Meet Connor Cloud Gilliam | Outdoors Enthusiast & Property Manager

We had the good fortune of connecting with Connor Cloud Gilliam and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Connor Cloud, what’s something about your industry that outsiders are probably unaware of?
Property management is a beautiful thing because of the various methods of market entry one can use to get in the business. I believe there is a major misconception in order to start a portfolio that you have to own the property, which in turn means a hefty amount saved up. Rental Arbitrage is the loophole to that barrier for most. With proper research nearly anyone is able to start their own rental portfolio and start creating passive income streams with multiple properties without owning a single one. The trick is to create cash flow first by renting out a property, with the landlord’s permission relist it on vacation rental sites. The work is in the design, pricing and market research. The listing sites do the rest.

Alright, so for those in our community who might not be familiar with your business, can you tell us more?
One quality about a stay with Cloud’s Collective that stands out is the extra degree of focus on support and design. Ensuring the smoothest trip possible for every guest helps make it a memorable time. I try to make the stay as memorable as the reason for their visit. Each listing has a unique décor that creates a completely unique feel within each one. In the Heights location you are surrounded with modern furniture and moody artwork complimenting the color pallet within the house. My goal was to blend subtle touches of different textures through the furnishings in a manner where it pulls together like a magnet. Cloud’s Cabin mixes you in with the serenity of towering trees, Cardinals chirping and invites you into the warmth of an eclectic one of a kind country-cozy cabin. The fifth wheel is geared towards the budget traveler or worker who desires the comforts of home for a price no hotel or motel can beat.

I am most proud of the support team and those I am lucky enough to share this journey with. I am grateful to have friends and family involved in the venture. These contributions vary from helping plant 100lb balls of bamboo, participating in polls for what color couch to choose or being able to work together with talented artists that allow me to showcase their work in my listings. This is what excites me to no end. As long as my heart is in it, there is no way I can truly fail.

By no means is Cloud’s Collective operating at the level I am striving for. Only recently have I jumped into the world of entrepreneurship. In this short time I have learned more from the hands on experience than any book could compare. It has not been easy nor did I expect it to be. It has cost a good deal of hard work, patience and time. This journey has continued to remind that anything worth having will always require work. That is one my favorite parts about chasing this dream. The fulfillment of building something that has the potential to provide financial freedom is incredibly exciting and motivating. I know with full confidence that feeling of accomplishment will undoubtedly justify all the work invested.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
If I were to share some of my favorite spots in and around Houston, our itinerary would likely be outdoor centered and include some of the following. Arrival day would be focused on getting settled in at the Heights Airbnb and catching up to prepare for a fun week to follow. Whenever possible I try to bring friends to my favorite ramen place, Ramen Tatsu-ya. Each dish I have tried was delicious, not to forget the Korean fried chicken has the perfect crunch in each bite. One morning could be filled with an early morning bike ride. I lead guided rides and tours at what I consider to be some of the best single-track riding in South-East Texas. Cypress Creek Mtn Bike trails have been a favorite of mine for a few years now. The trail system is diverse and is constantly being improved by the awesome trail crew that maintains the area. After a nice breakfast at Bella Green, we would go to discovery green and see where the wind takes us. I believe a solid finish to the day could be spent at the Houston Botanical Garden and dinner at one of the many taco restaurants in the Heights like Taco fusion. Having grown up on Galveston, one day would half to be dedicated to an island trip. After a round of putt-putt on the seawall or swimming at the beach. I would have to share a Galveston staple and have lunch at The Spot or enjoy some good eats in the pool at The Float. After watching a beautiful sunset at one of my favorite secret spots, the goal would be finding some tasty dinner and live music at one of the many options on the Strand in downtown Galveston. A full day could easily be spent checking out all that the museum district has to offer. Ten of the nineteen museums are free to enjoy and are relatively close, making it easy to walk from one to another. A laid back evening at the Heights Bier garten or St. Arnolds Brewery would be a nice close to the day enjoying an open air dinner. For some cool pictures I would visit East Downtown or EaDo to find some unique graffiti wall art. Houston’s music scene is plentiful and always offers a little bit for everyone. For something walking distance I would check out White Oak Music Hall’s schedule or take a 5 minute cruise to a personal favorite of mine, The Last Concert Cafe.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
I would like to give a big thank you to first my parents for always encouraging me to take risks, learn whatever the outcome may be, and keep a creative mindset. Still to this day I am learning my full potential. I would like to give a shoutout to my friend and mentor, Jonathon from Panama. Observing his business and having the opportunity to work along side him was a big eye opener. It all sounds good from the outside, sometimes a little too good to be true. Gaining the hands on experience of earning money from property you do not own is hard to neglect. If it were not for Jonathan there is a strong chance I would not have pursued the same path after returning from Panama.

Website: https://linktr.ee/cloudscollective

Instagram: https://instagram.com/cloudscollectivetx?igshid=YmMyMTA2M2Y=

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/connorgilliam