Real estate agents enjoy a flexible schedule, which allows them to pursue additional opportunities for extra income and explore a world of possibilities.Side gigs aren’t just nice to have, they’re almost a necessity in today’s shifting market. Finding extra ways to earn keeps you steady when commissions are unpredictable and seasons slow down.
It’s important to note that not all side hustles are equal. Each option should be carefully considered, taking into account factors such as personal interests, availability, and income goals. Agents who diversify their income enjoy more security and less stress, so you can focus on long-term growth. For inspiration and smart ideas, check out these top side gigs for real estate agents to see what could work best for you.
- Why Side Gigs Are Essential for Real Estate Agents
- Top Profitable Side Gigs for Real Estate Agents
- Property Management
- Real Estate Investing
- Real Estate Staging and Design Services
- Real Estate Photography
- Social Media Monetization
- Showing Agent Service
- Coaching and Speaking Programs
- Become a Notary
- Affiliate Links
- Blogging
- Conclusion
Why Side Gigs Are Essential for Real Estate Agents
When you work in real estate, every month can feel like a new adventure. Some months, deals close and commissions flow in. Other times, leads dry up or buyers wait on the sidelines. This financial rollercoaster keeps life interesting but it also makes budgeting tough. That’s where side gigs become not just a backup plan, but a smart way to keep your business (and your bank account) healthy, no matter what the market throws at you.
Photo by Pavel Danilyuk
Dealing With Market Volatility and Commission Cycles
Real estate is notorious for its ups and downs. Shifting interest rates, changes in buyer demand, and the financial seasons all impact your income. Even experienced agents feel the pinch during slow periods. Instead of stressing over every dip, smart agents shore up their finances with a steady side income.
- Commissions can swing month-to-month. Side gigs give you reliable cash flow when home sales slow down.
- Markets can get unpredictable. With inflation and economic swings, building in another source of income helps you stay steady.
- In fact, experts say private real estate offers more stability in your overall financial life, and smart agents take that model and apply it to their career.
You won’t fix market cycles, but you can keep them from taking over your financial life.
Unlocking Skill Development and Fresh Opportunities
A side hustle isn’t just about the money—it’s a way to get better at your main job, too. Think about it: teaching a class, writing about home trends, or offering staging services builds new skills you just can’t get from closing deals alone.
Staying sharp and adaptable is key to being a successful agent, and learning new things plays a big role in that. It allows you to pivot when industry changes occur, which is especially important in the ever-evolving world of real estate, where new gig opportunities continue to emerge with shifting trends. Additionally, continuous learning helps you meet more people, expanding your network and increasing the potential for future referrals.
In short, what you do on the side often pays off in your main business in ways you might not expect.
Tapping Into a Changing Industry
The real estate industry isn’t what it was a decade ago. Today, “gig” work is everywhere—from showing assistant opportunities to virtual staging, short-term rentals, and freelance consulting. Thanks to technology and changing client needs, agents now tap into gigs that align with their skills and offer quick, impactful paydays.
Technology has opened up many new types of gig work that lets agents earn in a quicker, more versatile way. It allows for more accessible short-term or low commitment jobs that are easy to fit in your schedule. The growth of the gig economy is rapidly changing how people work, live, and even the properties they buy and sell.
Side gigs now fit seamlessly with the real estate agent’s lifestyle—flexible, mobile, and always evolving. You’re not just surviving the industry’s changes, you’re using them to your advantage.
Top Profitable Side Gigs for Real Estate Agents
The real estate market offers more side hustle options than ever. Whether you want to supplement inconsistent commissions or build out your skill set, there’s a gig out there for every agent’s personality and schedule. Here’s a rundown of the best ways agents are making extra income.
Property Management
Agents naturally have a knack for keeping track of contracts, tenants, and property upkeep. Property management taps into these skills. By managing rentals, handling tenant relations, and overseeing maintenance, you can carve out steady monthly income between closings.
- Typical duties: rent collection, maintenance coordination, showing rentals, screening tenants.
- Why it’s great: Recurring income, higher business visibility, long-term networking with landlords and investors.
- Entry tip: Start with a single property for a client or family member and build from there. Many agents take property management courses to become more marketable and meet local requirements.
Your expertise also allows you to offer personalized recommendations and guidance. Whether it’s suggesting cost-effective upgrades or identifying areas for improvement, your commitment to excellence sets you apart in the industry.
Many agents can earn $50-$200 per unit/month depending on the market and portfolio size. For a deeper dive into requirements and strategies, visit this How to Become a Property Manager guide.
Real Estate Investing
Photo by Khwanchai Phanthong
Real estate agents have unique access to deals before they hit the market, giving you a serious head start on investing. Whether you buy and flip, hold rentals, or partner with other investors, you can profit from properties you already know inside and out.
By leveraging your insider insights, market familiarity, and understanding of client needs, you can strategically identify and acquire properties that align with your long-term financial goals. This not only diversifies your investment portfolio but also positions you to potentially benefit from property appreciation and rental income. With your unique perspective and industry experience, the possibilities are limitless when it comes to unlocking the full potential of real estate investment for your personal gain.
Many agents build wealth long-term by keeping even one rental property as a side gig. Start small, use your strengths, and let your industry connections open doors to new deals.
Common Investment Opportunities:
- International Real Estate: Agents are taking advantage of low interest rates and high short-term rental values on international properties.
- Multi-family Commercial Properties: As multi-family developments become more popular, they are looking for investors. Many agents are taking advantage of area knowledge to expand their investment portfolios.
- Commercial Real Estate: Savvy investors have been making the move to investing and managing commercial properties. They’ve found that managing tenants in commercial property are easier than in residential homes.
Real Estate Staging and Design Services
Buyers shop with their eyes first. Agents who offer home staging services can give clients a faster sale with better offers. Good staging highlights a home’s strengths and can make any space look bigger, cleaner, and more inviting.
- What you do: Rearrange furniture, add décor, use color to create appeal, sometimes bring in rental pieces.
- Getting noticed: Take before-and-after shots and build a simple portfolio. Offer staging as a value-add on your listings or partner with other agents.
- Marketing tip: Use social media to showcase transformations and partner with local interior designers for referrals.
When you know what buyers are looking for and stay on top of trends, you can turn any space into something that really stands out. It’s not just about decorating—it’s about making smart choices with layout, furniture, and flow so the home feels right the moment someone walks in. The goal is simple: help buyers see themselves living there and make the home easier to sell.
Real Estate Photography
High-quality real estate photography is absolutely crucial when it comes to creating captivating listings that attract potential buyers. It not only showcases the property in its best light but also offers an excellent opportunity for those with a passion for photography to pursue a side gig.
Quality photos make all the difference in grabbing buyers online. If you have an eye for composition and basic camera equipment, real estate photography is a natural extension of your business. Many agents pay $150-$500 per shoot, making this a fast way to earn extra cash.
- What you need: DSLR or mirrorless camera, wide-angle lens, tripod, basic editing skills.
- How to begin: Offer to shoot a colleague’s listing in exchange for a testimonial. Build your skills and portfolio.
- Extra tip: Drone and 3D tours are in demand for high-end listings or vacant land.
The demand for skilled real estate photographers is continuously growing, presenting a great potential for a side income. As more and more people recognize the value of visually appealing listings and the importance of social media content, they seek out professionals who can deliver exceptional results.
Social Media Monetization
Social media isn’t just about posting houses—it’s an income stream on its own. Agents who build local followings on Instagram, YouTube, or TikTok can partner with sponsors, promote services, or teach buyers and sellers the ins and outs of real estate.
- How you earn: Affiliate marketing, sponsored posts, paid collaborations, promoting your own e-books or guides.
- Getting started: Pick a platform where your target buyers or sellers hang out. Post a mix of market insights, local trends, and quick how-tos.
- Pro tip: Share your experience as a lockbox runner or show what daily agent life looks like to stand out.
Run A Facebook Group
Although growing a Facebook Group may take a while, many agents are finding this route a way to make money. First, ask yourself if you have a “niche” or hobby that you feel others share an interest in. Next, grow your following to over 10,000 followers. From there you can sell ad posts to businesses and/or merchandise to the group’s followers.
Monetize Your Social Media
If you have devout followers and have taken the time to generate a personal brand. It may be worth joining Meta’s monetization, where influencers can profit from their followers.
Monetize Your YouTube
If you like getting on camera, then it may be worthwhile monetizing a YouTube channel. You’ll make money on ad views on your videos and subscribers.
Showing Agent Service
Get paid to show homes for other agents and property managers. Although this isn’t the highest-paid side gig, it happens to be the best for self-promotion. Many agents are taking the opportunity of showing homes to potential buyers and tenants as an opportunity to sharpen their skills, grow in their market knowledge, and even create social posts.
- How it works: Get matched with busy agents needing coverage—handle the showing, answer questions, and earn a set fee per visit.
- Who it fits: Newer agents growing their network, busy part-timers, or those in slower seasons.
Agents are arriving early to home showings and taking photos or videos of themselves in the neighborhood with captions like “Hello everyone, I’m out showing homes in XYZ neighborhood today. If you’re interested in buying a home in this neighborhood DM me and let’s schedule a tour”. This gives the illusion that you are a super busy agent and prompts your followers to check out a neighborhood they may not have looked into before.
Coaching and Speaking Programs
Seasoned agents with years of experiences can turn their knowledge into profitable coaching or speaking gigs. Local brokerages, new agents, and real estate associations want to pay for insider tips on winning listings, negotiation, and surviving tough markets.
- Ways to offer value: Group coaching calls, one-on-one mentoring, speaking at industry events, webinars.
- How to stand out: Share personal stories, proven scripts, and marketing tactics no one else teaches.
- Income: Group programs can net $500-$2,000 per month; single speaking gigs bring in anywhere from $250 to $5,000 or more.
By sharing what works in real life, you help others and establish yourself as a trusted expert.
Imagine teaching effective marketing techniques that attract potential clients and maximize property exposure.
With your guidance, real estate agents can master the art of getting more referrals and more. Your expertise can also extend to teaching agents how to navigate the ever-changing market, staying ahead of trends and adapting strategies to seize opportunities.
Become a Notary
Notary services are a simple add-on for real estate agents. Since transactions often require notarized documents, having your notary public license means you offer extra value—and earn extra fees.
- Startup: Take the required training and pass your state exam (requirements vary).
- Tasks: Notarize closing disclosures, affidavits, and power of attorney forms.
- Earnings: Most notaries charge $10-$75 per signature, and mobile notaries can charge for travel.
By bundling notary services with your real estate business, you capture more of the transaction.
Affiliate Links
As a trusted resource, agents can earn by recommending products they use daily: lockboxes, CRMs, home décor, moving services, and more. Add affiliate links to email newsletters, social media, or your own website.
- How you earn: Get a unique tracking link. Every sale or signup generates a commission.
- Best products: Tools you genuinely use or know your clients need.
- Getting started: Join affiliate programs through company websites or networks like Amazon Associates.
It’s a passive way to add dollars to your bottom line while helping others make smart choices.
Blogging
A real estate blog builds trust, brings in warm leads, and can be its own revenue stream. Whether you write about open house tips, neighborhood guides, or home design trends, your site can attract local buyers and sellers. Over time, you can also monetize with ads, sponsored content, or partnerships.
- Easy topics: How-tos for buyers, market stats, renovation trends, and agent success stories.
- Tips to grow: Post consistently, answer common questions, optimize for local searches.
- Next step: Promote your blog posts on social and to your email list for more reach.
Tip: Use your local expertise to create a “Things to do” blog and sign up for Travel Payouts! By doing so, you’ll become the local expert and this could help you get more business in your local community.
Conclusion
Adding a side gig can make all the difference for real estate agents who want steady income and continued growth. Each extra source of income not only supports you during slower months but also helps you build skills and connect with more people. The best part is, most of these options suit your real estate schedule and can naturally fit your strengths.
Sticking with one or two side hustles over time might even lead to new opportunities in your main business. If you’re serious about lasting success, choose a side gig that feels rewarding and practical for your lifestyle. Need more inspiration or want to dive into proven ideas? Explore these creative social media ideas for real estate agents or check out smart blogging tips for real estate agents to see how others are turning side projects into new streams of income.