'Please Don't Make Fun of Me,' Says 20-Year-Old Who Wants To Invest in Rental Properties —But Asks How People Make Money When 'Math Doesn't Add Up'

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Real estate is supposed to be one of the most dependable paths to wealth. But if you don't come from money, don't have a high-paying job, and aren't ready to lose sleep over debt, one question looms large: how does anyone actually pull it off?

That's exactly what a 20-year-old asked in a post titled "Genuinely how do people make money on Rental Properties?" on Reddit's r/realestateinvesting forum.

"Please don't make fun of me for asking this because I'm totally ignorant to this," he wrote. "I'm a young guy and I'd like to get into real estate but the math just doesn't add up to me."

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He pointed out the obvious: most people already struggle for years just to buy their own home. So where do everyday, non‑wealthy investors find the cash for down payments, maintenance, vacancies, and unexpected repairs?

The responses painted a picture of a strategy‑driven, patience‑heavy world — one where profits often take years to materialize.

One commenter said their first step wasn't glamorous. They bought "a crappy house" that needed major work, lived in it for years while renovating on weekends, and only later rented it out when they purchased a second home. The rent didn't make them rich. It simply covered property taxes, the mortgage, insurance and repairs — while quietly building equity.

Others broke down the formula in simple terms:

Buy. Cash‑flow. Refinance. Repeat.

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Leverage equity from one property into the next — slowly climbing the ladder.

Some admitted they aren't making monthly profit at all. "I'm deeply in the red every month," one investor wrote. But tenants are paying down their mortgages and building long‑term wealth for them — essentially helping fund future retirement.

A recurring theme emerged: breaking even counts as a win. If rent covers the bills, any home value appreciation and principal pay‑down becomes long‑game profit.

Investors also explained how many start small — and sacrifice: