#323 - How House Hacking and Co-Living Can Fast-Track Your Path to Financial Freedom - Craig Curelop

In this episode of Living Off Rentals, host Kirby Etwell welcomes real estate expert Craig Curelop, author of 'House Hack Strategy' and founder of The FI Team, to discuss how house hacking and co-living can accelerate financial independence. Craig shares his journey from a Denver house hacker who achieved financial freedom in just 2.5 years to a full-time real estate agent who now helps thousands of investors build wealth. He emphasizes that house hacking—buying a property with 3%–5% down, living in it, and renting out the rest—is a powerful strategy that works in any market, especially when adapted to current conditions like Denver’s high cost of living. Craig highlights co-living as a modern evolution of house hacking, where investors convert large homes (2,500+ sq ft, 6+ bedrooms) into multi-tenant properties, generating strong cash flow. He walks through a real-world example of a $660,000 house turned into an eight-bedroom co-living unit with $6,000 in monthly rent and $1,500 in net cash flow, funded with minimal down payment and strategic financing. Craig also advises investors to work with realtors who are experienced investors themselves, not just homeowners, to avoid poor advice and wasted time. He stresses the importance of matching investment strategies to local market realities and encourages new investors to invest in relationships through networking and education. Key takeaways include: 1) House hacking is a proven path to financial freedom, especially when using co-living models in high-cost markets; 2) Work with investor-savvy realtors who treat your deal like their own; 3) Adapt your strategy to the market—co-living works in Denver, long-term rentals may work better in lower-cost areas; 4) Consider becoming a realtor to save on commissions and reduce down payment requirements; 5) BRRRR strategies are still viable but should be adjusted for today’s market—focus on high cash flow even if you can’t pull out all your capital. Craig’s message is clear: financial independence is achievable through disciplined, market-aware real estate investing, and sharing knowledge multiplies success.