In this episode of The Pete Podcast, I sit down with real estate entrepreneur Sam Wegert to explore one of the fastest-growing—and most overlooked—niches in real estate: co-living. From growing up in a 1900 sq ft home with 10 people to now owning over 200 rooms, Sam has turned his passion for people and purpose into a high-yield real estate model that's solving real problems in today's housing market.

We dive into the emotional drivers behind co-living, how it's creating new price points in overlooked markets, and why smaller towns might offer more upside than big cities. Sam also shares the systems, automations, and challenges behind scaling a co-living operation—plus what's missing in the current tech landscape for this space. If you're looking for a cash-flow-heavy model that blends purpose with profit, this one's for you.

Episode Highlights

[0:00] – Introduction

[1:22] – Growing up with 10 people in one house and how it shaped Sam's view on shared living

[3:45] – Launching his first martial arts school at 15 and his early taste of entrepreneurship

[7:01] – Discovering co-living and testing the model with local real estate

[9:33] – Why co-living isn't just about housing—it's about solving emotional and social pain

[11:50] – Creating affordability through "invented" price points in local markets

[14:04] – Small towns vs. big cities: where co-living cash flow thrives

[16:20] – Tech stack breakdown: AppFolio, GoHighLevel, and the software gap in co-living

[19:01] – Systematizing everything from marketing to maintenance—even labeling cabinets

[22:12] – Inside Sam's co-living coaching community and what's next for the model

5 Key Takeaways

1. Co-living solves more than housing—it addresses loneliness and affordability.
2. This model thrives in secondary and tertiary markets where housing is tight and demand is high.
3. You don't need multifamily to scale—Sam's portfolio includes converted single-family homes.
4. Software and automation are key, but the current tech isn't fully built for co-living yet.
5. The future of real estate isn't just about square footage—it's about how we live together.

Links & Resources

• Learn more about Sam's free co-living training and coaching community: https://samwegert.com/

• Tools mentioned: AppFolio, GoHighLevel

If this episode sparked new ideas about where the real estate market is headed, be sure to rate, follow, and leave a review. And don't forget to share this episode with an investor or entrepreneur ready to think outside the box.