The Co-Living Show

Hosted by Craig Curelop and Miller McSwain

Business Entrepreneurship Education

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Episodes

326

Latest episode

Jul 2026

Language

EN-US

About the show

Co-living is one of the most misunderstood, and highest-potential, strategies in residential real estate investing. Most investors hear the buzzwords, see the cash-flow claims, and immediately assume it’s either too risky, too operationally intense, or too complicated to scale. The truth is simpler: coliving work exceptionally well when built on systems, governed by operational clarity, and executed like a real business, not a side hustle. The Co-Living Show exists to make that clarity accessible for serious professionals who want smarter returns without gambling on guesswork. Hosted by BiggerPockets authors Craig Curelop and Miller McSwain, The Co-Living Show goes far beyond surface-level real estate content. This is the only real estate investing podcast dedicated exclusively to the economics, operations, regulations, and strategic frameworks that drive high-density co-living and shared housing at scale. Whether you’re new to the model or a high-earning, time-poor professional seeking exposure to a sophisticated cash-flow real estate strategy without becoming an operator, this show delivers the confidence, understanding, and insight needed to invest intelligently. Each episode takes you inside the real-world systems behind co-living performance. You’ll hear from operators running multi-market portfolios, attorneys specializing in zoning and compliance, designers who understand space optimization and profitability, lenders financing room-by-room rental strategies, and property managers and city officials shaping the future of affordable housing innovation. You’ll also hear from the Co-Living Cash Flow Community, everyday investors solving operational challenges and executing the exact frameworks discussed on the show. 👉 Join the community: www.millermcswain.com/community There is no fluff here. No hype. No motivational noise. Every conversation is grounded in data, regulatory insight, operational logic, and investor-level clarity. Co-living is not “passive income.” It’s not a shortcut. It’s a system. And systems — when executed correctly — produce scalable, predictable returns that outperform traditional rental models. This is not speculative theory. It’s cash-flow real estate strategy in action. Craig brings acquisitions, underwriting, and market strategy. Miller brings operations, pricing systems, and standardization frameworks that make coliving scalable. Together, they deliver an operator’s perspective of an asset class most investors only see from the outside. As BiggerPockets authors, educators, and practitioners, they simplify complexity without diluting truth: coliving works, but only when done correctly. You’ll hear underwriting breakdowns, operator case studies, deal teardowns, regulatory realities, tenant strategy, market analysis, and the economic logic behind high-density residential investing. You’ll learn how to invest passively, partner with experienced operators, or simply understand the business model in depth, even if you never plan to manage a property yourself. The Co-Living Show does not claim co-living works. It proves when, why, and under what conditions it works. If you want confidence instead of conjecture, systems instead of speculation, and clarity instead of chaos, this is your source of truth for professional-grade residential real estate investing. Subscribe and join thousands of investors building deeper understanding, stronger portfolios, and smarter strategies, without wasting time on noise. This is the future of residential real estate investing. And now you’ll finally understand how it works.

Listen to episodes

60 recent

July 8, 2026Episode 2255 min

EP 22 - How We Took a Co-Living Portfolio From 50% to 90% Occupancy

Craig Curelop and Miller McSwain sit down for a solo episode of The Co-Living Show to unpack how they took a struggling co-living portfolio from around 50% occupancy to 90% occupancy in just a few months.This was not a simple “post better listings and fill the rooms” story.Before the turnaround, the portfolio had major operational issues. Owners were frustrated, residents were unhappy, vendors had concerns, systems were inconsistent, houses were set up differently, and occupancy was far below where it needed to be.Craig brought the acquisition and growth side. Miller brought the operational systems, leasing process, marketing structure, and resident experience. Together, they walked through the hard process of cleaning up the portfolio, standardizing the houses, communicating with owners and residents, fixing the leasing funnel, and rebuilding trust.In this episode, Craig and Miller talk about the real lessons from the turnaround, including why top-of-funnel marketing, conversion, pricing, tours, retention, resident experience, and change management all had to work together.You’ll hear how they approached:• Taking over 20+ co-living houses• Standardizing property systems• Improving resident communication• Handling messy transitions• Rebuilding listings across Zillow, Roomies, Facebook Marketplace, and Apartments.com• Using better photos, videos, pricing, and automation• Testing different follow-up and conversion strategies• Moving from resident-led tours to self-guided tours• Adding welcome baskets, calls, community events, and referral opportunitiesThis episode is especially useful for co-living investors and operators who want to scale without creating operational chaos.Connect with Craig and Miller:Miller McSwainInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/millermcswainCraig CurelopInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/craigcurelopJoin The Co-Living Community:www.millermcswain.com/community

July 1, 2026Episode 211 hr 5 min

EP 21 - How Furnished Finder Is Opening the Door for Co-Living Investors

In this episode of The Co-Living Show, Craig Curelop and Miller McSwain interview Jeff Hurst, CEO of Furnished Finder, about the growing connection between mid-term rentals, furnished room rentals, and co-living.Jeff explains why room rentals are becoming one of the fastest-growing areas on Furnished Finder, why the platform needs more affordable supply, and how co-living investors may be able to use Furnished Finder to reach renters looking for flexible housing.The conversation covers what today’s Furnished Finder tenant is looking for, how co-living operators can test the platform, what makes a furnished room more attractive, and why shorter lease terms may create new opportunities for higher rents.They also talk about the differences between Furnished Finder, PadSplit, Airbnb, Zillow, and other rental platforms, plus where Jeff sees the future of flexible housing going.Join our Facebook community: www.millermcswain.com/communityFollow us on Instagram:Craig Curelop: www.instagram.com/craigcurelopMiller McSwain: www.instagram.com/millermcswainConnect with Jeff Hurst on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jeff-hurst-atx/

June 24, 2026Episode 201 hr 3 min

EP 20 - How to Buy Off-Market Co-Living Deals (Seller Financing Explained)

Off-market deals are where the deeper discounts live, and in this episode, Craig and Miller bring on Robbie Faithe to show you exactly how to find and structure them. Robbie is an Albuquerque investor, broker, and private lender with 18 years in the business and a full off-market acquisition funnel.In this episode:Why buying off-market juices your co-living returnsHow seller financing works, and how to explain it without scaring the sellerNegotiating on payment instead of interest rateWhy you don't need your own cash to do a dealThe exact cold-call script Robbie uses with sellersHow to get started off-market with no license and no experienceThe "return on energy" metric that drives Robbie's buy boxPlus: should you furnish your co-living rooms? (This week's listener question)Join our free Co-Living Community on Facebook: https://millermcswain.com/communityFollow us on Instagram:Miller: https://www.instagram.com/millermcswain/Craig: https://www.instagram.com/craigcurelop/Robbie: https://www.instagram.com/robbiefaitherealestate/

June 18, 2026Episode 191 hr 5 min

EP 19 - Airbnb to Co-Living Conversion: Why These Arizona Flippers Made the Switch

What happens when two people with 26 years and 2,500+ flips under their belt discover co-living? For Brian and Gina Kingdeski, it meant ditching a struggling Arizona Airbnb portfolio and going all-in on building co-living homes from the ground up.In this episode, Brian and Gina explain why they made the switch, how they fill rooms faster than almost anyone in the space (8 rooms in under two weeks, often before closing), and the construction details that separate a beautiful, high-performing co-living home from a cold, chopped-up "dorm." They get into their 8-bedroom minimum, the ~$7,500/month gross on a converted 1,300 sq ft house, $1–2K/month cash flow per property, and how years of work with their lender let them become their own comps and skip the appraisal headaches most operators run into.You'll also hear the stuff nobody talks about: sewer scopes, three-inch vs. four-inch pipe, why en suites are worth it, using AI to stage bedrooms, and how their faith shapes both how they build and who they rent to.What we cover:Airbnb vs. co-living: scalability, stress, and turnover costsWhat it really costs to convert a short-term rentalThe 8-bed, 3-bath formula and stabilization mathFloor plans that flow vs. hotel-style buildsSolving lender and appraisal problems on high-bedroom-count homesA memorable housemate story and the lesson in compassion behind itConnect with Brian & Gina:YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@brianandginakingLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gina-kingdeski-48952511b/Website: https://trinitydesignconstruction.com/Here are some of Brian and Gina's latest projects on Padsplit website. https://www.padsplit.com/rooms-for-rent/listing/33417?utm_source=copylink&utm_medium=share&utm_campaign=property_share&utm_content=33417&ref=1022554https://www.padsplit.com/rooms-for-rent/listing/31947?utm_source=copylink&utm_medium=share&utm_campaign=property_share&utm_content=31947&ref=322872https://www.padsplit.com/rooms-for-rent/listing/32891?utm_source=copylink&utm_medium=share&utm_campaign=property_share&utm_content=32891&ref=322872ChatGPT Prompt: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1hpy0-uFm49KIX8kz0mkIWYl4n673EjQn/view?usp=sharingConnect with the hosts: Miller: https://www.instagram.com/millermcswain/ Craig: https://www.instagram.com/craigcurelop/Join The Co-Living Community:https://www.facebook.com/groups/thecolivingcommunityEnjoyed the episode? Leave a rating and review on Spotify or Apple Podcasts, it helps the show grow.

June 11, 2026Episode 181 hr 7 min

EP 18 - From 65% to 95%: How Pascal Wagner Turned Around a Failing Co-Living Portfolio

Pascal Wagner bought 12 properties in two years, and then his occupancy dropped to 65%. In this episode, he shares how he booked a one-way ticket to Atlanta, fixed the bleeding, and rebuilt his portfolio into a 104-room operation running at 95% occupancy and a 25% cash-on-cash return.Pascal is a true problem-solver, and he gives a masterclass in co-living operations: how to keep houses clean, set firm standards, reduce churn, and build a team that lets you sleep at night.What you'll learn:How deferred maintenance crushed his occupancy, and the turnaround that reversed itThe "graffiti train" effect and why small messes escalate fastBuilding a "tattle culture" with cameras, fines, and clear expectationsWhy he ditched house managers for dedicated cleanersWelcome baskets, onboarding calls, and slashing 90-day churnThe case against pushing rents, and why filling rooms winsRefinancing co-living, navigating appraisals, and staying upfront with lendersHis current thesis: buy ugly, renovate right, and pull your capital back out—🏠 Join our FREE co-living community: https://www.millermcswain.com/community📲 Follow us on Instagram: Miller McSwain — https://www.instagram.com/millermcswain Craig Curelop — https://www.instagram.com/craigcurelop🔗 Connect with Pascal Wagner on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/pascalwagnerEnjoyed the episode? Leave us a rating and review, it helps us reach more co-living operators.

June 4, 2026Episode 171 hr 9 min

EP 17 - From College Football to Phoenix's #1 Co-Living Property Manager

Corey Enman runs the largest co-living property management company in Phoenix — 40+ houses and 100+ rooms — and in this episode he gets tactical about exactly how he does it. This is a pen-and-paper one: the specific softwares, screening rules, and operations systems he's spent three and a half years refining.Corey walks through his SWAT cleaning system (sweep, wipe, attend to the bathroom, take out the trash), why he switched residents to Telegram instead of WhatsApp, and the screening criteria that keep his houses problem-free, including why he turns away smokers every time. He also breaks down good market vs. bad market dynamics, why he now targets 11-bed/4-bath houses that cash flow $2K+ a month, and the four phases of scaling a co-living business from scrappy solo operator to a real management company.Plus: the power of niche vs. general masterminds, the $1 first-month trick to fill empty rooms, when to make your first hire, and a co-living horror story involving nine people in a four-person house that changed how Corey screens forever.In this episode:The SWAT cleaning system that keeps 40+ houses clean with one VATelegram vs. WhatsApp for resident communicationTenant screening: smoking, pets, guests, income, credit & criminal historyWhy co-living cash flows in both up and down marketsThe 11-4 floor plan and why 7-bed houses no longer pencilThe four phases of scaling and when to hireA jaw-dropping co-living horror storyFollow us on Instagram: Craig Curelop — @craigcurelop Miller McSwain — @millermcswain Corey Enman — @corey.enmanJoin our free co-living community: www.millermcswain.com/community

May 27, 2026Episode 1656 min

EP 16 - Inside PadSplit: A Host Advisor Reveals What Actually Works

Most of the co-living world runs on PadSplit — but Craig and Miller don't operate on it themselves. So they invited a PadSplit insider to explain exactly how it works.Suzanne Vetillart, a Host Advisor at PadSplit and an 8-year Seattle investor, joins the show to demystify the platform: what it is, who it's for, what it costs, and why the affordable housing opportunity is only getting bigger. From the membership agreement and fee structure to the early-adopter advantage in markets like Seattle, this episode is a clear, honest look at PadSplit from someone on the inside — useful whether you're a host on the platform or operating right alongside it.A standout takeaway: stop thinking of PadSplit as a vendor and start thinking of it as a partner. They bring the platform and the marketing muscle; you bring the operations — and together you solve the affordability crisis while building a real business.Follow along: Craig Curelop → instagram.com/craigcurelop Miller McSwain → instagram.com/millermcswain Suzanne Vetillart → instagram.com/suzannevetillart

May 20, 2026Episode 151 hr 4 min

EP 15 - How Twin Brothers Built 7 Co-Living Homes in 2 Years

In this episode of The Co-Living Show, Craig Curelop and Miller McSwain sit down with twins Hem and Harsh, the operators behind CH Room Rentals, to unpack how they scaled from their first house hack to 7 co-living homes and 35 rooms in just a couple of years.Hem and Harsh share their story of immigrating to the U.S. from India, working full-time through college, saving aggressively, and using house hacking as their entry point into real estate. What started as one 5-bedroom home in Charlotte quickly turned into a repeatable co-living model built around furnished rooms, strong tenant retention, self-management, and family partnership.This conversation is especially valuable for newer co-living investors who are trying to figure out what the next few steps look like after buying their first property.In this episode, we cover:- How Hem and Harsh scaled to 7 homes and 35 rooms- Why 5 bed / 3 bath homes are working in their market- How they use house hacking to keep acquisition costs low- The benefits and challenges of running a family-owned co-living business- Why they chose to self-manage instead of using PadSplit- How furnished rooms help them command higher rents and improve retention- Their favorite platforms for finding tenants, including Facebook Marketplace and Furnished Finder- How they keep vacancy low without overcomplicating operations- What they learned from their first eviction- Why local REI groups and co-living communities helped accelerate their growth- Their next phase: new construction co-living homesThe episode also includes a community Q&A about rising utility costs and how co-living operators can respond when expenses increase faster than rents.Join The Co-Living Community on Facebook to connect with other operators, ask questions, and learn from people actively building co-living portfolios.Follow Miller: @millermcswain Follow Craig: @thecraigcurelop Learn more about CoLivingPro: colivingpro.io

May 14, 2026Episode 141 hr 7 min

EP 14 - PadSplit vs. Self-Management: The Great Co-Living Debate

In this episode, Craig Curelop and Miller McSwain sit down with co-living investor Travis Schwartz to talk about one of the biggest debates in the co-living space: Should you self-manage your rooms, or use a platform like PadSplit?Travis brings a unique perspective. After starting out by building his own systems, managing leads, and filling rooms himself, he eventually moved his portfolio onto PadSplit. That decision helped him simplify operations, cut down on manual lead management, and shift his focus back to acquisitions.And the results were significant.Travis bought 12 co-living houses in one year, mostly in the Dallas-Fort Worth market, using a strategy built around high cash flow, aggressive renovations, and long-term holds.Craig and Miller challenge Travis on the tradeoffs of PadSplit, including fees, platform risk, saturation, and whether it still makes sense at scale. Travis also shares what he has learned from renovations, appraisals, permits, tenant retention, and building software for PadSplit hosts through PadPulse.In this episode, we discuss: How Travis got into co-living after years as an entrepreneur Why he bought three houses at once when he started His target of under $40,000 per finished room Why he focuses on cash flow more than short-term equity The hidden risk of negative equity in co-living renovations How PadSplit changed his operations The pros and cons of relying on a third-party platform Why some markets become saturated faster than others How to think about amenities, pricing, and tenant retention Why offering a discount to a good resident can be cheaper than turnover What Travis is building with PadPulse His long-term vision for co-living and private equity Connect with Travis: PadPulse: padpulse.io Email: travis@padpulse.ioLinkedIn: Travis SchwartzFollow the hosts: Miller McSwain: www.instagram.com/millermcswain Craig Curelop: www.instagram.com/craigcurelopJoin the free Co-Living Community: www.millermcswain.com/communityIf you enjoyed this episode, leave a rating and review, and share it with another investor who is trying to scale their co-living portfolio.

May 6, 2026Episode 1335 min

EP 13 - Invoice Authorization: The Co-Living Buyer's Secret Weapon

Matt Osman is back... and this time we're going deep on one tool that can dramatically reduce the cash you bring to a co-living acquisition: the invoice authorization.In simple terms, it's an addendum where the seller agrees to pay your contractor directly at closing. Done right, it lets you fold renovation costs into your loan, keep the seller whole, satisfy the lender, and walk into a co-living-ready property with a fraction of the out-of-pocket spend.Matt shares real examples (including a $100K invoice authorization on one deal), the front-end vs. back-end negotiation playbook, how to position it with listing agents, and why the appraisal is the linchpin of the whole strategy.Connect with Matt: Email: matt@investslb.com Ask about the Co-Living Agent AcceleratorFollow Us: Miller - www.instagram.com/millermcswainCraig - www.instagram.com/craigcurelopIf you got value from this one, share it with an investor who's about to close on a co-living property, it might save them five figures.