A Surprising Conversation That Changed My Perspective on Passive vs. Active Investing

[Emanuel Stafilidis]

In a recent conversation with two experienced investors, the contrast in their goals highlighted something I think a lot of us miss when we talk about real estate investing.

One was looking for a hands-off experience. He wants fixed, predictable returns without being involved in day-to-day decisions. The other, however, was curious about how to build the strategy himself. He wanted to understand sourcing, structuring, buyer screening, and backend systems.

At first, suggestions were made to check out books, forums, and courses. But his response was unexpected:

“I don’t want theory. I want someone who’s actually doing it to help me build it in today’s market.”

That distinction stuck.

Passive investors are prioritizing income and simplicity. But others are looking to roll up their sleeves, not just for the sake of control, but because they believe the opportunity is bigger when they’re directly involved.

What made this even more interesting was the asset class: affordable, sub-$90K homes. It’s often ignored because of outdated assumptions, limited financing options, or lack of scalability for institutional players.

But the truth is, it’s a highly underserved space. And for those willing to learn the structure, the results can be surprisingly strong, even in today’s market.

Just thought this was a helpful reflection to share here.

Are others seeing this kind of split between passive and active investor mindsets?

And is anyone else working in this price range?