'We Spend a Couple of Weeks Every Summer Out of the Country': Couple Runs 15 Properties and Calls It a 10-Hour-a-Month Job
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As more Americans chase passive income through real estate, a growing number of investors are showing how technology and the right structure can turn full-time work into near-automation.
Ted and Jamie Garber manage 15 properties across Florida's Space Coast that generate six figures in annual rental income. Between software tools, automation, and strict buy-box criteria, they say the entire portfolio runs on about 10 hours of work a month.
"Each rental needs to shed cash flow immediately and, on average, pay back our initial investment within three to six years," Ted recently told Business Insider. The couple's holdings span commercial and residential units, all self-managed without a third-party property firm.
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Ted, who runs a digital ad agency, oversees the day-to-day management. Jamie, an attorney, handles the contracts, compliance, and paperwork. Together, they've built what looks like a hands-off operation.
"It's as automated as it can be," Ted said. "We can run this remotely," adding “we spend a couple of weeks every summer out of the country, and we've been able to do that without a hiccup for the last five years."
Their setup relies on a web of software, including AirDNA for short-term rental data.
"AirDNA gives us the cash flow models," Ted said. "LoopNet and Crexi bring the deals. Dropbox Sign gets them across the finish line."
Trending: This Jeff Bezos-backed startup will allow you to become a landlord in just 10 minutes, with minimum investments as low as $100.
Building a Real Estate Portfolio That Works While You Don't
The Garbers' system shows how efficiency and scale can transform what used to be a 24/7 job into a few hours of monthly oversight. But it also points to the core appeal of real estate investing itself; steady income, long-term appreciation, and control over your own assets.
For investors who want those same advantages without juggling tenants, repairs, or lease renewals, a Self-Directed Real Estate IRA offers a similar level of autonomy, but through a tax-advantaged lens.
Investors can use retirement funds to buy income-producing real estate directly (residential or commercial) while deferring or eliminating taxes on gains. Rental income grows tax-deferred, or tax-free in a Roth, and investors retain full checkbook control to move on deals quickly.
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