What separates a profitable co-living property from one that's constantly creating headaches for its owner?

In this solo episode of The Co-Living Show, Craig Curelop and Miller McSwain break down the eight must-haves for running co-living homes smoothly, efficiently, and profitably.

With approximately 300 rooms under management, Craig and Miller have seen what works, what doesn't, and which seemingly small property decisions can create major operational challenges.

From parking and bathroom ratios to storage, security, and reliable internet, they share practical lessons from their own portfolio, including mistakes they've made, systems they've improved, and the non-negotiables they now look for in every property.

In This Episode, You'll Learn:

• Why parking can make or break a co-living property's operations
• The ideal resident-to-bathroom ratio and when overcrowding becomes a problem
• How organized storage helps prevent conflicts between housemates
• Why common areas matter for resident satisfaction and retention
• How smart locks and security cameras help protect residents and properties
• What every co-living kitchen needs to function efficiently
• How to approach laundry setups in larger co-living homes
• Why reliable, high-speed internet is a non-negotiable
• How to balance adding more bedrooms with maintaining a great resident experience

The biggest takeaway? More bedrooms don't automatically mean a better investment. A truly profitable co-living property is one that's designed to operate efficiently, minimize unnecessary headaches, and keep residents happy.

Whether you're purchasing your first co-living property or scaling an existing portfolio, these eight essentials can help you make smarter decisions.

Resource & Connect With Us

📘 Get the Co-Living Book:
https://colivingbook.com

📸 Follow Craig Curelop on Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/craigcurelop/

📸 Follow Miller McSwain on Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/millermcswain/

If you enjoyed this episode, follow The Co-Living Show and share it with another investor or operator looking to build a smoother, more profitable co-living business!

What if you could buy a rental property with a 3% interest rate in today's market? Creative financing can make that possible, but one poorly structured deal could cost you thousands.

In this episode of The Co-Living Show, Miller McSwain and Craig Curelop sit down with Caleb Christopher, real estate investor and owner of Creative Title, to break down how subject-to deals, seller financing, and wraparound mortgages actually work.

Caleb shares how he went from accidental landlord to creative financing specialist, including a deal where he took over a property with a 3.65% mortgage rate and the sellers actually paid him to take it off their hands.

But creative financing isn't just about finding great deals. Caleb explains the risks investors often overlook, how to protect both buyers and sellers, and why doing things ethically matters just as much as making money.

In this episode, you'll learn:

• How subject-to financing works and why investors use it to acquire properties with existing low-interest mortgages
• The differences between subject-to deals, seller financing, and wraparound mortgages
• How Caleb acquired a property with a 3.65% interest rate and almost nothing out of pocket
• What happens when a lender enforces the due-on-sale clause
• How to structure creative deals to reduce risk for both buyers and sellers
• Why creative financing isn't always a zero-money-down strategy
• How combining creative financing with co-living can improve investment returns
• The importance of transparency, ethical negotiations, and having multiple exit strategies

Whether you're buying your first rental or looking to scale your co-living portfolio, this episode offers practical insights into structuring creative real estate deals without exposing yourself to unnecessary risks.

Connect with Caleb Christopher:

Personal website and resources: https://calebchristopher.io

Creative Title: https://creativetitle.io

Connect with the Hosts:

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

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

Learn More About Co-Living:

Property Management: https://www.homecrew.co

The Co-Living Book: https://colivingbook.com

If you enjoyed this episode, follow The Co-Living Show and share it with another real estate investor!

What does it actually take to run co-living properties when you live halfway around the world?

In this episode of The Co-Living Show, Miller McSwain and Craig Curelop sit down with Oren Kachel, an investor based in Israel who owns and operates U.S. real estate remotely, including co-living properties in smaller markets like Clarksville, Tennessee and Montana.

Oren shares how he went from fix-and-flips and multifamily investing to deciding to go all-in on co-living. He explains why he prefers smaller markets, how he evaluates properties from thousands of miles away, and why finding the right boots-on-the-ground team matters even more than finding the perfect property.

They also discuss:

• How Oren manages U.S. co-living properties from Israel
• Why he prefers smaller markets over major metros
• How he found a traditional property manager willing to learn co-living
• What he looks for when interviewing property managers
• Why he chose not to use PadSplit for his current properties
• How he markets rooms without PadSplit
• His ideal co-living property criteria
• Why HOAs, septic systems, and smaller homes can be deal breakers
• Using seller financing and creative finance to acquire properties
• Why Oren plans to sell his non-co-living properties and focus on co-living
• How stepping away from daily operations can make scaling possible

Whether you are investing 100 miles away or halfway across the world, this episode offers practical lessons on building a team, choosing markets, managing remotely, and creating a co-living business that does not depend on you being physically present.

Connect with Oren Kachel:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/oren_kachel/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/oren.kachel

Connect with the hosts:

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

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

Follow The Co-Living Show for more conversations about co-living investing, acquisitions, property management, operations, creative finance, and building profitable shared-housing portfolios.