Welcome To World Best Suggestion: The Best Real Estate Side Hustles for Extra Income

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Whether you’re already a real estate agent or just looking for a side job in the industry, you’ll be glad to know there are plenty of real estate side hustles to choose from.

In this article, you’ll learn about some of the best side hustles for active and passive income in the real estate industry. None of them require a real estate license.

Types of Real Estate Side Hustles

When considering ways to make extra cash in the field of real estate, it’s not always necessary to be a real estate agent.

There are plenty of things you can do that are related to the industry of real estate but don’t require a real estate license.

However, if you’re a real estate agent wanting to supplement your income while waiting for the next sale, there are several side hustles you might feel right at home with.

Side Jobs Related to Real Estate

If you’re not an agent but would like to test the waters with a side job close to the real estate industry, here are some ideas that can put cash in your pocket and introduce you to the world of real estate.

Real estate photography side hustle

This is an excellent way to get some exposure to housing transactions. If you’re a professional photographer, or an amateur with a good eye, providing photography services to real estate agents could be a great fit.

Every property that’s being offered for sale needs photographs for online listings as well as paper flyers. If you can photograph houses in your spare time, this can be a very steady money maker.

Real estate videographer

Another great side hustle in the real estate business is taking video of houses that are going on the market. Both interior and exterior videos — as well as aerial drone views — are in demand.

These days, due to the pandemic, most people like the option of a virtual house tour — not to mention the fact that it’s convenient.

So this is the perfect opportunity for a creative who likes video to make extra money. It’s also extremely flexible and can be done in your spare time.

Become a home stager

If you love interior design and have a good eye for a clean, minimalistic look, you’d be perfect for a side job in house staging.

This is where a home seller clears out their home completely and a designer comes through with high-end furniture and art to give the home a polished look.

Staging a house usually happens before photographs are taken for the listing. Putting nice touches on a home and clearing the owner’s clutter makes it more appealing to buyers.

Whether you start a little business of your own or work for a staging company in your spare time, staging homes can be a really fun way to make money in real estate without being a realtor.

Traveling notary public

A notary public helps people sign legal documents by providing a licensed witness. Sometimes it’s hard to make time to search for a notary, so having one come to you is very convenient.

This can be done for extra money on the side when buyers or sellers need a notarized signature for their paperwork.

The great thing about becoming a mobile notary is that not all states require formal training. And it’s a relatively inexpensive side hustle to start.

Check with your local secretary of state to get the requirements for your particular location, and you’ll be in business in no time!

Real estate appraiser

Every house that’s on the market has to be appraised. Meaning, it’s assigned a market value in the area in which it’s being sold. Becoming an appraiser can be a great real estate side hustle that doesn’t require a real estate license.

While this job takes some education and training, it can be a very rewarding way to make money on the side and be involved in real estate at the same time.

And since most home appraisers are self-employed, this could give you the flexibility you need to earn cash on the side of a regular job.

Home inspector

A home inspector thoroughly inspects houses before the final sale so buyers will know if there’s anything seriously wrong with its structure, inside systems, or basic safety.

Similar to a real estate appraiser, a home inspector must have some training and certifications in most states. When looking into this side hustle, read your state’s requirements carefully.

Side Hustles for Real Estate Agents

If you’re a real estate agent in between listings and would like some extra income, these side jobs are just for you. Since some are either directly or loosely related to your industry, you may not need much training before jumping in.

Property management

With rental properties being so popular, property management is definitely in demand. If you’ve been a real estate agent for a while, your expertise would make this a great fit.

There are many different types of properties that could potentially require someone to manage the day-to-day rental operations. From rental homes to duplexes, apartments, and even Airbnb rentals.

Having dependable property management is especially valuable to out-of-state homeowners or commercial rental property owners.

Real estate consultant

Becoming a real estate consultant can be a great source of side income for a real estate agent. There aren’t any clear-cut requirements for becoming a consultant unless you choose to work for an agency.

This type of consulting involves advising clients, who could be commercial buyers, real estate investors, or developers, about real estate market health, various transactions, advisable investments, and the like.

Get your lending license

These days, it’s fairly common to see real estate agents doubling as loan officers or lenders. If you’re already in real estate, why not go for your lending license?

Also called a mortgage broker, a lender helps home buyers secure a mortgage so they can purchase their home.

Licensing requirements vary by state, but offering lending services on the side can certainly be a lucrative real estate side hustle. It can also be quite flexible if you’re working for yourself.

Creative services

Staging houses, doing home photography for listings, and videography work can be great sources of flexible income for real estate agents as well.

In fact, if you have a strong creative side AND real estate experience, you’ll likely have no problem finding clients. After all, agents know the perfect angles for those photographs that can grab a buyer’s attention.

As for staging, most agents are well versed in the minimal, fresh, and roomy atmosphere most buyers expect when touring a prospective home.

The best thing about these creative side hustles is that you can offer them as a freelance worker. Just put together a portfolio of your work and start offering services.

Fixing and flipping houses

An obvious side hustle choice for real estate professionals is buying fixer-uppers and restoring them to sell for a profit.

Some distinct advantages for agents who want to fix and flip:

You know about fixer-uppers before they hit the general public market.
You probably know lenders who can help get you approved quickly in a hot market.
As an agent, you’ve likely worked with trustworthy contractors you can use to improve your investment property.
When it comes time to sell, as an agent, you’ll likely have no problem finding buyers.

House hacking

This is essentially buying real estate with the purpose of dividing up the house or multifamily property into rental units while you live in another part of the dwelling for free.

The supplemental income you can earn with this practice can be substantial. One of the primary benefits, if you live in an in-demand area, is that your rental income can pay for your own housing.

Hands-off Real Estate Side Hustles

When you’re short on time or already spread thin — but still need some extra cash flow — here are a few alternatives that don’t require as much hands-on involvement.

These include:

REIT investing
Crowdshare real estate investing
Purchasing a small property for Airbnb rental
Renting out part of your house or vacation home

Real estate investing

REIT investing is all about investing money in real estate trusts that own a variety of commercial properties that bring in steady profits.

A real estate investment trust is an entity that owns, finances, or rents out lucrative commercial real estate. These properties can include anything from shopping malls, entertainment venues, apartments buildings, and hundreds of others.

Investing in REITs can provide real earning potential if done wisely. These come in the form of stocks, mutual funds, and EFTs.

As a possible source of regular monthly income, REITs can be especially helpful since they’re required to pay out profits as dividends on a regular basis.

Learn More:

Real estate crowdfunding

If you’re not up for purchasing your own rental property, or don’t have the upfront cash to put down on a mortgage, crowdfunding can be a great passive investment in real estate.

This is where you pool your money with other investors to fund commercial real estate projects and reap the rewards when they turn a profit.

There are many types of properties and projects to invest in — as well as rates of return and timelines for when you’ll get paid.

Real estate crowdfunding isn’t without risks, so be careful. Some projects never complete, and some real estate doesn’t appreciate as expected.

Direct lending is also an option

Direct lending is related to crowdfunding. would be If you have extra cash to invest and want to put it in real estate, you could go the direct lending route.

This entails working with a direct lending provider to find those who need funding. They do all the managing and finding clients for you. All you’d need to do is invest your money and hopefully watch it grow.

Host an Airbnb or Neighbor rental

While not totally hands-off, vacation rentals like Airbnbs aren’t as involved as having a side job where you’re offering your services day in and day out.

Some benefits of Airbnb renting:

You can hire a property manager and cleaning crew to ease the workload.
It’s a practically guaranteed source of regular income if you live in a desirable area.
It’s not necessary to purchase a separate property in order to profit; extra bedrooms, your basement, or a converted garage can be rented out.
This is a high-demand service that can result in a very successful real estate side hustle.

If you have a little extra space, but you’re more comfortable hosting inanimate objects than people, consider renting out storage space with Neighbor.

Learn More:

Neighbor FREE

Earn thousands of dollars a year renting out the space you don’t use to neighbors who need to store items or vehicles.

Benefits of a Real Estate Side Hustle

Whether your side hustle is related to real estate, or you’re looking for extra money as a real estate agent, there are many perks to having regular side income:

More money to save for retirement or investment opportunities.
Less stress about how to pay for your regular monthly expenses.
You’ll have extra money to set aside for emergencies.
You can learn new skills related to or within your industry which can add to the success of your full-time work.
A side hustle can enrich your life and mind by diversifying how you spend your working time.
If you’ve been looking for a way out of your regular job, building up a side hustle can potentially allow you to change your profession altogether.
Side hustles can increase your networking opportunities which can lead to unexpected leads for your primary business.

Real Estate Side Hustle FAQs

Who should consider a real estate side hustle?

A real estate side hustle could be the perfect answer for:

A new agent waiting for those first few sales.
Buyers or investors wanting to push earnings into overdrive to buy that next property or real estate investment.
Those who’d like to try something related to real estate to see if it’s a good fit.
People with extra time, singles without kids, military spouses, and anyone else wanting to learn a new skill and earn.

How lucrative can a real estate side hustle be?

The earning potential of any side hustle depends on many factors, such as the area you live in, the rates for your services, how many hours you dedicate, and which side job you choose.

Any of them have the potential to provide a nice steady side income. If you have little time, investing in real estate may prove to be very lucrative.

If you have time and money for training, home inspection or appraisal could reap some nice rewards as well. Loan officers can also make good commissions on mortgages they sell.

What do you need to get started with a real estate side hustle?

The first thing you’ll need to get started with a side hustle in or related to real estate would be time. Make sure you’re not already overextended in your primary job.

When you’re ready to move forward with a side job, check with your state for any necessary paperwork or licensing they require.

You may need to file information with your state if you plan to offer services as a self-employed contractor. Even if it’s part time.

Other things to consider are money and time for extra training, as well as any necessary equipment per your chosen service.

For example, notaries will need notary stamps and supplies, and home staging requires access to inventory for sprucing up a house that’s going on the market.

How can you get involved in real estate by investing only your time?

We’ve discussed many options for side jobs in real estate that don’t require much money. A few don’t really require any money.

If you’re already a real estate agent, you can offer consulting and advising services. This will likely require only your time.

For photographers or videographers who already own equipment, the only investment you’ll make is time when it comes to taking pictures and videos of real estate properties.

Real estate property management services are also mostly an investment of time. As is renting your home or property out on Airbnb or similar platforms.

What should you avoid in a real estate side hustle?

Avoid biting off more than you can chew when considering a real estate side hustle. If you don’t have spare time, consider waiting until you do.

It’s possible you’d want to avoid spending any money on costly training programs if you’re not sure about a certain service.

Try asking a professional in that space (an appraiser, for example) to discuss their daily tasks. Or better yet, see if you can join them on a few jobs.

Also avoid jumping into real estate investing or real estate flipping until you’ve consulted experienced professionals who can guide you.

The Bottom Line

Side hustles aren’t for everyone. But if you’re in real estate — or are interested in learning more about the industry — a real estate side job may be just the thing to earn extra cash and discover a new passion.