{"id":136923,"date":"2021-04-28T13:30:00","date_gmt":"2021-04-28T19:30:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.biggerpockets.com\/blog\/?p=136129"},"modified":"2023-03-29T03:31:57","modified_gmt":"2023-03-29T09:31:57","slug":"real-estate-side-gig","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.biggerpockets.com\/blog\/real-estate-side-gig","title":{"rendered":"Does Real Estate Make Sense as a Side Gig?"},"content":{"rendered":"\n\n      <iframe loading=\"lazy\" frameborder=\"0\" height=\"200\" scrolling=\"no\" src=\"https:\/\/playlist.megaphone.fm?e=BIGPOC5462890243&#038;light=false\" width=\"100%\"><\/iframe>  \n\n\n\n\n<p>One fine spring day, a man set out to compete with Amazon. I don\u2019t mean he wanted to set up same-day home delivery from his local hardware store. I mean, he actually wanted to establish a competitor to Amazon Corporation. He reasoned that Jeff Bezos started in his Seattle, Washington, garage, and he also had a garage. He was from Oregon, after all, and that\u2019s less than a day\u2019s drive from Seattle. In fact, he was from Princeton, Oregon, and Bezos graduated from Princeton University.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>As a hardware store owner, the man had no small knowledge about customer service, stocking a wide variety of products, and dealing with employees. He even placed custom orders on occasion. (Did Jeff Bezos do that?)<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The man started by building his own desk from an old door. Then he built some shelves in the garage the following weekend. At that point, he put his project on hold for a month. After all, it was spring and he was shorthanded at the store. unfortunately, he never got his project off the ground.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><em>What?<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Okay, this was a ridiculous parable. No one but Jeff Bezos himself would think this way, and he\u2019s allowed to. After all, he went from obscurity in his garage to the world\u2019s wealthiest human in a little more than two decades.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>I\u2019m guessing this post will ruffle some feathers. And make some of you mad. That\u2019s alright. I\u2019ve got enough evidence for my conclusions to prove I\u2019m right\u2014at least for many (<em>not all<\/em>) investors.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-css-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-css-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Real estate as a side hustle<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>If you are making great money at a full-time job\u2014or enjoying your retirement\u2014does it <em>really<\/em> make sense for you to do real estate as a side gig? No, I\u2019m not talking about <em>investing <\/em>in real estate. I\u2019m obviously a huge fan of that. I\u2019ve staked my entire career on this, and I plan to do nothing else professionally until I die in 43 years (when I turn 100).<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>I\u2019m talking about <em>doing<\/em> real estate. Acquiring, owning, and actively managing rental properties while you have a full-time gig elsewhere. Is this even possible? The answer is a resounding YES! You can definitely do this. BiggerPockets has hundreds of thousands of subscribers who do.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>But my question is not about that. It\u2019s about whether you can do it <em>well<\/em>. And whether you can enjoy your life in the process. As I said, I\u2019m asking if it really makes sense, not if it\u2019s <em>possible<\/em>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>If you\u2019re still reading, let me explain. I manage investor relations for my firm. I speak to dozens of real estate investors every month. Many of them are active on BiggerPockets.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>A small percentage are full-time real estate investors. Like Todd, the guy I spoke to yesterday from Canada. He\u2019s been investing in real estate full time for years. He serves as asset manager for his rental homes and mobile home parks from his home office. He visits the properties from time to time and oversees local property managers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>But the vast majority I speak to have full-time gigs. They\u2019re IT professionals, dentists, doctors, and engineers. They\u2019re homeschooling their kids or enjoying their retirement. Most of them make a lot of money and find joy in these professions, and they have great prospects for advancement. And most of them I speak with are building a real estate portfolio on the side.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Side-hustle symptoms<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>After speaking with well over a thousand investors, I\u2019ve found that those who do active real estate as a part-time gig are not satisfied with the outcome. What are the typical symptoms?<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>It\u2019s tough to find deals with predictable upside. Especially right now.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Projects take longer and are costlier than you see on HGTV.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Dealing with toilets, tenants, and trash is not as romantic as it sounds.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Some tenants aren\u2019t nice. Some of them will even sue you. That\u2019s no fun.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>These investors often spend their lunch breaks, evenings, weekends, and vacations searching for elusive properties and\/or working on the ones they have.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Profits are smaller than projected. Or non-existent. Losses are quite possible.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>Part of the problem is that these investors are trying to compete with Amazon. <em>No, not literally.<\/em> I mean that they\u2019re trying to compete with full-time professionals. Those who have decades of experience, a time-tested team, and endless resources to support their efforts. Those who are obsessed with winning at this game. Those who find the deals these part-time investors can\u2019t and make the profits my part-time investor friends only dream of.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>So, what happens next?<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Side-hustle burnout<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>I can\u2019t speak for all of them. But the ones who call me are usually frustrated. They\u2019re tired of spending most of their free time\u2014and sacrificing other income and relationships\u2014chasing an elusive dream. Many have concluded that there must be a better way to invest in real estate.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Like the Pacific Coast oral surgeon who was building a portfolio of 20 rental homes to replace his income and fund his eventual retirement. When he called me, he initially seemed enthusiastic about his plan. But his tone gave way to weariness as he described dealing with painters between operations. And screening tenants at night. \u201cHonestly, this is driving me crazy. And I\u2019m only on my third house.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Or Todd from Canada who I mentioned above. Though he is a full-time investor, he\u2019s concluded that he could make as much (or more) money investing passively as he does actively. Without all the drama. He\u2019s preparing to sell two of his mobile home parks now.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>And there was <a href=\"https:\/\/www.biggerpockets.com\/users\/Ckwasny\" target=\"_blank\">Christine Kwasny<\/a>, the brilliant analyst I quoted in a recent post. After we spoke at length about the tension between active and passive investing, she had her lightbulb moment. She exclaimed, \u201cWhy am I working harder than I need to\u2026to make less than I could?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>And there are many, <em>many<\/em> more.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Let\u2019s face the music: Passive income from active real estate ownership is more a myth than reality.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">So, what are your options?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>These thoughts are for those of you with a<em> full-time gig or retired <\/em>looking for passive real estate income on the side. Generally, I\u2019m not talking to full-time real estate investors or those on a clear path to full-time investing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Don\u2019t invest in real estate<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Stick with stocks. In fact, take Warren Buffett\u2019s advice and buy index funds. They have done quite well over the long run, and I\u2019m guessing they will continue to do so in the future. You\u2019ll miss the massive tax benefits of real estate, but you\u2019ll also avoid the hassle.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Find a local partner<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>My friend Barry ran for governor of his state. He\u2019s a successful dude who ran a great IT firm, a staffing firm, and a church at the same time. He\u2019s made great money in real estate for years by investing with a house flipper in his town. He loans her the cash from his self-directed IRA, she does the work, and he makes about 12% on his money. Not bad for not lifting a finger (other than driving by the house before cutting her a check).<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Invest in a syndication<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Many investors love the idea of commercial real estate investing. But they don\u2019t have the time, experience, team, debt capacity, and connections to do that well. (It\u2019s like competing with Amazon\u2014but on steroids.) Investing with a professional through a syndication can be a powerful alternative. Investors sometimes make more money, with no hassles, and all the tax benefits. (But they lose the thrill of the chase, which is important for some.)<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>If you\u2019ve experienced the frustration of active real estate ownership\u2026 or you\u2019re early in your real estate investing career and want to avoid it\u2026 BiggerPockets has just the book for you! It\u2019s called <strong><em><a href=\"https:\/\/store.biggerpockets.com\/products\/the-hands-off-investor\" target=\"_blank\">The Hands-Off Investor<\/a><\/em><\/strong> and is written by my friend Brian Burke. If you want to invest passively, this is the first step.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Don&#8217;t worry, the parable has a happy ending<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>And what about that hardware store guy who wanted to compete with Amazon? He actually made it big! <em>From joining Amazon<\/em>. No, he didn\u2019t go to work for Bezos. He started working <em>in conjunction with<\/em> him. By opening his own Amazon Store, the man\u2019s customer base ballooned well past the boundaries of Princeton. His customers were nationwide now, and he staffed up to serve them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The man partnered with the corporation he wanted to compete with. And he stayed in his lane at the same time. This man sold a lot of handcrafted desks in the past year. He heard there was a new wave of people working from home. But he was never sure why.<\/p>\n\n\n\n  <div id=\"posts_lists-block_606f35344c3c4\" class=\"  my-10\">\n    <div class=\"\">\n      <!-- Column One -->\n      <div>\n                  <h2 class=\"mt-0 mb-1 js-toc-ignore\">\n            Get started in real estate          <\/h2>  \n                  \n                  <div class=\"mt-1 mb-0 text-sm mb-2 excerpt\">\n            Learn the basics from BiggerPockets          <\/div>\n        \n                  <a href=\"https:\/\/www.biggerpockets.com\/blog\/category\/real-estate-investing-for-beginners\" class=\"no-underline text-themeBlue-medium hover:underline uppercase font-semibold text-sm\" target=\"_blank\">Investing For Beginners<\/a>\n        \n        <div class=\"grid grid-cols-1 gap-y-4 lg:gap-y-7 mt-5\">\n          \n<article \n\tid=\"post-187810\" \n\tclass=\"content-card mb-0 flex flex-col  post-187810 post type-post status-publish format-standard has-post-thumbnail hentry category-real-estate-investing-for-beginners\">\n\n\t<header class=\"entry-header\">\t\t\t\n\t\t<!-- Image -->\n        \t\t\t<a class=\"post-thumbnail\" href=\"https:\/\/www.biggerpockets.com\/blog\/the-8-biggest-mistakes-new-cash-flow-investors-make-and-how-to-avoid-losses\" target=\"_blank\" aria-hidden=\"true\" tabindex=\"-1\">\n\t\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"340\" height=\"225\" src=\"https:\/\/www.biggerpockets.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/myth-of-cash-flow_canva-340x225.jpg\" class=\"size-card w-full  m-0 aspect-[68\/45] object-scale-down wp-post-image\" alt=\"The 8 Biggest Mistakes New Cash Flow Investors Make (And How to Avoid Losses)\" title=\"\">\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t        \n\n\t\t<!-- Content Wrapper -->\n\t\t<div class=\"py-4 \">\t\n                            <div class=\"flex gap-4 justify-between items-center\">\n                    <!-- Category  -->\n                                            <a href=\"https:\/\/www.biggerpockets.com\/blog\/category\/real-estate-investing-for-beginners\" class=\"transition-colors bg-themeBlue\/20 text-themeBlue-medium hover:bg-themeBlue hover:text-white px-2 py-1 mb-2 inline-block rounded-sm no-underline text-sm\" target=\"_blank\">Investing For Beginners<\/a>\n                    \n                                            <span class=\"text-sm text-gray-500 hidden lg:inline-block\">5 min read<\/span>\n                                    <\/div>\n            \n           <div class=\"flex gap-3 items-center my-2 flex-nowrap text-base\">\n                <!-- Avatar and Author Name -->\n                <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/bp-wp-migration.s3.amazonaws.com\/author_avatars\/158586.jpg\" class=\"w-8 h-8 object-cover my-0 inline-block rounded-full\" alt=\"\" title=\"\"><span class='leading-snug text-slate-500 flex items-center'><span class='hidden whitespace-nowrap sm:inline-block md:hidden lg:inline-block pr-1'><span class='posted-on'><time class=\"entry-date published\" datetime=\"2026-05-07T09:27:48-06:00\">May 07, 2026<\/time><time class=\"updated\" datetime=\"2026-05-07T09:27:51-06:00\">May 07, 2026<\/time><\/span><\/span>&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.biggerpockets.com\/blog\/contributors\/g-briandavis\" class=\"no-underline line-clamp-1\" target=\"_blank\">G. Brian Davis<\/a><\/span>            <\/div>\n\n            <!-- Post title -->\n\t\t\t<h2 class=\"entry-title js-toc-ignore mt-4 mb-0 text-xl leading-snug text-left\">\n\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.biggerpockets.com\/blog\/the-8-biggest-mistakes-new-cash-flow-investors-make-and-how-to-avoid-losses\" rel=\"bookmark\" class=\"whitespace-normal no-underline font-bold  text-slate visited:text-slate hover:text-themeBlue\" target=\"_blank\">\n\t\t\t\t\tThe 8 Biggest Mistakes New Cash Flow Investors Make (And How to Avoid Losses)\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/h2>\n\t\t\t\n                        <p class=\"text-lg font-normal mt-3 text-slate-500 mb-1 line-clamp-3\">Whether you invest actively or passively, the same broad risks apply to cash flow. Watch out for these mistakes that can leave you with no cash flow at all\u2014or worse,&hellip;<\/p>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/header>\n     <footer class=\"flex justify-between mt-auto\">\n        <!-- Comment Count -->\n        \t\t<span class='flex items-center space-x-2 text-sm' x-cloak x-data='commentCount()' :class=\"parseFloat(commentCount) < 1 || commentCount == '' ? 'hidden' : 'flex'\">\n\t\t\n            <svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" class=\"h-5 w-5 text-slate text-opacity-50\" fill=\"none\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" stroke=\"currentColor\">\n                <path stroke-linecap=\"round\" stroke-linejoin=\"round\" stroke-width=\"2\" d=\"M17 8h2a2 2 0 012 2v6a2 2 0 01-2 2h-2v4l-4-4H9a1.994 1.994 0 01-1.414-.586m0 0L11 14h4a2 2 0 002-2V6a2 2 0 00-2-2H5a2 2 0 00-2 2v6a2 2 0 002 2h2v4l.586-.586z\" \/>\n            <\/svg>\n\n            <span x-ref=\"comment_count\" class=\"disqus-comment-count text-slate text-opacity-80\" data-disqus-identifier=\"187810\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n        <\/span>\n\t    <\/footer>\n<\/article><!-- #post-187810 -->\n<article \n\tid=\"post-187415\" \n\tclass=\"content-card mb-0 flex flex-col  post-187415 post type-post status-publish format-standard has-post-thumbnail hentry category-real-estate-investing-for-beginners\">\n\n\t<header class=\"entry-header\">\t\t\t\n\t\t<!-- Image -->\n        \t\t\t<a class=\"post-thumbnail\" href=\"https:\/\/www.biggerpockets.com\/blog\/passive-investing-vs-diy-rentals\" target=\"_blank\" aria-hidden=\"true\" tabindex=\"-1\">\n\t\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"340\" height=\"225\" src=\"https:\/\/www.biggerpockets.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/managing-rental_canva-340x225.jpg\" class=\"size-card w-full  m-0 aspect-[68\/45] object-scale-down wp-post-image\" alt=\"Passive Investing vs. DIY Rentals: Which Path Builds Wealth Faster for Busy Professionals?\" title=\"\">\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t        \n\n\t\t<!-- Content Wrapper -->\n\t\t<div class=\"py-4 \">\t\n                            <div class=\"flex gap-4 justify-between items-center\">\n                    <!-- Category  -->\n                                            <a href=\"https:\/\/www.biggerpockets.com\/blog\/category\/real-estate-investing-for-beginners\" class=\"transition-colors bg-themeBlue\/20 text-themeBlue-medium hover:bg-themeBlue hover:text-white px-2 py-1 mb-2 inline-block rounded-sm no-underline text-sm\" target=\"_blank\">Investing For Beginners<\/a>\n                    \n                                            <span class=\"text-sm text-gray-500 hidden lg:inline-block\">7 min read<\/span>\n                                    <\/div>\n            \n           <div class=\"flex gap-3 items-center my-2 flex-nowrap text-base\">\n                <!-- Avatar and Author Name -->\n                <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/bp-wp-migration.s3.amazonaws.com\/author_avatars\/158586.jpg\" class=\"w-8 h-8 object-cover my-0 inline-block rounded-full\" alt=\"\" title=\"\"><span class='leading-snug text-slate-500 flex items-center'><span class='hidden whitespace-nowrap sm:inline-block md:hidden lg:inline-block pr-1'><span class='posted-on'><time class=\"entry-date published\" datetime=\"2026-04-03T07:53:56-06:00\">Apr 03, 2026<\/time><time class=\"updated\" datetime=\"2026-04-03T07:54:38-06:00\">Apr 03, 2026<\/time><\/span><\/span>&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.biggerpockets.com\/blog\/contributors\/g-briandavis\" class=\"no-underline line-clamp-1\" target=\"_blank\">G. Brian Davis<\/a><\/span>            <\/div>\n\n            <!-- Post title -->\n\t\t\t<h2 class=\"entry-title js-toc-ignore mt-4 mb-0 text-xl leading-snug text-left\">\n\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.biggerpockets.com\/blog\/passive-investing-vs-diy-rentals\" rel=\"bookmark\" class=\"whitespace-normal no-underline font-bold  text-slate visited:text-slate hover:text-themeBlue\" target=\"_blank\">\n\t\t\t\t\tPassive Investing vs. DIY Rentals: Which Path Builds Wealth Faster for Busy Professionals?\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/h2>\n\t\t\t\n                        <p class=\"text-lg font-normal mt-3 text-slate-500 mb-1 line-clamp-3\">I\u2019ve invested both actively and passively in real estate. I owned 15 rental properties by myself and another dozen with partners. Today, I own smaller percentages in around 5,000 units.\u00a0&hellip;<\/p>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/header>\n     <footer class=\"flex justify-between mt-auto\">\n        <!-- Comment Count -->\n        \t\t<span class='flex items-center space-x-2 text-sm' x-cloak x-data='commentCount()' :class=\"parseFloat(commentCount) < 1 || commentCount == '' ? 'hidden' : 'flex'\">\n\t\t\n            <svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" class=\"h-5 w-5 text-slate text-opacity-50\" fill=\"none\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" stroke=\"currentColor\">\n                <path stroke-linecap=\"round\" stroke-linejoin=\"round\" stroke-width=\"2\" d=\"M17 8h2a2 2 0 012 2v6a2 2 0 01-2 2h-2v4l-4-4H9a1.994 1.994 0 01-1.414-.586m0 0L11 14h4a2 2 0 002-2V6a2 2 0 00-2-2H5a2 2 0 00-2 2v6a2 2 0 002 2h2v4l.586-.586z\" \/>\n            <\/svg>\n\n            <span x-ref=\"comment_count\" class=\"disqus-comment-count text-slate text-opacity-80\" data-disqus-identifier=\"187415\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n        <\/span>\n\t    <\/footer>\n<\/article><!-- #post-187415 -->\n<article \n\tid=\"post-185796\" \n\tclass=\"content-card mb-0 flex flex-col  post-185796 post type-post status-publish format-standard has-post-thumbnail hentry category-real-estate-investing-for-beginners\">\n\n\t<header class=\"entry-header\">\t\t\t\n\t\t<!-- Image -->\n        \t\t\t<a class=\"post-thumbnail\" href=\"https:\/\/www.biggerpockets.com\/blog\/the-step-by-step-blueprint-to-financial-freedom-with-turnkey-rentals\" target=\"_blank\" aria-hidden=\"true\" tabindex=\"-1\">\n\t\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"340\" height=\"225\" src=\"https:\/\/www.biggerpockets.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/homes_canva-8-340x225.jpg\" class=\"size-card w-full  m-0 aspect-[68\/45] object-scale-down wp-post-image\" alt=\"The Step-by-Step Blueprint to Financial Freedom With Turnkey Rentals\" title=\"\">\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t        \n\n\t\t<!-- Content Wrapper -->\n\t\t<div class=\"py-4 \">\t\n                            <div class=\"flex gap-4 justify-between items-center\">\n                    <!-- Category  -->\n                                            <a href=\"https:\/\/www.biggerpockets.com\/blog\/category\/real-estate-investing-for-beginners\" class=\"transition-colors bg-themeBlue\/20 text-themeBlue-medium hover:bg-themeBlue hover:text-white px-2 py-1 mb-2 inline-block rounded-sm no-underline text-sm\" target=\"_blank\">Investing For Beginners<\/a>\n                    \n                                            <span class=\"text-sm text-gray-500 hidden lg:inline-block\">6 min read<\/span>\n                                    <\/div>\n            \n           <div class=\"flex gap-3 items-center my-2 flex-nowrap text-base\">\n                <!-- Avatar and Author Name -->\n                <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.biggerpockets.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/cropped-garrettbrown-150x150.jpeg\" class=\"w-8 h-8 object-cover my-0 inline-block rounded-full\" alt=\"\" title=\"\"><span class='leading-snug text-slate-500 flex items-center'><span class='hidden whitespace-nowrap sm:inline-block md:hidden lg:inline-block pr-1'><span class='posted-on'><time class=\"entry-date published\" datetime=\"2025-11-24T12:54:24-07:00\">Nov 24, 2025<\/time><time class=\"updated\" datetime=\"2025-11-24T12:54:27-07:00\">Nov 24, 2025<\/time><\/span><\/span>&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.biggerpockets.com\/blog\/contributors\/garrettbrown\" class=\"no-underline line-clamp-1\" target=\"_blank\">Garrett Brown<\/a><\/span>            <\/div>\n\n            <!-- Post title -->\n\t\t\t<h2 class=\"entry-title js-toc-ignore mt-4 mb-0 text-xl leading-snug text-left\">\n\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.biggerpockets.com\/blog\/the-step-by-step-blueprint-to-financial-freedom-with-turnkey-rentals\" rel=\"bookmark\" class=\"whitespace-normal no-underline font-bold  text-slate visited:text-slate hover:text-themeBlue\" target=\"_blank\">\n\t\t\t\t\tThe Step-by-Step Blueprint to Financial Freedom With Turnkey Rentals\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/h2>\n\t\t\t\n                        <p class=\"text-lg font-normal mt-3 text-slate-500 mb-1 line-clamp-3\">This article is presented by Rent To Retirement. Have you ever sat at your desk, glanced at your pay stub, and wondered how you\u2019ll ever build real wealth?&nbsp; You\u2019re not&hellip;<\/p>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/header>\n     <footer class=\"flex justify-between mt-auto\">\n        <!-- Comment Count -->\n        \t\t<span class='flex items-center space-x-2 text-sm' x-cloak x-data='commentCount()' :class=\"parseFloat(commentCount) < 1 || commentCount == '' ? 'hidden' : 'flex'\">\n\t\t\n            <svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" class=\"h-5 w-5 text-slate text-opacity-50\" fill=\"none\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" stroke=\"currentColor\">\n                <path stroke-linecap=\"round\" stroke-linejoin=\"round\" stroke-width=\"2\" d=\"M17 8h2a2 2 0 012 2v6a2 2 0 01-2 2h-2v4l-4-4H9a1.994 1.994 0 01-1.414-.586m0 0L11 14h4a2 2 0 002-2V6a2 2 0 00-2-2H5a2 2 0 00-2 2v6a2 2 0 002 2h2v4l.586-.586z\" \/>\n            <\/svg>\n\n            <span x-ref=\"comment_count\" class=\"disqus-comment-count text-slate text-opacity-80\" data-disqus-identifier=\"185796\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n        <\/span>\n\t    <\/footer>\n<\/article><!-- #post-185796 -->\n<article \n\tid=\"post-184195\" \n\tclass=\"content-card mb-0 flex flex-col  post-184195 post type-post status-publish format-standard has-post-thumbnail hentry category-real-estate-investing-for-beginners\">\n\n\t<header class=\"entry-header\">\t\t\t\n\t\t<!-- Image -->\n        \t\t\t<a class=\"post-thumbnail\" href=\"https:\/\/www.biggerpockets.com\/blog\/the-real-estate-roi-blueprint-from-your-first-deal-to-financial-freedom\" target=\"_blank\" aria-hidden=\"true\" tabindex=\"-1\">\n\t\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"340\" height=\"225\" src=\"https:\/\/www.biggerpockets.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/underwritign_canva-340x225.jpg\" class=\"size-card w-full  m-0 aspect-[68\/45] object-scale-down wp-post-image\" alt=\"The Real Estate ROI Blueprint: From Your First Deal to Financial Freedom\" title=\"\">\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t        \n\n\t\t<!-- Content Wrapper -->\n\t\t<div class=\"py-4 \">\t\n                            <div class=\"flex gap-4 justify-between items-center\">\n                    <!-- Category  -->\n                                            <a href=\"https:\/\/www.biggerpockets.com\/blog\/category\/real-estate-investing-for-beginners\" class=\"transition-colors bg-themeBlue\/20 text-themeBlue-medium hover:bg-themeBlue hover:text-white px-2 py-1 mb-2 inline-block rounded-sm no-underline text-sm\" target=\"_blank\">Investing For Beginners<\/a>\n                    \n                                            <span class=\"text-sm text-gray-500 hidden lg:inline-block\">4 min read<\/span>\n                                    <\/div>\n            \n           <div class=\"flex gap-3 items-center my-2 flex-nowrap text-base\">\n                <!-- Avatar and Author Name -->\n                <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.biggerpockets.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/cropped-Leka-Headshot-150x150.jpg\" class=\"w-8 h-8 object-cover my-0 inline-block rounded-full\" alt=\"\" title=\"\"><span class='leading-snug text-slate-500 flex items-center'><span class='hidden whitespace-nowrap sm:inline-block md:hidden lg:inline-block pr-1'><span class='posted-on'><time class=\"entry-date published\" datetime=\"2025-08-06T14:17:15-06:00\">Aug 06, 2025<\/time><time class=\"updated\" datetime=\"2025-08-06T14:17:51-06:00\">Aug 06, 2025<\/time><\/span><\/span>&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.biggerpockets.com\/blog\/contributors\/lekadevatha\" class=\"no-underline line-clamp-1\" target=\"_blank\">Leka Devatha<\/a><\/span>            <\/div>\n\n            <!-- Post title -->\n\t\t\t<h2 class=\"entry-title js-toc-ignore mt-4 mb-0 text-xl leading-snug text-left\">\n\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.biggerpockets.com\/blog\/the-real-estate-roi-blueprint-from-your-first-deal-to-financial-freedom\" rel=\"bookmark\" class=\"whitespace-normal no-underline font-bold  text-slate visited:text-slate hover:text-themeBlue\" target=\"_blank\">\n\t\t\t\t\tThe Real Estate ROI Blueprint: From Your First Deal to Financial Freedom\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/h2>\n\t\t\t\n                        <p class=\"text-lg font-normal mt-3 text-slate-500 mb-1 line-clamp-3\">I still remember the chaos and caffeine-fueled nights of my very first deal\u2014a studs-out fix-and-flip that nearly broke me before it paid me. The house had no kitchen, no bathrooms,&hellip;<\/p>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/header>\n     <footer class=\"flex justify-between mt-auto\">\n        <!-- Comment Count -->\n        \t\t<span class='flex items-center space-x-2 text-sm' x-cloak x-data='commentCount()' :class=\"parseFloat(commentCount) < 1 || commentCount == '' ? 'hidden' : 'flex'\">\n\t\t\n            <svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" class=\"h-5 w-5 text-slate text-opacity-50\" fill=\"none\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" stroke=\"currentColor\">\n                <path stroke-linecap=\"round\" stroke-linejoin=\"round\" stroke-width=\"2\" d=\"M17 8h2a2 2 0 012 2v6a2 2 0 01-2 2h-2v4l-4-4H9a1.994 1.994 0 01-1.414-.586m0 0L11 14h4a2 2 0 002-2V6a2 2 0 00-2-2H5a2 2 0 00-2 2v6a2 2 0 002 2h2v4l.586-.586z\" \/>\n            <\/svg>\n\n            <span x-ref=\"comment_count\" class=\"disqus-comment-count text-slate text-opacity-80\" data-disqus-identifier=\"184195\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n        <\/span>\n\t    <\/footer>\n<\/article><!-- #post-184195 -->        <\/div>\n      <\/div>\n    <\/div>\n  <\/div>\n\n  ","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>If investing is your side gig, you&#8217;re competing against full-time investors\u2014which will never be easy. Here are your options for succeeding without ditching your 9-to-5.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":214608,"featured_media":137444,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[7119,5524],"tags":[209,21,7229,7230],"class_list":["post-136923","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-biggerpockets-daily","category-real-estate-investing-for-beginners","tag-business","tag-entrepreneurship","tag-real-estate-investing-basics","tag-rookie-comm"],"acf":[],"comment_count":0,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.biggerpockets.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/136923","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.biggerpockets.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.biggerpockets.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.biggerpockets.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/214608"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.biggerpockets.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=136923"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.biggerpockets.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/136923\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.biggerpockets.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/137444"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.biggerpockets.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=136923"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.biggerpockets.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=136923"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.biggerpockets.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=136923"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}