All Forum Posts by: Grant Shipman

If you’re investing in co-living real estate, one of the biggest challenges is keeping your rooms filled with great tenants. While traditional rental marketing works, co-living requires a targeted approach to attract the right tenants efficiently.

I’ve been in the co-living space since 2020, and here’s what I’ve learned: Your success in co-living is directly tied to how well you market your rentals.

3 Must-Know Strategies for Co-Living Marketing

1️⃣ Use Technology to Syndicate Your Listings

There’s no need to manually post your rental everywhere. Use property management software to automate syndication to 20+ rental listing sites at once!

🔹 Best Free/Low-Cost Option: RentTech Direct
🔹 What It Does: Pushes your rental listing to sites like Zillow, Apartments.com, Rent.com, and more—all at the click of a button.
🔹 Why It Matters: This boosts SEO and exposure while saving you time.

2️⃣ Leverage Facebook Marketplace

Facebook Marketplace is one of the most powerful free marketing tools for co-living rentals.

✅ Post Your Listing with high-quality images and a detailed description
✅ Join Local Housing Groups to reach renters actively looking
✅ Engage with Inquiries Quickly – the faster you respond, the better your chances of filling the unit

3️⃣ Tap into Roommate-Focused Platforms

In addition to traditional rental sites, roommate-specific platforms are a goldmine for co-living.

🔹 Best Sites for Co-Living Tenants:

• Craigslist – Still effective for shared housing leads
• Roomies & Roomster – Designed for finding individual roommates
• SpareRoom – Another great co-living-focused platform

Final Takeaway: Make It Easy for Tenants to Find You

🏡 Syndicate listings using property management software
📲 Use Facebook Marketplace to maximize free exposure
🤝 List on roommate-specific platforms to target ideal tenants

If you do these three things, you’ll keep your co-living properties fully occupied with minimal effort.

Discussion:

1️⃣ What’s your best strategy for filling vacancies in your rentals?
2️⃣ Have you had success using property management software for syndication?
3️⃣ Are there any lesser-known sites or strategies you’ve used that work well?

Let’s share and help each other optimize rental marketing! 🚀👇

Bloomington is a city located in south-central Indiana, approximately 52 miles southwest of Indianapolis. en.wikipedia.org

Recently, the city has been exploring co-living arrangements as a strategy to enhance affordable housing options. A recent article discusses how Bloomington is considering flexible zoning to support dorm-style units, aiming to provide housing solutions for residents earning 30% of the area median income (AMI). finance-commerce.com

The city has successfully added new rental units in the 50% and 60% AMI bands but faces challenges in creating units for the 30% AMI bracket due to financial constraints. Co-living is seen as a non-financial tool to encourage deeply affordable units, serving as transitional housing along the housing continuum.

A study by Gensler and The Pew Charitable Trusts highlighted that adaptive-reuse co-living spaces could offer more affordable housing solutions compared to traditional studio apartments. For every $100 million in public subsidies, approximately 1,157 co-living spaces could be created, compared to 313 studio apartments.

The Bloomington City Council is reviewing potential ordinance language to facilitate co-living spaces, considering factors like parking, minimum square footage, and the definition of "family" in housing contexts.

As real estate investors, it's essential to stay informed about such developments, as they can present new opportunities and models for investment.

The Investor Who Wouldn’t Let Go

Once upon a time, in the bustling city of Crestwood, there was a real estate investor named Michael Carter. Michael had built his portfolio from the ground up, starting with a single rental property. Over the years, he acquired more homes, duplexes, and even a small apartment complex.

But despite his growing success, Michael had one fatal flaw—he couldn’t let go.

The Burden of Control

Michael was everywhere. He personally screened every tenant, handled every maintenance request, and even showed up to mow the lawn at his properties when the landscapers were running late.

His phone rang constantly—contractors, tenants, vendors—all needing his immediate attention. He prided himself on being hands-on, convinced that no one else could do the job as well as he could.

One evening, exhausted from another 14-hour day, Michael met with his friend James, a seasoned real estate investor.

"You look terrible," James said, sipping his coffee. "When’s the last time you took a day off?"

Michael chuckled. "I can’t afford to take a day off. If I don’t handle things, everything falls apart."

James shook his head. "That’s your problem. You think working harder equals making more money. But let me tell you a story."

The Farmer and the Seeds

"Imagine two farmers," James began. "Both have fields of fertile land. The first farmer tries to plant, water, and harvest everything himself. He spends every waking moment in the field, making sure every seed is placed perfectly. But no matter how hard he works, he can only plant so much before exhaustion sets in."

"The second farmer?" James continued. "He hires workers. He teaches them his method, lets them handle the planting, and trusts the process. While the first farmer struggles to keep up, the second farmer’s fields are growing ten times faster because he let go and focused on the bigger picture."

Michael leaned back in his chair, considering the lesson.

"So, you're saying I should be the second farmer?" he asked.

James nodded. "Exactly. Real estate isn’t about doing everything—it’s about building systems and trusting others to help you grow."

The Turning Point

That night, Michael went home and made a list of everything he was doing that someone else could handle.

📌 Tenant Calls & Leasing? → A property manager could do that.
📌 Maintenance Issues? → A trusted handyman could handle repairs.
📌 Accounting & Rent Collection? → Automated property management software could streamline it.

Over the next few months, Michael slowly started letting go. At first, it was terrifying. What if the property manager made mistakes? What if the contractor overcharged him?

But then, something incredible happened—his business started thriving.

With fewer daily distractions, Michael had time to find new investment deals, build relationships with private lenders, and even take a vacation.

His portfolio doubled in size within two years.

And for the first time in a decade, he wasn’t stressed.

The Lesson: Let Go to Grow

Michael realized the secret of successful investors: You don’t build wealth by working harder—you build wealth by working smarter.

By letting go, he gained more than just free time—he gained a scalable, sustainable business that could grow without burning him out.

Are You Like Michael?

🤔 Are you still handling everything in your real estate business?
🤔 Are you afraid to delegate because no one else can do it “as well as you”?
🤔 Are you working yourself into exhaustion instead of growing your investments?

It’s time to let go and build a real business—one that thrives without consuming your entire life.

Discussion:

1️⃣ What’s one thing in your real estate business you need to let go of?
2️⃣ What’s stopping you from delegating or automating more of your tasks?
3️⃣ Have you had an “aha” moment like Michael? Share your story!

Let’s talk below! 🚀👇

Hey BiggerPockets Community,

I’ve been investing in co-living real estate since 2020, and over the years, I’ve met countless investors who get their first deal (or maybe their second)… and then stop.

They don’t stop because they want to—they stop because they hit a wall.

Somewhere between Property #1 and Property #3, investors often find themselves stuck, unable to scale the way they originally envisioned. I've BRRRR'd, partnered with flippers, and built most of my portfolio through syndications across CO, FL, and TX, and I’ve seen this mistake over and over again.

The Biggest Mistake? Trying to Scale Solo.

The Myth of Doing Everything Yourself

When I first got into real estate, I thought I had to:
✅ Find the deals
✅ Secure financing
✅ Handle renovations
✅ Manage tenants
✅ Deal with maintenance
✅ Track every dollar

I figured, “If I want to maximize my profits, I need to do it all myself.”

Sound familiar?

This works for the first 1-2 properties—but after that, it becomes a bottleneck. You run out of time, capital, or both. The investors who never scale past this point? They’re still trying to do everything alone instead of leveraging other people’s skills, money, or resources.

How I Got Unstuck & Scaled My Portfolio

If you’re stuck, the solution is simple:

1. Leverage Other People’s Money (OPM) & Syndications

I built most of my portfolio through syndications because I realized I didn’t have to fund every deal myself. By structuring partnerships, I was able to take down properties I never could have afforded alone. If you’re only using your own cash, you’ll hit a wall.

2. Work WITH Other Investors, Not Against Them

I started partnering with flippers to buy their properties rather than competing against them for deals. If you’re trying to scale, think beyond the one-man show approach—find ways to work with wholesalers, rehabbers, and syndicators.

3. Stop Micromanaging & Start Delegating

Managing properties is great—until you own too many and realize you’re spending all your time on tenant calls, maintenance, and bookkeeping. Handing off property management and admin tasks allowed me to focus on acquiring new deals instead of babysitting old ones.

Are You Stuck? Here’s How to Break Through

🚀 Run out of money? → Start raising capital through partnerships or syndications.
🚀 Struggling to find deals? → Work with wholesalers or flippers instead of going solo.
🚀 Too busy to scale? → Hire a property manager or use automation to free up time.

Discussion: What’s Keeping You Stuck?

1️⃣ If you’re stuck at 1-2 properties, what’s your biggest challenge?
2️⃣ If you’ve broken through and scaled, what was the key move that helped you?
3️⃣ What’s one thing you need to let go of to grow your portfolio?

Let’s talk in the comments! 👇👇👇

Hey BP Community! 👋

The rental market has evolved massively in recent years, with investors exploring new strategies beyond traditional long-term rentals. One trend that’s gaining traction? Co-Living (CLR) —but how does it stack up against Long-Term Rentals (LTR), Mid-Term Rentals (MTR), and Short-Term Rentals (STR)?

I wanted to break down the pros, cons, and key financials of each to help investors decide where the best opportunities are. Let’s dive in!

1️⃣ Co-Living (CLR): The Community-Based Cash Flow Play

📌 What It Is:
Co-living is a modern shared housing model where tenants rent private bedrooms while sharing common areas (kitchen, living room, coworking space, etc.). These setups command higher rents per square foot than traditional rentals while fostering a built-in community.

💰 Lease Duration: 3-12 months
🎯 Ideal Tenants: Young professionals, digital nomads, students
📈 Revenue Potential: +23.2% per sq. ft. over Class A studio rents

✅ Pros:
✔ Higher rental income than traditional leases
✔ Demand is growing due to affordability & flexibility
✔ Lower vacancy risk with built-in roommate replacement

❌ Cons:
✘ Regulatory hurdles in some cities
✘ Higher tenant turnover than LTRs
✘ Requires active management & community building

🔥 Investor Insight:
Co-living is an undervalued niche with major growth potential, but you need the right location and strong operational management to succeed.

2️⃣ Long-Term Rentals (LTR): The Classic Buy & Hold Strategy

📌 What It Is:
LTRs are traditional leases (12+ months) where tenants rent an entire unit. This is the most stable and hands-off strategy, making it ideal for investors looking for passive income.

💰 Lease Duration: 12+ months
🎯 Ideal Tenants: Families, individuals seeking stability
📈 Revenue Potential: Lower than STR/MTR but very stable

✅ Pros:
✔ Steady, predictable cash flow
✔ Minimal management required
✔ Less turnover = fewer vacancy costs

❌ Cons:
✘ Lower rental rates compared to STR/MTR
✘ Less flexibility to adjust rent quickly
✘ Potential eviction headaches

🔥 Investor Insight:
LTRs are great for long-term wealth-building, but if you want higher cash flow, you may need to look at MTRs or co-living models.

3️⃣ Mid-Term Rentals (MTR): The Best of Both Worlds?

📌 What It Is:
MTRs cater to traveling professionals, corporate renters, and digital nomads who need furnished rentals for 1-12 months. It's a hybrid of STR and LTR, offering higher rents without the high turnover of STRs.

💰 Lease Duration: 1-12 months
🎯 Ideal Tenants: Traveling professionals, relocation clients, medical staff
📈 Revenue Potential: Higher than LTR, lower than STR

✅ Pros:
✔ Higher rental rates than LTRs
✔ Lower vacancy risk than STRs
✔ Less turnover compared to short-term rentals

❌ Cons:
✘ Requires furnished units
✘ Market demand varies by location
✘ Management required to find tenants frequently

🔥 Investor Insight:
If you own properties in high-demand cities near hospitals, corporate hubs, or universities, MTRs can be a cash flow goldmine with fewer headaches than STRs.

4️⃣ Short-Term Rentals (STR): The High-Risk, High-Reward Play

📌 What It Is:
STRs (Airbnb, Vrbo, etc.) involve renting properties nightly or weekly to tourists or business travelers. This strategy has the highest income potential but also comes with significant regulatory and operational challenges.

💰 Lease Duration: 1-30 days
🎯 Ideal Tenants: Tourists, business travelers, remote workers
📈 Revenue Potential: Highest gross income, but variable due to seasonality

✅ Pros:
✔ Can earn 2-3X more than LTRs
✔ Owner flexibility—use the property when needed
✔ Dynamic pricing allows for revenue optimization

❌ Cons:
✘ High turnover = more cleaning & maintenance
✘ Regulatory restrictions in many cities
✘ Income varies by season and market demand

🔥 Investor Insight:
STRs can be incredibly lucrative, but watch out for changing regulations. Cities like New York, San Francisco, and Denver have cracked down on STRs, limiting their viability in some areas.

💬 What’s your take? Are you investing in CLR (co-living), MTR, or sticking with LTR/STR? 

Drop your thoughts below! 👇

The Co-Living Industry in the USA (2020–2025): A Comprehensive Analysis

Introduction

-living has emerged as a significant trend in the United States housing market between 2020 and 2025. model offers private living spaces alongside shared communal areas, catering to individuals seeking affordability, flexibility, and community. Dict from short-term rentals, co-living emphasizes longer-term residency and communal engagement.

Met Growth and Financial Metrics

• Market Expansion: In 2024the global co-living market was valued at approximately $7.82 billion, with projections indicating a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 13.5% from 2025 to 2030. (grandewresearch.com)

• Occupancy Rates: Co-living spaces have maintained high oupancy rates, averang above 87%, with some cilities reporting steady rates exceeding 97%. (theccd.org)

• Rental Premiums: Co-living assets have sustained a 23.2% rent per square foot premium over the average of Class A so rents per square foot in comparable markets. (cushmanwakefield.com)

Demographic Insights

• Digital Nomads: The U.S. has witnessed a significant rise in digital nomads, with numbers increasing by 131ince 2019, totaling over 17 million individuals. This demographic shift has bolstered the demand for flexible co-living arrangements. (nexudus.com)

• Target Audience: Co-living primarily attracts students, young professionals, freelancers, and individuals relocating forork, offering them fordable and community-centric housing solutions.

Key Players and Investments

• Leading Companies: Prominent co-living operators in the U.S. include Common Living, Bungalow, and Outsite Co., each contributing to the industry's growth through innovave housing solutions.

• Invement Trends: The sector has garnered substantial attention from investors, with projections suggesting the asset class could grow up to £50 billion by 2020. (theccd.org)

Challenges and Considerations

• *Sustainability of Gro: Rapid expansion, driven by venture capital, has posed challenges for some co-living companies, leading to concerns about the sustainability of such growth trajectories.fortune.com](https://fortune.com/2024/06/10/common-living-coliving-apartments-housing-shortage/?utm_source=chatgpt.com))

• Regulatory Environment: Navigating local housing regulations and zoning laws remains a critical factor for co-living operators, influencing the scalability and adaptability of their models across different cities.

Conclusion

Between 2020 and 2025, the co-living industry in the United States has experienced notable growth, driven by shifting demographics, urbanization, and a growing preference for flexible living arrangements. While the sector presents promising opportunities, operators must address challenges related to sustainable expansion and regulatory compliance to ensure long-term success.

Hey BiggerPockets Community,

If you’re a real estate investor, whether you own rental properties, flip houses, or manage syndications, there’s a critical lesson that could boost your bottom line: Letting Go.

Many of us get into real estate because we want control over our financial future. But the very thing that gives us success at first—handling everything ourselves—can also hold us back from scaling and growing our business.

How Trust Works in Real Estate Investing

Letting go isn’t just about delegation—it’s about choosing to trust rather than operating from fear.

🔹 Afraid to let a property manager take over?
🔹 Micromanaging every contractor’s move?
🔹 Stuck in the day-to-day of bookkeeping, maintenance, or leasing?

Many investors fall into this "do-it-all" trap, believing no one else can handle things as well as they can. But in reality, holding on too tightly limits growth, causes burnout, and actually costs you money.

Why Letting Go Helps Your Bottom Line

✅ Frees Up Your Time – Instead of handling every single tenant issue, you can focus on strategy, acquisitions, and big-picture decisions.

✅ Allows Specialists to Do Their Jobs – A leasing agent will lease faster than an investor juggling 10 different tasks. A good contractor knows rehabs better than you do.

✅ Reduces Stress & Burnout – Investing should be about building wealth AND freedom. If you’re working 24/7, you’ve just created another job.

✅ Creates a Scalable Business – You can’t grow if you’re the bottleneck. The most successful investors systemize and delegate.

How to Let Go (Without Losing Control)

🔹 Automate – Use rent collection software, project management tools, and automated messaging for tenants.

🔹 Delegate – If you’re spending hours on tasks that someone else can do for $20 an hour, it’s time to outsource. Property managers, VAs, bookkeepers—use them.

🔹 Trust But Verify – Set up accountability metrics, KPIs, and reporting systems so you oversee performance without micromanaging.

🔹 Know Your Role – Your job is to build and grow your portfolio, not handle every maintenance request.

Final Thought: What’s One Thing You Can Let Go of Today?

Letting go isn’t about being careless—it’s about being a strategic business owner. If you’re holding onto tasks that someone else could do better, faster, and cheaper, you’re limiting your income potential.

Discussion: What’s One Area of Your Real Estate Business You Need to Let Go of?

Drop your thoughts below! Let’s talk about what’s holding you back and how letting go can increase your bottom line. 🚀👇

 have you had this experience?  I'm not a fan of co-living, I'm a fan of co-living done well :) 

Quote from @Robert Ellis:

Quote from @Grant Shipman:

Great news for housing advocates and property owners! This week, the City of Jacksonville Municipal Court ruled in favor of PadSplit, voiding citations for "illegal boarding houses" on constitutional and fair housing grounds.

This marks a huge victory in expanding affordable housing solutions while navigating legal challenges. By working closely with hosts, legal teams, and city officials, PadSplit successfully defended its model, ensuring continued housing opportunities for those in need.

With this case setting a precedent outside of Atlanta, it strengthens the argument for more flexible and inclusive housing policies. The conversation with city officials will continue as we push for zoning reforms that allow sustainable and affordable housing solutions.

This win is a step forward, but there’s still work to be done! What are your thoughts on this ruling and its impact on housing accessibility? Drop your comments below! ⬇️

#AffordableHousing #HousingSolutions #Jacksonville #LegalVictory #PadSplit

 no one wants to live in these you'd be better off building extended stay with 250 sq ft rooms 

What makes you say that? 

Hey BiggerPockets Community,

As real estate investors, we all want the perfect deal—the one where we control everything, make the most money, and have the best terms. But how many great opportunities have we lost because we weren’t willing to take just a piece instead of the whole pie?

If you’ve ever walked away from a deal because you wanted 100% control, this post is for you. Here are 5 reasons why taking part of a good deal is ALWAYS better than 100% of no deal.

1. You Make More Than Zero Dollars

Simple math: 100% of no deal = $0.00 every time.

A good deal, even if you’re getting only a piece of the profit, still makes you money. If a project is profitable, wouldn’t you rather have some cash flow rather than none?

I’ve seen so many investors hesitate because they wanted the whole deal to themselves, only to end up with nothing because they didn’t compromise.

🚀 Lesson: A piece of the pie is still better than staring at an empty plate.

2. You Get Experience

Each deal isn’t just about making money—it’s about gaining experience. The more deals you’re part of, the more you learn about:
✅ Structuring deals
✅ Managing risk
✅ Negotiating with partners
✅ Handling financing

Taking part of a good deal helps you build real-world experience that will pay off big in the future when you do bigger and better deals.

3. You Get Team Experience

If you’re taking part in a deal, that means other people are, too—whether it’s partners, syndicators, or investors.

🏗️ Being part of a real estate team is one of the most valuable skills you can develop. You’ll learn how to:
✅ Work with different investors and operators
✅ Understand the dynamics of real estate partnerships
✅ Build relationships that lead to future deals

🚀 Lesson: Every good deal is a networking opportunity.

4. Experience Opens Up More Doors

Two key things happen when you take a piece of a good deal:

1️⃣ People trust experienced investors more than rookies. The more deals you have under your belt, the easier it is to raise capital, attract partners, and negotiate better terms.

2️⃣ Deals lead to more deals. Someone in your current deal may bring you into another project—or multiple projects.

🔑 More experience = More access to future opportunities.

If you sit on the sidelines waiting for the perfect deal where you control everything, you might be missing out on great future partnerships.

5. A Good Deal With a Bad Ingredient is a Bad Deal

Not all deals are good deals. A “good deal” isn’t just about the numbers—it’s about the structure, the people, and the risk.

⚠️ Beware of these red flags:
🚨 Bad partners who don’t communicate or operate ethically
🚨 Financial arrangements that don’t make sense
🚨 Risk levels that are too high for the return

If ANY of these ingredients are bad, walk away—even if the deal looks profitable on paper.

🚀 Lesson: Part of a good deal is better than 100% of no deal, but 0% of a bad deal is better than any piece of a bad deal.

Final Thoughts

Too many investors make the mistake of wanting 100% ownership and control—but they forget that it’s better to own part of a great deal than to own nothing at all.

🏡 Real estate is a team sport—and the investors who understand this scale faster, learn more, and build more wealth.

Discussion Questions for You:

1️⃣ Have you ever walked away from a deal because you wanted 100% ownership? What happened?
2️⃣ What’s the best team deal you’ve ever been a part of?
3️⃣ How do you evaluate whether a deal is worth taking a piece of instead of owning outright?

Let’s discuss below! 👇👇👇