GROUP HOME & SHARED HOUSING BLOG

Thinking about opening a group home? It can be one of the most rewarding businesses you will ever run. You provide safe, affordable housing for people who need it, and you build steady monthly income at the same time. I'm Felicia Edelman. I have been a California real estate attorney for 25 years, and I spent 15 years running group homes. With my husband, Uncle Dave, I built a shared housing business with 17+ homes and 200+ beds. This guide walks you through the same steps we

Think you have to own a house before you can start a group home or shared housing business? Think again. One of the biggest misconceptions for aspiring group home and shared housing operators is that purchasing a property must be the first step. While owning real estate can be a powerful long-term strategy, it is not the only way to enter the industry. On The Co-Living Code Podcast, Katrina and Felicia break down three practical ways entrepreneurs can secure a property and be

Are you in fear of starting your own business? I definitely had my share of thoughts as to all the possible consequences. What did I do to go from this fear into making over a million dollar shared housing business? First I stayed out of the results Second, I realized to make money you must be willing to take risks Third, I worked hard in the beginning. I researched everything from procedures to marketing to who else was doing housing in the community. I found it essential

HOW WE FOUND OUR FIRST GROUP HOME PROPERTY AND TURNED IT INTO A MILLION DOLLAR BUSINESS! Operating a group home can be a rewarding endeavor, but finding the right property to start one can be pretty challenging. Location is a critical factor, and in some states like California, the high cost of real estate can make it even more difficult. In my experience, it can be tough to purchase or even rent a property in today’s real estate market. THE STEPS WE TOOK I remember when Uncl

The Importance of the Location of Your Group Home

Do you need to own the property to operate a group home?

Do We Need Halfway Houses? How successful are they? Halfway houses are an important necessity in our society, although there is a negative connotation with them. Maybe the assumption that they house criminals makes them seem like a bad thing to live next to or have in your community. The truth is just the opposite. Let's look at our criminal justice system, which punishes people rather than allows for rehabilitation and recovery. People deserve second chances and are capable

Why Do You Need This Particular Contract? It's a must. In order to form a good relationship with your tenants, guests, licenses all parties must understand the rules of your house. My husband and I have personally rented thousands of beds in our transitional housing for men for the past ten years. I have amended, rewritten, and edited this contract/agreement to almost perfection. I can’t begin to tell you how many times in the past ten years we have had to change our original

I was working at a Law Firm in downtown Los Angeles when a client needed help getting the guys living in her house to pay the rent. She was facing foreclosure, so her tenants thought they didn’t need to pay the rent. The eviction process for 10 guys living in the 5-bedroom house would be a really long, drawn-out process that she didn’t have time for due to the foreclosure. I suggested she meet with my husband, David, and see if he could persuade the guys to pay the rent they