Co-Living & House Hacking for Financial Independence: A Conversation with Craig Curelop

Recently  I got to sit down with a new friend you may already know: Craig Curelop (aka “The FI Guy”). Craig helped popularize house hacking, wrote the book on house hacking, worked at BiggerPockets,  and—fun fact—lives right here in Idaho. Even better? He’ll be a featured speaker at Idaho REICon on October 10.

We had a great conversation about what “FI”, or financial independence really means. Craig’s lens on Financial Independence (FI): have enough passive income to cover your monthly life. For many, that starts with eliminating housing costs (house hack #1), then stacking smart moves until the passive covers the lifestyle. From there, you’re free to choose work that aligns with your values—whether that’s homesteading, building a business, or both.  

Co-Living: “Pizza by the Slice” Cash Flow

Craig’s latest focus is co-living—and this is where today’s numbers can come back to life.

Co-Living, simplified: Take a larger single-family home and legally + thoughtfully add bedrooms (converting excess common areas), then rent by the room with shared kitchen/living space.

Typical long-term rent for a 5 bed/3 bath might be $3,500–$4,000. As co-living, the same home can gross $7,000–$8,000+ (market-dependent). That swing can mean cash flow in markets where it’s otherwise tight.

Is Co-Living for You?

If you’ve got time but limited capital, co-living can accelerate your FI journey with fewer doors. If you’ve got capital but limited time, you can hire management (availability varies by market) or partner with an operator.  Craig delved into this on Show number 28 of the podcast.  Be sure to check it out!  

Why Get in the Room (Idaho REICon)

If you’re newer and wondering whether you belong at a conference like Idaho REICon—you do. You’ll meet people at your level, a step ahead, and a hundred steps ahead. Craig’s career (and mine) has been shaped by relationships formed at events. Idaho REICon is built by Idaho investors, for Idaho investors—no fluff, just what works here.

📍 Idaho REICon — October 10 (with a pre-party on the 9th)
🎤 Craig Curelop is a featured speaker—come ready to take notes on co-living.

Thanks for reading and I’ll see you on October 10th!

Investing in you,
Jonna