INVEST2FI
Craig Curelop aka The FI Guy
Real estate is undoubtedly one of the most profitable and thriving industries out there - especially if you are looking to achieve financial independence! It offers a wide variety of ways to invest actively and passively. If you are new to real estate investing and FI, and seek the proper guidance from experts, you are in the right place. Welcome to Invest2FI, hosted by Craig Curelop. In this series, we talk with real-life house hackers, real estate (and other!) investors and real people on a mission to become financially independent. Not everybody enjoys working a 9-5 job. No one wants to be stuck in analysis-paralysis feeling unsure how to finally jump into real estate. We teach you how to exit the rat race and work on living the life you want. This is the show for beginners and learners who want to achieve financial freedom through real estate. Whether you want to increase your savings, optimize your expenses, or build a prospering income source, we have helpful solutions. We talk all the tips and tricks for making your very first purchase. We discuss how you can build your skills on this initial transaction to close better deals in the future. This is also a show for techie types who are passionate about crunching numbers and the digital side of operating business and investments. If you are drawn to financial independence, we'll enlighten you with grounded, practical strategies for achieving real estate success. Each of our guests offers creative and practical strategies to begin a real estate investing career. They break down every single investing tactic you can emulate yourself. Receive essential lessons from their experiences as they open up about their real estate journey. They reflect on the moments when they got lucky or proved their intelligence and offer their fair share of “horror” stories too. Guests embrace their vulnerabilities and speak about challenges and failures, explaining how to overcome or avoid them. There is no better host for this podcast that Craig Curelop. His is a living testaments of what you should aspire to be in this industry. Achieving financial independence in his twenties, he take pride in his first-hand experiences through every facet of real estate. Craig specializes in a unique style of real estate investing called house hacking. He literally wrote the book on it: The House Hacking Strategy. This method purchases multi-unit properties and rents them out by portion. Craig is also the lead broker of The FI Team. If you are stuck in an unfulfilling corporate job, let this show bring you far more rewarding opportunities. Craig is your guide to making a major career shift and becoming part of the exciting world of real estate. Do not feel discouraged by the towering paperwork and complex principles. Equip yourself with the right knowledge and strategies, and you are good to go! Whether you are starting an active or passive venture, the key in real estate is proper training and a constant desire for growth. Invest2FI fortifies your confidence and provides you with a smooth, clear path to success. Listen to the podcast today!
Episodes
Mentioned books
Dec 16, 2021 • 52min
Episode 63 - Get Your Finances Straight With Zero Debt Coach Brad Long
Determined to rid himself of $174,000 in mortgage and consumer debt, Brad Long switched back and forth between being a musician and having a corporate sales job. Now, he remains debt-free, and he helps 6 and 7-figure corporate employees and entrepreneurs organize their finances and eradicate debt. In this episode, Brad looks back on his “financial awakening” and how he paid off nearly $50k of his debt in 2.5 years. He shares his strategy for saving money and weighs in on the different ways people can invest and achieve FI. He also offers advice as a content creator. Key TakeawaysBrad learned how to think about money from Dave Ramsey and Vicki RobinHe wanted out of debt and freedom of location so he sold the condo that he owned—just before the market crashed in 2008!Start off with a baby emergency fundThe different asset classes that Brad learned about and got intoHow to map out a budget and live a lean lifestyleBrad’s and Zeona’s thoughts on cryptocurrencyAbout the Zero Debt Coach platformLinksZero Debt CoachBrad’s YoutubeDave RamseyVicki RobinMr. Money MustacheSatoshi Nakamoto’s White PaperBooksYour Money or Your Life by Joseph Dominguez, Monique Tilford, and Vicki RobinThe 4-Hour Workweek by Tim FerrissThe 7 Habits of Highly Effective People by Stephen Covey
Dec 8, 2021 • 48min
Episode 62 - Become A Sheeksfreak And Achieve Early FI With Dan Sheeks
Early FI and what it takes to get there is not for everybody... and that’s fine!It has been a year since Dan Sheeks started SheeksFreaks, an online community dedicated to helping young people live their best lives by making smart money decisions.In this episode, he returns to the podcast to talk about early FIRE and how even teenagers can become millionaires—in just a few years! He also gives a preview of his upcoming book (and workbook!), shares his FI equation, and offers advice to listeners who are just getting into FI and real estate.
Nov 24, 2021 • 54min
Episode 61 - Intentional Investing With Former Marine Kevin Quintanilla-Toledo
Real estate doesn’t have to be flashy. Take it from Kevin Quintanilla-Toledo. He used to be a military guy who just stumbled upon real estate investing. But now, he’s a licensed realtor with a W-2 job and a hefty portfolio!In this episode, Kevin breaks down how he got his first 3 properties, weighs in on the different types of loans that were available to him, and shares what it was like to be in the Marine Corps. Craig and Zeona chime in with some explanations and advice for people who are new to real estate.
Nov 17, 2021 • 1h
Episode 60 - Taking House Hacking to Another Level With Kayla Govier And Bryce Givens
When you hit rock bottom, the only way is to go up!Joining Craig and Zeona on the show are Bryce Givens, founder of Elevate Recovery Homes, and Kayla Govier, a licensed realtor and a member of the FI Team. Since 2019, they have been house hacking with the primary goal of saving lives—and they are crushing it!In this episode, Bryce and Kayla share how they met, their transition from “debt is bad” to “debt is good”, and their foray into sober living homes. They break down the numbers for their first 2 properties and explain how their business is set up. They also offer advice to people who are looking to build a business around real estate.
Nov 10, 2021 • 1h 8min
Episode 59 - Achieving FI Through Savings, Real Estate, And Index Funds With The Legendary JL Collins
Joining Craig and Zeona on the show is JL Collins, one of the founding fathers of the FI movement and the author of “The Simple Path to Wealth”. He is set to release a new book titled “How I Lost Money in Real Estate Before it was Fashionable”.In this episode, JL explains the concept of “F-You money” and the virtuous circle that occurs when people go down the path to FI. He then talks about his books, what it was like to teach his daughter what he knows about finances, and how he achieved FI as an active investor who later went passive.
Nov 3, 2021 • 51min
Episode 58 - Leaping From House Hacking To Multifamily Syndication With Tyler Giering
Tyler Giering first learned about FI and real estate investing while he was in college, but circumstances led him down the path of finance. Because he wanted to invest in real estate, he leveraged house hacking and went from residential to large multifamily syndication. He now has over 2,200 units.In this episode, Tyler explains what asset managers do, breaks down his “for real” deal, and highlights the importance of value-add. He then dives into his first syndication deal, presenting the advantages of becoming a passive investor.
Oct 27, 2021 • 48min
Episode 57 - House Hacking Strategies With FI Team Agent Bryan Balducki
House hacking is something you can do over and over again, and it’s going to build wealth. Take it from Bryan Balducki. He became a rental property investor by accident, but now, he is one of The FI Team’s agents.In this episode, Bryan talks about his very first investment property and how he got into rentals. While giving a breakdown of his 4 properties, he gets into a discussion with Craig and Zeona about 15-year mortgages versus 30-year mortgages. He also weighs in on the pros and cons of investing in a house and a townhome.
Oct 20, 2021 • 46min
Episode 56 - Life Hacks From The House Hacking Doctor Jonathan Tom
Jonathan Tom learned about FI at an early age and started out by investing in index funds. It took him some time to see real estate investing as an option, but once he did, he bought his first property (just last April!) and househacked it.In this episode, Jonathan walks us through his journey as a medical student-turned-doctor and part-time investor. He breaks down how he acquired a house and rehabbed it into a cash-flowing property, highlighting the importance of adding value. He also shares tips so that you can have smaller utility bills.
Oct 13, 2021 • 1h 3min
Episode 55 - Hustling And Crushing It With Noah Evans & Jeff Fawson
Noah Evans and Jeff Fawson both had rocky starts, but they hustled and found real estate in their desire to level up their lives. Now, they work together as the owners of Tree City Home Buyers and the hosts of the Chasing Freedom podcast.In this episode, Jeff and Noah talk with hosts, Craig Curelop and Zeona McIntyre, to look back on their “for real” deals and how they ended up becoming business partners. They drop plenty of gold nuggets on being resourceful and finding a mentor, stressing the importance of taking action and being consistent.
Oct 6, 2021 • 40min
Episode 54 - Leverage Your Business To Level Up Your Real Estate Game With Mike Brockway
Mike Brockway found himself on the path to FI after buying and house hacking his first property. Because he wanted to stop working for big corporations, he quit his W-2 the same day he closed his second property. Now, he is a full-time real estate investor and business owner.In this episode, Mike breaks down his first three residential investment properties and his events business. He also talks about his brief stint with “Top Chef: Colorado”, how he saved up on taxes, and the opportunities his business has opened up for him.
