19 Ways to Make Money in Real Estate Without Owning Property
Real estate income isn’t just for landlords. There are plenty of hands-off ways to make money. Some of these real estate strategies you can even manage from your phone.
👉 Click or scroll through to see 19 real estate strategies that pay, even if you never directly own a single property.
Table of Contents
Crowdfunding: Passive Real Estate Investing Online
Crowdfunding platforms like Fundrise and CrowdStreet give regular investors access to commercial real estate deals once reserved for the wealthy. You put in capital, often as little as $500, and the platform does the heavy lifting.
Annualized returns on equity deals average 8–15%, based on the project. You get paid through distributions while pros manage the construction, tenants, and exits. It’s real estate investing with none of the mess.
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REITs: Real Estate Income Without Owning Property
Real Estate Investment Trusts (REITs) let you indirectly own a slice of income-producing property, minus the property headaches. Publicly traded REITs pay out at least 90% of taxable income to shareholders, often yielding 3–5% annually.
Over the past year, equity REITs returned over 24% while offering long-term averages near 10%. You can buy them through any brokerage account and start earning passive real estate income in minutes.
Real Estate ETFs: Diversified Exposure to Real Estate Markets
Real estate ETFs bundle dozens of REITs into one ticker, letting you invest across the entire property sector at once. That includes residential, commercial, industrial, and even healthcare real estate, all with one trade.
Funds like Vanguard Real Estate ETF (VNQ) offer dividend yields around 4% and wide diversification. It’s a hands-off, tax-efficient way to add real estate to your portfolio without picking properties or sponsors.
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Tax Liens: Hidden Real Estate Profits in Unpaid Taxes
Tax lien investing means buying unpaid tax debt at auctions and charging interest until it’s redeemed, or taking the property if it isn’t.
The National Tax Lien Association says Americans left $22 billion in unpaid property taxes last year, creating a massive opportunity.
Typical interest rates range from 8% to 36%, with no landlords or toilets to repair. It’s aggressive, cash-focused, and perfect for hustlers who like upside with a clear exit strategy.
Real Estate Agent: Earn Commissions Without Owning a Home
Licensed agents help others buy and sell real estate and get paid through commission. It’s sales-focused, relationship-driven work that rewards hustle and networking.
Agents don’t need to own property to profit from the market, they just need clients. Many start part-time and build a full-time career around local market knowledge.
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Short-Term Rental Manager: Airbnb Money Without Owning the Property
Many short-term rental owners don’t want to manage guests, cleanings, or bookings, so they pay someone else to do it. Managers typically earn 10–30% of gross revenue to run the operation.
In the U.S., the average Airbnb host brings in $236.95 per night, which means the manager’s cut can add up fast. With a few properties under your belt, you can build recurring income and never own a single unit.
Real Estate Broker: Build a Business Around Other Agents
Brokers hold a higher-level license and can supervise agents, earn splits off their commissions, and run their own firms. This is how many agents scale up, from earning one check at a time to building recurring income off others’ deals.
Brokers also have the flexibility to create teams, charge desk fees, and structure multiple income streams, all without personally owning property.
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Property Management: Get Paid to Run the Show
You don’t have to own the buildings to make money managing them. Property managers earn a cut of the rent, typically 8–10%, for handling leases, repairs, and tenant issues.
It’s active income, but with enough doors under management, it scales fast. With the right systems, you can turn management into a streamlined business without owning a single unit.
Mortgage Notes: Earn Like a Real Estate Lender
Instead of buying the house, you buy the debt. Mortgage note investors collect payments from borrowers, essentially becoming the bank. Performing notes generate steady interest, while non-performing ones can lead to foreclosures or discounted property takeovers.
It’s not beginner-friendly, but for those who understand risk and paperwork, the returns can be well worth it.
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Real Estate Appraiser: Get Paid to Know Property Value
Appraisers are licensed professionals who assess property value for banks, buyers, and sellers. You don’t need to own real estate to get paid for your expertise, you just need certification and market knowledge.
Appraisers often work solo or in small firms, and once established, they earn steady fees for each report. It’s technical, flexible, and built around real estate, without owning any.
Wholesaling Real Estate: Flip Real Estate Contracts, Not Houses
Wholesalers scout distressed homes, secure deals under contract, and sell those contracts to investors for a fee, usually $5K to $10K per deal.
You don’t own the property, you just connect the dots and cash the check. It takes hustle, local market knowledge, and networking more than capital. For action-takers who hate the landlord grind, it’s fast cash without any property upkeep.
Syndications: Big Real Estate Deals Without the Hassle
Real estate syndication pools money from investors to buy big assets, think apartments, offices, or industrial warehouses, led by experienced sponsors.
You invest, the sponsor manages everything and distributes cash flow plus profit shares when assets are sold.
Accredited investors can expect target IRRs of 10–20%. It’s hands-off, scalable, and gives you a seat at the big deals table without landlord duties.
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Write Options on REITs: Real Estate Income, Wall Street Style
If you’re investing in REITs already, writing covered calls can add an extra stream of income. Options trading isn’t beginner-level, but selling calls on REIT ETFs can generate income.
It’s a way to generate monthly cash flow on top of dividends. Just know your risk tolerance. Options are powerful, but not for the set-it-and-forget-it crowd.
Personally I stay away from options.
Housing Stocks: Invest in Builders, Not Just Buildings
You can buy stock in publicly traded companies tied to the real estate cycle, homebuilders like D.R. Horton or materials suppliers like Home Depot. When construction ramps up, these companies often see profit spikes.
Housing-related equities let you bet on the market without buying physical property. It’s real estate exposure with stock-level liquidity.
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Triple-Net Leases: Stable Real Estate Cash Flow
Triple-net leases put the tenant on the hook for taxes, insurance, and maintenance, leaving you with just the rent checks. These are usually long-term, commercial leases (10–25 years) with creditworthy tenants like national chains.
It’s boring by design, but boring makes money. If you want set-and-forget real estate income without tenants calling you at 2 a.m., this is your jam.
Sale-Leaseback Deals: Own the Property, Get Paid to Lease It
In sale-leasebacks, you buy a property and lease it right back to the seller, typically a business, on a long-term contract. That means your tenant has real skin in the game and keeps the place in good shape.
Expect yields in the 6–8% range, depending on tenant credit and lease duration. It’s landlord-free income with a built-in tenant and minimum management demands.
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Ground Leases: Long-Term Real Estate Income from Land
Ground leases let you own land, lease it to someone else, and collect rent, no building management required. These are long-term deals (often 30+ years) with renters building or operating structures on your land.
Income tends to rise with inflation or lease escalations. You get the land appreciation without the landlord headaches, perfect for hands-off investors with patience.
Tax Credits: Real Estate Investing with Built-In Incentives
These involve investing in developments that qualify for federal tax credits like Opportunity Zones, historic preservation, or low-income housing. You gain offsetting tax benefits upfront and equity returns down the line.
Returns vary, but the tax advantages make it highly efficient, especially for high earners. It’s smart real estate that pays now and later without you owning rental units.
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Note Funds: Monthly Passive Income from Real Estate Debt
Real estate notes funds pool investor money to buy mortgage notes, performing and non-performing, with professional managers overseeing the selection. You get monthly distributions, usually in the 6–10% range, based on the credit mix.
It’s a “set it and forget it” way to access real estate debt markets without analyzing individual notes. Good for investors who want higher yields than bonds with property-level exposure.
Smarter Ways to Profit in Real Estate
Real estate doesn’t have to mean tenants, toilets, or thirty-year mortgages. If you’re after cash flow, appreciation, or just smarter use of your money, there are cleaner ways to get in the game.
These strategies prove you can build wealth without babysitting properties. Start with one that matches your risk and capital, then scale it like a business.
You don’t need to be a landlord to get paid like one.
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