Meet Jaci Christian, founder and owner of The Bear Cabins. After buying her first cabin in Broken Bow, Oklahoma, in 2020, Jaci began self-managing remotely and building systems as if she were already running a larger operation. That approach naturally led to consulting and, eventually, to a full-service management company. With a background in marketing, she blends strong systems with a creative eye for design and the guest experience.

Can you tell us a little bit about your history?

I attended Abilene Christian University in West Texas, where I earned a degree in Advertising and Public Relations. I’ve always loved marketing and all things creative. In 2020, my husband and I purchased our first property as a personal investment. Even though it was “just” our property at the time, I intentionally set up systems and processes as if I were running a business because I knew I wanted to grow and acquire more properties in the future.

That approach is what ultimately led me into consulting and management. People began asking how I was self-managing remotely, what systems I was using, and how I had everything structured. When owners started asking if I would manage for them, I said yes, and that naturally evolved into launching my management company.

Were you always in vacation rentals or property management, or is this a 2nd/3rd career?

Vacation rental management is my second career. After graduating college, I attended flight school to become a flight instructor. I later met my husband, moved back home, and took a role in the marketing department of my family’s company. I worked there for five to six years through the birth of my first two children. Around the time COVID hit, shortly after my second baby, we purchased our cabin in Broken Bow. I began self-managing it remotely, which led to consulting and then to building a full-service management company from there.

Are you from the geographical area where your properties are located, or did you move there later?

I am not physically located in the same area as all of my properties. I’m a remote manager, located just under four hours away from our Broken Bow portfolio. We rely heavily on strong “boots on the ground” local teams, and we take team trips there regularly. I also personally own properties in that market, so my team gets to stay in them frequently. Operating remotely has strengthened my skills in delegation, systems, and accountability. In addition, I run Wise County Stays, which operates in the county and town where I personally live. That company grew from properties I own and manage as short- and mid-term rentals and has expanded from there.

What do you love the most about the vacation rental business?

What I love most about the vacation rental business is that it combines investing with creativity. I’m a real estate investor and professional at heart, but this business allows me to design, furnish, style, and market properties as well. It’s both analytical and creative. It’s challenging, fast-paced, and always evolving which fits my personality well.

What do you dislike the most about it?

What I dislike most is that it can feel like a “full-time, part-time, full-time” job. You may think you’ve built enough systems to step away for a weekend, but an unexpected issue like a flooding toilet at 9 p.m. on a Saturday can arise at any time, or a very challenging guest that cannot be pleased. While that unpredictability keeps things exciting, it can also be stressful when challenges appear at inconvenient moments or when I’m with my family.

How do you use OwnerRez to manage your business?

Regarding OwnerRez, we use it extensively across our business. We utilize it for full-service management, co-hosting, and connecting to other owners’ properties. We rely on the property management tools for owner statements, owner portal logins, templates, triggers, upsells, reporting, and our website. We also take advantage of its integrations with listing platforms and other third-party software. There are so many capabilities within OwnerRez that I feel like we’re constantly discovering new ways to improve and streamline.

What is the most useful feature OwnerRez offers?

The most useful feature of OwnerRez, in my opinion, is how robust and flexible it is with reporting, importing/exporting, and integrations. I’ve never loved the idea of one large software trying to do absolutely everything if I don’t love how it performs a specific function. OwnerRez allows us to connect best-in-class third-party tools while maintaining seamless integration with listing platforms and internal systems. That flexibility has been invaluable as we scale.

We’re impressed by what Jaci has accomplished while living four hours away from her properties. We look forward to continuing to support her business through integrations, reporting, and more, and are excited to see her business continue to thrive.