In this episode of the Launch REI Podcast, Craig Curelop shares how he went from working as a CPA at a Big 4 accounting firm to achieving financial freedom through house hacking and strategic real estate investing.

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Craig breaks down how buying a duplex changed his financial trajectory, how house hacking allowed him to eliminate living expenses, and how he scaled into multiple properties while maintaining a strong foundation in underwriting and risk management. He also shares lessons on mindset, leveraging low-down-payment loan products, and building long-term wealth through smart acquisition strategies.

In this episode, we break down

• How Craig transitioned from corporate accounting into real estate investing

• What house hacking is and why it accelerates wealth building

• Using FHA and low-down-payment loans to acquire properties

• Eliminating living expenses to increase savings and reinvest faster

• The importance of underwriting and conservative deal analysis

• Scaling from a single property to a growing portfolio

• Managing risk while investing in appreciating markets

• Building systems and processes early

• Mindset shifts required to leave a stable W2 career

• Long-term wealth building through disciplined acquisition strategies

Timestamps

04:35 – Discovering house hacking

11:20 – Buying the first duplex

18:45 – Using low-down-payment loan strategies

27:10 – Eliminating living expenses & reinvesting

35:30 – Underwriting fundamentals

44:15 – Scaling beyond the first property

52:40 – Risk management & market selection

01:00:10 – Systems, mindset & long-term vision

Guest Bio

Craig Curelop is a real estate investor, author, and entrepreneur best known for popularizing house hacking as a strategy for achieving financial freedom. After starting his career as a CPA at a Big 4 accounting firm, Craig transitioned into full-time real estate investing. He has acquired multiple properties using low-down-payment strategies and has helped thousands of aspiring investors understand how to use house hacking to accelerate wealth building.

Connect with Craig Curelop

Website:⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://homecrew.co/⁠⁠

Instagram:⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/the_fi_team/⁠⁠

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Website: ⁠⁠https://launchrei.co⁠⁠

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