topsverseI still remember my first real estate side gig back in 2019. I was working a boring office job, watching my coworkers complain about money while I quietly researched ways to make extra income. That research led me down a rabbit hole of real estate opportunities that eventually changed my financial situation completely.
Fast forward to today, and I’ve tried almost every real estate side hustle you can imagine. Some were disasters (I’m looking at you, first wholesaling attempt), others became steady income streams that now fund my vacation budget and emergency savings.
With mortgage rates sitting around 6.5% right now and the housing market finally showing some stability after the chaos of recent years, there’s never been a better time to dive into real estate from the sidelines. You don’t need a license, massive capital, or even to own property yourself. What you need is hustle and the willingness to learn as you go.
Here are ten side hustles I’ve personally tested, along with what actually works and what doesn’t.
1. Mobile Notary Services (My Gateway Drug)
This is where I started, and honestly, it’s still one of my favorites because of how straightforward it is. Real estate deals need notaries constantly – loan signings, deed transfers, refinancing paperwork. The difference between a regular notary and a mobile one? You go to them.
Last month alone, I did 23 signings and made $1,847. Not bad for work that mostly happens in the evenings and weekends.
What it really costs to start: About $150 for the course and certification, plus $200 for supplies and a bond. Those “$200 startup cost” claims you see online are usually missing something.
The reality check: Your first few signings will take forever because you’re learning. I once spent three hours on what should have been a 45-minute appointment because I couldn’t figure out the paperwork flow. The borrowers were patient, but I was mortified.
Finding work is easier than you’d think. I signed up with SigningAgent.com and started getting calls within two weeks. Build relationships with local title companies and escrow offices – they’re always looking for reliable notaries who show up on time with organized paperwork.
2. Property Management for Investors
This one happened by accident. My neighbor owns three rental properties but travels constantly for work. After helping him deal with a tenant issue once, he offered to pay me to handle everything. That was two years ago, and now I manage seven properties for four different owners.
I charge 10% of monthly rent, which brings in about $2,100 per month for roughly 15 hours of work. Not every month is the same though – sometimes a pipe bursts and suddenly you’re coordinating emergency repairs at midnight.
The learning curve: Property management software is your lifeline. I use Buildium to track everything from rent collection to maintenance requests. Without good systems, you’ll drown in details.
Where to find clients: Start with BiggerPockets forums and local real estate investor meetups. Small-time investors often need help but can’t justify hiring a big property management company that charges 12-15%.
3. Wholesaling (Harder Than It Looks)
I’ll be honest – this one kicked my butt initially. The concept seems simple: find distressed properties, get them under contract, then assign the contract to an investor for a fee. In practice, it’s part detective work, part sales, and part psychology.
My first successful wholesale deal took six months to find and netted me $8,500. My second one happened three weeks later for $12,000. The inconsistency drove me crazy, which is why I eventually scaled back on wholesaling.
What works: Direct mail to absentee owners and expired listings. I spent about $400 monthly on mailers and averaged one decent lead per 100 pieces sent. ListSource has good data for targeting.
What doesn’t: Calling random “We Buy Houses” signs and expecting to find deals. Most of those are run by established companies with deeper pockets than you.
The ethical approach matters here. I always disclosed my role as a wholesaler upfront. Trying to hide that you’re the middleman will bite you eventually.
4. Real Estate Photography
This started as a creative outlet and turned into steady income. Good listing photos can make a $200,000 house look like a million-dollar property, and agents know this. According to the National Association of Realtors, professional photos help homes sell 32% faster than amateur shots.
I charge between $250-$400 per property depending on size and whether they want drone shots. Last year, I photographed 89 properties and made $26,300.
Equipment reality: You don’t need a $3,000 camera to start. I began with a $600 Canon DSLR and upgraded as I got busier. Adobe Lightroom subscription is essential though – raw photos straight from the camera look terrible.
Marketing that works: LinkedIn groups for real estate agents are goldmines. Join local groups, share sample work, and build relationships. I got my first five clients through a single LinkedIn post showing before/after shots of a listing.
5. Transaction Coordination
Real estate agents juggle multiple deals simultaneously, and transaction coordinators keep everything organized. I stumbled into this after helping my realtor friend track deadlines for her deals.
The pay ranges from $400-$600 per transaction, and I typically handle 8-12 transactions monthly working about 20 hours per week. Remote work makes this perfect for someone with a day job.
Tools that matter: Dotloop for document management and Monday.com for project tracking. Learning these platforms took about a month of trial and error.
Getting clients: Start with newer agents who are overwhelmed by paperwork. Experienced agents already have systems, but new ones desperately need help staying organized.
6. Land Flipping
This is my current favorite because of the low maintenance factor. Buy raw land cheap, handle basic due diligence like surveys or zoning research, then resell to developers or individuals wanting to build.
My biggest land flip was a 2-acre parcel I bought for $15,000 and sold for $47,000 after getting it surveyed and confirming building permits were possible. Total time invested: maybe 30 hours over four months.
Where to hunt: LandWatch.com, county tax sales, and courthouse records for tax delinquent properties. I spend Sunday mornings scrolling through listings with coffee.
The gotcha: Zoning issues can kill deals fast. Always verify what can actually be built before buying. I learned this the hard way on a property that looked perfect until I discovered it was in a flood zone.
7. Virtual Assistant for Real Estate Agents
This grew naturally from my transaction coordination work. Busy agents need help with social media, lead follow-up, appointment scheduling, and market research. I charge $25-$45 per hour depending on the complexity of tasks.
Current client load: four agents generating about $3,200 monthly working roughly 25 hours per week.
Platform recommendation: Skip Upwork initially – too much competition from overseas VAs working for $5/hour. Instead, reach out directly to agents in your area who are active on social media but clearly struggling with consistency.
Skills that pay: HubSpot CRM, social media scheduling tools, and basic graphic design using Canva. These aren’t hard to learn but make a huge difference in what you can charge.
8. Property Tax Appeals
Most homeowners overpay property taxes because assessments get outdated or contain errors. I research properties, compare recent sales, then file appeals for a percentage of the savings.
Success rate: about 60% of appeals result in some reduction. Average savings: $800-$1,500 annually per property. My fee: 50% of first-year savings.
Research method: County assessor websites usually have sales data going back 2-3 years. Look for properties where recent sales are significantly lower than assessed values. The market dip in 2023-2024 created tons of opportunities.
Client acquisition: Door-to-door works surprisingly well in neighborhoods with high property taxes. Simple flyer explaining the service, no pressure sales approach.
9. Online Course Creation
After two years of doing various real estate side hustles, people started asking how I learned everything. That’s when I created my first course about mobile notary services.
Revenue reality: My course sells for $197 and brings in about $2,400 monthly through Teachable. Marketing takes more time than creating content though.
What works for content: Screen recordings of actual processes, not theoretical explanations. People want to see exactly how to fill out forms, use software, find clients.
Marketing approach: Free valuable content on social media that leads to email list signups. My email list has 847 subscribers, and about 3% convert to course sales monthly.
10. Rental Arbitrage (Airbnb Subletting)
This requires the most upfront cash but generates consistent monthly income. Lease properties long-term, furnish them modestly, then rent them short-term through Airbnb.
My one rental arbitrage property in downtown Portland costs me $2,200 monthly in rent and expenses but generates $3,800 in Airbnb revenue. Net profit: $1,600 monthly.
Setup costs: First month’s rent, security deposit, and basic furniture ran about $8,500 total. IKEA became my best friend.
The catches: Local regulations vary wildly. Portland requires permits and limits the number of short-term rentals per area. Research thoroughly before committing to any lease.
Optimization tip: AirDNA provides market data showing which neighborhoods and property types perform best. Worth the $20 monthly subscription if you’re serious about this strategy.
Conclusion
Starting any side hustle means preparing for inconsistent income initially. My mobile notary work took three months to generate steady appointments. Wholesaling was feast-or-famine for the entire year I focused on it.
Track everything financially from day one. I use QuickBooks Self-Employed to separate business income and expenses. Come tax time, you’ll thank yourself.
Don’t quit your day job immediately. I kept my regular income for 18 months while building side hustle revenue. The financial pressure of going full-time too early can force you into making desperate decisions.
Insurance matters more than you think. General liability insurance for service-based hustles costs about $200-$400 annually but protects you if something goes wrong during a client interaction.
Choose one or two hustles maximum to start. I tried doing five different things simultaneously and sucked at all of them. Focus builds momentum faster than spreading yourself thin.
The real estate industry rewards reliability above everything else. Show up on time, do what you say you’ll do, and communicate proactively when problems arise. These basics will set you apart from 80% of your competition.
Local networking beats online marketing every time. Real estate is still a relationship business. Attend investor meetups, join realtor Facebook groups, get coffee with industry professionals. Every major opportunity I’ve gotten came through someone I met in person.
These aren’t get-rich-quick schemes. They’re legitimate ways to build additional income streams using real estate as the vehicle. Some will resonate with your skills and interests, others won’t. Pick the ones that excite you enough to push through the inevitable learning curve.
Start with one, get good at it, then expand. Your future self will thank you for taking action instead of just researching forever.