I know a multiple property owners. Here's some of the few more common cases as to why people don't strike it rich immediately when renting out properties. 1

I know a multiple property owners. Here's some of the few more common cases as to why people don't strike it rich immediately when renting out properties. 1. abandonment, they just leave without paying 2. they incessantly ask for features 3. they hoard 4. they ruin beyond the security deposit and then dont pay (pets etc) 5. they consistently pay late 6. long time unoccupied eats away at profit due to special assessments, condo fees, hoa fees, whatever costs there are in the community 7. natural disasters (california/florida yikes) 8. simple non-payment. try renting in a renter protected area like dc (here's a hint, dont). It's not the road to riches that you hear whispered occasionally. The people who actually seem to make a profit from it are tied to housing in some way - either realtors or contractors/property managers and this is because they get the non-public deals and fix houses themselves. But even they dont make that much income from until much later and you can be sure they had to work long for it.