How do you turn a seemingly bad investment into a profitable real estate venture? In this episode, Craig sits down with David Edwards, a Houston-based co-living operator, investor, and founder of CoLiving Operations. Dave shares how he left a shaky data analyst job to pursue real estate full time.

From his first $65K house in January 2020 (turned pink inside by accident) to converting dining rooms into bedrooms, Dave walks through his path to an 8-bedroom pad splits yielding $2K+ in monthly cash flow. Learn what it takes to thrive in Houston’s unique rental market, how to mitigate co-living risks, and how his 300+ doors under management started with one “stripper house.” If you're eyeing cash flow, shared housing, or white-glove turnkey co-living investing, this episode delivers unmatched ground-zero detail.

PODCAST HIGHLIGHTS:

[03:07] Dave shares why he left data analytics for real estate stability.
[04:52] Describes moving from New York to Kingwood in 2019.
[06:46] Purchases $65K rental property in January 2020, adds $20K rehab.
[09:10] Discovers tenant abandoned the house after claiming COVID multiple times.
[09:45] “First thing I see is a stripper pole”—Dave on entering home.
[14:30] Rehabs trashed house and sells it, learning hard lessons.
[16:45] Discusses April 2020 Kingwood flood-damaged flip yielding $40K profit.
[20:45] Converts 5-bed home into 8-bed 3-bath co-living rental.
[24:04] “I was cash flowing just shy of $2,000 a month.”
[26:35] Sells property subject-to in order to fund duplex development.
[33:23] Planning to build 10-bed 10-bath duplexes compliant with local laws.
[35:29] Explains arbitrage model using 5-year leases with exit clauses.
[39:00] Looks for properties with 60% parking and near public transit.
[41:50] Reviews 12 deals weekly but only 3 usually make the cut.
[43:45] “12–16% cash-on-cash is realistic—20% is rare in Houston.”
[45:00] Uses Airbnb-style insurance in Texas due to co-living challenges.
[46:20] “You don’t need to be perfect. Just start moving forward.”
[48:30] “I don’t want to disappoint my wife—that’s my why

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

David Edwards

📱 Phone: (917) 482-5894 (text preferred)

👤 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/djedwards83/

What if you could live rent-free and build over a million dollars in equity within just a few years? In this powerful solo episode of Invest2FI, Craig Curelop breaks down his real estate investing journey from his very first duplex in Denver in 2017 to building a portfolio of five house hacks that now generate over $10,000 per month in cash flow and nearly $1.2M in equity.

Craig shares raw details, including exact purchase prices, loan types, mortgage payments, and rental income. You’ll hear how he navigated market fears, COVID uncertainty, and even a costly $150,000 structural repair. Whether you’re a first-time homebuyer, an aspiring house hacker, or an investor scaling your portfolio, this episode is packed with proven strategies, real numbers, and inspiration to help you take action in 2025 and beyond.

Highlights

[03:03] Craig explains his very first duplex purchase in Denver 2017.
[05:20] Shares FHA loan details and how he lived behind a curtain.
[07:06] Reveals $800 monthly cash flow and $400K equity growth.
[08:18] Talks about second house hack in Fortin Colorado in 2018.
[09:57] Explains converting four-bedroom home into six-bedroom rental.
[12:27] Discusses Airbnb strategy generating $2,000 monthly downstairs.
[13:54] Breaks down Arvada property during COVID with studio unit.
[15:19] Opens up about $150,000 structural issue and repair costs.
[17:45] Describes Cherry Creek six-bed house hack bringing $4,700 rent.
[19:45] Summarizes how five house hacks built $1M equity in 8 years.

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 happens when you start with a 10-year prison sentence—and end up managing over $50 million in real estate assets? In this powerful episode of the Invest2FI, Craig Curelop welcomes Alex Donnolo: a real estate expert, public speaker, and former inmate with a story that defies the odds. Alex Donnolo’s life wasn’t always destined for success. Learn how he went from wrongful conviction to creating a thriving business in mobile home park investing through seller financing and operational discipline.

You’ll hear how he scaled from a lawn care hustle to an empire with 21 parks across 11 states and what it really takes to raise capital, build a hybrid investment model, and lead with resilience. Whether you're facing setbacks or looking for a strategic investing edge, this episode delivers inspiration and tactical wisdom in every minute.

PODCAST HIGHLIGHTS:

[02:35] - Growing up with family of business owners

[03:02] Middle school hustling with t-shirts and skateboards

[03:10] Ran small business screen printing with friends

[03:49] Wrongfully convicted, sentenced to 10 years

[06:50] Became national news, withdrew from high school

[12:46] While incarcerated, Alex found spiritual guidance

[26:45] Started seller-financed mobile home park investing

[32:31] Alex manages 21 properties across 11 states, totaling $50 million

[34:31] Blended interest rate strategy at 8%

[35:59] Exit strategies and contingency planning

[38:21] "Hybrid model" gives lenders partial equity

[42:40] Doubled value of first MHP in 2 years

[45:31] Rent increase strategy done with transparency

[47:19] Solo growth after partnership split in 2020

[48:00] Why MHPs outperform storage and multifamily

[49:02] Seller-financed deals are harder in storage asset class

[51:01] Scaling challenges, building efficient team culture

[52:55] Plans to focus more on writing and speaking

[53:05] Upcoming book release in September

[53:51] Best advice: “Resilience not perfection” by Jim Collins

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

Alex Donnolo
📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/alexdonnolo/

📘 Pre-order his book: https://www.alexdonnolo.com/

🔍Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC2rurhFHovVKJgTxC3d5DBg