’s telling my parents I knew this was the place I needed to be. It checked all my boxes and I genuinely felt myself being called here. For the last six years, one person in each graduating class from my ~300-person high school has come to OSU, so I was the 2021 OSU-bound graduate, and the tradition is still continuing.

Why do so many kids from your high school find OSU appealing?
If you’re from Tulare County in California, you grow up in agriculture. Even if it’s not what your family does as a career, it surrounds you enough and has such a profound impact on our community that you’re connected to it somehow. So, for that reason a lot us are attracted to the cowboy culture in the Midwest and South. Then having good colleges like the Ferguson College of Agriculture and the Spears School of Business sets us up for success. Mix that with good sports and a community that makes you feel at home despite being 1,500 miles away is perfect.

What was life like growing up in Visalia, California?
Life in Visalia growing up was exciting. On a clear day, I can see all the Sierra Nevadas, and it’s a two-hour drive to the beach, to the ski resort or to the Mojave desert. My brother and I played year-round sports too. At home, we had my dairy show heifers, young beef cattle, dogs, horses, goats, chickens, orange trees, and pistachio trees that needed taken care of, so my family was always outside. I love working with the cattle and horses the most, but I have been involved in every element of our family’s business and lifestyle since I could walk. I don’t think anything teaches you hard work, confidence, adaptability, and humility like farming and ranching does, and those values I gained at home have stuck with me during my time as a business student here.

What do you hope to do after graduating from OSU?
I’m still deciding exactly what I want to do with it, but right now I’m walking through doors that are opening up for me and seeing where they lead. I think after graduation I’ll be moving to a new state to finish up some licensing and get some good life experience, whether that be in real estate, sales, ranching or something else.

When and why did you begin dabbling in real estate? What made you to decide to purchase a house in Stillwater and convert it into an Airbnb?
A few years ago, my dad did some restructuring of our family business and decided to start learning some real estate investing. Him and I are really close, so it was something we talked about gradually. When I came to college, my parents told me if I wanted to start a business or invest in something, they would help me go through that process the first time to learn the ropes for real, along with doing some required extra readings. Beginning of my second year, something got me excited, and I decided I wanted to find a place to “househack” and start my investment journey. I found the right place almost a year before I’d be able to move in, so to gain some real-life experience and help cover some costs, I decided to put it up as a short-term rental. So far, I’m loving it and considering opening another one later this year.

How has the Real Estate Principles class helped in the process of purchasing a house and opening an Airbnb?
One of the most intimidating parts of getting into real estate is all the lingo, terminology and financing stuff. The Real Estate Principles class has helped me gain a better understanding of what those terms mean and how to make better decisions with properties and people I work with on them. It’s one thing to listen to 10 podcasts about a topic, it’s a whole better thing to be able to practice it with peers and professionals in a classroom setting before putting your money on the line.

What was the most challenging aspect of opening an Airbnb?
The most challenging part was dealing with all the unexpected stuff that comes up, such as details for the permit I didn’t know how to find, complications with ordering furniture, tearing off facia boards just to find more damage than originally thought, etc. I definitely learned to expect the unexpected and am now more aware of the types of issues that can come up. I tried to do as much work myself as I could, in the most cost-effective way without compromising value, but I am thankful for the help I found along the way.

What’s an interesting fact about your Airbnb?
Throughout the process of designing my Airbnb, I had a mindset to try and make this place special. While eating lunch with my mom, it came to me! We were talking about how I like to travel, my passion for agriculture and cowboy culture, and also my love for business. The Suitcase Rancher, a term used to describe a traveling cowboy or businessman, is not only a reflection of who I am in Stillwater, but of many travelers who come into town. So, I turned the term into a character, and throughout the house there are frames that describe different parts of the Suitcase Rancher’s story, which most of us can relate to. Of course, I tried to make the design appealing, the kitchen functional, the backyard comfortable and the bedrooms relaxing, but I also am trying to give my guests something special to remember about their time in Stillwater, Oklahoma.

Visit the website to learn more about the Property and Real Estate Management Certificate.