- Get your paperback, kindle, or PDF edition of Art of Coliving Book.
- Starting or operating coliving space? Level up and Join the Coliving Incubator Program.
- Are you building a coliving business? Get Free Coliving Advisory
- Launch, promote your product in the Artof.co ecosystem.
🔁📝Last week, we discussed how technology and new templates are shaping coliving, setting the groundwork for today’s focus on Outpost Club’s innovations. Need a quick refresher? Take a look at EC33 below:
Coliving Innovators Podcast: From Resident To Coliving Operator: Kyle Gaarder’s Take On Community, Challenges, And Profitability
The latest podcast episode features an insightful conversation with Kyle Gaarder, co-founder of ReVillage Coliving and an advocate for creating deeply connected coliving communities. Kyle’s journey from a coliving resident to a coliving operator is truly inspiring, and there are so many valuable takeaways for anyone involved in coliving, community building, or entrepreneurship.
📌 In this episode, we speak about:
- The Power of Community: Kyle shares why creating a sense of belonging is at the heart of a successful coliving space.
- Challenges in Coliving: From finding the right property to balancing community dynamics with
sustainable profit, Kyle provides real-world examples of what works and
what doesn’t. - Purpose vs. Profit: How to navigate the fine line between staying true to a heart-centered mission and maintaining profitability.
- Lessons for Aspiring Coliving Operators: Tips on starting your own space, including the importance of learning from other operators before diving in.
Spotlight: Outpost Club: Redefining Coliving With Community & Innovation
Outpost Club has emerged as an innovator in the coliving industry, offering a unique blend of community, affordability, and flexible living solutions. Since its founding in 2016 by Sergii Starostin, the company has quickly expanded, managing over 51 properties with a stellar 97% occupancy rate. Focused on modern urban living, Outpost Club prioritizes seamless tech integration, community building, and flexible leasing options—ideal for digital nomads, young professionals, and students.
What Sets Outpost Club Apart:
- Prime Locations: Properties in dynamic areas of New York and Philadelphia.
- Modern Amenities: High-speed internet, co-working spaces, rooftop terraces, and digital security.
- Flexible Leases: Customizable leasing options catering to different lifestyles.
- Community-centric: Regular events foster valuable personal and professional connections.
Outpost Club proves that coliving is more than just sharing a space—it’s about crafting a lifestyle centered around collaboration, convenience, and innovation.
We recently wrote an article in our series about “Inspiring Coliving Business.”
There’s a balance between building a strong sense of community and ensuring the space is sustainable financially. You can’t be all heart and no head. I learned the hard way that while passion is important, you also need to make sure you don’t burn out trying to make it all work without a plan. ~ Kyle Gaarder on Coliving Innovators Podcast
Coliving: Where Does It Go From Here?
Co-living has gained significant investor interest, with over £902 million invested since 2020. But what’s driving this growth, and what challenges does it face:
- Growing Market: Co-living, a hybrid between private apartments and shared spaces, is popular among young professionals seeking affordable, community-focused living. The target market is estimated at 1.7 million individuals, but only 0.4% of the need is currently met, creating a massive opportunity for expansion.
- Investment Boom: Investors are betting on co-living, accounting for 20% of build-to-rent investments in early 2024. In cities like Manchester, co-living developments such as Square Gardens are thriving. The site offers 1,301 homes with shared amenities like gyms, co-working spaces, and rooftop lounges, creating an appealing option for young graduates.
- Challenges from Authorities: Despite investor enthusiasm, many local councils remain cautious about co-living. One of the major concerns is space. Some councils push back against the smaller unit sizes, even though co-living compensates with larger shared spaces. However, councils like Manchester have developed policies to test the market, capping developments at 5,000 units in select areas.
- Potential and Limitations: While co-living developments like Downing Group’s Square Gardens have shown strong performance with high occupancy rates and demand, the long-term acceptance of this model will depend on how councils adapt their policies. The future of co-living lies in overcoming regulatory hurdles and proving its value as a flexible and community-centric living option.
Co-living continues to attract attention, and as more cities trial these models, it could become a cornerstone of urban housing, provided it navigates the challenges posed by local authorities.
Coliving Spaces in Lisbon, Portugal
We started a series where we showcase "Top Coliving Spaces" in each city, starting from Lisbon, Portugal. Lisbon, the vibrant capital of Portugal, has become a hotspot for digital nomads, remote workers, and travelers seeking a blend of rich history, stunning architecture, and a thriving cultural scene. With its sunny climate, affordable cost of living, and welcoming community, it’s no wonder that coliving spaces are flourishing in this picturesque city.
The idea is to give credibility to the coliving brands and help them with better presence and, in the long term, help them to reduce the customer acquisition cost and hence improve the unit economics, thus making coliving businesses more sustainable.
If you are running a coliving space and want to be featured, please reach out on mayank@artof.co. The next cities I am covering are Barcelona, Madrid, Porto, etc.
Everything Else Coliving
- Podcast in Coliving:
- Coliving: What It Offers and How It Differs from Hostels
- Conversation on the State of Co-Living with Dr. Penny Clark
- Reinventing Real Estate Podcast with Anil Khera, Node. Node's founder and CEO, Anil
Khera, joins the podcast to discuss the future of co-living and real estate innovation. Watch it here.
- Jobs in Coliving: Sales Executive, Smedi Coliving and Coffee
- Adam Neumann’s startup Flow opens co-living community in Saudi Arabia. Flow, Adam Neumann’s co-living startup, opened a compound with 238 apartments in Saudi Arabia’s capital, Riyadh. Read full coverage here.
- If you are in Austin, Texas, check out the Austin Coliving Meetup Group here.
- As homeownership becomes more elusive for Gen Z due to rising property prices and stagnant wages, new housing models like co-living and build-to-rent are offering a fresh solution. As these models evolve, they provide hope for Gen Z to navigate the housing market while reshaping their understanding of “home.” Here’s why these models are gaining traction:
- Affordability & Flexibility: Co-living and build-to-rent allow younger generations to access quality housing without hefty deposits or mortgage burdens.
- Community Focus: These models foster social interaction and a sense of community, reducing isolation.
- Amenities & Professional Management: Both housing types offer modern amenities such as gyms and workspaces, with services managed professionally for a seamless experience.
- Challenges: Co-living may not suit everyone, especially those valuing privacy. Additionally, it doesn’t build equity like traditional homeownership.
- Coliving Insights: 5 Ways to Add Value for Tenants. We know coliving is on the rise, even in smaller cities, but we don’t know a lot about coliving tenants. Why do they choose coliving? Why do they leave? And importantly, how could we make them want to stay? Let us dive into it here.
- The Assembly Place expands its presence to homestays, healthcare, and senior co-living. Homegrown co-living operator The Assembly Place (TAP) just opened its 132nd property. Read more here.
- Co-living homes have emerged as a new trend in Melbourne’s property market, catering to the rising demand for affordable and flexible urban living. These homes offer a unique blend of private rooms and shared communal spaces, appealing to students, young professionals, and digital nomads seeking a sense of community. As housing prices in Melbourne rise, co-living provides an affordable alternative while offering convenience through furnished, ready-to-move-in units. With Melbourne’s dynamic lifestyle and a growing population of renters, co-living is transforming traditional housing models, making it a popular investment option in the city’s competitive real estate market. Learn what coliving homes is doing to help you take advantage of this trend.
- Tripalink, a leading co-living community platform, has recently introduced its latest housing option in the vibrant neighborhood of Koreatown, Los Angeles.
- Investors are favouring student housing, coliving and serviced apartments among top assets in the emerging living sector in Asia-Pacific as growth in traditional areas like offices and logistics wanes, according to property consultancy CBRE.
- Top 10 coliving spaces in London, UK. Watch it here.
We hope you enjoyed this edition and wish you a great weekend ahead. Reply us with your thoughts on what more you want to read and if you have any feedback.
If you want us to cover anything, please mail it to us on coliving@artof.co
Gui Perdrix & Mayank Pokharna
The Artof.Co team
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