My real-life real estate investment story

Patience, sweat-equity, and a little imagination can take you a long way in the world of real estate investing.

The internet, enterprising apps and a desire to earn a little change to throw at your savings account make finding a side hustle easy. Stories about people making $1,000 and much more each month doing a mind-boggling array of tasks are everywhere.

In the financial independence universe, these earnings are looked at for the way they compound over the long haul. Depositing $1,000 each month for just six years adds up to $72,000 before any ROI from interest. It’s a perspective that deserves a bit of exploring.

It’s easy to find exciting stories about people driving up their bank balances. Like Julie, whose line-up of profitable side gigs includes selling temporary bridal shower tats on Etsy. Then there’s Bobby Hoyt, who’s figured out how to do digital ads as a side hustle. And the tactical thinkers like the Lyft driver I chatted up on a recent trip downtown. He makes about $1,000 a week by limiting his side hustle to timeframes when ride requests are high. He said his Lyft earnings have been a financial game-changer for his family.

I have a side hustle story as well, along with my husband. Although our real estate isn’t generating a monthly income, if we look at our long-term future, our endeavor definitely will be a game-changer for our family.

Real estate investing often yields big returns
Financial independence proponents are split on whether real estate investing is a smart approach. There are at least two schools of thought. Some have divested because the demands wear on them. Others sing the praises of real estate and all the forms it can take. Economists are noting deep deficiencies in the traditional mentality that skews toward home ownership.

However, homeownership and owning rental properties over the long-term usually provides a return with sound margins. If you’re curious to know what it’s like to set out on a strategy to flip a house, rent out a portion of it while you renovate, and then build another house from the ground up, I’ve got the tales. Read more on tsr.com.