In this episode of The Co-Living Show, Craig Curelop and Miller McSwain are joined by co-living pioneer Clara Arroyave, who scaled a 160-room co-living portfolio generating nearly $2M annually using the arbitrage model.

Clara shares how she filled rooms without paid marketing by partnering directly with employers, universities, and HR departments, how her portfolio grew rapidly in Boston, and what ultimately happened when COVID disrupted the arbitrage model.

She also explains the lessons she learned from scaling quickly, why arbitrage shouldn’t be your long-term strategy, and how she’s now focused on purpose-built co-living developments.

Topics covered include:

• Building a 160-room co-living portfolio
• Filling rooms through employer and university partnerships
• The risks of the arbitrage model
• Designing co-living properties that maximize occupancy
• Why private bathrooms increase tenant retention
• The future of co-living housing

If you're investing in co-living, house hacking, or room-by-room rentals, this episode provides real insights from someone who has operated at scale.

Follow the hosts and guest:

Craig Curelop – https://instagram.com/craigcurelop
Miller McSwain – https://instagram.com/millermcswain
Clara Arroyave – https://instagram.com/lifeisrocknroll

In this episode of The Co-Living Show, Craig Curelop and Miller McSwain welcome Harrison DeMaira, a large-scale co-living operator with experience managing everything from small townhouse conversions to 100+ unit buildings and 400-unit purpose-built co-living developments.

Harrison breaks down what changes when you scale co-living into multifamily—and what operators get wrong when they assume co-living leases like traditional rentals. We cover the real leasing funnel, scrappy marketing that still works (signage + employer outreach), the operational systems you must build early, and how to think about furnishing, unit design, and resident experience at scale.

We also unpack:

• What Common Living was and why it went defunct (and what co-living operators can learn from it)
• Why Harrison avoids 2-bedroom co-living units
• The bathroom-to-resident rule he won’t break
• Why leasing + marketing is the foundation that makes everything else easier
• Outsourcing earlier (and the accounting mistake most operators make)
• And an unforgettable operations story involving an emotional support duck and a missing snake

If you’re trying to fill rooms faster, scale beyond one property, or understand what multifamily co-living really looks like—this episode is for you.

Follow the hosts:

• Miller McSwain: https://www.instagram.com/millermcswain
• Craig Curelop: https://www.instagram.com/craigcurelop
  
  

Guest: Harrison DeMaira

• Email: hpd@harrisondemaira.com
  
  

If you enjoyed the episode, please follow the show and leave a rating/review, it helps more operators find the podcast.

In this tactical episode of The Co-Living Show, hosts Miller McSwain and Craig Curelop sit down with Colorado investor and agent Tanner Pyle to unpack one of the most creative deals you’ll hear this year:

👉 A $1.3 million property
👉 Structured with owner financing
👉 Acquired with just $5,000 out of pocket

But this episode goes far beyond the headline.

Tanner breaks down exactly how he negotiated the seller financing, how he structured the down payment, and what made the deal work in a rising interest rate environment. You’ll hear the real numbers — mortgage, utilities, renovation costs, and how the property performs as a short-term rental.

Then the conversation shifts into deeper operator-level strategy:

• When short-term rentals outperform co-living (and when they don’t)
• Why parking can make or break a co-living deal
• How garages can create hidden cash flow (storage, ADUs, or conversion plays)
• The screening mistake that cost Tanner and why “don’t be a charity” matters
• “Speed to lead” and how to fill rooms faster
• Why mixing strategies too early can slow your scaling
• How to find a true investor-friendly (and co-living-aware) agent in your market

This episode is for serious operators, not dreamers.

If you’re analyzing deals, house hacking, or scaling into co-living, this one is packed with execution-level insights.

Connect With Us:

📸 Miller McSwain
https://www.instagram.com/millermcswain

📸 Craig Curelop
https://www.instagram.com/craigcurelop

📸 Tanner Pyle
https://www.instagram.com/tanner.pile

In this episode of The Co-Living Show, Craig Curelop and Miller McSwain sit down with Caitlyn Verdugo — aka Co-Living Cait — an Atlanta-based co-living agent, investor, operator, capital raiser, and coach who’s been in the space since the early PadSplit days.

Atlanta is one of the most mature co-living ecosystems in the U.S., and Caitlyn has seen the model evolve from “rent-by-the-room” experiments into a real operating business. She shares what she’s learned from acquiring and running co-living homes, how she approaches conversions (including garage builds), and why she intentionally designs each house to feel like a home — not a template.

This conversation is packed with operator-level nuance: screening beyond platform checks, searching local eviction records, managing resident conflict without becoming a mediator, and how to build systems that protect your time while improving resident experience.

In This Episode, We Cover:

• Caitlyn’s origin story: real estate agent → house hacker → co-living operator
• How she used her real estate commission creatively to reduce money needed to buy
• Why Atlanta’s market maturity makes PadSplit a major factor in marketing + leasing
• Lessons from her first co-living conversion (capital gaps, holding costs, and what she’d do differently)
• What she looks for in co-living properties: layouts, vintage builds, no HOA, conversion potential
• Garage conversions: HVAC strategies, insulation, code risks, and payback vs. “ROI” framing
• Her signature approach: naming houses + themed rooms to enhance resident experience
• The screening stack: forms, interviews, and why she checks eviction records manually
• How she prevents resident conflict with boundaries, addendums, and expectations
• Handling tenant-landlord conflict fast (and why respect is non-negotiable)
• Women in co-living: safety realities, contractor dynamics, and solving problems differently
• Building She Leads Co-Living / Wealth By The Room to support women operators
• How to find operators in your market (Facebook groups, meetups, and “search within groups” strategy)
• The Big 3: a tenant horror story, her first house rule, and her most valuable operating system

Follow the Hosts

Miller McSwain: www.instagram.com/millermcswain
Craig Curelop: www.instagram.com/craigcurelop

Join our FREE Community: www.millermcswain.com/community

Guest: Caitlyn “CoLiving Cait” Verdugo

Find her as CoLiving Cait across social platforms and check out her community:

• She Leads Co-Living (women-focused events + network)
• Wealth By The Room (education + coaching series)
• Instagram: www.instagram.com/colivingcait

Welcome to Episode 1 of The Co-Living Show — where hosts Craig Curelop and Miller McSwain break down how to build real cash flow with room-by-room rentals.

In this first full episode, we lay the foundation:
Why co-living is misunderstood, what most investors get wrong, and how Craig + Miller approach the strategy from two different seats — growth + acquisitions (Craig) and operations + systems (Miller). You’ll also hear their personal stories, how Miller scaled to 7 properties / 51 rooms, why networking changed everything, and how this partnership (and podcast) came to be.

No hype. No fluff. Just the real numbers, renovations, zoning, and operations behind co-living.

Join the free community: millermcswain.com/community
Leave a rating + review and share this with an investor who’s serious about co-living.

🎙️ Trailer: Welcome to The Co-Living Show

In this official trailer, hosts Miller McSwain and Craig Curelop introduce The Co-Living Show—the first podcast built specifically for operators and investors who want real, scalable cash flow without pretending shared housing is simple.

This show goes beyond surface-level advice and passive-income hype. It’s about what actually works in high-density residential real estate—and what breaks if you’re not prepared.

🔍 What This Show Is About
On The Co-Living Show, we dive deep into:
- Zoning and compliance that can make or kill deals
- Insurance strategies that actually work with density
- Designing properties that survive real tenants
- Pricing rooms for true revenue (not theory)
- Building systems to manage room rentals at scale
- Finding, analyzing, and renovating co-living deals
- Real operator stories, mistakes, and case studies

No fluff. No fairy tales. No guru talk.
Just real business, inside residential real estate.

🤝 Why This Duo Works
Miller and Craig bring two complementary skill sets:
Miller focuses on operations, systems, and scalable management
Craig focuses on acquisitions, analysis, renovations, and growth
Together, they cover the full lifecycle of a co-living business:
Find it. Fund it. Build it. Run it. Scale it.

🏘️ A Win-Win Mission
With housing affordability becoming a nationwide challenge, co-living offers a real solution—for both renters and investors.

This show explores how to:
- Create affordable housing responsibly
- Build profitable, sustainable portfolios
- Help residents progress toward financial independence
- Align impact with income

If you want high cash flow and long-term value, this show is for you.

📲 Connect With the Hosts
Follow along for behind-the-scenes content, insights, and updates:
Miller: https://instagram.com/millermcswain
Craig: https://instagram.com/thefiguy

▶️ Who This Show Is For
This podcast is for you if you’re:
✔️ Running or scaling a co-living portfolio
✔️ Exploring rent-by-room strategies
✔️ Tired of surface-level real estate advice
✔️ Serious about building a real business
✔️ Focused on operations, not just acquisitions

If that’s you—welcome.

This is your room.

#financialindependence ​ #millionaire​ #househack​ #househacking​ #realestate​ #realestateinvesting​ #passiveincome​ #invest​ #investwisely​ #buildwealth​ #FIREmovement​ #retireearly​ #bedifferent​ #business​ #safetynet​ #invest​ #winning​ #realestateinvestor​ #wealthbuilding​ #entrepreneur​ #biggerpockets

After over five years and more than 260 episodes, host Craig Curelop, known as The FI Guy and a leading voice in real estate investing and financial independence, announces the bittersweet farewell of the Invest2FI Podcast. In this short but heartfelt episode, Craig reflects on the podcast’s incredible journey, lessons learned from scaling and focus, and what’s next for his ventures in co-living, real estate investing, and coaching.

Gain insight into his mindset shift, upcoming projects with The FI Team and HomeCrew.co, and how to stay connected as Craig continues to inspire investors nationwide.

PODCAST HIGHLIGHTS:

[00:19] Farewell announcement and reflections on five transformative years of Invest2FI.[00:29] Craig explains his decision to discontinue the podcast and lessons from Scaling.com.
[01:18] Insights from Benjamin Hardy and learning to eliminate tasks “below the floor.”
[02:02] Shifting focus to The FI Team’s mission to reduce the U.S. retirement age to 55. [02:20] Deep dive into co-living investments and operational scaling strategies.
[02:52] Discussing future growth models including franchising and investor funds.
[03:34] Why co-living aligns with solving America’s housing affordability crisis.
[04:07] Craig assures continued real estate work and support for investors nationwide.
[05:01] Details on property management structure and criteria for co-living homes.
[05:52] Heartfelt goodbye, gratitude to listeners, and an invitation to stay connected.

HOST

Craig Curelop

📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thefiguy

📘 Book: https://store.biggerpockets.com/products/the-house-hacking-strategy

🏘️ Buy Real Estate: https://bit.ly/3V3QDze

What if real estate could rebuild lives while building lasting wealth? In this 45-minute episode of Invest2FI, host Craig Curelop welcomes back real estate investor Jim Boad for an in-depth conversation about scaling success through trust, discipline, and purpose. Jim shares how he pivoted during COVID from struggling rentals to sober-living group homes that blend community impact with strong returns.

Operating in a small Washington market near Olympia, he explains his model of five-bedroom, three-bath homes renting for $700 per bed, often partnered with recovery clinics and DOC reentry programs that prepay several months in advance.

Jim also discusses leveraging $100K–$200K grants, launching a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, and working with private lenders at two points and ten percent interest to fund and scale 18 new builds. This episode reveals how purpose-driven investing can generate both financial freedom and meaningful community change.

PODCAST HIGHLIGHTS:

[03:42] Craig tees up the sober living deep dive with Jim’s backstory.

[04:00] COVID nonpaying rentals force Jim to pivot toward group homes.

[5:24] Buys a $500 coaching course overnight and launches within a week.

[07:39] Converts rentals into sober living homes and adds extra bedrooms.

[09:41] Payment totals $2,700 monthly; collects $7,000 using per-bed rent.

[11:03] Residents’ stays are prepaid for two to six months by recovery programs.

[12:01] Operations manager Shay handles calls, phones, and food support.

[15:31] Random drug testing; any failed test leads to immediate removal.

[18:00] Explains the drug-free rule to maintain state and grant compliance.

[20:47] Research areas by mapping local clinics and case manager networks.

[24:03] Expands via referrals from agencies impressed with his housing quality.

[27:36] Keeps furnishing simple, durable furniture, storage, and ready rooms only.

[28:12] Secures $200,000 in grant funding and forms a 501(c)(3) nonprofit.

[30:26] Grants fund operations, staff, utilities, and resident scholarships.

[32:26] Now building 18 homes, start two, refinance, then repeat the process.

[34:20] Private lenders fund projects at two points and ten percent interest.

[34:51] He met his main lender at a bar, proof that valuable connections can happen anywhere.

[36:16] Keeps 30–35% equity to build long-term legacy instead of chasing quick profits.

[41:37] Advises new investors to start small and build credibility through consistency.

[42:26] Success story: one property doubled in value through patience and discipline.

HOST

Craig Curelop

📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thefiguy

📘 Book: https://store.biggerpockets.com/products/the-house-hacking-strategy

🏘️ Buy Real Estate: https://bit.ly/3V3QDze

GUEST

Jim Boad

📱 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61567072777563

💼 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jim-boad-aba962b5