EP 5 - How Clara Scaled Co-Living to 160 Rooms in 2.5 Years Without Ads

In this episode of The Co-Living Show, Craig Curelop and Miller McSwain are joined by co-living pioneer Clara Arroyave, who scaled a 160-room co-living portfolio generating nearly $2M annually using the arbitrage model.

Clara shares how she filled rooms without paid marketing by partnering directly with employers, universities, and HR departments, how her portfolio grew rapidly in Boston, and what ultimately happened when COVID disrupted the arbitrage model.

She also explains the lessons she learned from scaling quickly, why arbitrage shouldn’t be your long-term strategy, and how she’s now focused on purpose-built co-living developments.

Topics covered include:

• Building a 160-room co-living portfolio
• Filling rooms through employer and university partnerships
• The risks of the arbitrage model
• Designing co-living properties that maximize occupancy
• Why private bathrooms increase tenant retention
• The future of co-living housing

If you're investing in co-living, house hacking, or room-by-room rentals, this episode provides real insights from someone who has operated at scale.

Follow the hosts and guest:

Craig Curelop – https://instagram.com/craigcurelop
Miller McSwain – https://instagram.com/millermcswain
Clara Arroyave – https://instagram.com/lifeisrocknroll